Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for all of that and there is a huge amount of investment to come yet. Crowley Park is a significant acquisition for the facility. It is only right that was done. In fact, we should have bought the hotel across the way when it was available through NAMA and secured that site as well. At the time it did not happen for various reasons, none more so than the fact that GMIT at the time could not raise its own funds and Government did not have funds.

Hopefully, ATU, which has university status, will be capable of raising funds. The last major project that was done in GMIT was launched in 2000. I worked as a contracts manager on that project. Work on the beautiful sails that are located at the front of the campus, on the library and on all of the surrounding area was done in 2000. Some 22 years later, we are still waiting for the next major project. The campus deserves such a project.

I assure the Minister that we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to fight for further resources for the educational facilities in the region. It is important for regional development that we continue to support all of those educational facilities. I thank the Minister for his support on this matter.

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