Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have heard the Minister speak many times about his ambitions for South East Technological University but I remind him these cannot be realised without money. As the Minister knows, the president of the institution, Professor Campbell, produced a strategic plan in September that calls for €350 million in capital investment over five years. Along with this, she needs changes to the borrowing framework. As the Minister will know, lecturers' contracts are also a part of this context. The most immediate evidence of investment would concern the public private partnership, PPP, projects for the Carlow and Waterford campuses. Has the Government accepted the requirement for €350 million in capital investment over five years? Is it ring-fencing money for this endeavour? When will the Minister announce the commencement of the PPP project for the engineering building in Waterford and the other project for the building in Carlow?

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