A €6.5 million investment is to be made in the ESB’s Networks Training Centre in Portlaoise.
The official announcement was made yesterday when the site was visited by James Lawless, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Minister of State Marian Harkin and Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director of ESB Networks.
ESB say the site plays a pivotal role in ensuring that ESB Networks has the necessary capabilities to enable housing, a growing economy and Ireland’s Climate Action Plan
The investment will also support the current addition of 156 new electrical apprentices by ESB Networks .
A statement from ESB says that investment in the Networks Training Centre will accelerate the development of key technical and craft skills necessary to support significant investment in the electricity network over the period ahead.
In its Networks for Net Zero strategy, ESB Networks has committed to delivering a Net Zero ready electricity network by 2040.
A €13.4 billion capital investment programme is planned over the next five years (PR6) to decarbonise electricity, deliver reliable and resilient infrastructure and empower customers to take more control over their energy use.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, said: “This investment is a powerful signal of the continued growth of apprenticeships at the heart of Ireland’s skills strategy.
“With over €410 million committed to apprenticeship delivery from 2026, the Government is building a system that delivers real opportunity, real careers, and real impact.
“Whether it’s powering homes or driving climate action, ESB Networks apprentices are shaping Ireland’s future, developing the advanced skills that power a modern, sustainable, and knowledge-driven economy.”
Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin, said: “This project represents an investment in one of Ireland’s greatest strengths – its people.
The Government remains firmly committed to ensuring that our apprenticeship programmes reflect the full diversity of Irish society, including through greater participation by women.
“Since the establishment of my department, the number of female apprentices has doubled, rising from 5% in 2020 to 10% today. While this progress is encouraging, we know there is still more to achieve, and I am delighted to see ESB Networks setting a strong example for others to follow.”
Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director of ESB Networks, said: “Today’s announcement is critical to ensuring that ESB Networks and our contractor partners have the necessary skills and capabilities to support a major capital investment programme in the electricity network that will enable housing, a growing economy and climate action.
“For generations, the ESB Networks national training centre has played a vital role in delivering technical, safety and electrical craft training to ESB Networks’ employees and our contractor partners.
“Through this investment in Portlaoise we will expand our training delivery capability, which in turn will support the continued growth in resources to enable investment delivery in the electricity network over the coming years.
“I would like to thank Minister Lawless and Minister of State Harkin for being here to mark this important milestone with us.”
ESB Networks is currently onboarding 156 new electrical apprentices and plans are underway for the onboarding of 120 qualified electricians in Q1 2026.
This brings its total hiring of apprentices and qualified electricians since 2022 to over 700. ESB Networks is also driving to improve gender diversity in its craft employee group which has resulted in an average of 26% women in apprenticeship programmes each year.
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