09 December, 2008 - Speech by the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, on his visit to the National University of Ireland, Galway

President, ladies and gentlemen.

I am very pleased to be here today as Minister for Education and Science.

The main reason for my visit is to bring you news with which I think you will be pleased.

I am glad to be able to announce that the Government has sanctioned tendering for the development of a new Engineering School for NUI Galway.
 
The new Engineering Building will be funded through a combination of Exchequer funding under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, resources realised by NUI Galway, as well as donor funding.

The new building, which will be 14,000 square metres in size, will bring all the Engineering disciplines from across the campus together into a single centralised location.

Once tendering for the new facility has been completed, I understand that plans are to start the construction phase with a target completion date of the summer of 2010.

When finally completed, NUI Galway will have modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation for over 1,100 engineering students and staff.

I am certain that this concentration of expertise, aided by state-of-the-art lecture halls, laboratories and equipment, will lead to improvements in the quality of courses and enhanced synergies between complimentary programmes.

It will further enhance the number of highly skilled graduates in the sector and broaden Ireland's appeal both domestically and internationally as a location for the study and research of Engineering.

When this project is completed, it will represent a major Government-sponsored investment in the development and modernisation of facilities at NUI Galway. 

Investment of this nature is not granted lightly.

Capital projects such as this one are subject to a rigorous assessment under the Government's capital appraisal guidelines.

As you will appreciate, this process is vital to ensure that State capital resources are appropriately targeted to addressing the greatest need in accordance with the National Development Plan.

In this instance, both my Department and the Higher Education Authority recognised the essential benefits of this project and accepted the comprehensive business case made by NUI Galway.   

Looking around this campus, I can see the great advancements and innovations that have taken place here in recent years.

I am proud of the achievements of NUI Galway.

Since entering the new millennium, the Government has invested almost €60 million in capital developments in NUI Galway.

The level of investment is attributable, in some measure at least, to the hard work, dedication and continuing excellence of staff and students here in NUI Galway.

I commend all concerned. 

Just over half of the €60 million investment I mentioned has been derived on foot of competitively awarded Exchequer capital under Cycles 1 to 4 of the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions.

I am pleased to note NUI Galway's significant successes in securing this capital.

The funding has enabled expansion and growth of research programmes in such diverse fields as Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology and Marine Science to name but a few.

NUI Galway will also receive a further €6 million under the Research Refurbishment Scheme, allowing the University to maintain and upgrade its existing research facilities and equipment.

There is no doubt about the key role research of this calibre will play in the long-term development of this country's economy.

It will enable us to secure high-value direct foreign inward investments in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Institutions such as NUI Galway have an essential part to play in enabling the State to face these demands and challenges as we move closer to realising our vision of a knowledge economy.

Earlier this year, NUI Galway had its first intake of students to a new four-year undergraduate course in the study of Podiatry.

This is a unique programme which, until now, was not available in this country.

NUI Galway has a history of great success in the teaching and study of Health Sciences and it was selected as the best strategic fit to host this course.

I am happy to say that my Department, in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority, will be supporting the development of a dedicated facility for the School of Podiatry, catering for over 100 students and staff.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome its inaugural class and wish them all the best in their studies.

Finally, I want to congratulate everyone who has been involved in NUI Galway's past successes and I look forward with you to the delivery of an Engineering Building that will be worthy of the aspirations of this fine institution well into the future.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.

ENDS