Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated capital expenditure in higher education broken down by project in 2022, in tabular form; if this figure includes public private partnerships; the estimated expenditure in 2022 on PPPs broken down by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28820/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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340. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated capital expenditure in further education in 2022; if this figure includes public private partnerships; the estimated expenditure in 2022 on PPPs broken down by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28821/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.

The revised National Development Plan (NDP) provides for Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 2021–2025.

This is in addition to infrastructure to be delivered by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP), including the Higher Education PPP programme which is focused on Technological Universities/Institutes of Technology. 

There are currently no PPP projects approved in the FET sector.

In respect of planned expenditure in 2022 in the higher and further education sectors, it is not possible to be specific with regard to the level of funding to be provided to each institution.  This is because the budget is managed at an overall level, with profiles regularly updated to take account of the rate of progress of individual projects through design, planning, procurement and construction. 

I can, however, advise that the overall 2022 higher education capital allocation is €166m and the further education capital allocation is €47.5m. These amounts do not include an allocation for PPP projects but do include the Devolved Capital Grant and the Apprenticeship Grant for the higher and further education sectors.

In addition, a further €46m allocation is available in 2022 for a number of operational higher education PPP projects including the National Maritime College of Ireland and Cork School of Music, which are part of Munster Technological University and the most recently delivered PPP project; the East and Central Quads at Grangegorman. This allocation also funds the higher education PPP bundle 1 & 2 Technical Advisor costs.

I have attached details of each approved project in the HE sector currently being funded by my Department including the 11 higher education PPP projects.

/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2022-06-02_pq339-02-06-22_en.xlsx">Exchequer

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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341. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the Exchequer of delivering all public private partnerships planned for the technological sector as direct capital investments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28822/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme comprises eleven building projects in the Higher Education sector. The Programme is broken into two bundles with Bundle 1 comprising six projects, currently at preferred tenderer stage and Bundle 2 comprising five projects, currently at competitive dialogue (pre-tender submission) stage. These projects will play an important role in enabling projected increases in student enrolments, addressing severe constraints with regard to existing infrastructure and advancing the TU agenda. The programme will deliver some 70,000m2 of additional space, generating an additional 8,000 student places, mainly in STEM-related areas.    

The cost estimates in relation to the Higher Education PPP Programme were published on e-tenders as part of the contract notice in 2019 and 2020 for Bundle 1 and 2 respectively. Bundle 1 had an estimated construction value of €150m (excluding VAT) whilst Bundle 2 had an estimated construction value of €140m (excluding VAT). Since these figures were published, there has been significant inflation in the construction sector; the exact cost of each bundle will be finalised prior to contract signing and subject to a Value for Money assessment prior to contract signing.

As is the case with all higher education PPP projects, the costs are reimbursed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to the PPP Company, as part of the monthly Unitary Charge payments. These payments only commence once construction has been completed, the facilities are operational and continue over the 25 year period.