College building projects delayed over incomplete review

COLLEGE building projects costing hundreds of millions of euro are being delayed because a review on the work ordered by Education Minister Noel Dempsey is incomplete.

The review was announced to colleges by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) a year ago. The group carrying it out is chaired by former AIB Bank managing director Kevin Kelly.

It was asked to prioritise State funding for capital projects at universities and institutes of technology and was due to report back to the HEA by the end of October.

But the extent of the work, assessing building plans estimated to cost €2 billion over the next decade, has led to the delays. However, a HEA spokesperson said last night the authority’s executive expects the final report of the review group later this month or in June.

It will then be given to Mr Dempsey, who is expected to produce a five-year third-level capital investment plan.

While the projects submitted include long-term plans at some institutions, work on some projects is ready to begin immediately.

National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) president Iognáid Ó Muirchearthaigh said their €53 million engineering facility has been ready to proceed for more than six months.

“We have raised €25m of the cost but we’re waiting for the findings of the review before work can begin, although we’re hopeful that the State funding will be approved,” he said. Third-level institutions have had to turn increasingly to non-public finance for capital projects in recent years, given the slowdown in funding from the Department. Students at NUIG recently voted to charge each student €100 a year, to help meet the cost of a planned €35m sports and cultural centre.

Dr Ó Muircheartaigh said the capital review had caused some delays to aspects of the university’s €250m strategic plan launched a year ago. But work is progressing on non-building elements, including efforts to recruit more overseas students.

There were celebrations at another third-level college when Mr Dempsey opened the €75m Institute of Technology Blanchardstown campus in Dublin.