Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apprenticeship training in the construction sector provides the skills required for a modern workforce, but crucially helps to support the Government in the delivery of our retrofitting

targets set out in the national retrofit plan. As we learned yesterday in this House retrofitting a house is not a new house, but it is a very important thing to do in terms of the climate. Retrofitting-related education and training is delivered across the tertiary system. Near zero energy building, NZEB, standards are being embedded in the curricula of relevant craft apprenticeship programmes as they are revalidated. As we revalidate all of our apprenticeship programmes the curriculum is altered to ensure the near zero energy building standards are embedded as a core component of any apprenticeship, as appropriate. We now have provided retrofitting and NZEB courses and centres in Laois, Offaly, Waterford-Wexford, and in Limerick-Clare education and training boards, ETBs. There are now courses also being delivered through Cork ETB, and Mayo-Sligo-Leitrim ETB, with further provision this year and in 2024. I think we will be in Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan's county for the opening of Cork retrofitting centre in the coming months. Courses are suitable for qualified and experienced learners, and those who are new to the area. Once an apprentice has completed their apprenticeship and the day-long NZEB fundamentals course, they can participate in an NZEB course specific to their trade to further enhance their professional development. The key message we need to get out here is a person is already working in the trades and working in construction these retrofitting courses are extraordinarily short. A course lasting a number of days will provide the retrofitting training needed.

My Department published the report on the analysis of skills for residential, construction and retrofitting and the corresponding action plan in December. The report indicates a need for 50,831 new entrants into the sector. That is not just in further education that is in higher education also so includes professionals, engineers, architects, craft, operative and other trade routes to meet the housing and retrofitting targets outlined in Housing for All and the national retrofit plan. It is important to recognise that this requirement and the labour needs to support retrofitting generally extends well beyond apprenticeships. There is a significant requirement for general operatives and those with qualifications through shorter courses to meet national retrofitting targets. Increasing construction sector productivity will also be an important part of this and the widespread adoption of modern methods of construction also has a crucial role to play in achieving these targets.

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