Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
164. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will make specific capital funding commitments to deliver the South East Technological University strategic plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37402/25]
View answerTechnological Universities are required under their legislation to consult with the Minister in the preparation of their Strategic Development Plans. This is a new provision inserted by the HEA Act from 10th November 2022. Following this consultation process, HEIs are then free, as independent institutions to conclude their Strategic Development Plans in the appropriate manner.
Under the National Development Plan, my Department allocates capital investment to Higher Education Institutions (including SETU) through competitive programmatic funding calls managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). These funding calls invite applications from Universities and Technological Universities, which typically respond by submitting Preliminary Business Cases (PBCs). The HEA evaluates submissions based on value for money, alignment with national priorities and strategic alignment, before making recommendations to my Department. Funding is not allocated by institution, but rather to projects that demonstrate alignment with national and Departmental priorities.
All projects are subject to the approval process outlined in the 2023 Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code), which requires progression through a series of formal Approval Gates. Approval Gate 1 is Approval in Principle, Approval Gate 2 is Pre-Tender Approval, and Approval Gate 3 is Approval to Proceed. Any decision to allow a project to proceed through Approval Gate 1, Approval in Principle is not considered a guarantee of capital investment.
Below are details of recently announced PPP projects at SETU campuses and a table containing a yearly breakdown of capital funding to SETU.
Supplementary Information - for PQ 37402/25
Details of PPP Projects recently announced at SETU Campuses
SETU Carlow Campus - A new 6,100m2 Science and Health Building is planned at SETU Carlow Campus which will consist of undergraduate and postgraduate science laboratories, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. The new building will increase capacity of SETU Carlow by circa 500 students. The construction duration for the Science and Health Building is expected to be 28 months and it is estimated that the facility will become operational in Q4 2027.
SETU Waterford Campus - The project planned at SETU Waterford Campus is a new Engineering, Architecture, Computing and General Teaching building which will consist of undergraduate and postgraduate laboratories, general and specialised teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. The project is the largest in the Higher Education PPP Programme at 12,800 square metres. The new building will increase capacity of SETU Waterford by circa 500 students. The construction duration for the Engineering, Computing and Humanities Building is expected to be 36 months and it is estimated that the facility will become operational in Q2 2028.
TU Funding Disbursed to South East Technological University (SETU)
Since SETU was formed on 01/05/2022 exchequer grant of €27,223,849.50 has been spent on devolved grant, research equipment grant, medium voltage upgrade, EEDPP projects at Burrin building Carlow and Waterford business school, space utilisation, apprenticeship programmes of avionics, plumbing, electronic systems and electrical and a site purchase.
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TU Funding Disbursed to South East Technological University (SETU) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TU & Date Effective From |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Total |
|
SETU from 01/05/2022 |
€3,994,368.94 |
€14,693,313.54 |
€8,536,167.02 |
|
€27,223,849.50 |
|
Total |
€3,994,368.94 |
€14,693,313.54 |
€8,536,167.02 |
€0.00 |
€27,223,849.50 |
