Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when it is envisaged that the third level college, which was announced before the general election 2002 for the northside of Cork city will proceed; when he expects that this building will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14576/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I announced a pause in relation to all capital developments in the third level sector including capital projects under cycle 3 of the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI, in November 2002. Funding has been provided in the 2004 Estimates to commence cycle 3 of the PRTLI.

At my request the Higher Education Authority, HEA, is undertaking a review of the entire set of demands in the third level sector, excluding PRTLI, to establish prioritisation and agree re-phasing for future years.

Each Institution has met the review group and made a presentation of its institutional strategy and set the capital development proposals in a strategic context. The joint proposal for a Cork College of Higher Education on the north side of Cork city formed part of the submission to the review group by both Cork Institute of Technology and the National University of Ireland, Cork. The work of the review group is at a very advanced stage and it is the intention of the group to have a report submitted to the HEA in June. The authority will then advise me of its views.

Decisions in relation to capital projects at third level institutions, including the proposed new Cork College of Higher Education, will be taken in the context of the outcome of the review and within the parameters of the capital envelope of funds available to me.