Kilkenny TD welcomes new multi million euro college campus

Deputy John McGuinness has welcomed the news of a multi million euro investment for third level education in Kilkenny as the Government confirm the purchase of a site in Kilkenny for a new education and training campus for Kilkenny Carlow ETB (KCETB).

“This is incredible news for Kilkenny as we move closer to having a state-of-the-art education facility in Kilkenny. Government funding worth tens of millions of euro will drive the development of the site at Joinersfolly, south of Kilkenny City, delivering one of the most positive developments we have seen in recent years.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD announced the purchase of the site that will be home to a new College of the Future in Kilkenny.

KCETB have also today been given the green light to proceed to the next stage of development of this project, with sanction been given to begin the Pre-Tender - planning, procurement and design team stage of development.

Making the announcement, Minister O’Donovan said: “I am so delighted to be in Kilkenny to confirm that KCETB is moving to the next stage in the process of delivering a further education and training campus that the entire region can be proud of.

“We are signing for the purchase of a 15 acre site and I’m incredibly excited to see it become a campus that will deliver so much for the learners, staff and community of Kilkenny Carlow ETB.

“Back in 2022, my predecessor Simon Harris announced that Kilkenny had been chosen as one of the locations to develop a further education and training College of the Future.

“It is not appropriate that FET provision in Kilkenny has been scattered around 14 different locations in the city. Now provision will be brought together at one modern, high-spec facility where learners will have the opportunity to progress in the best possible facilities.

“This is what we mean about when we speak about driving parity of esteem across the tertiary sector – it shouldn’t matter where you live, what you are studying, or whether you are in FET or university. Everyone should have the same opportunity to reach their potential.”

KCETB Chief Executive Eileen Curtis said: “The announcement is wonderful news for KCETB and, in particular today for Kilkenny city and county and marks an important step forward in the delivery of the college campus.

Also welcoming the news, Mayor of Kilkenny, Andrew McGuinness said, “future generations in Kilkenny will benefit greatly from this announcement, as will the region in general. We have been waiting for this day for considerable time and its great to know we are now a step closer to having third level facilities in Kilkenny.”

“The announcement is a real vote of confidence in our city and county. It will ensure that Kilkenny, with this new campus can provide a growing range of specialist courses and apprenticeships which will have long lasting benefits for the KCETB area,” concluded Mayor McGuinness.