Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This is a very important and ambitious project for the north inner city and there is no question or doubt about that. I have been to the location and spoken to the people involved and I commend them for the work done so far. The benefits for the DIT are significant in terms of reducing rental costs and being able to acquire a more integrated campus arrangement than is currently the case, where it has built up over many years various departments in different locations. That brings its own administrative and managerial difficulties as well.

The project is ambitious and involves not just meeting educational needs, as the Deputy noted, but also housing and social need in the widest community sense. The Minister for Education and Science is keeping a very close eye on the matter and perhaps a detailed question to him on its present status would be the best action for the Deputy.

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