New Tipperary education campus moves closer after land deal approved
Plans for a major new further and higher education campus in Clonmel took a significant step forward this week after councillors approved the transfer of land at Kickham Barracks to Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB).
Councillors voted to transfer the 3.5 acre site at Kickham Barracks in Clonmel to Tipperary Education and Training Board so they can develop an educational facility there.
The transfer forms part of the overall Kickham Barracks masterplan, which so far has seen the creation of a new civic plaza, the start of building a new garda station, as well as the revamp of the former chapel on the site.
At the July meeting of Tipperary County Council, local representatives voted to officially transfer the land to the ETB, paving the way for design work to get underway.
Tipperary ETB will work with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), who have a campus on Clonmel’s Inner Relief Road.
The partnership aims to create a “college of the future”, which will see a connected campus formed, to deliver both higher and further education, with up to 1,000 students using the new campus every week.
Tipperary ETB will buy the site from the council for €277,317 after the plans were proposed by Mayor of Clonmel Siobhán Ambrose, and seconded by Cllr Tom Acheson.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Ambrose said the transfer of land was to be welcomed as it would allow the project to move to the next stage.
“This is a long-awaited transfer of deeds and we’re absolutely delighted,” Cllr Ambrose said.
“I just want to thank the Further and Higher Minister himself, James Lawless who came down to Clonmel and moved things along very quickly to allow us to get to this stage.
“This is a great day for Clonmel in moving a very large site forward, but it’s also a great day for further education and for the many young people. Once it’s finished and the full site is completed, they envisage that you’ll see up to 1,000 students accessing this site on a weekly basis,” Cllr Ambrose said.
The Department of Defence moved out of Kickham Barracks in 2012 after occupying it for more than 200 years, with the council then acquiring the property, and creating a masterplan for the site in 2015.
The next step of the project will see Minister Lawless give the ETB approval to move to design stage.