Plans for an Irish language university in the west Kerry Gaeltacht have received a boost with the announcement that a large site, close to the village of Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, is being acquired.
The 10.5 acre site, on the Dún Chaoin road is to be bought by Údarás na Gaeltachta, subject to planning.
As well as the university facilities, it will include a business park along with administrative offices for the local development organisation Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne.
The €7 million plans for the development are being led by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, in association with the comharchumann.
Tomás Garvey, the supermarket chain owner and hotelier, has also gone on Radio na Gaeltachta and pledged his support.
According to the annual report of Údarás na Gaeltachta, which mentions the Baile an Fheirtéaraigh project, there has been a significant increase in third-level education provision through Irish and the number of third-level accredited courses throughout the Gaeltacht.
"The development of third-level education through Irish is a core element of Údarás na Gaeltachta's strategy to ensure a highly skilled workforce is available in the Gaeltacht and as a basis for sourcing and developing young Gaeltacht entrepreneurs," the report states.
Third-level education through Irish was also having a very positive linguistic and socio-economic impact on the communities where the centres and courses are located, it said.
Last year a similar university project, to be located 1.5km (just under a mile) from Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, was refused planning on appeal. Kerry County Council supported the proposal although there were misgivings by council engineers.
However, An Bord Pleanála turned down the proposal and expressed concerns about traffic and the distance of the site from the village.
Planning permission is to be sought shortly for this new proposal which will centre on a core university building of 1,700sq m (18,300sq ft).