Mr. Martin Marjoram:

-----specifically focused on the issue of student accommodation which is a long- or medium-term project. It is hoped it will get up and running.

While I am on the subject of construction, one thing has come back quite strongly. While it is very welcome that significant money has been put forward to improve our infrastructure, the inflation level in construction puts enormous pressure on those trying to see those projects through. They are very necessary projects for some of our building stock. Covid highlighted many of the inadequacies with regard to ventilation and so on. Some of the buildings in the institute of technology sector go back 50 years or slightly more.

It is a big problem that must be addressed and one the Department must explore in respect of possibly having to provide extra funding to ensure those projects can be completed.