Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the details of the project for GMIT Galway campus in view of his recent announcement of €200 million for 11 major infrastructure projects in the higher education sector; the estimated cost; and when will it be completed. [44909/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The GMIT project to which the Deputy refers was among those which I announced would be included in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme for the higher education sector. The GMIT proposal involves the construction of a new STEM building, including labs, multi-purpose rooms, lab support rooms, seminar rooms and classrooms.

I am not in a position to release information on the cost of any individual project at this stage, given the commercial sensitivities attached to the procurement process. In any event, the final scale and scope of all the relevant projects will be subject to ongoing technical appraisal and economic analysis to ensure value for money is achieved.

It is envisaged that the first buildings in this PPP programme will become ready for occupation in 2021 and the other buildings shortly thereafter. This timeline assumes that no major delays arise, such as in relation to statutory approvals.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proposed capital allocation for GMIT Mayo campus for 2018 in view of his recent announcement of €257 million for capital spending in the higher education sector over the next three years. [44910/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he plans to allocate the necessary capital funds to allow repair work to be carried out to the roof of the GMIT campus, County Mayo, in view of his recent announcement of €257 million for capital spending in the higher education sector over the next three years. [44911/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Mayo Campus of GMIT has a very important role to play in delivering economic growth and job creation.

The importance of the GMIT Mayo Campus is recognised by the Department, the Higher Education Authority and GMIT. For that reason, I established the GMIT Working Group in March 2017 with then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD. The Working Group has been engaging with all the relevant stakeholders in order to formulate a plan for the sustainable future of the GMIT Mayo Campus in Castlebar. A Report of the Working Group is being finalised and is due to be submitted to my Department shortly for consideration. I understand this Report will also include a recommendation in relation to infrastructure issues, which my Department will consider.