€4.7 million allocated to ATU Donegal for apprenticeship programmes

Atlantic Technological University Donegal has been allocated €4.7 million in capital funding to deliver apprenticeship programmes in metal fabrication, refrigeration, and electrical.

A total of €17 million has been earmarked for four Technological Universities and one Institute of Technology in the higher education sector to roll out 132 apprenticeship craft training blocks.

Twenty-seven of those training blocks will be delivered at Donegal ATU – six in metal fabrication, three in refrigeration, and 18 in electrical. The funding announcement was made by the Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris.

Welcoming the announcement, Donegal government minister, Charlie McConalogue, said: “This is tremendous news for Donegal ATU, the North-West, and the apprenticeship sector. That Donegal ATU is getting by far the biggest allocation of funding through the 2023 Apprenticeship Expansion Programme is a testament to the systems in place and staff at the college.

"The demand for apprenticeships has increased significantly in recent years. This level of investment in the county’s third level institution is a positive response to the growing demand for apprenticeships in the higher education sector locally.”

Pointing out that additional capacity is required to meet the increase in apprentice registrations in a number of trades, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine added: “It’s so important that we keep investing in apprenticeship programmes. This significant investment in Donegal ATU demonstrates the commitment the government has to the apprenticeship sector, and these new courses will help to deliver the skills and talents needed in the areas of fabrication, refrigeration and electrical.”

“The rollout of new apprenticeships at Donegal ATU will provide opportunities for people to train in a craft or trade, gain a recognised qualification and secure employment locally,” Minister McConalogue said.

The national breakdown of the €17 million allocation is as follows: SETU Waterford, €1.4 million; ATU Donegal, €4.7 million; MTU Cork, €3.2 million; ATU Galway, €831,000; ATU Sligo, €831,690; TUS Limerick, €1.633 million; Dkit, €453,000; Mtu Kerry, €425,000 and Setu Carlow, €220,000.

According to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, there are contingencies built in for each project in the event of construction inflation, hence why the figures don'’t directly add up to €17 million.