Minister O’Donovan officially opens €37 million worth of projects for further and higher education in the North West
By Maura O'Shea
Posted: 29 May, 2024
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD today officially opened three new major education facilities in Sligo.
The projects, delivered at a cost of €37 million, include:
- An €18 million 4,000 sq/m extension to the EO1 Building in ATU to deliver cutting-edge teaching and research facilities;
- A €17 refurbishment of Blocks K and L in ATU to offer improved facilities to the Faculty of Engineering and Design as well as the Yeats Academy of Arts Design and Architecture;
- And a €2 million delivery of a new building in Sligo College of Further Education to deliver enhanced learning in IT, Health, Care, Business, Law and Engineering for 500 students
Speaking in Sligo today, Minister O’Donovan said:
“Today marks a significant investment and enhancement of education and training facilities for Sligo and the North West to greatly improve the learning experience of students in this region.
“The new EO1 project along with the refurbishment of blocks K & L represents a key phase of ATU’s Sligo campus development.
“I’d like to thank Mr Ciarán McCaffrey and all the team in the Higher Education Authority for their dedication and hard work on this project and also for their support to the institute.”
Minister O’Donovan added:
“I was also thrilled to visit Sligo CFE today and to open a new state-of-the-art facility that will make a real difference to the educational journey of students in the region.
“While this development clearly provides evidence of a significant and improved growth for Sligo CFE, I firmly believe it is also an important milestone in the evolution for the FET sector in general, and shows what is possible when Government and colleges work together to deliver for the learner.”
The new EO1 building at ATU’s Sligo campus is a new four-storey extension, providing some 4,115 sq/m of space, and delivers a high quality new academic facility that will extend ATU Sligo’s online and blended learning facilities.
Minister O’Donovan also opened the refurbished Blocks K and L, funded under the Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Fund, and allows for the consolidation on campus of the Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture to form a North Campus Creative Hub. This was an integral part of the ATU Sligo Campus master plan to grow to 10,000 full time equivalent students.
Ciarán McCaffrey, Head of Capital Programmes in the HEA added:
“Today’s opening of the newly refurbished Yeats Academy Buildings and new Academic Building is an exciting development for ATU and the wider North Western region.
“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.”
President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn, said:
“These new developments funded under Project Ireland 2040, through the HEA, mark a significant milestone for Atlantic Technological University.
“The state-of-the-art facilities will greatly enhance our research, science, and IT capabilities, and offer a space for the creative arts by providing our students and staff with the resources they need to excel. We welcome Minister O’Donovan to ATU and thank him for officially opening our new facilities.”
Minister O’Donovan today also visited the adjoining campus of Sligo College of Further Education to officially open a new modular accommodation wing, at the Clarion Road campus.
This facility will give over 500 students access to:
- Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) enabled accommodation for learners.
- Enhanced practical resources for learners across the school of Health, Care, Business, Law and Engineering.
- Provide enhances workspaces to provide skills for employment in the care sector.
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board Chief Executive Tom Grady said:
“It is a privilege to welcome Minister O’Donovan to Sligo College of Further Education and Training (FET) to officially launch the new building development.
“The development of the new Sligo College of FET underscores our commitment to providing cutting-edge educational facilities and innovative learning opportunities for our students.”
The projects are delivered under Project Ireland 2040 with almost €22.5 million provided by the Department towards the overall investment in Sligo’s further and higher education facilities.
This 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 project cost for the EO1 building, ATU was circa €18 million with €6.6 million provided by DFHERIS.
Works to Blocks K&L, ATU cost almost €17 million of which €13.7 million was funded by DFHERIS.
DFHERIS met the full cost of the new modular accommodation for Sligo CFE at a cost of just over €2 million for the unit, with funding also provided for the provision of loose furniture and equipment for the nursing and art rooms to the value of circa €104,000.
