How colleges to gain from the €1.2bn Budget boost

THE Government followed through on a massive €1.2 billion Budget-day promise for the third level sector yesterday, announcing details of 35 new construction projects in universities and institutes of technology.

The five-year funding package, first announced in last week’s Budget, is being seen in the sector as welcome Government recognition of the strategic importance of third-level education.

Dubbed “groundbreaking” by the Irish Universities’ Association on Budget day, the final announcement of projects now given approval was yesterday described as the most visionary reform of the institutes of technology in more than 30 years by the directors of the institutes.