UCC and CIT projects get Budget approval

THREE long-awaited multi-million euro third level projects in Cork are poised to go ahead thanks to the Budget.

Two of the developments are at the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the other is at University College Cork (UCC).

The Government allocated €62 million for the construction of UCC’s Information Technology centre on the grounds of the city’s former greyhound track on the Western Road.

UCC bought the site from Bórd na gCon in the ‘90s with a view to developing an IT campus there.

Detailed plans for the facility were first proposed in 1999. But the site wasn’t handed over to the college until the new Curraheen Park greyhound track opened in April 2000. The site has lain vacant since.

A college spokesman said following the Budget allocation, it was hoped to start work on the 2,000-student facility early next year. It should take two years to build.

“A wide range of computer science and IT courses will be provided but that detail has yet to be completed,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, CIT is still awaiting a detailed breakdown of the Budget allocation for its two infrastructural projects.

Phase 2 of its library expansion is one of 17 Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects nationwide to get a slice of a €270m block of funding. CIT’s head of development Michael Delaney said details of the project would only be worked out once the exact level of funding for each project is discussed. It is hoped that those details will be available within a matter of days. The project will then have to go to tender.

CIT director Dr Brendan Murphy welcomed the PPP aspect of this announcement.

“Our positive experiences to date with the only two PPPs in the sector, The National Maritime College and the School of Music, give us confidence.”

Mr Delaney said, while the existing library was a fantastic resource, it did have a problem with capacity.

“We’re talking about developing a learning resource centre for the 21st century,” he said.

Mr Delaney said he was also waiting on details of funding for the Crawford College of Art and Design capital procurement project. It is one of 18 capital projects to get a slice of a €305m allocation.

The existing art college on Sharman Crawford Street is dilapidated and in need of major refurbishment. Students want college chiefs to renovate it so they can stay in the city centre.

However, Mr Delaney said building a new facility at CIT’s Bishopstown campus is the preferred option.

“We would have to look and see how we can get best value for money,” he said. “But our top priority is to get the optimum solution and secure the future of art education in the region.”

However, Fianna Fáil councillor Dave McCarthy expressed disappointment that the Budget failed to allocate funding towards the provision of a third level facility on Cork’s northside.