Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD, recently announced major investments in skills training for the Mid-West region. The Ministers were in Limerick to open Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s NZEB and Retrofitting Centre of Excellence and also to announce the purchase of a site adjacent to College of FET, LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus to create a future Film and Digital Media Centre of Excellence.
The NZEB and Retrofitting Centre of Excellence in Roxboro will offer training to approximately 1,500 learners annually. The new building is currently one of four centres of excellence in Ireland where retrofit training, including Near-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) skills is provided, in line with the government target of retrofitting 500,000 homes in Ireland by 2030. Training will consist of NZEB Electrical, Plastering, Plumbing, Bricklaying, and Carpentry, complemented by training in NZEB fundamentals, Air Tightness, Ventilation and Insulation. This will be further enhanced via upskilling courses in Solar and Heat Pump Technologies. The 14,000 square feet training facility will provide skills training for individuals who are unemployed and for individuals in employment wishing to upskill. The centre will contribute significantly to national policy priorities on Housing for All including housing construction, retrofitting of homes, and carbon reduction.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Harris said: “This is a really exciting time for skills provision and training in the Mid-West region. I’m delighted to be officially opening the NZEB Retrofitting Centre because the bottom line is, we are never going to achieve our climate targets without the National Retrofitting Plan. We know that one of our biggest challenges is attracting people to partake in the area of green skills. Facilities like this one will make sure that we have the right training on offer and that we are attracting people we need to take up the places.”
Later Minister Harris paid a visit to College of FET, LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus where he announced the purchase of a site adjacent to the campus where it is hoped to create a future Film and Digital Media Centre of Excellence. Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is currently developing an application for this development under the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF), a new capital programme announced earlier this year by Minister Harris.
Speaking at the campus Minister Harris said: “This investment will help ensure that learners and staff in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board are provided with the tools and facilities they need to reach their undoubted potential.” The new purchase of facilities consists of an area of approximately 13,200 sq ft, located on a 0.7 acres site. This would allow the ETB in collaboration with Film in Limerick and local industries such as Troy Studio and Odyssey Studios, to be a leading provider of film and digital media education and training in the Mid-West region.
George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, said: “We very much welcome the announcement by the Ministers today. It is aligned to one of the key priorities of our FET Strategic Framework ensuring FET facilities provide the best learning and working environments that reflect quality and industry standards, and promote innovation and sustainability.”
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