Apprenticeship shortage finally being addressed, Minister says during Offaly visit

FURTHER and higher education Minister Simon Harris has said he is confident adequate numbers of apprenticeships are now being offered to address the skills shortage in the construction industry.

Speaking in Tullamore today (Monday, July 3), Minister Harris pointed out that 1,300 people this year have undergone near zero emissions building (NZEB) training and more than half of them had passed through the Laois and Offaly Education & Training Board's (LOETB) purpose-built facility in Mountlucas.

The capacity for apprenticeships and traineeships has been expanded across the country and Minister Harris also noted that 57 electrical trainees were this week doing a course at the LOETB's Midlands skills centre and enterprise hub in Tullamore, which he officially opened.

Training up the workforce has been identified as one key requirement in tackling the ongoing housing crisis.

“We can't train people quickly enough,” the Minister told the Tullamore Tribune, adding: “I'm satisfied the throughput is pretty good.”

The Government is now paying employers an average of €2,000 per year for every new apprentice they take on, a move which he says will support the “smaller builder” or the “smaller man or woman with a van”.

He said: “We now have the capacity in further and higher education to train all the people that are needed. What we now need to do is motivate people, and inspire people and maybe even incentivise people to take up those courses.”

For only the second time, apprenticeships are also on the CAO website this year and a helpline has been established to provide information.

Minister Harris stressed that in addition to those starting apprenticeships from scratch, the demand for top-up training and short courses is being addressed by the provision of extra places.

He praised the LOETB for providing a mobile training unit which will travel around the region to enable people to learn while remaining in their own schools or workplaces.

After cutting the tape to formally declare the Tullamore training centre open, Minister Harris addressed LOETB staff and other public representatives, including LOETB chief executive Joe Cunningham, chair Evelyn Dunne, along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, Deputy Barry Cowen and Offaly County Council chair Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick.

The Minister visited the Mountlucas national construction training facility before coming to Tullamore and praised the vision of those who had decided to establish it.

He recalled that various organisations, including the ETB, Solas, the VEC and FAS had “got a lot of stick” when the centre was being planned.

“I want to pay a huge comhghairdeachas to the people who had the vision and the guts to secure that site for education. We now have 33 acres here in Offaly where we can lead the country in terms of modern methods of construction.”

The Minister stressed the need for action on the climate crisis: “We all know the importance of climate, we all know our planet's on fire. We know we have to take big action. The people of the Midlands know that more than most because you have seen that very significant, and at times painful transition, that you are having to make.”

He also noted that the LOETB had identified some priorities for training in the Midlands region, including areas such as construction, agriculture, engineering, healthcare, hospitality and renewable energy.

“Government will support you every step of the way in providing the funding now to make the Midlands a leader in terms of skills provision in these areas,” he said.

He stressed the importance of shifting the emphasis in Irish education from the “points race” to training, upskilling and retraining.

Ireland now has full employment and 70,000 jobs are being added every years. “Yet we know there are so many jobs we still need done,” he said.

“We have to broaden the definition of education. I don't think it's an accident that we have a shortfall of about 50,000 people working in construction in Ireland.”

Minister Harris also opened an information hub at the LOETB office at Castle Buildings in Tullamore, saying it will give people an opportunity to literally come in off the street and get advice on education and training opportunities.

“I'd like to see that replicated nationally,” he remarked.

In remarks after Minister Harris's visit, Minister Hackett (pictured below with the Further Education Minister and Cllr Mark Hackett) said the event was a really uplifting celebration of hard work and innovation in the skills sector in Offaly.

"We know our economy is changing and so are jobs. Skills training must fit with the needs of enterprise and the economy. Our focus now must be on our housing and green skills needs," said the Green Party Senator.  

"We have a lot to be proud of: In Mount Lucas LOETB, our National Training Centre for Construction and NZEB meets more than 50% of the country’s retrofitting training needs. And in Tullamore, a new LOETB Enterprise Hub works with enterprises to identify and meet skills needs and a new information hub provides learners with all the information and supports they need. It is truly an exciting time to access training, to add to your skills or to reskill."