Minister set to approve new Cavan Institute campus

A new campus for Cavan Institute is to get the go-ahead this year, according to a local councillor.

Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) told a recent meeting of CMETB that the Minister for Higher Education is expected to give the go ahead for the project “before the end of the year”.

He claimed Minister Simon Harris had said the Cavan project and one in Dunboyne, Co Meath, are to move to development in the coming months.

CMETB acquired the former army barracks on the Dublin Road in Cavan Town, with a view to locating a number of its education centres there.

However, principal of the college Ann Marie Lacey told a meeting of Cavan County Council earlier this year that a site next to the existing campus on Cathedral Road was earmarked for the works.

As it stands, students are being accommodated at Cathedral Road, the former barracks and in other buildings including at the former St Clare’s Convent in the town.

Minister Harris has been pushed to progress the Cavan Institute project.

Director of Further Education with CMETB Dr Linda Pinkster said there are currently two applications with training body Solas for works at Cavan Institute. She said those applications, for “two large scale projects”, have not yet been considered and an outcome is being awaited.

Meanwhile, work on a major €5 million modular building at the former barracks site is almost complete. Students from a number of other sites are expected to relocate there after Halloween.