Construction of five new higher education buildings across multiple campuses will now commence following official contract signings.

The buildings, which are being delivered by Public Private Partnership (PPP) and are expected to cost approximately €380 million (ex VAT), 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.

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 Invesis Consortium will construct the buildings using private finance and will then operate and maintain the buildings over a period of 25 years.

Welcoming the beginning of construction, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, said: "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."

A breakdown of each of the five new buildings includes:

Atlantic Technological University, Galway Campus: STEM Building

-- Advertisement --

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 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 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 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 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 700 students.

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.