Apprenticeship centre urgently required for County Roscommon
GRETB CE David Leahy and ETB Ireland, GRETB Chairmna Cllr Michael (Moegie) Maher with Senator Aisling Dolan.
An apprenticeship training centre for Roscommon is urgently required given the demand for programmes from people wishing to further their career prospects, according to a Fine Gael Senator.
Senator Aisling Dolan highlighted the gap in Third Level education in the new Roscommon Galway constituency during the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further & Higher Education last week. Following on from a meeting with the Galway Roscommon Education Training Board (GRETB) and Oireachtas representatives in relation to a proposal to purchase a site in Roscommon town.
Senator Dolan, the Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson for Education, stated: “During the Education Committee, updates from officials in the Department of Further & Higher Education highlighted over 209,000 people in Higher Education courses. As well as an increase to 26,000 people across the country doing apprenticeships.
“However we are lacking an apprenticeship centre for the county of Roscommon. The Galway Roscommon Education Training Board (GRETB) has submitted an application to SOLAS, the state agency over Further & Higher Education (FET). This proposal to consider a site in Roscommon town-centre has the potential to provide apprenticeship courses in the heart of Roscommon.
This new apprenticeship centre could provide different courses according to national and local demand.” “This is crucial for accessibility for potential school leavers or career changers to have a choice to be able to do an apprenticeship course locally. I look forward to working with Minister Simon Harris to secure an apprenticeship centre in Roscommon town to deliver training courses for people across the region.” “I know how committed the Minister is to improving access to education for individuals at all stages of their lives, which was reflected in the provision of funding in Budget 2024. Measures taken will reduce college fees, improve grants, with the number of course options and the diversity of choice in occupations and careers increasing all the time.
“Minister Harris has prioritised the development of the apprenticeship programme across the country and linked to the new Technological Universities. We have up to 70 courses and school leavers have more choice now as all of these options are visible on the CAO form. Students can earn and learn on the apprenticeship programme right up to degree and postgrad level. We need to see this access to courses for students in Roscommon too. Find out more at apprenticeship.ie,” said Senator Dolan.
