By Andy Spearman
In March 2021, when he was introducing his “Drogheda: Creating a Bridge to a better Future” report , the former head of the Probation Service, Vivian Geiran, said: “We can get Drogheda back on its feet again” and heoutlinedover 70 recommendations to achieve that goal.
Since that report was published the Drogheda Implementation Board was established to ensure that the various recommendations were put into action and in recent weeks several announcements have been made that will make a big difference to the future of this region, especially for the next generation.
Last month the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris announced a €4.5m expansion at Drogheda Institute for Further Education and that the headquarters of the LMETB is to be sited in Drogheda.
Minister Harris was back in Drogheda again this morning and this time he announced a significant investment in apprenticeship training in Louth and Meath. Today is his birthday and the Minister brought news that was well worth celebrating.
A new craft skills training hub is to be established in Drogheda, with an opening date set for early 2023, which will provide training to over 300 apprentices each year and will create up to 20 permanent jobs in the town.
Speaking today at a ceremony in the Prism Building in the IDA Technological Park on the Donore Road, Minister Harris said: “This is a great day for the people of Drogheda and the Louth Meath area.
“This is a key recommendation of the Geiran Report in January 2021. The second recommendation regarding education and training was the requirement of more apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programmes in Drogheda.
“Today we are delivering a training facility wholly dedicated to electrical apprenticeships, and when fitted out it will provide a state of the art training centre and help to alleviate the delays faced by apprentices in what is an enduringly popular profession.
“We know we have skills shortages in this country, but today is another important step on the road to addressing that challenge.”
Funding for these two projects will be provided through SOLAS to LMETB. The two projects announced today will now move forward to the appointment of a design team, with a view to development of a more detailed project brief in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Minister Harris paid tribute to the advances made in the region under the leadership of Louth Meath ETB.
“This investment announced today demonstrates their vision for the people of Louth and Meath. These projects will serve our learners and support strategic objectives for a more integrated tertiary education” he said.
CEO of SOLAS, Andrew Brownlee, said: “Further Education & Training has a unique and special value both for learners and for our communities – and learners and communities in Drogheda deserve cutting edge facilities and equipment. This announcement of capital funding is a welcome step that will mean that FET facilities there reflect the modern, dynamic nature of FET provision in 2022.
Martin G O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of LMETB, and member of the Drogheda Implementation Board, said: “We are very pleased to bring this new centre to Drogheda.
“We thank Minister Simon Harris, officials from DFHERIS and SOLAS management for the support and investment for Apprenticeship provision in Drogheda. It will enable LMETB grow and expand our capacity to deliver apprenticeships across the region. In addition, it will assist SOLAS in addressing the current waiting list.”
Michael Keogh, Chair of the Drogheda Implementation Board said: “… we are delighted that LMETB has been successful in its application. The development of this facility aligns to a key recommendation made by Vivien Geiran in his Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda.
“We would like to recognise the efforts of Martin O’Brien, Chief Executive, Sadie Ward Mc Dermott, Director of FET and Sinead Murphy Head of Land and Buildings and their respective teams in submitting this application, which was a challenging and competitive process but has resulted in a significant positive outcome for Drogheda”, Keogh continued.
Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, said “This is a wonderful day for Drogheda and is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to deliver on the key recommendations of the Geiran Report.
“I would like to sincerely thank both Minister Simon Harris and Chief Executive of the LMETB, Martin O’Brien, who have made this a reality, I have campaigned for this in the Dail and directly with the LMETB and I’m over the moon to see that Drogheda will now be a destination for electrical apprenticeships in the region.
“The centre of Excellence will provide eight separate electrical programmes and aims to provide apprenticeships to approximately 336 individuals a year.
O’Dowd added “The €4.2m investment will be delivered over 5 years and will also create up to 20 permanent jobs which is fantastic news.
“The facility which will be located at the Prism Building in the Drogheda IDA Business and Technology Park on the Donore Road will be kitted out over the next 3-4months to be ready for early 2023.”
