THE TURNING of the first sod for the proposed Blanchardstown RTC, in north Co Dublin, is a step closer following the decision of the Department of Education to pursue a site for the college at Buzzardstown.

The Department of Education, Fingal County Council and the IDA have agreed to reserve a 34 acre site at Buzzardstown, between Dromheath and Corduff for the college, pending a final decision. In addition, a further 10 acres will be set aside for a research and innovation centre.

Unusually, this proposed RTC site forms part of a larger 230 acre industrial park A which is itself adjacent to the Snugboro Industrial Park, managed by the IDA and home to a number of hi-tech and pharmaceutical companies. The Department of Education has said it was influenced in its choice of the industrial park by the success of the University of Limerick, which is linked to Plassey Technological Park.

A spokesman for the Department says its attitude to the Buzzardstown site is "very positive".

The Department had been examining one other possible 20 acre site near Blanchardstown Town Centre, but it has now been decided not to take up this option.

The new RTC will form a focal point for the rapid industrial development of the area. A new IBM plant, which will employ 3,000 people, has been confirmed for Mulhuddart. In addition, 3Com in Ballycoolin is to expand.

The Department of Education has now been urged to progress with the building of the RTC "with the least possible delay", according to the cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council, Councillor Anne Devitt. "In the meantime, resources from the Department of Education must be directed to the unemployment black spots within Blanchardstown," Devill says. "There are a lot of young people in the area who have fallen through the educational net. Resources must be made immediately available to provide these people with training and education so that they may be in a position to take advantage of the courses that will be provided by our new RTC."