Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no capital funding was allocated in 2025 for the Technological University of the Shannon compared with the previous year when there was an allocation of €10,195,462.18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41806/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no capital funding was allocated for Southeast Technological University in 2025 compared to 2024 when €8,536,167.02 was allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41807/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3361. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there was a significant decrease in capital funding for Atlantic Technological University from €20,128,416.48 in 2024 to just €752,300.00 in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41808/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there was a significant decrease in capital funding for Munster Technological University of €6,076,595.51 in 2025 compared to €11,118,095.28 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41809/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3359, 3360, 3361 and 3362 together.

I would like to respond to these questions together and that the Deputy would note that the comparison outlined is between a full years spend in 2024 compared with a half years spend in 2025.

Capital projects that involve Exchequer funding typically exhibit non-uniform expenditure patterns across financial years. This variability is largely attributable to the distinct phases of the project life cycle, each of which carries different cost implications. Unlike recurrent expenditure, capital investment is inherently episodic and milestone-driven, with funding requirements fluctuating significantly depending on the stage of development.

In the early stages, such as project planning and design, spending tends to be relatively modest, covering activities like feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and preliminary design work. As the project progresses into the procurement and mobilisation phase, expenditure begins to increase, reflecting the costs associated with tendering, enabling works, and contractor mobilisation.

The construction or implementation phase typically represents the period of peak expenditure, where the majority of capital outlay occurs. This includes payments for materials, labour, equipment, and other major inputs. Following this, during the completion and handover stage, spending begins to taper off, with costs limited to final payments, commissioning, and defect resolution.

I would also like to highlight to the Deputy the significant investment made in our Technological University sector, with 11 new buildings being delivered under the Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme. These buildings span the country, with facilities in MTU on the Tralee and Cork campuses; in TUS in Athlone and Limerick; in ATU on the Galway and Letterkenny campuses; in SETU in Waterford and Carlow; in TUD on the Blanchardstown and Tallaght campuses; and a new building in Dún Laoghaire at IADT. This major investment will be a transformative development for the sector.

To date, six of the buildings have been completed on time and within budget, with construction underway on the remaining five. This programme represents approximately €630 million in capital investment in our Technological Universities.

However, as Public Private Partnerships are funded over a 25 year period, this substantial investment does not appear in the annual capital allocations.

Given this dynamic capital spending is subject to fluctuations.