Ministers Lawless and Harkin launch Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Career Chart to support skills development for a net-zero future
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Minister at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills, Marian Harkin TD, today announced the launch of a new career chart for the Offshore Wind and wider Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) sector. This new resource was developed to raise awareness of emerging career opportunities and skills needs, reflecting Ireland’s growing ambition in offshore renewables.
The ORE Chart will support learners in exploring learning and career pathways within the growing offshore renewable energy sector. It will be included in the Skills Box, a national initiative developed by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) to help students, jobseekers, and career changers better understand the wide range of pathways available through Further Education and Training (FET) and beyond.
Minister Harkin said:
“We need to gear up now for a net-zero future, and it is vital that people have the skills they need to participate in and benefit from the green transition
"This new ORE career chart forms part of a wider suite of awareness raising initiatives. It invites people across the country to be part of Ireland’s net-zero future and it steps up efforts to help realise Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential.
"There are endless entry points to careers in offshore renewable energy. Our tertiary education system caters for all with flexible learning pathways offering real opportunities for career progression at every stage in life."
Minister Lawless said:
"The ORE Chart initiative represents a key outcome of the intensified programme of work underway since my Department published the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan 2024. It highlights the strength of collaboration between government, industry, state agencies, and education and training providers in building the skills pipeline needed to support Ireland’s offshore renewable energy ambitions. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate a clear commitment to developing a skilled, future-ready workforce capable of harnessing some of the world’s best offshore wind resources."
Ireland has set ambitious offshore wind energy targets, with a 5 GW near-term goal to be delivered through five Phase One projects (3.8 GW) and the Tonn Nua offshore windfarm (0.9 GW), expected to be in construction by 2030, 20 GW by 2040, and 37 GW by 2050, as part of its climate and energy commitments. Achieving these ambitions will require a substantial expansion of Ireland’s skilled workforce.
The Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan 2024 set out a clear framework of actions to develop a future-ready workforce. Implementation of the Plan has progressed strongly throughout 2025, reflecting both the scale of national ambition in offshore wind and the central role that skills development plays in enabling timely and successful delivery.
Notes
Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan
Ireland has set ambitious offshore wind energy targets. Achieving these ambitions will require a substantial expansion of Ireland’s skilled workforce. The report Building Our Potential – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Skills and Talent Needs identified shortages across 33 critical roles essential for offshore wind delivery. These roles span engineering, marine operations, construction, grid connection and project management. In response, DFHERIS published the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan 2024. It outlines concrete actions to prepare a future-ready workforce and build the skills ecosystem required to support the Offshore Wind Energy Programme (OWEP).
Implementation of the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan
Ireland’s response to offshore renewable energy (ORE) workforce needs advanced significantly throughout 2025, reflecting both the scale of national ambition and the central role of skills in enabling offshore wind deployment.
Expert Advisory Group
An Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on Offshore Wind Skills and Workforce Requirements, comprising stakeholders from Government, Agencies, Further and Higher Education, Research, and Industry has been established to feed into wider considerations around skills and workforce planning. The central focus for the group for 2025 was progressing the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan.
Delivery is driven through three EAG subgroups:
- Manufacturing & Supply Chain
- Promoting Careers in Offshore Wind
- Programme Design & Delivery
Each subgroup advanced targeted actions and coordinated projects throughout 2025.
FET Skills Box
The FET Skills Box is a national initiative developed by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) to help students, jobseekers, and career changers better understand the wide range of pathways available through Further Education and Training (FET) and beyond. The Skills Box
contains sector-specific career charts that outline key FET routes and training options across areas including construction, business, and climate and green skills.
Its purpose is to raise awareness of career opportunities, support career guidance counsellors in schools, and ensure learners can easily explore the skills, programmes, and progression routes.
FET Skills Boxes have been distributed to Career Guidance Counsellors across FET, post primary and other providers, reaching over 727 secondary schools nationally, as well as Youthreach Centres, Intreo Offices, and FET Training Centres. The resource is also used by other groups, including parents, jobseekers, case officers, and career guidance professionals, helping ensure learners of all ages are informed about the diverse career and training routes open to them.