Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that have been taken in the retraining of construction workers in line with the projected future green economy as set out in Building Ireland's Smart Economy - A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal 2009 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17599/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS is involved in the funding and provision of a number of programmes to retrain construction workers in the requisite skills pertaining to the green economy in line with the document 'Building Ireland's Smart Economy A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal 2009 to 2014'. Relevant programmes include: -

Gas safety and installation courses:

G.I.S. Gas Installer – Safety' to upgrade the skills and knowledge of persons in gas safety features so as to enable them to work safely on domestic installations and non-domestic gas pipe work.

'G.I.D. Gas Installer – Domestic' to provide the necessary skills and knowledge to install, maintain and service domestic gas installations and equipment in accordance with current standards and regulations. This course is currently available in Dublin (Ballyfermot Training Centre) and Cork.

Sustainable Energy courses:

Solar Thermal Installer

Heat-pump Installer

Bio-mass boiler Installer

These courses aim to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and competence of plumbers, electricians, fitters and other suitably qualified construction workers to design, install and commission domestic solar hot water heating, bio-mass and heat-pump systems in a safe and competent manner. Courses are currently available in Dublin (Ballyfermot Training Centre) and Cork.

Building Energy Rating: This course provides the necessary skills, knowledge and competencies to suitably qualified participants to produce Building Energy Rating Assessor (BER) labels and advisory reports for new and existing dwellings in accordance with current standards and regulations. The course is currently available in Dublin (Cabra Training Centre).

Smart/Intelligent Building Systems: This course provides qualified electricians or suitably qualified applicants with the skills, knowledge and competence to install, configure and test an intelligent building control system using KNX/EIB technology. This course is currently available in Dublin (Loughlinstown Training Centre).

Insulation technologies and techniques: This course provides general construction trades persons with skills and knowledge in the areas of insulation materials, techniques and technologies, and provides plasterers with external wall rendering techniques for existing and new buildings. FÁS is also currently planning the following courses:

Micro-Electricity Generation Wind Turbine and Photovoltaic Courses: These courses are being developed in close co-operation with Sustainable Energy Ireland and will enable Installers to safely install appropriate micro-generation equipment up to 11Kw 3 phase or 6Kw single phase in size, in line with the current requirements as defined by E.S.B. networks. These courses are scheduled to be available in summer 2009 subject to budget approval and will be available in the Dublin (Finglas) and Galway Training Centres.

Passive House Building: This course will be aimed at construction workers and will provide the skills and knowledge to understand and use the technology associated with the passive house construction method/standard. The course is scheduled to be available in late 2009.

Since 2007 FÁS Services to Business have also delivered a number of programmes in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Technologies, Carbon Footprint Calculation and Reduction, Waste Prevention, Water Protection and Waste Water Treatment, aimed at the general workforce including construction workers. These programmes included the following:

In addition, under the Skillnets Training Networks Programme a number of relevant training courses are currently provided to participants, including construction workers, in knowledge areas such as Building Energy Rating, Low Carbon Energy Assessment, Air Permeability Training, Energy Savings and Water Hygiene.