Dáil debates

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Technological Universities

10:54 am

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that is being made on the delivery of the new STEM building for the Galway Campus of the Atlantic Technology University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60119/22]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I raise an important issue that is close to my own heart which is the development of what we call the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, building in the Galway campus of the Atlantic Technological University, ATU. As we know, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and maths. This project has been talked about for a long number of years and as a former lecturer and former student of the college in Galway, I know how close it is to the hearts all of the lecturers, staff and students. Will the Minister provide an update on where we are going with it?

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Objectively, this was a really great week for education in Galway. We saw approximately €100 million announced in projects for further education and higher education in the city and county of Galway. We saw a multi-million euro development in the Deputy's own bailiwick where I know he lectured, in the Atlantic Technological University - some €19 million from memory - that will see a new learner facility developed for science and computing students among others. We also saw Galway chosen as a location for a major further education college which will see a 40% increase in the number of full-time students in further education there. Specifically regarding this project - the Deputy and I have discussed this - the new STEM building project at the Atlantic Technological University Galway campus is included in what we call bundle 2 of the higher education public private partnership programme. Bundle 2 consists of five projects and is currently at tender stage. The Deputy will understand that this obviously competitive process restrains me somewhat in commenting too much on it. Construction price inflation and volatility in the construction market is obviously a challenge in all our construction projects however the procuring authority comprising of my own Department, the National Development Finance Agency and the Higher Education Authority is working within the parameters of the procurement process to make progress. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is a live procurement matter at the competitive dialogue stage, and many of the details are commercially sensitive. Notwithstanding this, it is currently estimated the programme will achieve financial close and will move forward. I am optimistic progress will be made on this and I will keep in contact with the Deputy directly regarding this issue.

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I thank the Minister and acknowledge the fact that he was down in Galway. These investments are vitally important and that is a lot of money in a good week for the region in terms of educational facilities. Referring to the STEM building, when I was lecturing there seven years ago, and for a number of years before that, we were talking about what the Minister called bundle 2 and those five projects within that. The bundle is running around the place for many years now. It is important to state that many of the lecturers and students are still being taught in classrooms which were build 50 years ago. This is the 50th anniversary of the Regional Technical College, RTC, building opening and the classrooms were designed for a different era. This project will not cure all ills but it is a big step forward because Galway provides a significant number of STEM graduates to the workplace and they do great work. I am delighted to see things are improving and that project is progressing but I hope we get a conclusion. We are all aware of construction inflation but it is important we bring this to right conclusion.

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy's sentiments. I am aware this bundle has been on the run for a while and I hear his frustration on that point. I want to assure him and his constituents, and the staff and students in ATU Galway in particular, that things have not been standing still. There is a very live process underway in relation to bundle 2 which includes this STEM project for Galway. I have confirmed to the Deputy in the Dáil this morning that we are hopeful of being able to bring that to a financial close. I just do not want to say anything that in anyway undermines the work of my Department and others involved as the procuring agency. I also make the point, which in fairness the Deputy has acknowledged, that while this project has been working its way through the various processes, other projects in ATU Galway, from a capital point of view, have progressed. We announced a multi-million euro investment project this week which will expand and improve facilities for students in a range of areas, including science and computing, and there is also the acquisition for the ATU Galway campus of the Crowley Park lands, a project that was also running around for quite a few years and which I was delighted to be able to bring to a conclusion earlier this year

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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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.

11:04 am

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Not that it is needed, but I offer my encouragement to the Deputy in continuing his work. There is a major vehicle for the west and the north west in the form of the ATU. There is a brilliant leadership team place, including the president, Dr. Orla Flynn, and the chair of the governing authority, Maura McNally. I was in that beautiful library on Monday last. To use the hotel as an example, some of the changes we made this week will ensure that ATU and other facilities can benefit in the future. For example, the devolved grant will be extended to allow colleges to make progress in respect of accommodation. ATU will also receive part of the €1 million for technological universities to bring in capacity to plan for its student accommodation. If we are serious about regional development - and the Deputy has a strong record on this - bringing accommodation into the region is important. Having student accommodation in the technological universities is going to be key to their success. They have not been able to borrow a bean up until now to do that. We have changed the borrowing framework in order that they can. This week, we have provided them with money to prepare their plans for submission to us in 2023 to either build or provide student accommodation next year. I hear what the Deputy said regarding n the STEM building. I will keep in close contact with him on that.