Major investment in skills training in midlands region
New investment at a training centre in North Offaly will help place the Midlands at the heart of a sustainable construction industry.
That's the view of local politicians after Minister Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris visited the National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas, Offaly today to open a new scaffolding training unit, to announce a major extension to the retrofitting centre, and to turn the sod on a massive construction skills centre.
During his visit he announced that Laois & Offaly ETB has secured approval to develop a proposal which will deliver significant additional capacity at their retrofitting and Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) training facility
Minister Harris said: “I was thrilled to be here to formally launch the country’s first ever scaffolding apprenticeship, to announce the new Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction, and to congratulate Laois & Offaly ETB on succeeding on the next step towards increasing capacity at their retrofitting and NZEB Training Centre.
“With the addition of the Demonstration Park this will now become the National Construction Training Campus.
The Mount Lucas proposal to increase capacity at its retrofitting and NZEB training facility is the first project approved to progress to the next stage of development under the Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIUF) programme call which was launched earlier this year. A number of other projects will be announced in the coming weeks.
The next stage will be the appointment of a Design Team by Laois & Offaly ETB to bring the project through the design and planning process.
Targeted capital investment will also support the transformation agenda across the FET sector and ensure our campuses are flexible and future-proofed.
Minister Harris said: “This expansion will focus on increasing training capacity for Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) skills and allow us to better respond to the critical skills gaps in the construction sector in particular retrofit and modern methods of construction. The campus will provide for the development of real pathways in the Further Education and Training and Higher Education sectors while also continuing to provide special awards for upskilling the current workforce.”
“Mount Lucas has and continues to play a leading role in the area of retrofitting training programmes. A centre of excellence in this area, it has played a key role in responding to training needs for the counties of Laois and Offaly and surrounding areas. It continues to play a critical role in ensuring that we have a skilled workforce to meet head on the challenges we face as a country under the Climate Action agenda.
“This next phase of investment will position the sector to cater for rising demand for those seeking to reskill and upskill throughout their lives.”
The creation of the Demonstration Park at Mount Lucas will illustrate Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in response to this.
Minister Harris added: “This Demonstration Park will facilitate the showcasing of innovative MMC products and systems, and in particular those that will directly impact our housing sector for the better.
Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly Barry Cowen welcomed the significant investment in skills in the Midlands region.
Deputy Cowen said, “I was delighted to see Ireland’s first ever Scaffolding Apprenticeship programme launched earlier today in Mount Lucas.
"This alongside news that Laois & Offaly ETB has secured approval to develop a proposal which will deliver significant additional capacity at their Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) training facility and a new Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction, a key action in the Government’s Housing for All programme, marks a significant day of investment for the Midlands region, which I heavily campaigned for.
“I have said time and time again that Mount Lucas has and continues to play a leading role in the area of retrofitting training programmes. A centre of excellence in this area, it has played a key role in responding to training needs for the counties of Laois and Offaly and surrounding areas. It continues to play a critical role in ensuring that we have a skilled workforce to meet head on the challenges we face as a country under the Climate Action agenda.”
Minister of State Pippa Hackett said: “The investment in and expansion of the National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas places this Offaly campus at the centre of a new direction for the Midlands. The Midlands was the proud hub of power generation in the country for decades and now, with thanks to the work of the Department of Skills and Laois Offaly ETB we will be at the centre of building the new Ireland.”
She added: “I look forward to visiting the Demonstration Park when the time comes. I encourage anyone with an interest in a new start in construction or to build on previous experience to look into the courses and apprenticeships available at Mount Lucas - many are short and all are very relevant to today's economy.”
Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of LOETB outlined: "The expansion of facilities at Mount Lucas, including the Scaffolding Apprenticeship and the National MMC Demonstration Park will ensure that LOETB and Mount Lucas continues to meet the current and future skills needs of the construction sector. The cross-Government approach, and continued collaboration with SOLAS and the CIF will make an important contribution to successfully meeting the Housing for All targets."