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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today welcomed the conclusion and signing of the contracts for the construction of six new buildings across multiple campuses in the eastern, southern and midlands regions.
The buildings, which are being delivered by Public Private Partnership (PPP), will cost approximately €250 million ex VAT to construct. They are located in the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) Tallaght and Blanchardstown campuses; Munster Technological University (MTU) campuses in Cork and Tralee, the Athlone campus of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Dún Laoghaire.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
"This is a really important development in higher education.
"The construction of these buildings on multiple campuses across the country will improve the educational experience for current and future generations of students.
"It also represents an important milestone in the government’s Higher Education PPP programme and illustrates a commitment to investment in the higher education sector.
"We look forward to the construction progression of each of these six buildings over the coming years and look forward to welcoming the first students to the new buildings. The future is bright."
When all six buildings are completed, they will comprise circa 38,060 m2 of additional building space at the campuses and will cater for 5,147 additional student places. In addition, the provision of these buildings will free up space in existing buildings and allow for new student places.
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 contract has been awarded to the Enbarr Partnership, comprising Macquarie Capital Group Ltd. (equity provider), JJ Rhatigan & Company (construction contractor) and Sodexo (facilities management). The project will be funded by AIB, Bank of Ireland, Nord/LB, Korea Development Bank and Norinchukin Bank.
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 Enbarr Partnership 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 monthly unitary charge over the 25 year operational period, commencing once construction has been completed.
Andrew O’Flanagan, Director, National Development Finance Agency and NewERA, commented on the project, said:
"Working in collaboration with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, this announcement represents an important milestone in the delivery of an additional c. 5,147 student places across six academic buildings."
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.
Images of the planned buildings are available upon request.
The buildings being delivered are as follows.
A 5,210m2 culinary arts, engineering and teaching building is to be delivered for the Tallaght campus of TU Dublin. This will consist of laboratories, lecture theatres, classrooms, administration space, and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of the TU Dublin at Tallaght by c. 1,200 students.
A 4,067m2 teaching building is to be delivered at the Blanchardstown campus of TU Dublin. This will consist of classrooms, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. Together with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of the TU Dublin at Blanchardstown by c.600 students.
The facility proposed for delivery is a new 7,208m2 digital media building. This will consist of computer laboratories, design laboratories, classroom spaces, the main campus restaurant and ancillary space. Together with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of IADT by c.590 students.
A new 6,660m2 learning resource centre is planned for the MTU Cork campus. This will consist of classrooms, learning resource spaces, administration space and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of MTU at Cork by c. 1,000 students.
A new 8,913m2 STEM building is planned for the MTU Kerry campus, consisting of laboratories, agri-machinery workshops, classroom spaces and ancillary space. This will be built on the North Campus and represents an important step in the consolidation of the MTU Kerry campus on that site. The new STEM building will replace infrastructure on the South Campus that is no longer fit for purpose and will increase the capacity of MTU at Kerry by 440 students.
A new 6,000m2 STEM building is to be delivered at the TUS Athlone campus. This will consist of science labs, administration space and ancillary space. Together with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase the capacity of the TUS at Athlone by c. 1,317 students.
A PPP is a contractual arrangement between the public and private sectors for the delivery of public infrastructure that would otherwise have been provided through traditional public sector procurement. In the case of this PPP project, the private partner will finance and construct the buildings, then operate and maintain them over 25 years. The private partner will be reimbursed by the State via monthly payments which will commence when the buildings are operational and continue for 25 years. 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 1 of the Higher Education PPP Programme are as follows.
| Higher Education Institution (TU/TU Consortium) | Project name | Gross floor area (sqm) | Project description |
| Munster TU: Cork Campus | Learning Resource Centre | 6,660 m2 | The proposed project facility is the construction of a Learning Resource Centre which will accommodate learning, study, exhibition, engagement and entrepreneurial space. It will allow MTU Cork to increase capacity across STEM, business and humanities subjects. |
| Munster TU: Kerry Campus | Science Technology Engineering and Maths Building | 8,913 m2 | The construction of a 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. |
| TU Dublin: Tallaght Campus | Culinary Arts, Engineering & Teaching Building | 5,209 m2 | This project facility includes 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 laboratories. |
| TU 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. |
| TU Shannon: Athlone Campus | Science Technology Engineering and Maths Building | 6,000 m2 | Development of a new STEM facility to include science laboratories, lecture theatres, classrooms and other facilities. |
| Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dún Laoghaire | Digital Media Building | 7,208 m2 | The construction of a Digital Media Building which will house the animation and visual design communications laboratories, with capacity also for growth in courses in creative computing, entrepreneurship and creative technologies. |