Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
168. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the steps being taken to integrate green skills across further and higher education programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37562/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGreen Skills are crucial for achieving the ambitious climate targets outlined in the Government's Climate Action Plan. These skills encompass everything from developing transferable green skills for everyday life to meeting the specific requirements of emerging green sectors, such as Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/ Retrofit, eMobility, and renewable energy and offshore wind.
In October 2024, SOLAS launched Green Skills 2030: The First National Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy for the Green Transition. Green Skills 2030 identifies key skills gaps impacting Ireland’s ability to transition to a climate neutral society across critical sectors of the economy. This marks an important milestone in setting out the direction for the Irish FET sector’s response to emerging green skills needs. This strategy will guide the FET sector in addressing these needs and meeting the demands of new occupations within the green economy.
The FET sector is already delivering a range of courses in these areas. Upskilling and reskilling courses in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/ Retrofit for construction workers are offered in a network of six Centres of Excellence operated by ETBs across the country. These centres provide training and certification to learners to boost the skills and training needs of the sustainable construction sector and to help reach our climate goals.
There has been significant interest in this space, with the number of enrolments increasing year on year. There have been over 18,000 enrolments in NZEB/ Retrofit courses since the first centre opened in 2020. 2024 saw a record-breaking number of 7,166 enrolments. NZEB/ Retrofit skills are also being incorporated into the curricula of relevant construction apprenticeships through the revalidation process.
Responding to the skills requirements for electric vehicle maintenance creates upskilling and reskilling opportunities as well as progressing EV skills through existing motor mechanic apprenticeship programmes. Options for the development of a National eMobility Capability Centre are being actively explored and a technical feasibility study was recently completed through the eMobility Project Office, under LWETB. The findings are informing the next policy steps. SOLAS has also established an eMobility Oversight Group, to provide further oversight for future skills development.
In addition to these key sectors, a national suite of green skills programmes has been developed by SOLAS in collaboration with enterprise partners in areas such as sustainability awareness and resource efficiency. Green skills modules developing transversal and specific green skills are available to all FET learners with new green skills micro-qualifications being rolled out by all 16 Education and Training Boards.
I am also happy to inform the Deputy that my Department, SOLAS and other stakeholders in the FET sector are working to address emerging requirements associated with Ireland’s aim to deliver at least 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.
A cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce is driving delivery and working to capture the economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables. It includes skills and workforce responses, with DFHERIS leading, in collaboration with DCEE, on a dedicated Skills and Workforce Workstream.
The main goal of the workstream is to identify the skills and workforce requirements for the development of offshore wind and establish a sustainable workforce and skills pipeline. A key output of this workstream was the publication by this Department of the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan in October 2024.
This Skills Action Plan addresses identified skills shortages in 33 roles required for the development of offshore wind and provides recommendations on how to address these gaps. The plan is designed to guide future activities in the Further and Higher Education sectors for offshore wind in Ireland.
A wide range of short, targeted, and industry-aligned upskilling and reskilling programmes for the renewable energy sector are offered by Green Tech Skillnet including a suite of micro-credentials through the newly established Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy.
In recent years, the Irish government has been emphasising the importance of Green Skills in Higher Education to meet the demands of the modern workforce. Existing Government Initiatives for Higher Education such as Springboard+ are in place to promote these skills and build the capacity of the Irish workforce.
Springboard+ 2025 launched in May 2025 is providing 8,225 places on 249 courses. It provides 31 courses related to green skills and sustainability offering 883 places at NFQ Levels 6 to 9. Courses are part-time and eight of them are micro-credentials. Courses include, but are not limited to, Certificate in Science in ESG and Carbon Footprinting for SME; Certificate in Sustainable Resource Management: Energy & Biodiversity; Post-Graduate Diploma in Offshore Wind Energy with Demands and Applications; Masters in Science in Applied Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation and Sustainability (Professional Diploma). The table below shows the full listing.
Additionally, the Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy was launched in March 2024. This provides a subsidy rate of 80 per cent for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, ICT, and electronic engineering. Other courses will provide a 50 per cent learner subsidy rate. Under the scheme, there are 81 courses in green skills and green skills related areas, providing 1,755 places available at NFQ Levels 6 to 9. Courses include Climate Change: Science, Policy & Global Impact, Clean Energy Futures, Sustainable Aviation and Green Innovation. The Subsidy is running until the end of the 2025/2026 academic year.
Springboard+ 2025 - Green skills and Sustainability List
|
Funding Category |
Course Title |
NFQ |
Skills Area |
No. Places |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Certificate in Science in ESG and Carbon Footprinting for SME |
Level 6 |
Green Economy |
40 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Climate Leadership Development |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
80 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Green Labs Principles and Practice |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
20 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Climate Action and Sustainable Development |
Level 9 |
Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics |
15 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Certificate in Cybersecurity for Industrial Network |
Level 9 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
20 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Certificate in Environmental Planning and Legislation |
Level 7 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
20 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Introduction to Data Analytics with R for Wind Energy (Micro-credential) |
Level 8 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
30 |
|
Micro-credential Course |
Certificate in Engineering in Residential Energy Retrofit Fabric |
Level 8 |
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Innovative and Sustainable Agriculture – MTU Kerry Campus |
Level 9 |
Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary |
16 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Post Graduate Diploma in Global Sustainable Supply Chain Management |
Level 9 |
Business, Admin, Law, Management, Entrepreneurship |
25 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Certificate in Conservation, Sustainability and Adaptive Reuse |
Level 8 |
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Sustainable Engineering Management |
Level 9 |
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Certificate in Smart Sustainable Power Engineering (SSPE) |
Level 9 |
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Certificate in Sustainable Resource Management: Energy & Biodiversity |
Level 7 |
Green Economy |
25 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Certificate in Data Analytics for Offshore Wind Energy Management |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
35 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Graduate Certificate in Climate Action, Energy and Public Policy |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Certificate in Circular Economy – MTU Kerry Campus |
Level 8 |
Green Economy |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Certificate in Science in Biomethane and Renewable Gas Development |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Certificate in Climate Entrepreneurship |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
45 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Graduate Certificate in Carbon and Climate Assessment |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Professional Diploma in Innovation for Sustainability |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
105 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Climate Adaption and Sustainability (Professional Diploma) |
Level 9 |
Green Economy |
25 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Certificate in Environment, Sustainability and Climate |
Level 7 |
Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics |
30 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Masters in Science in Applied Marine Conservation |
Level 9 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
8 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Post-Graduate Diploma in Offshore Wind Energy with Demands and Applications |
Level 9 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
25 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Under-Graduate Certificate in Offshore Wind Energy with Power Systems |
Level 6 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
25 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Diploma in Offshore Wind Systems & Sustainable Maritime Operations |
Level 9 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Certificate in Offshore Renewable Energy |
Level 9 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
24 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems |
Level 9 |
Renewable Offshore Wind Energy Skills Area |
20 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Certificate in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) |
Level 9 |
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction |
40 |
|
Springboard+ Part-time Course |
Postgraduate Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) |
Level 9 |
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction |
30 |
