Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has received the revised draft strategic plan and related budget from the Grangegorman Development Agency which will provide for the relocation of the Dublin Institute of Technology from more than 30 different locations and sites in the Dublin area to a new integrated urban campus at Grangegorman, Dublin 7, catering for 27,000 students; his views on the relocation of this third level institution on the grounds of efficiency, economy and the development of excellence in the education system; when he will bring the draft strategic plan and related budget to the Cabinet for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19257/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Grangegorman Development Agency submitted a draft Strategic Plan and Budget to my Department in October 2008 as provided in Section 12 (h) of the Act. Copies of the plan and Budget were also forwarded to the Minister for Health & Children for her consideration. Following receipt of the Strategic Plan plan, my officials in consultation with the Higher Education Authority commenced an assessment of the proposals. My Department also sought the advice of the National Development Finance Agency on the funding portions of the draft Cost Benefit Analysis from the Dublin Institute of Technology and the draft Strategic Plan.

In March 2009 the Agency submitted a revised Strategic plan and budget. The revised plan takes account of the reduced prices that have materialised in the construction sector by updating construction prices to January 2009 values. The Agency also reduced enabling infrastructure costs and revised the estimated value of DIT property portfolio to reflect current market trends. The revised plan proposes to deliver the complete project in phases.

The Grangegorman Development Agency has provided the Department with a clear indication of the overall costs for the development of the Grangegorman site.

This has allowed my Department the opportunity to consider fully the costs involved in utilising the majority of the Grangegorman campus to provide for needs of DIT.

There are issues relating to the proposals that my Department is discussing with the various interested parties and when these have been fully explored, I would intend bringing proposals to Government for consideration.