The approval of a new bill brings significant changes to the construction sector's skills, knowledge, and safety standards. These changes mean that construction workers will now have to hold a licence and will renew these licences periodically, keeping their skills and training up to date. This continuous learning approach replaces the concept of a qualification certificate issued for life.
The Irish government approved the Construction Safety Licensing Bill in the summer of 2023, currently under development. This new regulation brings in skills-based assessments and a modern licensing model for the construction sector. The current accreditation model will also be reformed to provide a better licensing system.
Main objectives and measures
The main purpose of this legislation is to develop a modern and fit-for-purpose system that will raise safety awareness and minimise accidents and injuries on site, ensuring that workers operate machinery and carry out tasks in a safe and competent manner, making the industry more attractive to future workers.
All relevant construction site personnel will be required to undergo periodic health and safety training, enabling them to work on-site without posing a risk to themselves or others. Appropriate monitoring and inspection will be implemented to verify compliance, which the previous certification arrangements did not consider.
Desired effects
The licensing model will help meet the workforce requirements, skills and objectives outlined in Government strategies, including the Housing for All Strategy and the National Development Plan.
It is expected to create awareness of the scale and diversity of opportunities in the construction sector, which might encourage more women to participate in roles outside the traditional definition of construction workers. Currently, only 9.3% of women are employed out of a total of around 167 300 people working in the Irish construction sector.
The new legislation also gives recognition to people on construction sites who possess relevant construction skills but are not qualified apprentices or professionals. They will be able to obtain a licence that acknowledges their skills and their activities on site.
Main features
The main features of the Construction Safety Licence Bill are:
- the introduction of safety awareness requirements for workers in the construction sector;
- the establishment of a licensing model for workers based on a competence assessment;
- the introduction of skills-based assessments;
- the establishment of a licensing regime for tutors;
- the establishment of an approval requirement for training organisations conducting certain activities;
- legal implications for failure to hold the appropriate licence.
The development of this licensing model is an important step in the continued response to the needs of the construction sector.
Read more
- gov.ie - General Scheme of the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2022
- gov.ie - Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland
- gov.ie - Government launches the renewed National Development Plan 2021-2030
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Please cite this news item as: ReferNet Ireland; Cedefop (2023). Ireland: responding to skills and workforce needs in the construction sector. National news on VET |