Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2021
135. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline all current nearly zero energy building courses such as NZEB, the fundamental awareness course; the number of persons currently enrolled on such courses; the total who graduated from each course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57752/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGrowth in education and training provision in green skills and sustainability is ongoing across the Tertiary Education sector. A range of options are available from short courses targeted at awareness building, upskilling and reskilling programmes to full and part-time academic and vocational programmes. The curricula of many other programmes will also include elements and modules targeted to green skills and sustainability components.
In 2018, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage engaged with Waterford Wexford ETB to establish a series of National Skills Specifications and associated delivery of education and training for NZEB. This was to support the delivery of the skills required to support the move towards nearly zero energy buildings for 2020 and beyond. The first delivery of the NZEB Fundamental Awareness course commenced in November 2018. Based on the partnership with City & Guilds, WWETB are positioned to rapidly develop and offer the following courses:
- NZEB Fundamental Awareness
- NZEB for Bricklaying
- NZEB for Plastering
- NZEB for Electrical
- NZEB for Plumbing
- NZEB for Electrical
- NZEB Site Supervisor
- NZEB Retrofit
- NZEB for Construction Workers
- Ventilation measurement Proficiency Test
- NZEB for Site Supervisor
- NZEB Ventilation Systems
Over 1,400 learners have completed NZEB and retrofit training to date. The total number of beneficiaries, including a breakdown of completions for each NZEB course are contained in the attachment.
Enrolment figures are not collated by SOLAS nor the respective ETBs as they are demand-led short courses that range from 1 to 4 days in duration. Completion rates at month-end provide a more concise, accurate reflection of the uptake in the respective programmes.
