Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if financial supports are available to allow small steel fabrication businesses to carry out retraining to upskill staff in order to comply with the new European standard IS EN 1090-1, which came into operation on 1 July 2014 regarding structural steelwork; if the local enterprise offices are permitted to fund such training; and if similar protocols may be in place for all local employment offices. [44299/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In general, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Alan Kelly, T.D. I understand that officials in that Department have worked with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the industry was aware of, and prepared for, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation in Ireland. I also understand that a significant number of steel fabricators operating in the State have already established the systems necessary to comply with their obligations under the Construction Products Regulation and, more specifically, the requirements of I.S. EN 1090-1. I am informed that Minister Kelly’s Department remains committed to working with all stakeholders in order to continue to raise awareness and facilitate the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation in Ireland.

With regard to your specific question concerning the role of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the LEOs were established as a first-stop-shop for the provision of supports to the micro and small enterprise sector. These supports are aimed at enabling the LEO clients to develop and grow their business. For example, the non-financial supports are designed to build business competency within the sector and include a range of business and management development courses, such as Start Your Own Business, Online Marketing, Small Business Accounting, etc, as well as mentoring and networking services.

The provision of the specialist technical training required to achieve certification to an International or European Standard, such as that required by steel fabricators in this instance, is outside of the remit of the LEO services. However, I understand that to date the LEOs can, and have, provided general awareness/information seminars on the topic. I also understand that the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Shannon, Tralee and Waterford provide metal fabrication apprenticeship training, which incorporates elements of certification training. The ETBs come under the remit of the Minister for Education and Skills.

The Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland has agreed to explore the option for the LEOs to join forces with the Construction Industry Federation to provide regional information briefings.