By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council monthly meeting
A €250 million Master Plan for the SETU Campus, schools, housing, large scale sports and community facilities at Killeens and Clonard on the outskirts of Wexford town was presented to members by Chief Executive Tom Enright at yesterday’s (Monday) monthly meeting of Wexford County Council.
The Strategic Land of over 120 acres will also provide over 600 social, affordable and private homes, two new schools and community facilities.
“Following the signing of documents for the compulsory purchase of the lands for a new Southeast Technological University (SETU) campus in January of this year the process is now at an advanced stage,” said Mr Enright, who continued; “The Campus will serve as a National Centre of Excellence with Wexford County Council leading the preparation of the Master Plan with SETU determining the faculties.”
The Council also purchased an additional 55 acres of land adjacent to the Loreto School at Killeens from a Receiver.
Also announced were proposals for new €20 million Multi-Purpose State-of-the-Art Sports and Community Facilities to serve the Community, the new University and Schools.
This includes a significant proposal to facilitate the relocation of Wexford FC Stadium and facilities from Ferrycarrig Park to new high-quality facilities in Killeens as it is expected that the planned M11 Olygate to Rosslare Harbour major road scheme will bisect the existing facilities at Ferrycarrig.
Speaking of the Transformational Change Project, Mr Enright said; “This is a really important development, we don’t just want a state-of-the-art University in Wexford, but we want state-of-the-art large scale sporting facilities as well. The facilities being proposed will be available to clubs but also to the university and the schools and to the wider community.”
Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr John Fleming welcomed the proposals which when completed will be transformational for Wexford Town, County Wexford and the South East Region. “This is a very important day for Wexford and we must have the ambition to provide educational and sporting facilities on a par with other locations which already have a Technological University Campus and large-scale sporting facilities.”
The developments will require the full backing of Council members who were universally very positive and supportive of the Master Plan presentation.
Cllr Ger Carthy said; “This will be a game changer for Co. Wexford with the construction of the campus, sports facilities and housing developments and will need the full resources of Wexford County Council.” “An extremely exciting day for Wexford, the county and the region and Wexford County Council will be in the driving seat for the Master Plan,” stated Cllr George Lawlor.
Cllr Jackser Owen was excited that “our children can go to our own college”; Cllr Leonard Kelly praised the vision of grouping the sports clubs; Cllr Oliver Walsh described the plan as “a most ambitious and exciting programme; Cllr Michael Sheehan said it was “a good proposal” and he wished it well; There was support from Cllr Lisa McDonald; Cllr Jim Codd, who has been teaching in the Rosslare district for the past 30 years spoke of “a great day for Wexford.”
Cllr Jim Moore described the project as “ambitious and visionary and transforming, not just the region, but the town and county” and he was delighted at “the integration of all other facilities.” However, Cllr Moore reminded the members “we should not forget what we have got and managing the changes is a significant challenge.” There were also words of support from Cllrs Aidan Browne, Willie Kavanagh, Cathal Byrne and Pip Breen.
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