Malcolm Byrne
Question:264. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his strategy to ensure that career opportunities in the renewable energy sector are promoted to second level students. [6163/26]
View answerTuesday, 27 January 2026
Questions (264)
Written answers
As Minister, I do not have direct responsibility for education, skills and careers. The Department of Education and Youth is responsible for secondary education and further education is the responsibility of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). I am advised that Green Skills 2030, the first National Further Education and Training Strategy for the Green Transition, was launched by SOLAS, an agency under DFHERIS, in October 2024. This identified the demand for skills related to the green economy across sectors including Construction and Built Environment; Engineering, Energy, and Manufacturing and Transport and Logistics. The https://a.storyblok.com/f/70398/x/5eb093ebc1/green-skills-2030-implementation-plan-final-web.pdfoutlines specific objectives, recommendations and actions (strategic and sectoral) to be progressed engaging diverse audiences, including second level students.
To help achieve our Offshore Renewable Energy ambitions, the cross-government Offshore Wind Energy Programme has established a dedicated Skills and Workforce Workstream led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and my Department.
This Workstream has convened an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) made up of representatives from Further and Higher Education, Government Departments, agencies and industry, with sub-groups focussing on delivery of the required skills with the objective of creating a sustainable skills pipeline for the sector. Implementation of Skills Action Plan for Offshore Wind is embedded in regular EAG meeting discussions, with its three subgroups (Promoting Careers in Offshore Wind, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, and Programme Design and Delivery) progressing work through related projects.
Example of measures developed with young people in mind include comprehensive marketing campaigns on various social media platforms and development of live websites such as www.workinwind.ie/, www.poweroftomorrow.ie/. Those resources provide guidance on skills, learning pathways and career opportunities in the emerging offshore wind industry, as Ireland scales up its skills and talent pipeline to power our renewable energy future.