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Press release

Minister Lawless announces commencement of construction of five new higher education buildings

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, today welcomed the conclusion and signing of the contracts for the commencement of construction of five new buildings across multiple campuses, which are being delivered by Public Private Partnership (PPP). The construction cost of the five buildings is approximately €380 million ex VAT.

The new buildings are located in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway and Letterkenny Campuses, South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford and Carlow Campuses and in the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Limerick Campus.

This is the second phase of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme, with buildings in the first phase located in the Technological University Dublin (TUD) Tallaght and Blanchardstown Campuses, Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork and Kerry Campuses, the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone Campus and in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Dún Laoghaire. The contract for phase one was signed in December 2022.

When all eleven buildings are completed, they will comprise circa 72,800m2 of additional building space at the campuses and will cater for circa 8,500 student places. In addition, the provision of these buildings will free up space in existing buildings and allow for new student places.

Speaking today, Minister Lawless said:

"This significant capital programme demonstrates both my own and the Government’s commitment to excellence across all our higher education institutions. It reflects our focus on achieving regional balance and delivering best-in-class facilities for the next generation of learners - and for the long-term economic impact that follows. 

"With construction now commencing on five new buildings across five campuses, this €380 million programme will significantly expand student capacity, modernise teaching spaces, and bring state-of-the-art labs, studios, and workshops to regions across the country. It is a vital investment in our economy, supporting scientific education in regional areas.

“I’ve seen first-hand the transformative impact of buildings delivered under phase one of this PPP programme and the quality of what has been delivered. With today’s announcement, we are building on that success, delivering lasting educational infrastructure that will reinforce Ireland’s knowledge economy for years to come.”

The buildings will have a strong focus on supporting practice-based learning, including laboratories, workshops and studios. They will also have significant flexibility to adapt to changing teaching and learning needs, and to support hybrid and remote learning.

The buildings being delivered in the second phase are as follows:

Atlantic Technological University, Galway Campus: STEM Building

A Science Technology Engineering Mathematics building is planned for ATU Galway Campus consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate science laboratories, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of ATU at Galway by c. 500 students.

Atlantic Technological University, Letterkenny Campus: Education Building

A Library, IT and Education Building is planned for ATU Letterkenny Campus. This will consist of a library and various learning resource spaces, general and specialised teaching spaces, ICT laboratories, administration space and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of ATU at Letterkenny by c. 600 students.

South East Technological University, Waterford Campus – Engineering, Architecture, Computing and General Teaching Building

A new Engineering, Architecture Computing and General Teaching building is planned at SETU Waterford Campus 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. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of SETU at Waterford by c. 1,000 students.

South East Technological University, Carlow Campus: Science & Health Building

A 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. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of SETU at Carlow by c. 500 students.

Technological University of the Shannon, Limerick Campus - Applied Science & IT Building

An Applied Science and IT building is planned for TUS Limerick Campus. The building will consist of undergraduate and postgraduate science laboratories, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of TUS at Limerick by c. 700 students.

The contract has been awarded to the Invesis Consortium comprising Invesis Coöperatie U.A. (equity provider), BAM Building Ltd (construction contractor) and BAM FM Ireland Ltd (facilities management). The project will be funded by the European Investment Bank, Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Rabobank.

The Higher Education Authority, acting as the Sponsoring Agency, worked with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as Approving Authority. The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), was responsible for the procurement of this PPP project on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The NDFA will continue to be involved during subsequent phases of the project.

As with other PPP projects in the education sector, the contract type is design, build, finance and maintain. The Invesis Consortium will construct the buildings using private finance and will then operate and maintain the buildings over a period of 25 years. Payment by the Department will be by way of a monthly unitary charge over the 25-year operational period, commencing once construction has been completed.

Ciarán McCaffrey, Head of Capital Programmes at the HEA, said:

“The commencement of construction of five new buildings across the Higher Education sector marks a key stage in this PPP Programme. These new buildings provide state of the art teaching and learning, lab and learning resource space which will be transformative for the students and staff as well as the regions these institutions serve.”

This project is being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 which recognises that investment in education is central to achieving a strong, future-proofed economy, balanced across the regions, and a just society in which all citizens are enabled to fulfill their potential.

The start of construction on these important buildings illustrates the Government’s commitment to the Higher Education PPP programme and our pledge to invest in the higher education sector.

NOTES

PPPs are structured arrangements between the public and private sectors for the delivery of public infrastructure projects. These projects would otherwise be provided through traditional public sector procurement mechanisms, where all construction expenditure is paid upfront by the Department and ongoing costs are paid as they arise. PPP projects are designed, built, financed and maintained by the selected private partner over the 25-year service period following construction completion. In the case of a PPP, the Department pays for the contracted services after construction is complete via a monthly Unitary Charge over the 25-year service period. At the end of the 25-year service period, the buildings will be handed back to the respective Higher Education Institutions in a pre-defined condition.

The Projects included in Bundle 2 of the Higher Education PPP Programme are as follows:

Higher Education Institution Project Name Gross Floor Area (sqm) Project Description
Atlantic Technological University: Galway Campus STEM Building 5,500 m2 Science Technology Engineering and Maths building consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate science labs, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space.
Atlantic Technological University: Letterkenny Campus Education Building 5,100 m2 Library, IT and Education Building consisting of a library and various learning resource spaces, general and specialised teaching spaces, ICT labs, administration space and ancillary space.
South East Technological University: Waterford Campus Engineering, Architecture, Computing & General Teaching Building 12,800 m2 Engineering, Architecture, Computing and General Teaching building consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate labs, general and specialised teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. 
South East Technological University: Carlow Campus Science and Health Building 6,100 m2 Science and Health building consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate science labs, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space.
Technological University of the Shannon: Limerick Campus Applied Science and IT Building 5,200 m2 Applied Science and IT building consisting of undergraduate and post graduate labs, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space.  

Bundle 1

Five of the six buildings in Bundle 1 have been completed and handed over to the Higher Education Institutions and are now operational. These are in the Technological University of Dublin Tallaght and Blanchardstown Campuses, the Technological University of the Shannon Athlone Campus, the Munster Technological University Cork Campus and in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire. The remaining building in Munster Technological University Kerry, is due to commence service on the 30th of June, in line with what was agreed in the original contract.

The Projects included in Bundle 1 of the Higher Education PPP Programme are:

Higher Education Institution Project Title Project Description
Munster Technological University: Cork Campus Learning Resource Centre, 6,660 m2 Construction of a Learning Resource Centre to accommodate learning, study, exhibition, engagement and entrepreneurial space. It allows MTU Cork to increase capacity across STEM, business and humanities subjects.
Munster Technological University: Kerry Campus Science Technology Engineering and Maths Building. 8,913 m2 Building to accommodate the STEM school of MTU Kerry, including agri-tech facilities. The STEM building will be located at the North Campus at Dromtacker.
Technological University Dublin: Tallaght Campus Culinary Arts, Engineering & Teaching Building, 5,209 m2 A technical development centre (i.e. practice based learning facilities for engineering and science courses); facilities for the culinary arts; and new classrooms and computer labs.
Technological University Dublin: Blanchardstown Campus General Teaching Building 4,067 m2 As part of its campus masterplan, TU Dublin Blanchardstown is expanding its general teaching facilities to support growth in student numbers across a range of disciplines.
Technological University of the Shannon: Athlone Campus STEM Building, 6,000 m2  Development of a new Science Technology Engineering and Maths facility to include science labs, lecture theatres, classrooms and other facilities.
Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dún Laoghaire Digital Media Building, 7,208 m2 A Digital Media Building which houses the animation and visual design communications labs, with capacity also for growth in courses in creative computing, entrepreneurship and creative technologies.