Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
21. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding engagements his Department has had with the renewable energy sector; the potential for job creation identified; the initiatives proposed to ensure adequate supply of staff for these sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18302/22]
View answerMy Department is actively engaging with the renewable energy sector, both directly and through our agencies.
Enterprise Ireland continues to identify and work with the key Irish companies with the capability to support the offshore wind industry’s growth through the Offshore Wind Industry Cluster. The Enterprise Ireland Offshore Wind Showcase Event will be held this summer, convening delegates from across the Irish and UK offshore wind industry. For its part, the IDA is involved in facilitating and promoting links between large energy users, including data centres, and the renewable energy sector to help them align with and contribute towards emissions targets and future network needs.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Secretariat for which is based in my Department, is an independent body tasked with advising the Government on the current and future skills needs of the Irish economy. The EGFSN undertook a study on the nature and quantity of skills required between now and 2030 to deliver on some of the key enabling measures in the Climate Action Plan.
The study, “Skills for Zero Carbon: The Demand for Renewable Energy, Residential Retrofit and Electric Vehicle Deployment Skills to 2030”, was published on the 24th November. The analysis found that in order to deliver on the Climate Action Plan's 2030 targets, employment in wind and solar energy developments will have to quickly increase to 8,000, from a 3,000 baseline in 2020, within a number of years, and ultimately stand at 9,000 by 2030. This will mainly consist of workers in roles including Construction and Installation, Technicians and Technical Professionals, Engineering, Transport and Logistics, and Legal and Professional Services.
The Government is committed to delivering on the Climate Action Plan 2021 targets and is providing a range of upskilling, reskilling and apprenticeship supports to ensure any skills needs are met.
For example, through the Green Tech Skillnet network, more than 3,700 participants have already received renewable energy training across a range of professions and areas including turbine technicians, high-voltage operators, PV and microgrid installers, policy and energy markets. Three bespoke programmes address skills gaps in the workforce to meet the Climate Action Plan’s targets including Near Zero Energy Building design and BER Assessors certification, Wind Turbine Technicians and the Wind industry jobs (graduate level) programme.
My Department is working with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to establish the Cross-Departmental Offshore Renewable Energy Team and will also continue to work with the Department of Further and Higher Education and its agencies to follow through on the initiatives required to build our workforce for the renewable energy sector.
