Mulryan launches €500,000 bursary to support apprenticeships for Roscommon people
Oran native Sean Mulryan, the chairman and chief executive of Ballymore, pictured at the launch this afternoon, at Roscommon Community College, of a €500,000 fund to encourage young people in Roscommon to take up apprenticeships.
The chairman and chief executive of Ballymore, Oran native Sean Mulryan has, this afternoon, launched a €500,000 fund to encourage young people across County Roscommon to take up construction apprenticeships.
The bursary will be available over a five year period to people who were either born, were educated or are currently living in County Roscommon, Mr Mulryan’s native county.
Funded by Ballymore Group and run by Galway & Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), the Ballymore Construction Apprenticeship Bursary is designed to support apprentices across a range of building trades and increase participation by school-leavers or those returning to education in or from County Roscommon.
Mr Mulryan launched the pilot scheme at Roscommon Community College – his former secondary school – today, February 6th, with the aim of helping to address Ireland’s housing and skills shortage.
The bursary will be open to apprentices in the following trades: brick & stone laying, wood manufacturing & finishing, plumbing, carpentry/joinery, scaffolding, stonecutting & stonemasonry, plastering, painting & decorating, toolmaking, heavy vehicle mechanics, civil engineering technician (Level 6) and supply chain management associate (level 6).
Speaking this afternoon Mr Mulryan said “Ireland needs to drive up the rate of infrastructure delivery massively over the next five years – houses, rail links, water, energy and road systems. And we need to ramp up the range of construction skills across the labour force to meet the pent-up demand for all kinds of public and private infrastructure.
“I am delighted to make a contribution with this pilot scheme to remove some of the barriers to choosing apprenticeships, and I would encourage others in a position to help to consider a similar approach.
“University education isn’t the right road for every school-leaver, and parents should encourage young people to consider avenues that may be more rewarding for them. Apprenticeships can be a pathway to running your own business or to exciting, well-paid careers.”
Ballymore will announce further apprenticeship initiatives at a later stage, underscoring its commitment to skills development.
David Leahy, chief executive of GRETB said: “Galway and Roscommon ETB is committed to supporting Ballymore in the roll out of this bursary scheme, and we look forward to working closely with them into the future as we develop skills training capacity in Roscommon and beyond.”
