Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1808. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what engagements he has had with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine education and training schemes for fishermen to allow for transferability of skipper licenses for use between the fishing and wind energy industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16705/23]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1809. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what examinations education bodies in the State have carried out to introduce training and upskilling courses that would allow transferability of fishing skipper licences for use in the offshore wind energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16706/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1808 and 1809 together.

The growth of offshore renewable energy is critical to meeting our climate action targets. The Government is committed to ensuring that the education and training system, including both higher and further education providers, is appropriately positioned to support the development of the skills required by this sector.

It is assumed that the reference to skippers is to the masters of fishing vessels. The education, training and certification schemes for fishers are conducted in accordance with the Certification of Seamen Act 1979 and the Fishing Vessels (Certification of Deck Officers and Engineer Officers) Regulations made under that Act. While the education, training and certification schemes for mercantile seafarers are conducted in accordance with the International Convention on the Standards of training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers which is implemented in Ireland by EU and national legislation. A separate certification scheme does not exist either nationally or internationally for vessels that are used in the offshore renewable energy (ORE) sector. Such vessels are considered to be mercantile vessels and are subject to compliance with the STCW Convention. The Department of Transport is the competent authority in relation to the licensing of ships to engage in commercial non fishing activities, related to renewable energy infrastructure or other commercial activities.

My Department is engaging with key interdepartmental stakeholders including colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Transport, around the transferability of skills in this sector. This includes examining potential training avenues which would allow fishers qualified to act as a skipper aboard a fishing vessel to upscale their qualification in order to allow them to transfer their skills to other maritime roles.

In addition, my Department is participating on the cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Energy Taskforce, with a focus on the workforce and skills required for offshore wind in Ireland. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Greentech Skillnet, is leading an analysis of the skills and workforce requirements for offshore wind, through the preparation of a detailed skills assessment, and the establishment of an Expert Advisory Group. These actions will ensure that future output from the tertiary sector is aligned with projected workforce requirements, is regionally appropriate, and is informed by sectoral, Departmental and industry experts.