MINISTER FOR EDUCATION Ruairí Quinn has given the green light to €35million in funding for construction on a 20-acre ‘education campus’ in Monaghan.

The campus, which will be managed by the Monaghan Vocational Educational Committee, will include a 16-classroom primary school, a 400-pupil second-level school and an Institute of Further Education with the capacity for 700 students. There will also be a state-of-the-art theatre, to be called the Garage Theatre, which is being co-funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, the government said the project on a former army barracks site in Monaghan town was a “pilot project” reflecting its position that shared educational campuses are the way forward. The three educational institutes will share facilities such as a sports hall, playing pitches and car parking.

Minister Ruairí 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 Irish Vocational Education Association also welcomed the announcement. Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the IVEA, said: “This building project is an outstanding example of how a VEC can deliver on a major building project for the State.”