Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the important matter of the proposed new campus for SETU in Wexford. As he is aware, the current SETU campus in Wexford is not suitable as a transformational learning and development environment. The university has been working on a proposal to provide fit-for-purpose infrastructure that both learners and staff at Wexford can be proud of. This proposal aims to provide a campus that will feature state-of-the-art teaching spaces, facilitating the delivery of SETU's education and training programmes as well as business incubation facilities that will help to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the region. In line with the infrastructure guidelines, SETU has developed a business case to support this proposal, which is being progressed under the technological sector strategic project funds framework, TSSPF. SETU has submitted its business case to the HEA for consideration. If the business case is approved following evaluation, it will feed into the overall master plan being prepared by Wexford County Council for the lands in question.

In line with the infrastructure guidelines, successful business cases are required to be further developed as part of the pre-tender, project design, planning and procurement strategy stage. This is a key stage of development where the proposal will be further refined, the design will be further advanced and the procurement strategy and project execution plan will be developed. Funding requirements for the proposal will be informed by the relevant evaluation processes and the funding availability in the context of the Department's overall capital budget. Specific funding will be set aside within the Department's budget for the cost of the site.

Tremendous work has been done by Wexford County Council on progressing a site for the proposed development. Senator Byrne will be aware that over recent years, SETU has been working closely with the council to help identify an appropriate site for a permanent home for the Wexford campus. As part of this engagement, a preferred site was identified. Following a lengthy negotiation process between the council and the vendor, agreement could not be reached on a price, so the council progressed the acquisition of the site, totalling 48.5 acres, by way of CPO. The intention is that a proportion of the site will be used to facilitate a new Wexford campus for SETU, with the remainder being developed by Wexford County Council.I am aware that a legal challenge has been received in respect of the CPO and this is before the courts for consideration, with a High Court hearing scheduled to take place in May. It would not be appropriate of me to make any further comment while these proceedings remain ongoing.