Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff employed at the National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas, County Offaly; and the courses available there. [25440/19]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of participants that received training at the National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas, County Offaly in each of the past five years. [25441/19]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.

The National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas caters for construction plant training and was established by FÁS in 2008.

Following the establishment of SOLAS as the agency for further education and training in 2013, responsibility for former FÁS training centres was transferred to the Education and Training Boards. Mount Lucas was transferred from SOLAS to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) in July 2014.

The facility is the only recognised training centre in Ireland to test plant drivers for the equivalent UK certification, which means plant operators are certified as being competent both in Ireland and the UK to operate plant machinery.

There are 5 staff employed by LOWEB working at Mount Lucas. The remaining information regarding courses and the numbers of participants requested by the deputy is attached.

The number of participants that received training at the National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas, County Offaly 2014 - 2018.