Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I know he is very interested in it. He has spoken to me often about it and attended meetings on it. I met the president of the NUIG and the president of St. Angela's College in Government Buildings to discuss the issues around the backdrop of the merger between the St. Angela's and the National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG. I pay tribute to this wonderful college in Sligo. St. Angela's is known the length and breadth of the country for its excellence in the teaching of home economics and also for its graduates, and I certainly want that to continue.

The Government recognises the important role played by St. Angela’s College as a higher education institution, particularly in the field of teacher education. St. Angela’s also plays a dynamic role in the economic and social development of the north-west region, including through its professional development and adult education offering.The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, and I are both aware of the challenges facing St. Angela's College - I have walked the campus - in regard to the buildings on its campus, including capacity challenges due to increases in student numbers in its home economic teacher education programmes. As Senator Feighan said the numbers have increased from 85 to 101, with plans to increase the numbers by a further 20%.

We have recently held meetings with St. Angela's College and NUI Galway on the wider incorporation issues, which includes discussions on capital investment. Officials from my Department and the HEA also conducted a site visit as recently as 15 March 2019 to assess current facilities and to discuss the request by St. Angela's College to progress a major campus development project incorporating elements of both refurbishment and new build. It was agreed that an updated business case should be submitted by St. Angela's College to the HEA for approval. It is my understanding that this business case will be submitted shortly, if it has not been submitted in the past number of days.

From 2009 to date, St. Angela's College has received €2.06 million in capital funding. The Department approved funding of €343,000 to the college during the summer of 2017 and then €71,400 in 2018 for much needed refurbishment and repair. All of this funding has been drawn down.

With regard to the wider incorporation with NUI Galway, at the meeting with both institutions on 13 March, it was agreed that a five-year business and implementation plan for the incorporation of St. Angela's College into NUI Galway would be presented to the HEA. I am aware that this document was submitted to the HEA on Monday, 1 April and outlines a roadmap of milestone linked objectives for the delivery of the incorporation over a five-year timeframe. This plan has a number of funding objectives, including a capital element. Officials from the HEA and the Department of Education and Skills are currently reviewing the plan and they intend to follow up with both institutions in the coming weeks. As Senator Feighan will appreciate, decisions regarding the increased allocation of capital funding under Project Ireland 2040 for higher education projects must be based on the level of funding available and then in the context of competing demands. This is being managed very carefully in consultation with the HEA. The needs of St. Angela's College and other higher education institutions will be considered in this overall context.

I look forward to working closely with St. Angela's College and NUI Galway in the future to progress and fulfil the aims of their incorporation.