Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the steps being taken to integrate green skills across further and higher education programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37562/25]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Green Skills are crucial for achieving the ambitious climate targets outlined in the Government's Climate Action Plan. These skills encompass everything from developing transferable green skills for everyday life to meeting the specific requirements of emerging green sectors, such as Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/ Retrofit, eMobility, and renewable energy and offshore wind.

In October 2024, SOLAS launched Green Skills 2030: The First National Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy for the Green Transition. Green Skills 2030 identifies key skills gaps impacting Ireland’s ability to transition to a climate neutral society across critical sectors of the economy. This marks an important milestone in setting out the direction for the Irish FET sector’s response to emerging green skills needs. This strategy will guide the FET sector in addressing these needs and meeting the demands of new occupations within the green economy.

The FET sector is already delivering a range of courses in these areas. Upskilling and reskilling courses in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/ Retrofit for construction workers are offered in a network of six Centres of Excellence operated by ETBs across the country. These centres provide training and certification to learners to boost the skills and training needs of the sustainable construction sector and to help reach our climate goals.

There has been significant interest in this space, with the number of enrolments increasing year on year. There have been over 18,000 enrolments in NZEB/ Retrofit courses since the first centre opened in 2020. 2024 saw a record-breaking number of 7,166 enrolments. NZEB/ Retrofit skills are also being incorporated into the curricula of relevant construction apprenticeships through the revalidation process.

Responding to the skills requirements for electric vehicle maintenance creates upskilling and reskilling opportunities as well as progressing EV skills through existing motor mechanic apprenticeship programmes. Options for the development of a National eMobility Capability Centre are being actively explored and a technical feasibility study was recently completed through the eMobility Project Office, under LWETB. The findings are informing the next policy steps. SOLAS has also established an eMobility Oversight Group, to provide further oversight for future skills development.

In addition to these key sectors, a national suite of green skills programmes has been developed by SOLAS in collaboration with enterprise partners in areas such as sustainability awareness and resource efficiency. Green skills modules developing transversal and specific green skills are available to all FET learners with new green skills micro-qualifications being rolled out by all 16 Education and Training Boards.

I am also happy to inform the Deputy that my Department, SOLAS and other stakeholders in the FET sector are working to address emerging requirements associated with Ireland’s aim to deliver at least 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.

A cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce is driving delivery and working to capture the economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables. It includes skills and workforce responses, with DFHERIS leading, in collaboration with DCEE, on a dedicated Skills and Workforce Workstream.

The main goal of the workstream is to identify the skills and workforce requirements for the development of offshore wind and establish a sustainable workforce and skills pipeline. A key output of this workstream was the publication by this Department of the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan in October 2024.

This Skills Action Plan addresses identified skills shortages in 33 roles required for the development of offshore wind and provides recommendations on how to address these gaps. The plan is designed to guide future activities in the Further and Higher Education sectors for offshore wind in Ireland.

A wide range of short, targeted, and industry-aligned upskilling and reskilling programmes for the renewable energy sector are offered by Green Tech Skillnet including a suite of micro-credentials through the newly established Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy.

In recent years, the Irish government has been emphasising the importance of Green Skills in Higher Education to meet the demands of the modern workforce. Existing Government Initiatives for Higher Education such as Springboard+ are in place to promote these skills and build the capacity of the Irish workforce.

Springboard+ 2025 launched in May 2025 is providing 8,225 places on 249 courses. It provides 31 courses related to green skills and sustainability offering 883 places at NFQ Levels 6 to 9. Courses are part-time and eight of them are micro-credentials. Courses include, but are not limited to, Certificate in Science in ESG and Carbon Footprinting for SME; Certificate in Sustainable Resource Management: Energy & Biodiversity; Post-Graduate Diploma in Offshore Wind Energy with Demands and Applications; Masters in Science in Applied Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation and Sustainability (Professional Diploma). The table below shows the full listing.

Additionally, the Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy was launched in March 2024. This provides a subsidy rate of 80 per cent for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, ICT, and electronic engineering. Other courses will provide a 50 per cent learner subsidy rate. Under the scheme, there are 81 courses in green skills and green skills related areas, providing 1,755 places available at NFQ Levels 6 to 9. Courses include Climate Change: Science, Policy & Global Impact, Clean Energy Futures, Sustainable Aviation and Green Innovation. The Subsidy is running until the end of the 2025/2026 academic year.

Springboard+ 2025 - Green skills and Sustainability List

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he is taking to ensure there is an increase in qualified people coming into the workforce, in particular those required in essential services such as dentistry, dental hygienists, radiology and radiation therapists, in order to meet the needs of citizens, in view of the fact the population of the country has increased by 43% since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37375/25]