‘We have the best sites for campus’

After Wexford plan falls apart, focus could now move to Enniscorthy area

ENNISCORTHY has emerged as a potential location for a new state-of-the-art campus for IT Carlow following the apparent collapse of a deal to build at Newtown Road in Wexford.

It is believed that at least four sites in the Enniscorthy area have been put forward to the governing body of the college. Among these sites is land near the old St Senan’s Hospital.

‘I would challenge anyone to find a better, more accessible site in such a centred area,’ said Cllr Paddy Kavanagh. ‘Where else will they find 40 to 50 acres near a provincial town centre?’

FOLLOWING the apparent collapse of a deal which was to see a new IT Carlow Campus built on the Newtown Road in Wexford, Enniscorthy has once again been put forward as the most viable option to house the new facility, with at least four sites rumoured to be up for consideration.

Land close to the old St Senan’s Hospital has been suggested as the ideal location to construct a new campus and calls have been made for the governing body of the Carlow institute to consider moving the whole project further north.

Previously, a local group had made representations to the college suggesting St Senan’s itself as the ideal site for their new campus. This later fell through when IT Carlow settled on the Wexford town site, and paperwork is currently in the process of being finalised for the sale of St Senan’s to a private investor.

However, with a major fall-out now taking place between IT Carlow and those selling the Wexford town site, it is believed the college is now looking at different options once more. Local councillor Paddy Kavanagh was one of those who had previously called for Enniscorthy to be considered for the new campus and he firmly believes that Wexford’s difficulty could prove to be Enniscorthy’s opportunity. The Fine Gael councillor says that he has sounded out some landowners and established that land Killagoley would be available should the Institute wish to proceed. It is reported that at least three other sites in the Enniscorthy area have also been offered for consideration.

‘ There’s a lot of land adjacent to St Senan’s there that would be available,’ said Cllr Kavanagh. ‘I’d be happy if the campus was built anywhere in Enniscorthy, but really near St Senan’s is a perfect location, particularly with the new Business and Technology Park going on that stretch too. It’s also walking distance to town and it would be ideal when the new bridge goes in as part of the flood relief scheme.’

‘ There are a lot of reasons why Enniscorthy would be a good choice,’ he continued. ‘Access is a big issue and when the new M11 is finished the road networks would be there to link students from Dublin, Carlow, Waterford and all over Wexford. There’s also plenty of accommodation available in Enniscorthy and a lot of space for the campus to grow over the coming years. I would challenge anyone to find a better, more accessible site in such a centred area. Where else will they find 40 to 50 acres near a provincial town centre? We have a Junior Minister and another TD here in Enniscorthy and I would be calling on both of them to act on this and secure it for the Enniscorthy area.’

It is understood that the governing body of IT Carlow will now take some time to evaluate all of the options before making a final decision.