Ministers Harris and Donohoe mark next phase of €70 million Academic Hub & Library in Grangegorman
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe TD have today marked the next phase in the construction of the new Academic Hub at TU Dublin's Grangegorman campus.
The Academic Hub & Library is set to be a single integrated campus library that will, when completed, provide a 12,600m2 building to accommodate a range of student and staff supports, including the Career Development Centre, Assistive Technologies, Maths Learning Centre and the Academic Writing Centre.
The project represents an investment by the State in third level education in excess of €70 million funded through a combination of the sale of TU Dublin properties and exchequer funding through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said: "Today is another milestone in the development of TU Dublin as we progress a new Academic Hub & Library on this ever-expanding campus.
"The Academic Hub, which incorporates the North House into its design, is an exciting and truly impressive project, putting together seven library sites into a single state-of-the-art facility.
"At the heart of this is the impact this will have on those who walk through the doors in the years to come.
"This is a signal of Government commitment to inner city Dublin and to ensuring access to education for everyone."
Minister Donohoe said: "I have seen at first-hand the evolution of the TU Dublin Campus at Grangegorman, in the heart of my constituency, and the positive impact it has had on the local, academic and student communities.
"The Academic Hub & Library project is a wonderful example of the transformation of this development, investing in our economy through the creation of employment and providing greater access to education for current and future generations of students.
"The Government's provision of €14 million euro in Exchequer funding emphasises the commitment to continue the development process as part of the National Strategic Outcomes of Project Ireland 2040, both within the National Development Plan and the current National Planning Framework."
TU Dublin President Professor David FitzPatrick said: "I am delighted to join Minister Donohoe and Minister Harris today to celebrate an exciting milestone in the construction of the Academic Hub & Library in Grangegorman.
"Our new library facilities will be the most modern of any Irish university, accommodating essential student supports such as the Maths Learning Centre and the Academic Writing Centre, and is a cornerstone development of TU Dublin's ambitious plans to invest €500 million in world-class infrastructure, enhancing the student experience at Ireland's second largest University.
"In addition, the University expects to complete two more buildings in Blanchardstown and Tallaght buildings are being developed, in partnership with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), which will be open to all students joining us in the next academic year."
Chief Executive of the Grangegorman Development Authority Ger Casey said: "The Academic Hub and Library is a core project in the ongoing transformation of Grangegorman as a vibrant hub of learning and innovation.
"It's a complex project that, on completion, will become a focal point not only for Grangegorman but also the wider Grangegorman community, and I want to thank OHLA-Townlink JV for their hard work and dedication in bringing this project to life."