Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The government has set an ambitious target to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030. Important steps towards delivering on this target are the increased numbers enrolling on NZEB [Near Zero Energy Building] courses and the establishment of the SOLAS Green Skills Programme Office.

Education and training for retrofitting and construction sector skills are delivered through more than 50 programmes running in NZEB Centres of Excellence. In total, six NZEB Centres will be established within the Education and Training Boards [ETBs].

Three NZEB Centres of Excellence and retrofitting training are operating in Waterford and Wexford ETB, Laois and Offaly ETB, and Limerick Clare ETB. Courses are also delivered in Cork ETB and Mayo-Sligo-Leitrim ETB and further provision will be provided through a sixth centre in Finglas, under CDETB.

To support the NZEB Centres of Excellence my Department approved funding for capital projects to establish fit-for-purpose premises. To date, just over €2 million has been approved towards the delivery of capital projects for the Centres of Excellence, with in the region of €1.7 million drawn down by the relevant ETBs to date. Further capital projects are progressing through the design stages with further capital funding approvals to follow. In addition, requests for capital funding are anticipated in respect of the Centres of Excellence, including the sixth Centre being planned by CDETB.