Funding fears over UCC construction

UNIVERSITY College Cork is seeking to add two extra floors to a €60 million IT building on which construction recently started, despite a lack of full clearance for its funding.

College chiefs, it emerged, decided to move ahead with construction on the three-storey building last month as its planning permission was about to lapse.

But it was claimed, in a weekend newspaper report, that the Department of

Education had still not approved the public funding for the scheme and was concerned about an apparent €9m shortfall in private contributions towards the project, which also requires approval from the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

UCC received planning for the project from Cork City Council in July 2001 but a full grant of permission did not issue until An Bord Pleanála had considered and rejected third party appeals against the development in February 2002.

Construction work on the proposed IT building began three weeks ago at the site of the former greyhound track on the Western Road, which UCC purchased in the late 1990s.

But a planning application to add two floors was submitted to city planners on September 28 by UCC’s building and estates office, increasing the proposed floor space by almost 40% to 25,115sq m.

The extra cost involved is unclear but it may cause further concerns about the university’s debt levels, following recent claims of financial mismanagement by governing body member Prof Des Clarke.

In response to these criticisms which were circulated to UCC staff in the form of an open letter last month, college president Prof Gerry Wrixon made assurances that the college remains financially viable and said the debt stands at €39m rather than the €100m claimed by Prof Clarke.

The HEA is probing the mismanagement allegations on behalf of education minister Mary Hanafin, who has the power to order an independent investigation. However, her department has said that most of Prof Clarke’s claims have been previously examined and found to be groundless.

The latest controversy has arisen as the deadline for applications to succeed Prof Wrixon passed yesterday.

It is understood that a considerable number of applicants have put themselves forward, including a number of overseas candidates.

It is not known when the name of the chosen candidate will be presented to the governing body for approval but the process is expected to be completed in time to replace Prof Wrixon when he retires in late January.