Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities excluded electric instrumentation tradespeople from registering with Safe Electric, both as a registered electrical contractor and attaining a qualified certifier number; the reasons for this decision and the timeline involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61946/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that by denying electric instrumentation tradespeople from being able to register with Safe Electric, these tradespeople are prevented from starting their own electrical business (domestic, commercial or industrial) and by being denied a QC number, they cannot sign off on any electrical installation (domestic, commercial or industrial); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61947/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views that by denying electric instrumentation tradespeople from being able to register with Safe Electric, barriers are being placed in the way of electric instrumentation tradespeople currently living abroad who wish to return to Ireland to live and work under the build back home campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61948/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the concrete action his Department will take to ensure that electric instrumentation tradespeople are able to register with Safe Electric; his views this is a necessary pressing step that needs to be taken urgently, particularly as regards to tradespeople returning to Ireland under the build back home campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61949/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1154, 1155, 1156 and 1157 together.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), established under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act, is an independent regulator accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas. Among its functions, the CRU is responsible for the qualifying criteria for the Qualified Certifier (QC) scheme under Safe Electric.

The Electrical Instrumentation apprenticeship programme is one of 25 craft apprenticeships available nationally. SOLAS guidance on this apprenticeship notes that, on completion of this four-year programme, apprentices become fully qualified electrical instrumentation craftspeople, with an NFQ Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Craft – Electrical Instrumentation.

SOLAS have engaged with CRU regarding the Electrical Instrumentation apprenticeship. The CRU, having reviewed the curriculum for the Level 6 Electrical Instrumentation apprenticeship, have stated that those with that qualification do not qualify for the Qualified Certifier scheme with Safe Electric. SOLAS are continuing to engage with CRU regarding the possible development of a bridging course which, upon completion, will render Electrical Instrumentation-qualified individuals eligible for registration under the Safe Electric QC scheme.

In regard to the Build Back Home campaign, my Department is leading on a number of initiatives to address the skills gap in construction, including a campaign aimed at Irish construction workers abroad who are considering returning home. The campaign was developed following feedback from Irish construction workers abroad, that skills they developed abroad may not be valued at home. The final campaign was evaluated among Irish construction workers abroad prior to launch and tested positively.