Diocese reveals €50m plan for school
A blueprint for the refurbishment of Farranferris College, which closed last June, was announced yesterday by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley.
The plan was drawn up, at the request of the diocese, by property developer Michael O’Flynn, a past pupil of the college.
The proposals are expected to be submitted to Cork City Council by October.
Bishop Buckley said he welcomed the proposal for an educational campus on the 22-acre site, which would continue the college’s 120-year association with learning.
It is envisaged that 700 people will be accommodated on the campus which will be used by seven educational groups.
The 40,688 sq ft college will be retained and refurbished, while six new buildings will be constructed next to it, providing a further 188,730 sq ft.
The main building will be used by Cork City VEC, FÁS and Northside Community Enterprises, who will provide adult education and training courses. The others will accommodate Cope Foundation, Rehab Care and Cabas.
Mr O’Flynn said he was confident the whole project would take only two years to complete.
He said that once planning permission was acquired, the first step would be to put out to tender the 13-acre housing project. The residential development will help finance a large proportion of the overall project, although Government aid will also be required.
Neither Mr O’Flynn, who undertook the study voluntarily, or any of his companies will be involved in building homes on the site.
It is envisaged that the campus will have a crèche for up to 150 children, outdoor recreational areas and decked car parking.
A neighbourhood retail centre of 9,200 sq ft will provide convenience shopping and related services for the campus and local neighbourhood.
The campus will be served by a new road which will connect it from the north side with Popham’s Road.
Bishop Buckley said he was very pleased with the plan drawn up by Mr O’Flynn.
“This area has suffered a lot of difficulties in the past with economic imbalance and social exclusion. Statistics recently released show that employment in the city grew as a whole by 49% in recent years, whereas in the north-western side of the city it was just 9%,” the bishop said.
Mr O’Flynn said that all the service providers such as the VEC and FÁS needed new facilities and would be available to move into them as soon as they became available.
“This plan will create local employment, improve the skills and educational levels of people in the region and give significant opportunities for further higher education. I also had discussions with Minister Micheál Martin and have received confirmation that Government support will be available,” Mr O’Flynn said.
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