MOVE TO GRANGEGORMAN: Six years since talks on acquiring lands from the Eastern Health Board began, more than two years since the Government decided to give over the site and almost six months since the inter-departmental review body submitted its report, the DIT has finally got the go-ahead to move to Grangegorman.
In a pre-election announcement last Wednesday, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said the issues which had lead to delays in the Grangegorman project had now been resolved and the "green light" could be given to phase one of the development of a new campus for the DIT at the north inner-city site.
The State is to spend approximately €262 million on the first phase of redevelopment of the site. This includes an allocation of €63.5 million for health facilities, the value which has been put on the portion of the site being transferred from the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) to the DIT.
The DIT estimates phase one will begin in 2004 and buildings will be ready for occupation in 2006. This phase will involve relocating all but three of the DIT faculties to Grangegorman. A complex of students' residences, to be funded commercially, is also part of the proposed development.
During the first phase the DIT will retain its premises at Bolton Street, Kevin Street and Aungier Street. The institute hopes to move the faculties and offices in these buildings to Grangegorman under phase two of the development.
This phase will be decided on a value-for-money basis. the DIT will be required to put the case for this development to the departments of Education and Finance. The preliminary estimate for the cost of phase two is €121.5 million. If it does gain value-for-money approval, construction should be completed in 2010.
Acquiring the site at Grangegorman marks the end of a long journey for the DIT. The institute has been seeking a dedicated campus since its constituent colleges came together under the DIT Act of 1992.
The construction of on-campus residences will bring huge relief to the 21,000-strong student body, who have never had the benefit of purpose-built student accommodation, despite being the largest student group in the state.
DIT president Brendan Goldsmith says the new campus will help the DIT "to serve the students to the highest of standards".
