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ATU welcomes Minister Harris Confirmation of Approval for next Phase of Proposal Development for Capital Investment at Galway Campus
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD today (Monday 28 November) of the green light to proceed to the next phase of the Galway City Campus Learner Centre project, under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF).
The Learner Centre will facilitate the further expansion of the Galway City Campus, which will serve up to 3,000 students. This proposed new building will serve as the heart of the City Campus providing a central location for learners. The building will include consolidated and additional facilities to improve the student experience, student services and supports. The Galway City Campus Learner Centre is another key element of the University’s Masterplan that seeks to expand campus infrastructure and develop ATU as a leading Technological University.
Speaking at ATU Galway today, Minister Harris said: “I am delighted to announce another milestone moment for the development of ATU. Today we give the go ahead for a new Learner Centre on the Galway City Campus. This project has been successful in the first part of the assessment process for the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund. The Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund is the centre of the Department’s investment strategy.
“Today is a key milestone as we see ATU emerge from the first part of a robust strategic assessment process and move to the next phase of the project life cycle development, which will see the development of preliminary business case.
“Investment will play an important role in supporting the technological sector as drivers of regional development by allowing them to better meet the needs of learners in their region, to deepen existing and forge new relationships with business and enterprise and to respond in an agile fashion to future developments.”
ATU President Dr Orla Flynn welcomed the announcement: “The development of this Learner Centre will benefit students and staff across our region, but especially those based at our ATU Galway City campus. ATU has ambitions to become a truly great multi-campus technological university, serving the needs of our unique region, and beyond. To do this, we will require continuing capital investment and today’s announcement is a very welcome step in that process. We can now look forward to ATU growing as a great place to study and work for generations to come.”
Chair of ATU’s Governing Body Maura McNally says, “This is a vote of confidence in Atlantic Technological University as a body. This new development will further enhance ATU and, in addition, Galway as a University city. I am very grateful for Minister Harris’ continuing support for ATU and look forward to building a strong case for further investment, which will require a borrowing framework for our university to expand and improve our infrastructure and facilities across all our campuses.”
Vice-president of Finance and Corporate Services at ATU, Henry McGarvey commented: “The building will prove critical in delivering upon the University’s mission and vision by providing much-needed physical infrastructure to enable an enhanced student experience across ATU’s Galway City campuses. The building will support ATU’s ambition to have university level facilities that attract students and staff to work at ATU and will assist in driving economic development and growth in our region.”
