Tipperary Institute (TI) is among the litany of bodies recommended for closure in last week’s An Bord Snip Nua report.
TI, which operates campuses in both Clonmel and Thurles (pictured), must remain open according to local Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes.
“Tipperary Institute is an invaluable resource for South Tipperary,” said Deputy Hayes following the publication of the McCarthy Report.
“We know that areas which are not served by an IT or University struggle to grow economically, and this just makes the case for retaining the Tipperary Institute and its courses all the more important.”
Regarding TI (founded as TRBDI), the lengthy report states: The report said it advocated: “The case for the continued existence of TRBDI is weak. The institute is located near two other Institutes of Technology and has a high complement of staff (100) compared to the number of full-time students (338).
“The Group recommends that the institution be closed with existing students re-assigned to nearby ITs. The campus should be disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer.”
Deputy Hayes said that removing TI would be “a foolish and nonsensical way to cut costs”.
He added: “So much has been invested in Tipperary Institute, and it provides essential resources for all of Tipperary and the surrounding area. It also offers qualifications here and means that people can go to college and commute from home, making the college education process cheaper for Tipperary, which is vital in this economic climate.”
The courses run at TI are respected across the country and worldwide, in Tom Hayes’s view.
“They are among the best in the country in terms of gaining employment for students,” he stated.
“This year alone saw a huge increase in applications, as people have come to realise how well the Institute works and how well educated graduates are when they finish their courses.”
