New solar powered mobile construction unit to tour country

A new solar-powered construction sector training unit will visit schools and building sites around the country.

Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (ETB) and the National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas have developed a Mobile Nearly Zero Emissions Building Training Unit.

Launched by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, the unit will travel to construction sites and schools across the country to allow people to avail of the courses wherever to increase accessibility to the courses on offer.

The unit is powered by solar PV panels and includes a working heat pump and ventilation system, making it self-sufficient and showcasing excellent technologies.

Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of Laois Offaly ETB said: "The National Construction Training Campus, Mount Lucas and LOETB are delighted to officially launch the mobile NZEB and Retrofit training unit.

"The unit will mean greater accessibility to upskilling opportunities for workers in construction, supporting the sector to meet its Housing and Sustainability targets. The unit will also promote future careers in construction, introducing Senior Cycle students to the Modern Methods of Construction," he said.

Laois Offaly TD and Minister for State Sean Fleming welcomed the initiative which he said is part of the Government’s policy to tackle climate change, develop new skills in the construction industry and increase gender balance in the sector.

"It is important that we adapt our training courses, so that everyone has ease of access to education and this project will steer in that direction.

"It is vital that we encourage and promote construction and retrofitting courses to increase the number of those working in the building sector.

"I would like to compliment the LOETB for developing this new project, which will be of great benefit to the Midlands and also a model for other training boards and counties to follow," he said.

Minister Fleming added that the Government has also launched Careers in Construction Action Plan, which aims to break down the barriers that young people face when considering a career in construction.

Minister of State Pippa Hackett said LOETB is leading the way in Ireland’s Construction and Retrofitting sector.

"Increasing training around such revolutionary systems means that the number of workers with retrofit skills increases and this will be essential as we push ahead with our ambitious retrofitting targets,” she said.

Minister Simon Harris said: "The development of this Mobile NZEB Training Unit is an important and exciting advancement for our construction skills and training offering".

"Careers in construction are so varied now, involving everything from off-site manufacturing, planning and design, to all of the on-site roles. There really is something for everyone and I would urge people to take fresh look at these opportunities," he said.

The mobile unit and plan were officially launched on August 23 at Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan.

The National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas offers a range of training and testing services in construction. It is also a Retrofitting and NZEB Centre of Excellence for the midlands and is home to the National Apprenticeship in Scaffolding. The Centre also runs the National Skilled Utilities Operator Traineeship.