An investment of €1.7 billion is required to bring the creaking infrastructure of many Irish universities up to world-class standards, according to a new report.
The report, commissioned by the Irish Universities Association - representing the heads of the seven universities - says investment on this scale is required in the forthcoming National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 or the universities cannot meet the ambitions set for them by the Government.
The report, by consultant Dr Tom Higgins, was presented to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin during a meeting with university heads on Tuesday.
The heads of the colleges say the current standard of buildings, laboratories and other facilities puts Irish universities at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting top-class academics and students from around the world.
They say an earlier report (The Kelly Report 2004) failed to address "the full infrastructural development challenges for the universities of delivering the Government's objective of creating a world-class higher education system".
The heads of the colleges say the Kelly Report only addressed the need for catch-up expenditure after years of under-investment in the sector.
