DLA Piper Ireland has advised a consortium of leading lenders—Allied Irish Banks p.l.c., Bank of Ireland, the European Investment Bank, and Rabobank Wholesale Clients Netherlands—on a landmark €380m Public Private Partnership (PPP) project that aims to transform third-level education infrastructure across Ireland.
The 25-year PPP contract, awarded to developer Invesis, covers the design, construction financing, and long-term maintenance of five cutting-edge buildings at higher education campuses nationwide.
These include facilities at Atlantic Technological University (Galway and Letterkenny), South East Technological University (Waterford and Carlow), and Technological University of the Shannon (Limerick).
Construction is now underway at all five sites, with completion expected in 2027 and 2028.
This initiative marks a major milestone in Ireland’s Higher Education PPP Programme and reflects a significant step forward in government-led investment in modern, sustainable education facilities.
DLA Piper Ireland’s finance team, led by Partner Elizabeth Bradley, worked closely with DLA Piper UK’s projects team, headed by Partner Liam Cowell, and colleagues from DLA Piper Nederland.
Together, they advised the Lenders on all legal aspects of the transaction, including the development of a tailored suite of finance documents to meet the needs of each institution, and the negotiation of project documentation with Invesis and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), acting on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Bradley commented: “This is a transformational moment for Ireland’s higher education landscape.
“It demonstrates the power of PPP models to deliver future-ready infrastructure that will benefit students and communities across the country.”
Jim Arigho, Climate Capital Director at AIB, noted: “As a leading provider of sustainable finance, AIB is proud to help deliver this vital investment, which supports Ireland’s long-term educational and social development.”
John Feeney, CEO of Bank of Ireland’s Corporate and Commercial Banking, added: “We’re proud to support a project that enables access to world-class education, especially in key STEM areas critical to Ireland’s future economy.”
