Minister Mary Hanafin opens National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
Thursday 30 March 2006
Mary Hanafin, T.D. Minister for Education and Science officially opened the National Maritime College on Thursday 30th March 2006. The college has a capacity to cater for 750 whole time equivalent students in an academic year. The €52m National Maritime College of Ireland is the first third level Public Private Partnership (PPP) to be completed and operating in Ireland.
The project is regarded as one of the most exciting and innovative developments in maritime training and education. Minister Hanafin said "the NMCI uses the most up to-date designs in both buildings and equipment and all of the facilities will be maintained and operated by Focus Education to the highest standards. One of the main attractions of the PPP process is that it allows the College management and staff to concentrate on their core management and academic duties and not the day to day operation of a building"
"The NMCI will be a major attraction for international trainees, reinforcing Ireland's position as a centre of excellence in maritime training. The College has already forged significant linkages with similar colleges abroad, leading to student and staff exchanges with Canadian, Dutch, U.K., Polish, Finnish, New Zealand and Swedish maritime colleges" said Minister Hanafin.”
Minister Hanafin thanked the Governing Body and Director of Cork Institute of Technology and the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service, for their commitment and support for this PPP project.
