Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
157. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of the national centre of excellence for traditional skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16774/26]
View answerThe 2025 programme for Government includes a commitment to explore the creation of a national centre of excellence for traditional skills. In furtherance of this commitment the Heritage Council established a task force on traditional skills. The task force met five times during the course of 2025 and is due to meet again later this month. The task force has to date commissioned three pieces of work, including an audit of available traditional skills courses and an assessment of the current and future demands for traditional building skills.
A key finding of the group to date is that the market for skilled traditional tradesmen is experiencing an acute supply shortage driven by an ageing workforce, insufficient new entrants and the long-term erosion of training pathways. It is envisaged that policy recommendations aimed at addressing these issues will be made to the Government by the Heritage Council later this year. It is important to note that in addition to their importance for heritage, the transmission of traditional skills from one generation of practitioners to the next relies on an effective system of education and training. As such, and alongside stakeholders such as the Heritage Council, the Department intends to work closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address the supply of skilled traditional tradespeople. To this end, and in parallel with the work of the task force, Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board has an active further education and training college application, with plans to develop a national centre for traditional building skills. The application was lodged with SOLAS in 2024, and in February 2026 my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science announced that Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board would be in a position to appoint a design team for this important centre later this year.
I thank the Minister of State. He has almost answered my next question. It is very heartening to hear we are all thinking along the same lines. It is very important we recognise that over recent years there has been a growth in appreciation for the role of traditional craft works in Irish society. Skills such as thatching and stonemasonry have often been looked at in a nostalgic way as cherished emblems of an older Ireland. I believe, however, and I recognise from the comments of the Minister of State, that traditional skills have a place not only in Ireland's past but in its future as well.
Traditional skills will play an important role in the 21st century through the development of the specialist courses in Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board, which the Minister State mentioned. Recently it held the first thatching course in 15 years in Sheepstown in County Kilkenny. That is probably a testament to the rich potential the sector has. As the Minister of State has said, it is critical that apprentices can learn these skills while there are still expert craft persons to train them. He has given some assurance already, but he might reiterate that every possible measure is being taken to expedite the delivery of the national centre of excellence and training in traditional skills.
I thank Deputy Callaghan. It is a programme for Government commitment, which is as strong a commitment as we can get, to explore the creation of a national centre of excellence for traditional skills. A task force has been established and it has commissioned work. There will be a report from the Heritage Council to the Government in respect of the work of the task force later this year. By way of interest, one of the items of work the task force completed was a survey of skills by RED C. It indicated very strong public support for traditional skills, with 91% of people saying traditional skills should be preserved and 88% people saying they should be taught in schools. In 2024, Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board made an application to SOLAS to develop a national centre for traditional building skills.
In February 2026, the Minister for further and higher education announced that the board would be in a position to appoint a design team for the centre later this year.
I was at the announcement when the Minister, Deputy Lawless, came to KCETB. It was a brilliant announcement and a very positive day. Deputy John McGuinness was also there. I emphasise that we would like to see it delivered to ensure progress continues.
There is a unique cultural value to Irish traditional craft. Irish craft is renowned worldwide for its intricate design, high level of cultural significance and unbeatable quality. In Carlow, Borris Lacemakers provides an excellent example of a unique local product that has achieved international significance, with the lacemakers recently being chosen, alongside other craftspeople, to represent Ireland in the European Parliament.
Despite the unique opportunities that exist in the craft sector, a recent Heritage Council survey noted that only 9% of respondents advised they had enough apprentices to satisfy consumer demand. For example, there are only 15 to 20 experts to service more than 2,000 thatched buildings in Ireland. Without people and training, this conservation work will be tendered overseas. That will cost the Irish Exchequer an awful lot more.
With regard to the ongoing work of the task force, I mentioned the RED C survey on public attitudes to traditional skills. There was also an audit of traditional skills courses on the island in 2025. More particularly, there is an economic assessment of the demand for traditional skills, which goes back to the point Deputy Callaghan made. The report on the public attitude to the provision of courses is complete and the demand survey is in its final stages. That very much feeds into this. I have no doubt that, like Deputy Callaghan, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Deputy McGuinness, will have a keen interest in the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board progressing its application for a national centre for traditional building skills with the Department of further and higher education. As I have said, the Department and the Minister gave the go-ahead in February 2026. The board will be in a position to appoint a design team for this important centre later this year.
