Apprenticeship college proposed for Naas

A PROPOSAL for a new college for apprenticeships in Naas was welcomed. The idea emerged after local councillors discussed the matter at last week’s meeting of Naas Municipal District.

At the meeting, cathaoirleach Seamie Moore brought forward a motion asking that Kildare County Council ‘writes to the National Apprenticeship Office requesting that Naas be considered as a new location for college for apprenticeship programmes when Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is being reviewed’.

The action plan was published by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in 2021 and aimed to expand the types of apprenticeship programmes available and to increase the number of apprenticeships to 10,000 a year by 2025.

Cllrs Carmel Kelly, Fintan Brett and Bill Clear all expressed their support for the motion at the meeting.

Cathaoirleach Moore’s motion was left as a matter for the members to decide on by the council executive.

At the meeting, cllr Carmel Kelly expressed her support for the motion and said that she had been discussing the matter with Fianna Fáil colleague and minister for further and higher education James Lawless. She asked for minister Lawless to be included in the letter.

Cllr Brett also supported the idea of a new college for apprenticeships in the area, noting the access to suitable building materials locally as well as the general suitability of the area.