TUS Thurles: Integrated campus of the future
Local TD Jackie Cahill has welcomed yet another advancement in the area of further and higher education for his hometown of Thurles, with the announcement of the design stage for the “Integrated Campus of the Future” on the TUS campus in the town.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD visited Thurles today, where he announced the move to the “bricks and mortar” stage, which will see both TUS (formally LIT) and Tipperary ETB co-located on the one site in the town.
Speaking on this today in Thurles, local Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “Education in Thurles is going from strength to strength and today’s announcement by Minister Simon Harris is further proof of this Government’s commitment to continued, sustained and long-term investment in education in our town.
“Two years ago, Minister Harris put out a call for educational institutions and bodies to submit plans on how we can further integrate both further and higher education in this country. This call saw ten applications sent into his Department, with it being noted that the submission by Tipperary ETB was the strongest of all.”
Tipperary’s Government TD continued to say: “Today, we see that plan and ambition moving to the bricks and mortar stage, with Minister Harris announcing that the design stage for this exciting new development had been approved. With this move, we will see both further and higher education being co-located on one campus, providing the opportunity for students to continue their educational advancement and journey from one stage to the next.
“This positive news follows the recent significant announcement that will see Tipperary ETB working closely with Mary Immaculate College on their St Patrick’s Campus in Thurles in order to provide Home Economics teacher training in the town.”
Deputy Cahill also highlighted the work done to date on this project, saying: “I would like to acknowledge the hard work and vision of Bernadette Cullen, Tipperary ETB CEO; Vincent Cunnane, TUS President; Tipperary County Council; and everyone involved in getting this project advanced to date.
“Step by step, we are firmly establishing Thurles and the educational options on offer here, as the ‘Maynooth of Munster’," the Thurles man concluded.