15. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the engineering building in SETU, and progress of the bundle 2 procurement process; his plans to ensure a timely commencement of the construction of the new engineering building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39802/24]

There are 11 projects being progressed through PPP projects in two bundles. Bundle 1 consists of six projects that are currently in construction. Bundle 2 consists of five projects, two at the SETU campuses of Waterford and Carlow, two at the ATU campuses of Galway and Letterkenny and one in TUS Limerick.

The new Engineering, Computing and General Teaching building planned at SETU Waterford Campus will consist of undergraduate and postgraduate laboratories, general and specialised teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space.

The final tender for Bundle 2 was received in March 2024 and the procurement is now moving to Financial Close. Upon a satisfactory conclusion of this vital last element of the procurement process, construction is expected to commence in Q1 2025. Construction durations for the five Bundle 2 projects vary from 26 to 36 months with the engineering building in SETU, being the largest, taking 36 months.