Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising this important matter as it affords me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding capital developments at the Institute of Technology, Tralee. I endorse everything the Deputy has said about the institute with which I am familiar since my time in the Department of Education and Science when I had responsibility for the institutes of education. Many past pupils of the Tralee institute and some current pupils are from my county and some have been reasonably successful in the game of football, although not quite as successful as Deputy Deenihan as yet. We salute the institute for the rounded contribution it makes to both the academic and extra curricular development of its students.

The Institute of Technology, Tralee, is an autonomous body and its day-to-day management is a matter for the institute's governing authority. Likewise, the management of large scale capital projects is fully within the domain of the institute's governing body. In December 2005, in the context of a budget day announcement of a €900 million multi-annual capital envelope for higher education, the Minister for Education and Science announced the approval of 35 major capital projects across the sector for advancement. Key priority projects were included on the basis of an earlier review of all capital projects in the sector. The projects included the development of facilities in a range of disciplines, including engineering, IT, research, digital media and business and enterprise. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the library and information resource centre at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, was one of the projects approved to proceed at that time. While a number of these projects were announced for delivery through the public private partnership process, the library and information resource centre was earmarked for delivery through conventional procurement.

Accordingly, since December 2005, responsibility for progressing this project rests with the institute's governing body. The Department of Education and Science had expected to receive pre-tender documentation from the institute in December 2006, but to date this submission has not been received. Accordingly, such delays as are being encountered with advancing this project are outside of the scope of the Department to address or rectify. I assure the Deputy, however, that the Department is fully committed to progressing the project and is anxious to do so as soon as it receives the requisite material from the institute in Tralee.

With regard to the question of funding for other projects at the institute, these will be considered in the context of the prioritisation of new projects for delivery as part of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. In that context, the Deputy will be aware of the significant priority given to investment in higher education under the NDP, reflecting the significance that the Government attributes to investing in the sector generally.

As the Deputy is aware, the institute is currently located on two campuses. The institute's strategic plan is to integrate all facilities on a single site. The rationale for this strategy is the prospect of considerable operational efficiencies and growth opportunities for education in the institute. With this in mind, the Minister is aware that the institute is investigating the possibility of delivering a number of projects, including the student facilities building, and the health and leisure building, through alternative methods. Specifically, the institute is examining an expression of interest proposal.

In broad terms, an expression of interest is an exploration of the viability of providing a range of campus facilities with interested parties in the private sector. The institute advertised its expression of interest in the national media last September and I understand it has received a number of responses. However, the proposal is at the early stages of investigation. The institute will work to progress the process over the coming months.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and allowing me the opportunity to clarify the position with regard to capital developments at the Institute of Technology, Tralee.

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