BRIAN COWEN paid tribute to the imagination and drive of the University of Limerick as he turned the sod a new graduate medical school which will be built over the coming year.
More than 150 people will be employed during the construction phase of the project, which is set to cost €16 million.
“It’s an important addition to the wonderful facility that it the University of Limerick, it’s providing wonderful leadership in the education field in this region. I think it is another example of how the university is forging ahead in providing a great confidence boost to the region and providing a wonderful educational resource here as we build up our skills and get ourselves in position for the upturn when it comes,” said Mr Cowen during a visit to Limerick at the weekend.
The medical school, which has been approved by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe and which will be funded under the National Development Plan, will be located next to the existing Health Sciences Building on the UL campus and will be integrated into UL’s strategy for an on-campus Health Education Village.
Almost 300 students will be accommodated once the project is complete in September 2010. The project will provide the laboratories, facilities and equipment necessary for the courses provided by UL and the school will target innovative learning incorporating the latest in major international advances. Additionally it will provide space and courses for GP training, allowing GPs to stay up to date with the latest developments in their field.
It is expected that when fully operational, new postgraduate research programmes will be developed. “I think that our commitment to proceed with the medical school as an important part of the National Development Plan, to improve training, not only for medical students but continuing training for general practitioners, is a wonderful example of the good things that are happening in addition to the challenges that we must confront,” said Mr Cowen.