Third-level college research centre to locate in ‘town of the future’

TIPPERARY’S third-level college is to locate a research and postgraduate studies centre in a new science and technology park in Clonmel.

The Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute has announced its intention to change the original use of a building in the Ballingarrane Science and Technology Park on the outskirts of Clonmel.

It will be used to facilitate the development of a research and postgraduate studies centre, with planning permission being sought by the institute for this change.

The development institute was established by the government in March of 1998 and has its main campus in Thurles with an outlying campus on Clonmel’s Inner Relief Road.

Its work is to promote and develop rural communities, small and medium sized enterprises, and businesses generally in the region by providing research, information, consultancy, education and training services.

Outside of teaching, staff spend 40% of their time working with the small and medium enterprises and with community groups.

News of the research and postgraduate studies centre was welcomed yesterday by local Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes.

It is expected the courses covered in the centre will be technology-based, and will lend themselves to attracting and sustaining high-tech knowledge-based industries to the area.

“The numbers of students are yet to be confirmed,” said Mr Hayes yesterday, “but in light of recent job losses in Clonmel, this expansion of the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute project in Clonmel is a boost to both the town and the institute itself”.

He said any development that furthers Clonmel’s plans to be a “town of the future” is enormously welcome.

“This move would provide the town with the educational facilities it deserves, as well as serving to attract the kind of employers Tipperary South so desperately needs.”

Clonmel’s recent job losses include 140 jobs from Bulmers, after a difficult financial year, and 80 jobs from Merriott Radiators, owned by Quinn Group.

According to Mr Hayes, these have had a “devastating effect” on the local economy and the morale of workers in the area.

“This positive development will go a considerable way to reassuring people in South Tipperary that job creation can still happen, after the disappointment of having no IDA visits to south Tipperary in 2007.”