A new initiative to promote excellence in concrete practice has been unveiled which will see concrete operatives in Ireland offered a formally recognised education and guidance course on working with concrete.

The ‘Concrete Ticket’, an initiative by the Irish Concrete Society, was officially launched in Dublin today by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English, TD. 

The Concrete Ticket aims to ensure that concrete construction is carried out to European and Irish standards by operatives with the necessary skill and training. Under the voluntary initiative, operatives are offered education in the form of a half-day course with guidance on the correct ordering, handling, finishing and curing of concrete for construction. Participants must then complete and pass a multiple choice test, with successful participants receiving an official photo ID card as proof of completion. A number of courses have already taken place, and some 20 courses are planned for 2017 in locations around the country. The Irish Concrete Society has launched a dedicated website about the Concrete Ticket with information on dates and venues of courses, available at www.concreteticket.ie

Up until now there has been no mechanism for operatives working with concrete to have their skill and expertise formally recognised. Through the Concrete Ticket, operatives can now acquire this recognition. 

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Today’s launch was attended by a wide range of companies and representative bodies from across the Irish concrete, construction and engineering sectors, as well as from Government Departments and State Agencies. 

Speaking at the launch of the Concrete Ticket, the Chair of the Irish Concrete Society, Jim Mansfield, said: “The Irish Concrete Society promotes excellence in concrete and ensures we continue to meet European and Irish standards. While up to now there has been no accredited education programme for concrete operatives, I’m delighted that the Concrete Ticket will now help fill that gap. Anyone who works with concrete can now avail of formally recognised training. Those who complete the course will have demonstrated good technical knowledge of the material they work with, and they’ll have a greater appreciation and understanding of the role they plan in achieving excellence in concrete.”

Those interested in availing of our courses can access information on dates and venues at www.concreteticket.ie

Director General of the Construction Industry Federation, Tom Parlon said: “It is vital that we continue to maintain high standards in concrete for construction in order to assure the future success of the Irish construction sector. This very welcome initiative from the Irish Concrete Society will help us ensure that future success, by providing a formally recognised guidance programme for operatives working with concrete on sites across Ireland. I would strongly encourage all concrete operatives to partake in a Concrete Ticket course taking place near them.” 

Commenting on the launch, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English TD commented: “The Irish concrete industry is renowned for the high calibre of its workforce and the high quality of its finished products. This initiative will help to recognise and enhance the already high-quality skill base within the industry, and will ensure that, as our economy and the construction industry recovers, we have workers who have the necessary skills to carry out concrete work to European and Irish standards.”