Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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427. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the 2,650 additional places on retrofit and NZEB courses as outlined in Budget 2022 will be open; the total number of places on retrofit and NZEB courses including these additional places in 2022; the breakdown of the number of places that will be provided for each education and training board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55484/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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428. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of graduates in each on-site retrofit programme in Waterford, Wexford and Laois Offaly ETB that is targeted at near zero energy building skills training for existing construction professionals and skills to advance programmes related to retrofitting as part of the Just Transition response for Bord na Móna employees in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55485/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of trainees currently enrolled in each retrofitting centre of excellence to date; the target enrolment for each retrofitting centre of excellence for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55504/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 427, 428 and 430 together.

There are ten NZEB programmes available at the current time. Five of which are general construction related (NZEB fundamentals, site supervisor, ventilation, retrofit and NZEB for construction workers) and five of which are targeted to skilled craftspersons in specific trades (Bricklaying, Carpentry, Electrical, Plastering and Plumbing).

The numbers of trainees who have undertaken NZEB and Retrofit programmes to date in 2021 are as follows:-

- Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board ETB (WWETB)= 559.

- Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) = 89.

The delivery of the above short courses is demand-led. Increasing demand from construction workers for NZEB and Retrofit qualifications and upskilling is a key element in the National Retrofit Plan, which has been published as part of the Climate Action Plan 2021.

Under the Just Transitions response, LOETB initially focused on responding to the needs of those employees whose jobs were most at risk. Informed through a number of skills audits, 40 upskilling and re-skilling programmes have been rolled out, engaging over 450 Bord Na Móna starters. These programmes have included:

- Retrofit Skills Programme- Thermal Insulation (+ Ventilation & Air Tightness)

- NZEB Programmes

- Renewable Energies – Solar PV

- Bicycle Mechanic

- Renewable Energies- Micro Generator- Micro PV and wind turbine systems

- Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture

- Peatland Rehabilitation Traineeship

SOLAS is actively engaging with the Education and Training Boards to finalise overall FET targets for ETBs under the 2022 Further Education and Training business planning process. The allocation of places for NZEB and retrofitting programmes as outlined in Budget 2022 are under discussion as part of that process.