Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there have been discussions between his Department and the local enterprise offices in relation to grant-aid to companies and businesses which require training in order to be able to comply with the new regulation requiring a CE (Conformité Européenne) mark on structural steel; the progress made with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8688/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In general, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation, which sets out requirements regarding the CE Mark for Structural Steel, is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D/ECLG). 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. D/ECLG 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) in providing training support for companies affected by the Construction Products Regulation, the role of the LEOs is to provide information to small and micro firms and to signpost them to relevant agencies / bodies for training and certification.

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, in conjunction with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) have provided four general awareness / information seminars on the topic at various venues around the country. In view of the NSAI’s final certification role, and given the roles and responsibilities of other Departments and agencies, my Department has discussed the requirements of the CPR with the relevant Departments and agencies i.e. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Department of Education and Skills, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) network and the NSAI.

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 Department of Education and Skills. It may be beneficial for companies to explore what economies of scale might be achieved for companies seeking the same upskilling in the same area.