Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1397. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the proposed centre of excellence for electric vehicle management in Mullingar. [47887/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Climate Action Plan 2023 includes the expansion of Ireland’s electric vehicle fleet as a key objective and set an ambitious target of 30% of our private car fleet having made the switch to electric vehicles by 2030. This expansion will see a significant increase in new skills requirements. The Expert Group for Future Skills Needs report Skills for Zero Carbonestimates that the electrification of our private car fleet will create increased demand for EV technicians in particular as we approach the achievement of the 2030 objective.

We are acting quickly to address these requirements. Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) have committed to the establishment of an eMobility Capability Centre in Mullingar. LWETB has a long history of delivering quality education provision and apprenticeship programmes in the midlands region, with a particular focus on skilled craft training in motor mechanics. As such, they are a key partner in leading on the requirement for EV technicians.

A proposal for the development of an eMobility Capability Centre in Mullingar has been submitted to SOLAS by LWETB. The proposal includes a staged approach, beginning with the establishment of an eMobility project office within LWETB to drive the development of the capability centre itself. SOLAS have recently submitted recommendations based on this business case to my department. These recommendations are now under consideration by my Department.

On that basis, I expect to make an announcement regarding the Centre and its future development in Mullingar in the coming weeks which will be an important milestone on our climate action journey.