Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if all new construction workers who will use the new licence system to become a skilled construction worker have to be in possession of a SOLAS CSCS registration card and a QQI certificate to meet the entry requirement for the newly proposed licence system; if not, the reason; and which expert group has advised in relation to this. [28730/23]
View answerUnder the current model, trainees who successfully complete a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) or Quarries Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS) programme receive QQI accreditation and a CSCS or QSCS card.
Moving to a licensing model for the activities covered by the CSCS and QSCS programmes was a recommendation from the BearingPoint report, commissioned by SOLAS in 2017. Following this independent review in 2017 and subsequent consultation with public sector, industry, and staff representatives, all stakeholders agreed that the recommendations of the review would be adopted, including moving to a licensing system for certain construction and quarrying activities.
The Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023 provides for a new and comprehensive framework for the licensing of certain construction, quarrying and related activities in Ireland.
The Bill, once enacted, will establish a licensing authority who will have responsibility to establish and administer the licensing model, replacing the current QQI certified approach. On establishment of the authority, new candidates will not have to hold a QQI certificate.
There will be no requirement to hold a CSCS or QSCS card in advance of applying for a licence under the new licensing model. A transition period will be in place for those who currently hold CSCS or QSCS cards. It is proposed that a CSCS or QSCS card will remain valid for a period of 5 years beginning from when the relevant section in the Bill is enacted or until the card’s expiry date, whichever is the earlier, and a person must then apply for a licence to replace this card.
The Construction Safety Licensing Bill, as initiated, can be found here: data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/bill/2023/24/eng/initiated/b2423d.pdf.
