Technological Universities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Questions (743)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

743. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science where the legal ownership status of the designated SETU land purchase of 20.3 acres of the old Waterford crystal site stand; the present legal status regarding the ownership of this site; if due diligence is still ongoing; the possible delays that could be preventing the transfer of the site, given it was originally highlighted for sale in 2017 and was mentioned on the record of Dáil Éireann as an acquisition target by the Taoiseach in 2020 (details supplied); the further impediments that remain to legally transfer the site; the timeline to resolve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22520/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

On the 27th March, I gave approval for the South East Technological University (SETU) to expand its presence in Waterford by agreeing to accept the vendor’s final reduced asking price for the 20.3 acre portion of the 37 acre Waterford Crystal site.

Having informed the Vendor of its acceptance of his final reduced asking price, SETU are now engaged in the site due diligence process.

Once the due diligence process is complete, the next stage of the process will be for SETU, through the Higher Education Authority, to seek my sanction to progress to the signing of contracts to purchase the Waterford Crystal site.

The co-location of the Waterford Crystal site with the existing Cork Road campus will enable SETU to consolidate much of their Waterford activities in one single city centre location. Furthermore, the purchase of this site satisfies a number of wider local and regional objectives through the reusing/ repurposing of a prominent brownfield site in the city.