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Major New 'Modern Construction' Training Centre Launched In Offaly

Monday, 18 July 2022 at 11:23

Photo credit: Paul Moore

Ireland's 'centre of excellence' for retrofitting is set for expansion too.

The government will 'move mountains' to ensure an extended retrofitting apprenticeship programme gets up and running in Offaly as soon as possible.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is in the county today to turn the sod on a new Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction at the National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas.

The next stage will be the appointment of a design team by Laois Offaly ETB to bring the project through the design and planning process. It's expected to open in 2024.

Ireland's first scaffolding apprenticeship is also being unveiled today. 51 people have already registered for the new scaffolding programme, with applications still open.

A multi-million euro, 650 square metre expansion of the existing Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) training facility, to increase capacity from 2,000 retrofitting apprentices to 4,000.

The flagship programme is the first capital programme in the sector in the country, effectively making it Ireland's centre of excellence for retrofitting training.

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Minister Simon Harris visit to Mount Lucas
Photo credit: Paul Moore

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Minister Simon Harris couldn't confirm a date for the expanded retrofitting programme, but says he is committed increasing numbers in the industry.

He's encouraging more people to get involved, to not only futureproof the industry but their own careers too:

It's all in an effort to increase the number of people working in construction by 51,000 by 2030.

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