Mr. Padraig Boland:

We have been in discussions with SOLAS, which has agreed that Laois and Offaly ETB will host nearly zero energy building, NZEB, and retrofitting programmes at Mount Lucas. That agreement has been put in place. The Deputy is correct in identifying that the multiplicity of skill sets required needs a level of craftsmanship that would require a four-year apprenticeship. Bord na Móna would have some employees who are fully qualified craftpersons. There is an initial NZEB training centre in Ireland with Waterford and Wexford ETB in a training facility in Enniscorthy. We will replicate that. Those programmes are primarily upskilling current craftspeople, such as plumbers, electricians etc., to bring a building to NZEB standard. One element of it is for general operatives, which might be suitable to those who do not have the full craft.

Another area that we are looking at and on which we have engaged with Waterford and Wexford ETB, SOLAS and external expertise is the development of a programme that would give a qualification to people to undertake the work to deep retrofit and looking at a programme that would be bespoke to the housing stock in the midlands. That is only in its very early stages.