Launch of the National Scaffolding Apprenticeship and the announcement of the expansion of the facilities at the National Construction Training Centre
Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board
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The National Construction Training Centre, announced as the site for the National Modern Methods of Construction Demonstration Park on the same day Minister Harris launches the new National Scaffolding Apprenticeship in Mount Lucas.
Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board welcomed Minister Simon Harris, TD to the National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas on Monday 18th July 2022. Minister Harris was on site to announce Mount Lucas as the site for the National Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Demonstration Park, and to officially launch the new QQI Level 5 Scaffolding Apprenticeship.
On welcoming the audience to the National Construction Training Centre, Minister Harris said
I am delighted to be here to formally launch the Scaffolding Apprenticeship and to announce the new Modern Methods of Construction Demonstration Park.
I’m also happy to share the news the Centre will be expanding as I’ve approved our first project under the Strategic Investment Upgrade Fund for the NZEB Centre.
The Governments Housing for All (HfA) Strategy provides a commitment to promoting a culture of compliant, good quality sustainable innovation in residential construction through development of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
HfA sets out a number of measures which will support and promote the development of MMC in Ireland, including the establishment of a National Demonstration Park for MMC. The MMC Demonstration Park will be an accessible and interactive built resource for applied research, training, and demonstration.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Harris stated
We need up to 51,000 more workers to deliver on the Government Climate Action Plan and Housing for All. That’s why centres like this are critical for all of us.
A Project Management Group has been established and will provide inter-departmental oversight of the development of the National Demonstration Park. Phase One of the Demonstration Park will consist of a street of 10 building ‘pads’ with additional space available for future development. An Open Competition will be held inviting construction companies to build on the pads exhibiting the latest construction technologies and innovative methods in residential construction.
On addressing the audience, Minister Harris expressed
So this is a good day. But it’s also a really important day not just for Mount Lucas and LOETB, but for your country.
Put in the simplest terms, our country needs you, the work you do and the skills you develop, in order to overcome our biggest challenges.
Tom Parlon, Director General, CIF welcomed the development of the Housing for All Demonstration Park.
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The CIF welcomes the launch of the Housing for All Demonstration Park, and the advanced training facility for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). This denotes a significant investment by the Department through SOLAS and should help to drive further awareness, technical capability, and increase the capacity in our sector towards the use of MMC. Housing for All demands a new approach to housing delivery and these facilities will be instrumental in driving the utilisation of modern technologies to achieve our housing goals. We wish to acknowledge the rapid steps being taken to deliver this centre, while also flagging the need for a national Modern Methods of Construction Centre, that truly supports the wider construction sector.
Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS added
Today’s announcement serves to highlight the excellent work that the team at Laois Offaly ETB is doing here at the Construction Training Centre, across a diverse range of critical construction, retrofit and NZEB skills provision - all of which ladders directly up to key national priorities and targets in the Government’s Housing for All plan. All of the exciting innovation happening here at Mount Lucas will work towards achieving our shared goal of supporting the entrance of skilled learners to the workforce, and in doing so, support industry partners in reinvigorating and modernising the construction trade we have here in Ireland.
The new Scaffolding Apprenticeship, which was officially launched by Minister Harris, was developed with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as consortium lead along with Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). The Consortium Steering Group (CSG) comprised of the National Association of Scaffolding & Access Contractors (NASAC), SIPTU, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and had representation from the scaffolding contractors from the Scaffolders Together Association.
On the launch of the National Scaffolding Apprenticeship, Tom Parlon, Director General, CIF said
The CIF welcomes the announcement of the National Scaffolding Apprenticeship, developed by the National Association of Scaffolding and Access Contractors (NASAC), in collaboration with Laois Offaly Education & Training Board, and the National Construction Training Centre, Mount Lucas. This apprenticeship will greatly contribute to the raising of standards in the industry and ensure that working at height is carried out safely and by competent contractors. I would personally like to acknowledge the hard work undertaken by the stakeholders involved and wish the students every success in their journey to occupational excellence.
The Scaffolding Apprenticeship is a QQI Level 5 accredited programme run over two years with 20 weeks training on site in The National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas. The aim of the apprenticeship is to provide a national standard for the construction industry, improve health and safety and recognise scaffolding as a craft. Modules cover all elements of Scaffolding from design to dismantling. Elements included range from BIM for Scaffolders, to Toolbox Talks and Working on Complex Structures.
Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of LOETB outlined;
The expansion of facilities at Mount Lucas, including the Scaffolding Apprenticeship and the National MMC Demonstration Park will ensure that LOETB and Mount Lucas continues to meet the current and future skills needs of the construction sector. The cross-Government approach, and continued collaboration with SOLAS and the CIF will make an important contribution to successfully meeting the Housing for All targets.
The National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas offers a vast range of training and testing services in construction related areas for members of the public. The National Construction Training Centre is a Retrofitting and NZEB Centre of Excellence for the midlands and is home to the National Apprenticeship in Scaffolding run over 2 years. The Centre also runs the National Skilled Utilities Operator Traineeship. The centre is located near Daingean, Co. Offaly and caters for both the employed and unemployed.
‘Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’ is the government’s housing plan to 2030. Details of the plan can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/#view-the-plan
Director at Design Risk Management Ltd
2 年Wonderful news. Well done to all. Great to have this training centre in the Midlands.