An €8m application to build a maritime training centre in Kilrush could be scuppered due to pyrite.

Officials within the Department of Rural and Community Development are currently examining an application for a maritime training centre in Kilrush which is capable of sustaining 28 jobs all-year round.

Clare County Council have applied for funding for an €8m maritime training centre under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. It is envisaged that the training centre would create 28 jobs and that approximately 1,200 people would receive training at the centre each year.

Training would include off-shore renewable training and mandatory safety training for non-sea faring job-seekers looking to take up employment in the maritime sector. The project involves collaboration between Clare County Council, Shannon Commercial Property, Kilrush Marina Ltd, National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and SEFtec to design and deliver an integrated on-site training solution and required infrastructure to provide maritime strategy and skills training by the NMCI to internationally recognised certification and to OPITO standard.

Under the proposal, the purchase, renovation and re-use of a derelict building, Creek Lodge is planned along with an area of underutilised boatyard at Kilrush Marina for the establishment of a Maritime Training Centre. The specialist commercial training facility aims to provide mandatory maritime training courses and value-added training for non-seafaring personnel taking up positions at sea.

As previously reported by The Clare Echo, Creek Lodge is showing signs of the presence of defective concrete blocks and is among the many buildings in the county impacted by pyrite which would restrict its future use.

This would subsequently hinder the use of Creek Lodge and damage the overall proposal, it is feared. No response to request for comment had been received at the time of going to print.

A response from Clare County Council into the potential impact of pyrite on the development was sought by The Clare Echo.

Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) said Kilrush was “ideally located” for a maritime training centre and welcomed the plans for Creek Lodge. A spokesperson for Deputy Carey when later contacted by The Clare Echo was unaware of the reports of pyrite at Creek Lodge.