There was a big turnout for Mr Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on Thursday 17 November 2022, at which he announced an €11 million investment in the Centre. It represents the largest single capital investment in further education since the establishment of his department.
Minister Harris said, “The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence has been extremely successful in re-skilling and up-skilling students to use the new emerging technologies, as well as enabling them to develop new careers in advanced manufacturing through apprenticeships and traineeships. It has created partnerships with DKIT and across county borders with Cavan and Monaghan ETB. Today, we are confirming we will be spending €11 million to expand the work underway there.”
The latest round of investment will be used to complete renovations, carry out external works, extend the centre and to buy cutting-edge equipment, systems and software. It will ensure that Ireland can compete internationally in Industry 4.0, the future of manufacturing worldwide.
Commenting on the news, Martin O’Brien, chief executive of LMETB and founder of AMTCE, said “We’re delighted that the crucial role of the AMTCE has been recognised at the highest levels of government. The investment by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through SOLAS is proof of the importance of such a facility to the future of crucial sectors of the Irish economy. It will deliver the necessary training to underpin the transition of Irish companies to Industry 4.0 operations, leading to rewarding careers in advanced manufacturing and many other sectors.”
Manufacturing’s contribution to the economy accounts for 275,000 direct jobs and supports a further 135,000 indirect jobs and over a third of Ireland’s annual GDP. 85% of those jobs are located outside Dublin, highlighting the importance of manufacturing for rural areas across the country.
“We are also currently exploring other major projects like the development of Cybersecurity, Sustainability and Green Skills Centres of Excellence. All these initiatives will be established in close collaboration with national and international partners, LMETB has signed several Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) with key players and these MOUs will form the basis for our continued expansion and reach across the EU and into the US” continued O’Brien.