The particular focus of the new retrofitting centre of excellence in the midlands will be on Bord na Móna employees, according to Minister Simon Harris.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has this week confirmed that four retrofitting centres of excellence are to open within the next three months.

The centres of excellence will open in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB); Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB; Cork ETB; and Laois and Offaly ETB.

Ambitious targets

Retrofitting involves making homes more energy efficient with new technology, to reduce emissions and the cost of electricity bills, while increasing output.

The government has set ambitious targets to retrofit 300,000 homes by 2030, but in order for this to happen, there must be workers to deliver it.

The establishment of four centres of excellence means there will be these four centres to train 2,000 people in retrofit skills, including near zero energy buildings (NZEB) skills.

“So, if you are a worker in the construction area and you want to upskill in the area of green skills, then this could be for you,” the minister added.

Retrofit skills training is currently provided in a number of further and higher education facilities. This was initiated in the ETB Sector by Waterford and Wexford ETB and also includes training in Laois and Offaly ETB.

Waterford and Wexford ETB also developed the national skills specifications in 2019 for NZEB, including retrofit, in collaboration with statutory and private stakeholders in the construction industry.

The minister said that having retrofitting centres of excellence is “a very important area of the economy and there are huge employment opportunities within it”.

‘We have a significant body of work to do’

He added:

“In Laois and Offaly ETB, we will have a particular focus for Bord na Móna employees, including a six-day Skills to Advance programme that offers the trainee an opportunity to gain a Level 5 Certificate in Thermal Insulation Installation, and this will be expanded to include ventilation and air tightness.

We have a significant body of work to do to ensure Ireland is climate-ready and we need workers to have the right skills to deliver on these huge challenges.

“For people seeking work, or people in employment, learning these climate skillsets will ensure you are ready for the future and are in the best place to find work into the future.”