Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ahearn for raising this important matter again. I had the pleasure of visiting Kickham Barracks and the site and know the huge work being done there. As the Senator said, almost all the Cabinet were down to see it and I have no doubt that will bear fruit in the future. The Minister, Deputy Harris, was eager to be here to respond directly but, unfortunately, had to attend Cabinet.

The proposed development of a joint college campus between Tipperary ETB and TUS on the site of Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, is something I know the Senator has been pursuing for a significant period, including with the visit of the Minister, Deputy Harris, to Carrick-on-Suir. At the heart of the proposal is collaboration between TUS and Tipperary ETB. This is also at the heart of the agenda the Minister is pursuing. A more unified tertiary system is essential if we are to meet the needs of learners, as well as of the economy and greater society.

Earlier this year, Tipperary ETB made an application to the further education and training, FET, college of the future major projects fund to develop an integrated tertiary FET-higher education campus in collaboration with TUS on the Kickham Barracks site in Clonmel town. The Clonmel barracks connected campus is part of a wider network of integrated Tipperary ETB FET locations and is a sister project to a similar connected campus initiative with TUS in Thurles. TUS is collaborating with Tipperary ETB on a proposal for a shared campus in Thurles. This is being led by TUS, which has made an application under the technological sector strategic projects fund.

The Senator will appreciate that the Minister, Deputy Harris, cannot go into further detail at this time, given the status of the technological sector strategic projects fund and FET college of the future major projects fund processes. However, the Minister can assure him that this is a very important issue for the Department and it is keen to move matters forward as quickly as possible. Evaluation reports have been submitted to the Department and the Minister hopes to be in a position shortly to announce the outcomes of both processes. It is important that the Department balances strategic objectives for the development of TUS and the wider tertiary with ensuring value for money.

I trust this update will provide reassurance to the Senator that support for TUS projects continues to be a key priority for the Minister, Deputy Harris, and his Department. The Minister looks forward to updating the Senator directly on developments in due course.