STUDENTS in UL have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a £30 increase in capitation to cover the construction of new student centre. In a recent referendum students voted by 1,766 to 213 in favour of the increase, which will provide half the funds for the new development, expected to cost between £3.5 and £4 million.

UL students' union president Bryan Synnott described it as a "ringing endorsement" of the union's wish to provide the best possible services for students into the next century. The new centre will include a theatre space for drama, debates and meetings and will provide UL's clubs and societies with much needed meeting rooms.

It is hoped that the UL college authorities will provide the other 50 per cent of funding required to build the centre. They appear to have generally welcomed the idea but the final details have yet to be determined, although UL president Dr Ed Walsh is understood to be favour of the proposal.