Mr. Gerard Smith:

I am honoured to have served as director of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence, AMTCE, for nearly a year now. Before joining the AMTCE, I built a career in the global manufacturing sector, working with international leaders across a wide range of industries. That experience strongly aligns with the AMTCE’s core mission to position Ireland as a global leader in advanced, sustainable and responsive manufacturing training. On behalf of the AMTCE and the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, I thank the committee for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation on apprenticeships and advanced manufacturing. I am joined today by my valued colleagues Lynne Keery, apprenticeship manager, and Andrew Magee, our engineering manager.

When the AMTCE was established in 2021 under the visionary leadership of the CEO of LMETB, Mr. Martin O’Brien, it was not just another training centre; it was a strategic response to a national and regional skills gaps, backed by evidence and rooted in a long-term vision to train and upskill locally and export skills globally. The vision is more relevant now than ever. At a time of global disruption from pandemics to trade realignments, resilience and adaptability are essential. The AMTCE is designed to deliver in preparing Ireland’s workforce not just for today’s jobs but for the future economy. What sets the AMTCE apart is the ecosystem approach we take to training. We do not operate in isolation. We bring together the Government, industry and education in a true partnership model. This is visible in our formal collaborations, such as through our memorandum of understanding with Catalyst Connection in Pittsburgh and in pioneering projects like Ireland's first 3D-printed concrete housing. This was made possible through collaboration with Harcourt Technologies, HTL, and other stakeholders in Dundalk.

We are proud to be part of this living laboratory of innovation where learners are not just taught technical skills but are trained to lead the next wave of transformation in Irish manufacturing. Our model is built on flexibility and relevance. We deliver training through a blend of craft and post-2016 apprenticeships, traineeships and skills to advance programmes. Courses are led by seasoned practitioners and delivered either on site with state-of-art equipment or virtually through our online platforms. This dual approach allows us to respond rapidly to emerging industry needs and technologies. We are proud to be the co-ordinating provider of a level 6 robotics and automation apprenticeship that exemplifies our commitment to future-facing training. Through partnerships like that with Dundalk Institute of Technology, we ensure learners have clear progression pathways into higher education and lifelong learning.

The AMTCE sits within a wider LMETB further education and training network, including the regional skills and training centre in Dundalk and the Drogheda training centre. Together, we deliver a broad and growing range of apprenticeships across sectors from traditional trades like electrical and motor mechanics to high-demand areas like cybersecurity and hairdressing. Our region is diverse and rapidly growing, with an 11% population increase. The latter is well above the national average. We serve urban centres, rural communities and the ever-expanding Dublin commuter belt.

These demographic shifts bring both opportunities and challenges, and the AMTCE is here to ensure the skills infrastructure keeps pace with the region’s growth.

We are fully aligned with the Government’s Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 and share the Department’s ambition to expand and modernise the system. At the same time, we strongly believe that a centrally co-ordinated and certified model, akin to the State Examinations Commission for the leaving certificate, ensures consistency, trust and international recognition. While we understand that this is not fully aligned with the current direction being explored by SOLAS, our experience on the ground tells us that centralised certification and quality assurance are essential for maintaining high standards with employers, learners and international partners. This is what they expect from Irish qualifications.

To further enable our responsiveness, we are respectfully calling for a dedicated funding line for the AMTCE within the LMETB’s further education and training, FET, budget. A ring-fenced funding stream would give us the ability to meet industry needs at short notice and maintain the cutting-edge equipment, staff and resources that distinguish the AMTCE at national level. As manufacturing technologies evolve, so too must the infrastructure supporting skills development. Flexibility in funding is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. I warmly invite members of this committee to visit the AMTCE and experience at first hand the energy and innovation taking place within our walls. From the factory floor to the virtual classroom, what will be seen is more than training - it is transformation. The AMTCE is not just a training centre, it is a national asset. It represents a bold investment in Ireland’s industrial future, and a model for how education, enterprise and Government can work together to build a resilient, future-ready workforce.

I thank the committee once again for the opportunity to speak with it today. We look forward to working with the committee to shape the future of apprenticeships and advanced manufacturing in Ireland.