Dublin city councillors have backed a plan to turn the old Magdalene laundry on Sean McDermott Street into a centre for third-level education.
The plan also includes social housing for older people and a memorial for the victims and survivors of institutional homes.
The local authority outlined its plans at a meeting with public representatives yesterday.
Councillors voted to block the sale of the north inner city site to a Japanese hotel chain in 2018. While more than 10,500 people signed a petition online to stop it from going ahead.
Social Democrats councillor, Gary Gannon, says they have already held discussions with colleges about the project;
"Remember in Dublin 1 it's one of the lowest access to third level rates in the whole country, it's only 21 per cent of people get any form of college education. So that will make a massive difference."
He went on to say; "The most important aspect for me is that there will be a very substantial memorial built on site to the victims and survivors of Ireland’s institutional past."
It's hoped plans for the memorial will be in place by the end of the summer.
