O'Meara - Approval Secured for Major Investment in Tipperary ETB Headquarters and Further Education Facilities in Nenagh

O'Meara - Approval Secured for Major Investment in Tipperary ETB Headquarters and Further Education Facilities in Nenagh

Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary Ryan O'Meara has welcomed the approval of €5 million in funding for both the refurbishment of the front of the Castlebrand building in Tyone, Nenagh and for a long lease on the premises, providing a permanent home for the headquarters of Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB) and creating a new hub for further education and training Nenagh.

The investment follows months of engagement by Deputy O'Meara with Tipperary ETB and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless.

The project comes after Tipperary ETB vacated its former headquarters on Church Road, Nenagh to allow the building to be repurposed as a new special school at the request of the Department of Education and Youth. The school is now fully operational in the heart of Nenagh and will open a third special class this September.

Since June 2025, Tipperary ETB's headquarters staff have been operating from temporary accommodation at the Castlebrand site.

Welcoming the approval, Deputy O'Meara said:

"The decision to relocate Tipperary ETB from Church Road made possible the opening of a much-needed special school in Nenagh. That school is already making a difference for children and families, and it will expand further this September with the opening of a third special class.

"Since then, Tipperary ETB staff have been working from temporary accommodation at the Castlebrand site. I have been working closely with Tipperary ETB and Minister James Lawless to secure the investment needed to provide them with a permanent, modern headquarters and to centralise much of their further education options into one location in the town.

"I was delighted to welcome Minister Lawless to the site with senior ETB management in June. Since this meeting, I have been working hard with stakeholders to get this agreement over the line. I am now pleased to confirm that funding has been approved to redevelop the front of the Castlebrand building.

"This investment will provide a permanent headquarters for Tipperary ETB while also bringing together further education and training services in Nenagh under one roof. It is a significant investment in education for Tipperary and will strengthen the delivery of education and training opportunities across the county.

“I would like to particularly acknowledge the hard work and persistence of Tipperary ETB Chief Executive, Clodagh Kelly and all of her team on this major project.

"The transformation of the Castlebrand site by the owner over recent years has been remarkable. This investment will build on that progress, bringing even more activity into the heart of Nenagh and ensuring the site continues to serve the community for many years to come."

ENDS