Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today announced funding for two projects at locations run by Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board.
The Petersburg Outdoor Education and Training Centre in Clonbur and GRETB Training Centrein Mervue Business and Technology Park, Galway City will benefit from part of the next tranche of capital investment under the Further Education and Training (FET)Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund.
The investment in Petersburg will support the development of a number of courses including the specialist arborist apprenticeship while a new Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Hub is being created in Mervue.
Welcoming the news Minister Rabbitte said:
What distinguishes one child from another is not ability, but access. Access to education and opportunity. When clear pathways to education are available to all, there will be no limit to human potential.
One of the other many benefits of education is that it can broaden a student’s horizons, helping them understand more about other cultures and corners of the world beyond the school door.
Everyone wins when children and young adults have educational equity and fairness.
GRETB offer an extensive range of education and training services across many locations in Galway and Roscommon including Primary Education, Post Primary Education, Further Education and Training, Outdoor Education, Music Education and Youth Services.
People often associate outdoor activities with a certain age group but the reality is that outdoor adventure activities can be devised to suit most age groups and people ranging from senior citizens to youths all have enjoyed their stay at Petersburg.
The centre is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, staffed by enthusiastic well qualified instructors, backed up by quality home cooking and can offer various accommodation styles ranging from dormitory style to en-suite rooms.
Minister Harris said:
Galway Roscommon ETB has always been outward thinking, innovative and forwarding thinking, and has the learner at the heart of all that they do.
The investment in Petersburg will provide key additional accommodation to expand their Arborist programme, dry stone walling, stonework and Health & Safety courses related to the outdoors.
While in Mervue, the TEL Hub will guarantee that Galway Roscommon ETB staff can provide high quality, learner focussed digital resources for programmes across Galway Roscommon ETB.
Hats off to all the team both here and across the wider FET community for your commitment to providing wide-ranging opportunities for all to facilitate learners to engage or re-engage in education.
Funding for these projects will be provided through SOLAS to GRETB. The projects announced today will now move forward to the appointment of a design team, with a view to development of a more detailed project brief in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Chief Executive of SOLAS the Further Education & Training Authority, Andrew Brownlee, said:
Today’s announcement of investment in both the Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre in Clonbur and the GRETB Training Centre in Mervue Business and Technology Park in Galway City is a significant development for learners and communities in the Galway- Roscommon region, but also an important milestone in the evolution of FET facilities and provision nationwide.
A warm congratulations to my colleagues in Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board and to all of the potential learners in the Galway area and beyond.
David Leahy, Chief Executive of Galway & Roscommon ETB, said:
GRETB warmly welcomes this double announcement by Minister Harris today. This will allow us to continue the development of our apprenticeship offering at our Outdoor Education Centre in Petersburg.
It is a further endorsement to our ongoing commitment to apprenticeship training. The development of a Technology Enhanced Learning hub at ourFET headquarters on the Mervue campus, feeds directly into our digitisation of FET resources.
The sustainable development of programmes and planned delivery is a key enabler in our FET college offering.
What is FET?
Further Education and Training or FET, offers a wide variety of life-long education options to anyone over 16. FET includes apprenticeships, traineeships, Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses, community and adult education as well as core literacy and numeracy services.
FET courses and programmes are provided through the Education and Training Board network throughout the country as well as through other local providers including online through SOLAS’ eCollege. FET courses are provided at levels one to six on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
Who is FET for?
FET is for anyone who is over 16 who wants to learn new skills or enhance existing skills to get the right job, progress to third-level or to support the achievement of personal goals.
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