Kilkenny to get campus for 5,000 students as part of 'College of the Future'

A new 'college for the future' is on its way to Kilkenny.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has announced the green light has been given to Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) to proceed to the next stage in developing a proposal for the institution.

The project envisages the acquisition of a site in Kilkenny where a new state-of-the-art education and training campus will be developed to consolidate the delivery of skills provision in one location for the entire county.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “This is a brilliant day for Kilkenny and for Kilkenny Carlow ETB. Kilkenny has been chosen as one of ten locations to proceed to develop a further education College of the Future.

"We have already been to across the country announcing similar projects, and I’m delighted today to deliver the good news for Kilkenny.

"FET provision in Kilkenny is currently scattered around 14 locations in the city, including an old school building and various leased facilities. This proposal envisages bringing them all together at one state-of-the-art facility, delivering the best integrated and learning supports possible, while also providing fantastic opportunities for apprenticeships.

"The College of the Future Major Projects Fund will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy. This Fund, and the proposed development in Kilkenny, has the potential to deliver on a range of strategic objectives. It is great that the proposal will now proceed to Preliminary Business Case Stage.”

The news comes after another announcement earlier this year which saw KCETB given approval in principle under the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF) programme to appoint a design team for a project in Grennan Equestrian Centre, Thomastown.

Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS, said: “Today’s announcement marks an important step forward for learners and communities in Kilkenny, but also an important milestone in the evolution of FET facilities and provision nationwide.

“SOLAS has recognised the need to address the relative lack of FET provision in Kilkenny City for many years, and this decision marks a major step forward in addressing this and bringing a new FET college to serve as a beacon of learning within the community.

“This College of the Future is part of a larger shift towards distinct, integrated colleges of FET around the country, which will serve as beacons of community-based learning excellence.

“As we continue to deliver cutting edge campuses that showcase the very best of FET, we will start to change the hearts and minds of Irish society with regard to school leavers and lifelong education options.

“A warm congratulations to my colleagues in Kilkenny & Carlow Education & Training Board, and all the potential learners in Kilkenny city and county on what is an inspiring day for both the region and the sector.”