David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if capital funding will be made available to progress the building of an engineering block at WIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10924/17]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has received proposals from WIT to extend laboratory spaces and capacity at the institution; if consideration will be given to capital funding for such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10925/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.

The Department of Education and Skills is aware of the infrastructure challenges faced by Waterford Institute of Technology. The proposals referred to by the Deputy are among the many competing demands on the Department’s capital budget for higher education.

The Higher Education Authority, following consultations with my Department, has recently issued a circular letter to all institutions under its remit. This circular has been issued for the purpose of updating and consolidating the information available in relation to priority capital projects in higher education institutions.  This Circular will, inter alia, assist in identifying the full extent of capital requirements in the higher education sector. It will also assist in identifying the projects that could be prioritised for capital funding should it become available.

In that context, a submission has been received from Waterford Institute of Technology and an assessment of same is underway.