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By Sean Moriart

Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) is to set up a campus in Killarney and have been invited to look at the former Pretty Polly site as a suitable location.

It is hoped the new Further Education and Training college will be operational by this September and that it will offer several courses including those aligned to the hospitality industry.

Killarney Municipal District officials and senior ETB managers are due to examine the former factory today (Friday) to assess its suitability as a campus.

When the Pretty Polly factory closed in 2009 it was handed over to Kerry County Council to be used to create new job opportunities in the town.

The local authority did receive a number of expressions of interest in the site but, so far, nothing has progressed.

There are no guarantees that the ETB will find the premises suitable for their plans but this is the most significant move to date to secure a tenant for the former factory.

Today’s meeting was made possible by Cllr Marie Moloney who is also a Kerry ETB board member. Cllrs Niall 'Botty' O'Callahghan and Maura Healy-Rae also played a role in securing today's visit.

“It is fantastic news for the town, they have already told me they hope to run hospitality courses in Killarney,” Cllr Moloney told the Killarney Advertiser. “I advised them to show an interest in the Pretty Polly site but we have to wait and see what they say after the visit.”

Kerry ETB is looking at a number of sites in the town. The Killarney Advertiser understands that it's under time pressure as it wants to be able to deliver courses in time for the new academic year which begins on September 1.

“We are fully committed to opening a Kerry College campus in the Killarney area, featuring a range of education and training options. We are currently exploring a number of possible locations,” an ETB spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.