‘Decision on Earlsfort Terrace would mean significant savings’

If the Government made a decision that would allow UCD to move the School of Medicine from Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield before the completion of Phase One of the Health Sciences Complex there, it would achieve 'significant savings', according to the President, Dr Cosgrove. 

Speaking at the Charter Day Dinner, he said that if the Government is 'unable' to fund such a move, then the University itself would have to explore 'means of exploiting the commercial value of this prime city centre site'. 

He made the remarks in the context of the recent self-funded acquisition of the 9.2 acres site and buildings formerly owned by Philips, on the edge of the Belfield campus. 

These buildings on the Clonskeagh site have the potential to accommodate the Engineering departments currently still located at Earlsfort Terrace, he said. 

"The move of these departments will leave only the School of Medicine at Earlsfort Terrace," the President continued, clearly signalling that this would not be a cost-efficient way of operating the Faculty of Medicine. 

Afterwards, in his own speech, Guest of Honour Michael McDowell TD - the Minister for Justice and Law Reform -indicated that he had noted the tenor of Dr Cosgrove's words. He also said that the very nature of a university is that it values its independence from outside control, and that the universities 'must be the most vocal and persistent defenders' of their own autonomy.