€35 million education investment hailed as a massive boost for Clonmel and south Tipperary

Another major step towards providing Clonmel with a town centre university campus for both further and higher education students was taken on Monday.

Minister Simon Harris visited Clonmel to announce a project with an investment of almost €35m that will go out to tender for the design stage in 2023.

Standing in the stunning surrounds of the new Kickham Barracks Plaza which opened to great fanfare on Saturday, Minister Harris gave the green light for a hugely important project for Clonmel and for the county.
Minister Harris gave the go-ahead to Tipperary Education and Training Board to proceed to the next phase of proposed development for a College of The Future (COTF).

The project proposes to develop the vacated military barracks site in Clonmel and create a college, which will host both further and higher education ETB and Technological University of the Shannon students.
Senator Garret Ahearn said: “This week’s announcement by Minister Harris is such an important moment for the future of Clonmel.” Announcing €34.8 million of funding for the Clonmel project, Minister Harris said the development would transform Clonmel.

Minister Harris said that Clonmel would become a vibrant student town with over 1,000 students studying in Clonmel town centre.

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He said that this announcement could mean nothing but good for Clonmel.
“I think this will really help transform Clonmel. It will bring more students into the town, I think it will play a major role in the ongoing rejuvenation, regeneration of such a large town here in south Tipperary.
“It’s going to do more than that though as well, all of that is really important but it’s actually going to lead the way in Ireland in terms of showing what a connected campus can be like. What’s a connected campus – it’s where higher education – a university and further education come together,” said Minister Harris.
He praised the partnership of the ETB, TUS and Tipperary County Council that has ensured the progression of the project.
“It is going to bring 1,300 students together on this site, very beneficial, when the project is realised,” said Minister Harris.
“This is a brilliant day for Tipperary. Clonmel has been chosen as one of ten locations to proceed to develop a further education College of the Future.Iit will be a beacon for the future,” said Minister Harris Anbdrew Brownlee, Solas, said: “A warm congratulations also to all of the potential learners in Tipperary and surrounding areas on what is an inspiring day for both the region and the sector,” he said.

Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Bernadette Cullen, said the announcement was very significant for further education and training and Higher Education in Clonmel, Thurles and across Tipperary.
“Today is an important day for Tipperary ETB and our partners TUS and Tipperary County Council. We really believe that the development of the College of the Future in Clonmel and the expansion of facilities in Thurles to include FET learners will provide a quality environment for FET and HE in Tipperary. As connected campuses, both Clonmel and Thurles will provide learners with a vibrant college experience in their own county,” she said.

President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane, said: “This announcement represents a new future for an integrated Further and Higher Education system in Ireland. The Thurles Connected Campus is the first of its kind and signifies the physical manifestation of the State’s policy ambitions. The project reflects a true partnership approach between TUS and Tipperary ETB but the ultimate winners in this are the students, who will experience a unique and fully integrated system.

“As a partner with Tipperary ETB in the Clonmel Campus of the Future project, we are fully committed to the interconnected future of the tertiary education system in Ireland. With these two projects, Tipperary is now the vanguard of the new approach to tertiary education that is becoming manifest.”
Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Pat English, said the provision of funding to get the integrated ETB and TUS campus started was vital. “It is such a massive boost for Clonmel and south Tipperary,” he said.