ATU says plans for new Galway Student Building remains on the agenda

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has confirmed that plans for a new Student Building at its Galway City campus have not been abandoned despite a €427,000 write-off recorded in the university's 2024 financial statements.

Published 4th Aug 2026, 09:00 BST Iconic Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has confirmed that plans for a new Student Building at its Galway City campus have not been abandoned despite a €427,000 write-off recorded in the university's 2024 financial statements. Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.

In correspondence to the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) in June, ATU President Dr Orla Flynn said the write-off related to design, planning and professional fees incurred during the early stages of the project.

"The €427,000 relates to design, planning and professional fees incurred during the development of the proposed Student Building on the University's Galway City Campus," she wrote.

"The expenditure arose through the normal appraisal, design, planning and procurement stages associated with a capital project of this nature and related entirely to professional and advisory services."

ATU President says accommodation crisis is a major challenge for Galway's third level students The PAC committee sought clarification after the write-off appeared in the university's annual accounts.

The proposed Student Building would provide a dedicated student amenities centre with a multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, recreation spaces, meeting rooms and ancillary facilities.

It would also be used for conferring ceremonies, exams, cultural and music events, as well as sports and social activities.

The multi-purpose hall would cater for basketball, indoor football, badminton and a range of other activities, with retractable seating for 338 people accessed from a permanent upper balcony.

'Hold fire' on ban on 'bushing', say Athenry-Oranmore councillors Dr Flynn said the project was paused after the estimated cost increased from approximately €14 million to €18 million because of construction inflation, supply chain disruption, labour shortages and wider market uncertainty.

She said the accounting write-off followed the expiry of the earlier planning permission and "should not be interpreted as meaning that the work completed to date has no value or that the university has decided to permanently discontinue the project."

"The university also considers that the planning, design, engineering and technical work completed to date continues to provide value and is expected to inform any future progression of the project," she said.

Galway County arts budget set to rise but venues face 'chicken and egg' funding trap Planning permission has since been re-established and the development remains under active consideration as part of the university's capital programme.

"The underlying strategic need for the facility remains unchanged," Dr Flynn said.

"Planning permission has subsequently been re-established, and the project remains under active consideration as part of the university's capital programme.

In March 2026, ATU commissioned an independent review to examine alternative sites and development options.

The review concluded that the originally selected location on the Galway City campus is the most suitable.

The proposed building would be located on a 0.7-hectare greenfield site on the Dublin Road campus, beside the university's existing playing pitches.

The site, which includes existing changing rooms, is accessed from Ballyloughane Road.