I have heard the Minister speak many times about his ambitions for South East Technological University but I remind him these cannot be realised without money. The president of the institution, Professor Campbell, produced a strategic plan in September that calls for €350 million in capital investment over five years. Along with this, she needs changes to the borrowing framework. Lecturers' contracts are also a part of this context. The most immediate evidence of investment would concern the public private partnership, PPP, projects for the Carlow and Waterford campuses. Has the Government accepted the requirement for €350 million in capital investment over five years? Is it ring-fencing money for this endeavour? When will the Minister announce the commencement of the PPP project for the engineering building in Waterford and the other project for the building in Carlow?

I thank Deputy Shanahan for raising this issue. The PPP bundle 2 is currently at the tender stage. It is awaiting final tender. As soon as this is in, the Government will make a decision shortly thereafter. Regarding the strategic plan, I am in constant contact with Professor Campbell about it. I very much appreciate, support and endorse the contents of the plan. As I think the Deputy knows, from his asking of the question, all individual projects in any plan have to go through the public spending code process. It is not for the Government to say it can approve an entire master plan. We must approve such plans project by project. We are extraordinarily committed to working with Professor Campbell, and Professor Paddy Prendergast as the chair of the governing authority, on delivering the ambition of that master plan, which is very exciting. We are in close contact with Professor Campbell on the matter.