A new apprenticeship recruitment campaign has commenced in the Office of Public Works (OPW) following an agreement between SIPTU representatives and management.
The new apprentices are working on projects at numerous OPW sites. The locations where Stonemason apprentices are currently employed include the Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Castle, Skellig Michael and Fota House in Cork. Painter apprentices in Dublin are working on the Customs House, Áras an Uachtaráin, Farmleigh House and the Casino Marino often alongside carpentry apprentices, while welding apprentices are repairing statues across the country.
SIPTU Organiser, Jay Power, said: “This is the first extensive apprenticeship programme in the OPW in more than 15 years. It is focused on recruiting, training and skilling young people into the future on its sites around the country. Currently, the aim is for 45 apprentices to be recruited, with further discussions on bringing more roles into the apprenticeship model.”
He added: “We highlighted that ‘historic’ trades needed to be re-enforced by a new generation of skilled workers and that other work roles would also benefit from an apprenticeship programme. SIPTU representatives are now actively pursuing an ‘adult apprenticeship’ model for roll-out, which would allow current staff to upskill and create future career paths.”
