Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), John Brady, challenged officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education at the PAC on the continued delays in delivering long-awaited and long-promised works at Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE), and criticised the Government for failing to deliver on repeated political commitments.
The Wicklow TD highlighted major ongoing issues with the roof at the facility and emphasised the urgent need to progress the planned broader campus development.
Teachta Brady said:
“Bray Institute of Further Education is a fantastic institution.
“With 1,300 full-time students and 1,000 part-time students, it is a real success story.
“Unfortunately, it has been let down by a series of broken political promises.
“There are massive issues with the state of the current facilities.
“I have seen people standing in corridors with buckets collecting water from leaking roofs – this is completely unacceptable.
“We have had announcement after announcement about plans of repairs, as well as plans to develop a first class educational campus on the site.
“At the PAC, I sought clarity on the timeline for roof repairs and the wider campus development.
“I was informed that a tender for the roof repairs is expected before the end of this year, with works beginning next year at the earliest.
“Staff and students at BIFE should not be forced to wait months longer for vital repairs, and forced to operate in facilities that are simply not fit for purpose.
“I also directly challenged Department officials on plans for the broader campus development and was given reassurance that funding is available and that the college remains a priority.
“It was indicated that the Department is preparing a framework of architects, engineers and quantity surveyors for September, and any ETB that has its design brief ready at that time is free to engage with the framework and hold a competition to appoint architects and engineers.
“In advance of this, I will be engaging with KWETB on these matters to ensure that all is in order ahead of September.
“So this will be the start of a lengthy process.
“Government cannot allow this project to drift for years and years as they have done in so many other areas.
“I will continue to follow up on this issue.
“A modern campus for Bray Institute of Further Education must be delivered.”
ENDS