A €58 million national maritime college which will facilitate 750 full-time students is due to be operational in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, by the end of next year, it was announced yesterday.
Speaking on board the LE Róisín at the Haulbowline naval base in Cork, the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, said the development would reinforce Ireland's position as a centre of excellence in maritime education and training.
"Today's announcement is very good news for the Irish education and maritime industry.
Staff and students can look forward to a college which has the most up-to-date designs and facilities," the Minister said.
The college would meet all the requirements for enhanced training facilities recommended by international seafaring bodies.
The new project is a collaborative venture between the Naval Service and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).
It will be the first major public development to be financed under a public-private partnership scheme.
The college will provide training facilities to service both the existing needs of CIT and the non-military needs of the Irish Naval Service.
The facility will offer students access to up-to-date technology such as computerised simulators for bridge operations and control of large ferries and merchant ships.
Under the partnership model the college will be built and financed by Focus Education, a consortium of Bovis Lend Lease and Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking.
The CIT nautical studies department is under pressure to increase intake in navigational training.
