Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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2556. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the level of capital investment in ATU Mayo, Castlebar campus since 2020; the capital projects funded at the campus over this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Atlantic Technological University was formed on 01/04/2022 with the amalgamation of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Institute of Technology Sligo (IT Sligo), and Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) with St Angela’s College joining more recently on 01/11/2023.

Funding of €2.08m was provided to support an upgrade of the roof and other building fabric at the Castlebar campus. This recognised the health and safety challenge posed by the roof condition and responded to a recommendation of the Working Group on Developing a Sustainable Plan for the Mayo Campus of the then Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. This work was completed in late 2020.

In 2023, €1.1m was allocated under the Higher Education Apprenticeship Expansion Programme to support 12 electrical blocks being provided in ATU, Castlebar, Mayo.

Along with individual capital projects, ATU receives an annual Devolved Capital Grant which provides flexible capital funding to support small-scale building works (including health and safety works, access works, refurbishment, energy upgrades etc.) and equipment purchase or renewal, including ICT. In addition the institution was allocated funding under the Higher Education Research Equipment Grant (HEREG) in 2023 and in 2024 to purchase new or additional research equipment or complete research equipment upgrades. It is a matter for individual higher education institutions including ATU to determine what works are prioritised across the campuses under its remit.

For reference a table of funding at GMIT from 01/01/2020 – 31/03/2023 and ATU from 01/04/2022 to date is set out below.

TABLE OF SPEND AT GMIT AND ATU

Funding at GMIT (From 2020 – 31/03/2022)

Atlantic Technological University (Since 01/04/2022 - date)