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

164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding has been approved for the construction of an engineering building at Waterford Institute of Technology, WIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17639/18]

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

An Engineering, Computing, and General Teaching Building in WIT is included in the Higher Education PPP Programme announced on 16th October last. Technical, legal and other advisors for this programme will be appointed shortly and an announcement in this respect can be expected in the coming weeks.

In parallel, officials from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the NDFA and my Department have engaged with the Higher Education Institutions included in the programme, including WIT, with a view to agreeing schedules of accommodation for each individual project . This work is almost complete. The resulting schedules of accommodation will be provided to the advisors and will form the basis of the next stage of development of these projects (i.e. the design and planning application process).

It should be noted that all projects in the programme are subject to ongoing technical appraisal and economic analysis to ensure value for money is achieved.