University receives near €11m in capital grants for research and infrastructure upgrades
Posted 11 November, 2024
Nearly €11 million has been awarded to University College Dublin in capital grants for research equipment and infrastructure upgrades.
The funding is part of an €80 million package in capital funding for higher education institutions across the State.
The university will receive €3,875,525 through the Devolved Capital Grant to support small-scale building works including energy efficiency and decarbonisation upgrades, health and safety works, access upgrades, and refurbishment and equipment purchase or renewal including ICT.
A further €6,953,420 will be available through the Higher Education Research Equipment Grant (HEREG), which aims to assist in the purchasing of world-leading equipment that will serve the research and development needs of Irish industry.
In total, €10,828,945 was awarded to UCD under the €80m in capital funding announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD.
Minister O’Donovan added: "[My] department continues to provide the resources required to ensure our third level sector can offer the best facilities and equipment to its students and staff.
"This funding confirms this government’s commitment to higher education and to delivering world class facilities."
Minister O’Donovan added: "The Higher Education Research Equipment Grant will not only allow universities to upgrade research equipment but also purchase new or additional research equipment,” he said.
"The Devolved Capital Grant will allow universities to invest in minor capital works programmes, refurbishment and renewal of equipment and will ensure their facilities remain up-to-date, fit for purpose and respond to climate objectives.
"Our higher education institutions face substantial challenges in meeting climate targets and this grant will support them in making energy efficiency and decarbonisation upgrades.”
Ciarán McCaffrey, Head of Capital Programmes in the HEA, said the funding provided would “support vital research activity across the sector while also allowing HEIs to address their infrastructural requirements including energy efficiency and decarbonisation upgrades, and improvements to the campus experience for students and staff".
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
