Cork Corner

Tina Coy, Chair of the Cork Chapter, discusses new developments in Cork and how it continues to become an ever-more attractive place to do business

LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO OPEN OFFICES IN CORK AND LIMERICK

Recently announced and great news to hear is the Land Development Agency (LDA) has announced plans to begin opening offices outside Dublin, starting with Cork and Limerick.

This initiative is recognising the role of the LDA as a national agency who are gearing to boost the scale of our cities outside of Dublin.

Cork has seen a number of major infrastructure projects completed and others approved in the past number of years, and this expansion is in line with Project Irelands 2040 ambitions for growth outside of Dublin.

These plans are to increase the supply of affordable housing through the use of efficient use of state land. An example of this is the planning application to build 260 new homes on the site of St. Kevin’s Hospital in Cork.

It has also formed a partnership with Cork City Council to bring forward plans for the regeneration of a 146-acre site in Cork Docklands. This together with the state-of-the-art office space completed around the train station and docklands area will further enhance the offering to business, commercial, retail, services, social and accommodation across the city. Supporting regional development outside of Dublin will be key to making our second city more attractive internationally.

Expanding firms Apple, Amazon and Alter Domus have given Cork a triple-A rating and offices boost to the city, these developments in our docklands will support this thriving community.

We watch with interest and enthusiasm for the regeneration of this area and sustainable growth of our beautiful city.

In January 2021, the long-awaited merger of CIT and IT Tralee gave us the Munster Technological University or MTU. This is a multi-campus technological university, consisting of six campuses in Cork and Kerry and offer a world of opportunities for its students, and stake holders. It aims to develop and expand already deep linkages between both Cork and Kerry facilities and high-tech industries in the engineering, IT, and pharmaceuticalbiotech areas. MTU can accommodate 23,000 students across Cork and Kerry, with 140 plus courses and programmes, they partner with industry with dynamic cross sector relationships with start-ups, innovators, and industry leading companies in the region. MTU also are involved in leading research by development of multi-disciplinary, industry focused research programmes with national and international partners. They are continuing to invest in the future with state-of-the-art research, education, enterprise, cultural and sports facilities.

IRELAND’S NEWEST TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY AS CORK AND TRALEE IT MERGE

In January 2021, the long-awaited merger of CIT and IT Tralee gave us the Munster Technological University or MTU. This is a multi-campus technological university, consisting of six campuses in Cork and Kerry and offer a world of opportunities for its students, and stake holders. It aims to develop and expand already deep linkages between both Cork and Kerry facilities and high-tech industries in the engineering, IT, and pharmaceutical biotech areas.

MTU can accommodate 23,000 students across Cork and Kerry, with 140 plus courses and programmes, they partner with industry with dynamic cross sector relationships with start-ups, innovators, and industry leading companies in the region. MTU also are involved in leading research by development of multi-disciplinary, industry focused research programmes with national and international partners. They are continuing to invest in the future with state-of-the-art research, education, enterprise, cultural and sports facilities.

Cork now has 2 universities in situ offering students wide choices of continued education both day and night courses. Fostering enterprise and innovation will lead to a stronger economy ensuring that the region will continue to flourish and offer our young people the opportunity to develop skills that are in great demand.