Press release
Ministers Harris and Collins welcome launch of new National Development Plan
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State Niall Collins have today welcomed the publication today of the new National Development Plan (NDP).
The revised NDP provides for Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation, over the five year period 2021-2025.
This is within the overall context of an NDP delivering €165 billion in total public investment over the decade 2021-2030.
Annual capital investment by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will progressively increase from a total of €500 million this year to €652 million by 2025, representing an increase of 30%. The overall objective of this investment is to support a knowledge-based, resilient and innovative society and economy, in which all citizens have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Welcoming the NDP publication, Minister Collins said:
“The NDP published today recognises the importance of investments in further and higher education, research and innovation to Ireland’s future prosperity and resilience.
“Whether in buildings, equipment or research excellence, investments in this area are fundamentally investments in our people, and in the skills and talent that will enable Ireland to flourish as an economy and society.
“The NDP will enable us to invest in new and upgraded infrastructure, both buildings and digital, to support capacity expansion and skills development. I am particularly pleased that the NDP signals a step up in investment in further education and training infrastructure, enabling the expansion of apprenticeship capacity and realising the full potential of the FET College of the Future.
“We are committed to an enhanced focus on energy efficiency and decarbonisation, both in terms of the further and higher education estate, and in supporting the sector to deliver the skills needed for the economy-wide transition.
“The NDP also continues support for excellence in research and innovation.”
Demographic trends mean that there will be a significant increase in demand for full-time higher and further education over the coming decade. The NDP provides for investments to cater for expanding enrolments, evolving skills needs, and the enhancement of digital infrastructure, including to support flexible provision and lifelong learning. Investments in new and planned Technological Universities will be progressed.
The new NDP signals a major step up in capital funding for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. Capital investment in the sector is expected to increase from less than €20m last year to approximately €100m by 2025. This will enable a transition to a more ambitious and strategic approach to the development of FET infrastructure. The approach will include:
Infrastructure programme calls will issue in the coming months and projects will be selected to advance following the assessment of proposals. Funding will be provided through SOLAS for further education projects, and mainly through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education projects.
Progress towards energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets will be a key focus of the overall investment approach.
The Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme, co-funded with SEAI, is already supporting eight projects and a further eight projects were recently selected to proceed through the design stage. A similar programme will be extended to the FET sector.
Capital investments will also target the green skills and the research and innovation that are critical to Ireland’s transition to a climate neutral economy.
Ireland’s future prosperity and resilience relies on the country being a leader in talent, skills, research and innovation. The NDP provides for significant continued investment in Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres and Centres for Research Training, as well as the development of talent and excellent research through Irish Research Council programmes. There will be an increase in investment to the Tyndall National Institute.
In addition, as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, a National Grand Challenges Programme will facilitate the realisation of research and innovation projects across government, with themes including climate, health, digital and agriculture. A framework for investment in research infrastructure will also be developed.
The NDP investments are made under the government's 'Project Ireland 2040' strategy.