(above) artist’s impression of Coonagh campus
LIT’s plans to Expand it’s Presence in Ennis & Develop an Engineering Focused Campus in Coonagh is good news for Education and Industry in Clare – Minister Pat Breen.
Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market & Data Protection Pat Breen has described the Government’s €11.9 billion investment in education under Project Ireland 2040 as an investment in the future of Ireland, the Mid West and County Clare.
The Clare Minister of State said the knock on effect of such investment will allow higher education institutes expand beyond their current reach and welcomed Limerick Institute of Technology’s plans to meet demand for higher education in Ennis by expanding its footprint in the county town.
“The €11.9 billion investment in education and training over the period 2018 to 2027 under Project Ireland 2040 will provide for a strong, future-proofed economy, balanced across all the regions and a fairer society. This will be achieved by delivering proper education facilities and school buildings for all children, as well as providing the future skill needs of our economy,” said Minister Breen.
“While the investment of €8.4 billion in school buildings over the lifetime of Project Ireland will benefit school communities all over county Clare, the close to trebling of the Higher Education sector capital budget compared to the past decade, will have huge affects on both education and industry in the county.
“The allocation of €11.6 million to Limerick Institute of Technology for the fit out of its new engineering focused Coonagh campus will provide the skill set necessary to further proof and grow industry in the Shannon region,” he said.
“In Ennis, LIT’s outreach programmes, including its two CAO courses in Early Child Care and Social Care is at capacity, and the third level institute is in talks with the local authority about expanding its footprint in Ennis to meet the growing demand for further higher education in the county town.
“This collaboration will ensure a well respected third level campus in the county town in the near future, opening up even more possibilities to students and providing support to industries and business across the county,” added the minister.
“As Minister of State with responsibility for Employment and Businesses I would strongly welcome the development of a higher education campus in Ennis that would respond to the educational and economical demands of the county and region, and the current capacity of LIT’s courses in Ennis shows there is already demand for such a campus here.”
The construction of the engineering-focused higher education campus is underway at Coonagh, Limerick which will provide for an additional 542 places on LIT’s engineering courses.
This work at Coonagh marks the beginning of a €150 million planned physical development investment across LIT’s six campuses – Moylish, Limerick; Clare Street, Limerick; Thurles, Tipperary; Clonmel, Tipperary; Ennis, Clare and the new campus at Coonagh.
