Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 10 December 2015

Public Accounts Committee

Waterford Institute of Technology: Financial Statements 2013
Cork Institute of Technology: Financial Statements 2013

12:40 pm

Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

We have not had extensive higher education capital funding available in recent years and there has not been a wide range of commitments made on capital for new buildings in the sector. In fact, a moratorium was in place, although it was partly lifted in exceptional circumstances. No other project that was paused or stop has been recommenced. In the six-year Government plan for capital spending, there is some €300 million available for higher education, €200 million of which is for public private partnerships, PPPs. In other words, there is very limited funding for projects outside of PPPs. We will be consulting with the HEA on the prioritisation of projects. As I said, we are very challenged on higher education capital funding.