Carla King-Molina | Junior Editor
The cost of converting the Ussher tower into a 24-hour study facility has come in €36,000 under its initial budget, The University Times has learned. This leaves more than €500,000 still unallocated in a College fund for student services infrastructure.
The final bill for the conversion of the second, third, and fourth floors and the rearranging of desk space came to €64,000, well under the €100,000 set aside for the work.
These developments are the latest in the phased allocation of a fund originating from a state fine against the College. On the 20th of July 2012, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) imposed on the College a fine of €603,709 for “unauthorised allowances”, namely the payment of a monetary stipend to College tutors.
A core stipulation of the fine was that it was to be used to create a fund for projects to support student services. The College has allowed Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) and the Graduate Students Union (GSU) to determine how the money is spent. The organisations have not been allocated the money. Rather it rests in a College account awaiting direction. The first project was proposed on the 14th of December 2012. The costs amounted to €138,000 to provide a 24-hour library for ten weeks.
€38,000 was allowed for staffing costs for a pilot study in three of the main campus libraries during the 2013 Summer examination period. The Berkeley Library was open 24 hours from March 4th to April 8th and remained open during the five-week summer examination period with costs totalling €19,000. The BLU Complex was then open 24 hours from April 8th to May 10th with total costs of €19,500. €100,000 was allocated to add the second, third and fourth floors to the 24-hour space, but ultimately the costs added up to €64,000. The fund now stands at €501,209.
The Ussher alterations will see the three additional floors become available on a phased basis. The pilot study found that there was no considerable demand for the space after 12 am or before 8 am, which explains the lack of additional 24-hour study space during the 2014 annual examinations period.
The HEA also fined several other universities for the payment of similar allowances and overpayment of particular academic staff. Other universities have opted to spend the money on promoting positive mental health (UCD) and maintaining clubs and societies (UCC).
Speaking to The University Times, TCDSU Education Officer, Katie Byrne, commented that there are no “definite plans outlined as [of] yet but we would hope to have something outlined before Christmas.”
“We’re raising the fund at council next Tuesday [November 18th] as a discussion item to get feedback from reps on how they think the fund should be managed, but also to make them aware of its existence.” The GSU did not respond to a request for comment.
Photo by Andrew Murphy for The University Times
