MONAGHAN EDUCATION CAMPUS
County Monaghan VEC was selected by Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD and his government in November 2009 to manage and oversee the procurement, planning and building of a multi-user Education Campus on the site of the former Military Barracks site in Monaghan. This campus will provide education at primary, post-primary and further education levels. Co. Monaghan VEC is the first education authority to get sanction from the Department of Education and Skills to manage this project on a “devolved pilot basis”.
The campus will comprise:
· A 16 classroom all Irish Primary School for Gaelscoil Ultain
· A 400 pupil all Irish Post Primary School for Colaiste Oiriall
· An Institute of Further Education that will replace the existing PLC College and Theatre
· Sports Hall – to be shared by all education users on the campus
It is Co. Monaghan VEC’s plan that this multi-user education campus will be ready for occupation in September 2012.
On Friday 10th December 2010, Mary Coughlan TD, Tanaiste and Minister for Education and Skills unveiled the plans and digital images for this innovative building project at Hotel Hillgrove Monaghan.
Contract signed for €37.5 million Monaghan Education Campus and Theatre
Official signing of Contracts took place at 4.00 pm on Monday 15th August 2011in the Westenra Arms Hotel Monaghan, with John Sisk & Son Ltd. who won the tender process to construct the new campus.
It follows the announcement on Friday by the Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairí Quinn, of approval to proceed with the €35 million Education Campus, the largest school building project in the State this year.
A state of the art theatre will also be built as part of the project and will be the new home of the Garage Theatre. The theatre facility will be grant-aided by the Department of Education & Skills and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltact. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltact Jimmy Deenihan confirmed the grant from his department and said it would be ‘an important addition to the arts and cultural infrastructure in the border region’.
Minister Quinn said, “I want to congratulate Co. Monaghan Vocational Education Committee on the tremendous work involved in bringing this project to construction.”
“This is a shining example of where the local VEC has worked closely with my Department and the Gaelscoil to ensure delivery of a state of the art education campus for the benefit of all in the Monaghan area.”
“The benefits of working with people on a local level are clear in relation to the timeframes achieved with this project.”
The provision of three educational facilities on a 20 acre campus is in line with the Government view that shared campuses are the preferred model for future development of educational infrastructure in areas of demographic growth.
The campus will include new accommodation for a 16 classroom primary school (Gaelscoil Ultain), a 400 pupil post primary school (Gaelcholáiste Oiriall) together with a 700 student Institute of Further Education (Monaghan Institute), shared Sports Hall, playing pitches and car-parking facilities as well as the Theatre which will be available for use by all.
The speakers at the official signing of contracts event commended the CEO Martin O’Brien and his team, in particular Buildings Officer Veronica Feeney, for the dedication and determination in pushing the project forward to this point.
Stephen Oppermann, Architect of the project and Head of the Design Team, complimented Monaghan County Council (members and officials) for their support and co-operation in the planning process.
CEO, in his speech, thanked the Ministers, T.D.s and Councillors, past and current, for their support for the project and Monaghan County Council and Town Council for their co-operation and in particular for their financial commitment to the Theatre.
John Sisk & Son Ltd is the largest general contracting company in Ireland. The company has a proven track record in the Construction Industry and has worked with many of the worlds leading companies.
Construction is due to commence next month and it is planned that the Campus will be available for students in Winter Term 2012.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny visits Monaghan Education Campus
On Monday 24 October 2011 Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited the site of the new Monaghan Education Campus and described the project as ‘a brilliant concept and a great decision for the people of County Monaghan’. 
CEO presented a digital overview of the new development which he said was the first of its kind in Ireland and ideally placed to provide courses that would generate new industries and new economies. The campus buildings are expected to be completed in December 2012.
Mr Kenny was welcomed on his first official visit to Monaghan by VEC Chairman Cllr John O’Brien and was accompanied on his visit by local FG TDs Heather Humphries and Sean Conlon. Also in attendance were Caomhghin Ó Caolain TD, Declan Kelly, Project Director, Sisk; Brendan Ó Dufaigh, Príomhoide Choláiste Oiriall, Dr Fiona McGrath, Director of Monaghan Institute, Cllr Sean Conlon, Chairman of the Garage Theatre BOM as well as members of Co Monaghan VEC, Monaghan Town Council and Monaghan County Council.
Mr Kenny, a former member and chairman of Mayo VEC, said that the name of the new campus should be a brand of excellence so that students who pass through the facility could go anywhere in the world and say they had with them a brand of excellence from County Monaghan. He noted that a Gaelscoil and Gaelcholáiste were included in the campus and felt that this was important for the restoration of the Irish language. He welcomed the concept of the new theatre because in times of pressure it was communities and people of integrity, creativity and imagination who made a difference to the perception of our county.
Wishing the project well, Mr Kenny said Co Monaghan VEC was setting a platform for others to follow. While they might have some differences of opinion about some issues they were all united as far as the Monaghan Education Campus was concerned and looked forward to the project coming to fruition as a bright, shining, educational, institutional star in Monaghan. Mr Kenny congratulated all involved and wished SISK good luck in the construction of the campus and promised to revisit the site when the work had progressed.
VIEW IMAGES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MONAGHAN EDUCATION CAMPUS HERE
View the Digital Images and Plans here
VIRTUAL TOUR OF MONAGHAN EDUCATION CAMPUS
Video Courtesy of Oppermann Associates, Hawkins Brown and Digital Dimensions