ATU Mayo to receive €1.34 million in funding for electrical apprenticeships

THE announcement of €1.34 million in capital funding for Mayo’s only university has been welcomed.

ATU Mayo is to receive the funding to expand its capacity to cater for apprenticeship training at its Castlebar campus.

The allocation will fund additional electrical apprenticeship capacity in ATU Mayo in Castlebar in the form of 12 new classes.

This will provide additional capacity at Phase 4 and Phase 6 in electrical apprenticeships at the Mayo campus.

Minister for Higher and Further Education, Simon Harris TD, announced a total of €17 million in capital funding to cater for the growing demand for apprenticeship.

The funding will be dispersed across four technological universities and one institute of technology in the higher education sector to deliver in the order of an additional 132 apprenticeship craft training blocks.   

Students undertaking these apprenticeships take part in a programme of structured education and training which formally combines learning in the workplace with learning in an education or training centre.

Those who complete the programme will receive a qualification nationally recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications from Level 5 to Level 10.

Mayo TD Michael Ring welcomed the news, saying he would encourage people to consider the apprenticeship route as a career option.

“The opportunities for employment in trades such as electrical, plumbing, metal fabrication, refrigeration, pipefitting and electronic security systems are immense.  These are areas of skills that are vital to our economy and to our housing targets,” Deputy Ring stated.

Deputy Alan Dillon described the announcement as ‘fantastic news’, adding that apprentice electricians from Mayo would be able to study in Castlebar instead of having to travel to ATU’s Galway campus.

Deputy Dillon added: “The investment is key to facilitating a strong pipeline in crucial skills areas through the expansion of craft apprenticeships in trades such as electrical, plumbing, metal fabrication, refrigeration, pipefitting and electronic security systems.”