THE first development plans for Waterford students are ready to swing into action on foot of the Minister's announcement that the city's RTC is being upgraded to the Waterford Institute of Technology. The building of a new information technology centre and a new library with up to 1,100 reading spaces will get under way in June/ July of this year, according to Paddy Downey, registrar of the college. These two buildings are expected to cost about £12 million.

A further step in the college's building programme will be the development of a new 4,000 sq metre student services centre with canteen, shops, banks, a health centre and a careers' office, expected to cost about £3.5 million. A new classroom development on the College Street campus, comprising approximately 2,500 sq metres and costing in the order of £3 million, is also in the pipeline. In addition there are plans to build a new 4,500 sq metre technology building for the engineering and science students, which will cost about £8 million.

The college plans to complete this development programme within a three year period, to facilitate the proposed expansion of the college, from its present 4,500 students to 6,500. The additional students will, by and large, be studying on degree programmes.

Part of the funding for these developments will come from private sources, says Downey. Further finance will come from the college's own resources and business activities.

Waterford Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday that it is setting up an industrial liaison committee with representatives from some of the major employers in the area. This committee will facilitate further fundraising opportunities, and will help develop a research and development section, which is vital to the future development of the institute.

"There is a general feeling of euphoria amongst the staff and the students," says Downey.

John McGrath, president of Waterford RTC's Students' Union, says: "It means an awful lot to Waterford and to the region. You won't have the brain drain that existed before where students went to universities and colleges outside the south east to continue their education."