New Facilities At Castlebar Regional Training Centre Will Ensure Highest International Standard In Training For Local Authorities In The West
Date: 12-05-2021
Castlebar Regional Training Centre (CRTC) have recently applied for funding for a ‘state of the art’ outdoor training facility to be provided at Lios na Circe, Saleen, Castlebar. Funding of €2m is to be provided by Department of Transport and at a recent meeting of Mayo County Council, approval was given to the borrowing of €650,000 towards the remaining cost of the facility.
The existing Regional Training Centre in Castlebar at Aras an Chontae, in place for over 20 years, facilitates the training needs of staff in local authorities (Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Longford, Leitrim County Councils and Galway City Council), group water schemes, utilities and numerous other public and private companies in the West and Midlands of the Country. Mayo County Council is the lead authority.
The Local Authority Services National Training Group (LASNTG) has the role of overseeing and managing the provision of quality training to staff in the areas of roads, water, environment and fire on behalf of the 31 Local Authorities nationally. Membership of the group is drawn from the following national training groups; -
- The Road Services Training Group (RSTG)
- The Water Services Training Group (WSTG)
- The Environmental Services Training Group (ESTG)
- The Fire Services Training Group (FSTG) and
- Other related Stakeholders
Training is delivered through five Regional Training Centres in Dublin, Cork, Tipperary, Donegal and Mayo. Each centre operates under a Management Committee comprised of the associated Local Authorities and is staffed by the host Local Authority.
Minister of State for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton T.D. said: “We must continue to ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads including the management of openings in public roads. I welcome the development of the dedicated outdoor training facility in Castlebar, that includes a capped contribution of €2m from my Department towards the design and construction of the facility, which will allow the delivery of high-quality training in road openings and reinstatement.”
The centres have been run efficiently and courses have been provided on a self-financing basis. Those based in the regions have the same access to quality accredited training as those based in the larger areas of population. It is envisaged that the new facility will provide additional capacity and will again operate on a self-financing basis. Accredited training and assessment will be delivered to meet the highest international standards. Regulatory training can be provided locally. It will enable the Department of Transport to ensure that the training requirements outlined in the new ‘Guideline for Managing Openings in Public Roads’ (the purple book) will be delivered now and into the future. The proposed development will enable the market demands and those envisaged for the future to be met.
Markets identified include:
- Local Authority and other public sector staff
- National Utilities
- Group Water Scheme personnel
- Private Sector Contractors
Chair of the LASNTG National Committee and Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council, Colette Byrne, welcomed the progress for Castlebar Regional Training Centre commenting that “the investment into a new state of the art training facility in the West of Ireland will place a renewed focus on training and enhance all levels of skill development to support the growing demand for training across the Local Authority and associated sectors.”
The Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Cllr Richard Finn welcomed the investment stating that the facility “will provide a wonderful opportunity for staff in the region to avail of top quality, accredited, practical training locally. This investment will provide a great boost to the region resulting in enhanced learning and development which in turn will help promote the well-being and quality of life of our citizens and communities.”
It is envisaged that work on the centre should commence in 2021.