Kerry Education and Training Board are delighted to announce that the contracts have been signed, by the ETB at their Board meeting on December 2nd 2021, for the acquisition of Listowel Business Development Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry. The ETB is purchasing the building from Shannon Commercial Properties, a Shannon Group PLC Company.
The Building, located at Clieveragh Industrial Estate, Listowel, was acquired for €445,000. It is a modern two story detached building built in 2005. The property is c. 5,524 sqm situated on approximately .45 ha (1.1 acres).
For a number of years the ETB has endeavoured to acquire a building in Listowel to establish a standalone Further Education and Training Campus (Kerry College) for full and part time level 5 and 6 course provisions. To date, the provision of these courses has been co-located with Coláiste Na Ríochta Post Primary School in Listowel.
The acquisition of this building is hugely significant for Kerry ETB in terms of both Post-Primary and Further Education and Training. For the first time, it provides for the establishment of separate buildings for Coláiste Na Ríochta Post Primary School and Kerry College Listowel Campus. This development will be a key driver for the growth and expansion of both provisions on a standalone basis for far into the future.
The new Kerry College, Listowel Campus at the heart of local business and industry will create beneficial opportunities for both Kerry ETB and the local community.
Following the signing of the contract, for the acquisition of this building, An Cathaoirleach of Kerry ETB, Cllr. Jim Finucane thanked the Department and SOLAS for providing the funding and Shannon Commercial Properties for agreeing to sell the property to the ETB. “Strategically this is a key acquisition for the development of the ETB in Listowel and the wider North Kerry area. The ETB places signify ant emphasis on ensuring our learners and staff have access to modern facilities and this building, when fully developed, will provide excellent facilities for the delivery of Further Education and Training courses” stated Cllr Finucane.
The ETB intends to engage contractors to refurbish the new campus building, which will provide a comprehensive suite of full and part-time programmes, equipped for learners at various stages of their careers, such as the early school leaver, the lifelong learner, the employee looking to up-skill, the marginalized who want to re-engage in education. Course provision will include:
• Advanced Early Childhood Care and Education- Skill Cluster Health, Family & other Social Services
• Animal Care Assistant – Animal Science
• Applied Social Studies – Skill Cluster Health, Family & other Social Services
• Art, Craft and Design (Portfolio Preparation) – Skill Cluster Art & Crafts
• Business with Marketing/Administration – Skill Cluster Business Administration
• Early Childhood Care and Education – Skill Cluster Health, Family & other Social Services
• Hairdressing -– Skill Cluster Hairdressing, Beauty & Complimentary Therapies
• Healthcare Support – Skill Cluster Health, Family & other Social Services
• Medical Administration– Skill Cluster Business Administration
• Nursing Studies – Skill Cluster Health, Family & other Social Services
• Office Administration– Skill Cluster Business Administration
Based on the current plans and schedules, the Kerry College Listowel Campus will be operational by Quarter 4 2022.
In welcoming this development, the Chief Executive Officer of Kerry ETB stated, “We are delighted to have reached this stage in the acquisition process and we look forward to finalising the scheduled refurbishments works in 2022. Kerry ETB has been to the forefront in the development of the Further Education and Training College of the future with the establishment of Kerry College in 2019 and the acquisition of this building in Listowel will allow for the full development of the Kerry College Listowel Campus for our learners, employers and the wider community in North Kerry. Moving the Further Education and Training provision to the new building will also provide much needed additional capacity at Coláiste Na Ríochta Post-Primary School to accommodate the continued expansion of the school”.
Kerry Education and Training Board are delighted to announce that the contracts have been signed, by the ETB at their Board meeting on December 2nd 2021, for the acquisition of Listowel Business Development Centre, Listowel .
Pictured: Cllr. Jim Finucane, Chairperson, Kerry Education and Training Board.
Photo By: Domnick Walsh – Eye Focus LTD – 087 2672033
