Additional accommodation sought for apprenticeships

Cavan Institute has been approved to seek additional accommodation to run one of its apprenticeships.

Dr Linda Pinkster, Director of Further Education with CMETB, sought approval from the board at its recent meeting.

She said warehouse space was needed to run the supply chain apprenticeship offered by the college and board approval was required in order to source accommodation.

Dr Pinkster said it was expected that parts of the former army barracks site on the Dublin Road would be renovated but this was described as a “long-term solution”. Separate accommodation would be required in the short term.

The board approved the request without descent.

Meanwhile, the board also approved a request for additional accommodation in Monaghan Town as Monaghan Institute can now not accommodate all apprenticeships being offered.

Dr Pinkster said plans are being drawn up for an extension to the popular college but it would be at least five years before any major progress was made.

She said the adult education body, Solas, had asked CMETB to offer another electrical apprenticeship programme in Monaghan Institute to increase the number of students coming through such programmes in a bid to deal with the skills shortage.

The board again agreed to the request without descent.