Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
Subscribe Today!
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Multimillion euro state-of-the-art education facility given green light for Limerick
New facility has been approved to get underway with construction in one Limerick town
Minister Patrick O'Donovan announced the news in Newcastle West, where the facility will be built | PICTURE: Brian Arthur
Reporter:
Faye Dorgan
04 Nov 2024 11:20 AM
A NEW state-of-the-art further education and training campus facility in one Limerick town has been given the green light for development.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD announced that Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board has received approval to advance to the next phase of its development of a College of the Future in Limerick.
Government funding worth tens of millions of euros will provide for the construction of a new further education and training campus facility at the Newcastle West FET campus on Station Road.
Following a robust evaluation process, Limerick and Clare ETB is now being given approval to move to the Pre-Tender stage of development which is the Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to be in my hometown to make this significant announcement that will not only greatly benefit the learners and staff but the wider community of Limerick and Clare ETB.
“It will provide an environment that will support all learners in their education journey and in doing so allow them to reach their full potential.”
This new infrastructure will allow for the consolidation and integration of the further education and training provision that the ETB provides in the region.
The proposed college will feature fit-for-purpose, digitally enabled facilities to enhance accessibility and education pathways while promoting local development.
It will also facilitate the expansion of the range of certified programmes available and introduce new employment-themed initiatives to meet workforce needs.
Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD said: “The integrated FET college will address the critical need for a centralised facility that supports both learners and local industries.
“This development represents a pivotal investment in skills and employment pathways in the largest population centre in County Limerick, outside of the Limerick city metropolitan area.”
Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Acting Chief Executive, Limerick & Clare ETB, said: “The announced development of a FET College of the Future in Newcastle West is particularly significant as it will address structural imbalance in the county, enabling the Education and Training Board, through its College of FET, to deliver world-class education and training in response to local and national government priorities and plans.”
SOLAS CEO Andrew Brownlee said: “Today’s capital infrastructure announcement for Newcastle West is a milestone moment for FET in Munster that will drive access to education, lifelong learning and workforce transformation in the region.
“This is a proud day for both SOLAS and Limerick and Clare ETB, and most importantly, it’s an exciting day for all of the current and future FET learners in the surrounding areas.
“With one in ten adults in Ireland now learning through FET or apprenticeships, the ongoing development of high-quality college environments in key locations such as County Limerick will play a critical role in meeting the increasing demand for upskilling across our communities.”
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
4
To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism!
Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.
Subscribe
To continue reading this article for FREE, please kindly register and/or log in.
Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy a paper
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
