€18.5m for DkIT upgrading

DUNDALK Institute of Technology (DkIT) is to receive €18.5m for an upgrade, which will provide an additional 760 student places.

Local TD Fergus O’Dowd has welcomed the investment which will see a major phased refurbishment and upgrade of the North and South Blocks which house the Institute’s STEM facilities.

The announcement was made by his colleague An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last week as the government outlined its plans for Education as part of Project 2040.

“The works which will also include an expansion of available laboratory space, will provide for an additional 760 student places, mostly in STEM-related disciplines which are key to our North East region and it’s continued expansion of employment in this area,” said Deputy O’Dowd. “This is great news for Higher Education in the North East as we enter the final phases of Brexit, we want to have the graduates ready and waiting for relocating companies that choose the North East as the most suitable location for their businesses. We have already seen many high level skilled companies choosing County Louth over the last number of years who’s businesses are focused on STEM disciplines such as WUXI Biologics, PCI Pharma Services and Almac.”