Local Training Initiative

IRD Duhallow’s Local Training Initiative

IRD Duhallow ’ s LTI is funded by Cork Employment and Training Board and is focused on horticulture. Our LTI Is now in its sixth year, and its success is largely attributable to the extensive grounds available to the project at the James O’Keeffe Institute. The Irish horticultural industry is an important economic sector in Ireland with an estimated farm gate value of €433m, which is the fourth highest sector in terms of gross agricultural commodity output value. In Duhallow the Local Training Initiative provides vocational training opportunities in Horticulture, providing Level 4 and Level 5 certification leading to progression to further training, education and work in the horticultural sector.

Working Through Covid

Our new Level 4 programme started in September 2020, after a long delay due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The lockdown situation however gave many people a chance to spend time in their gardens, and develop an interest in growing their own food crops and enhancing their own environment and that of the local wildlife with a new passion for gardening. The 7 students who commenced the new programme have had to work through Covid 19 regulations, including social distancing in the classroom, polytunnels and outside spaces, mask wearing indoors, and increased time spent on cleaning and disinfecting tools. Their experience has undoubtedly been different to those gone before, but the level of enthusiasm and resilience that each student brings to the gardens each day has not changed. This year ’ s students have had to undertake 3 months of online classes and are now working very hard to complete all the practical work required to attain their qualifications.

Progression Opportunities

To date 41 students have successfully completed the programme at Levels 4 and 5 with 34 achieving the major award, consisting of all nine modules. 9 students successfully completed Level 5 with 8 achieving the

major award. Four past students also achieved Level 5 qualifications at An tlonad Glas in Dromcollogher and at Cork Training Centre, with three progressing to Level 7 and 8 qualifications in Horticulture and Wildlife Biology. A number of past students have also found employment, with local landscaping companies, and organic food producers. Two past students have been employed by the OPW based at Muckross House in Killarney National Park.

New Programme 2021 - 2022

2021 will see the commencement of a further Level 4 programme in September. This will enable new participants to Ampai sowing seeds in the polytunnel gain skill and confidence in horticulture, before progressing on to employment or further training. The success of the horticulture training initiative is in no small part due to the extensive grounds and training facilities at the James O’Keefe Institute and the enthusiasm and commitment of each and every person who signs up to undertake the programme, whether they are experienced gardeners or complete novices.

Colourful winter containers planted as part of the Ornamental Flowering plant module.

Hazel repotting the comfrey. Shane harvesting beetroot in the Kitchen Garden

Socially distanced digging Trudi painting the newly constructed raised bed in the small tunnel

Testimonial - Tom Daby

I enrolled in the level 4 horticulture LTI course in 2016 after being on a community employment scheme for a year. Previous to this, most of my career was in the field of accounts and administration. Being on the same career path for such a long time made me feel like it was the only thing I was capable Tom Daby of m doing. e an op Doing portun the h ity to orticulture try someth course gave ing different while also getting a qualification. After a very successful year, I gained the confidence and the belief in myself to enrol in a level 5 horticulture course in Cork ETB. At the end of another successful year, I was left at a junction where I had to decide which way I wanted my education and hence my future career path to take me. Thinking back to the level 4 horticulture course and all I learned from my tutor about organic growing and the environment, lead me to enrol in a four year honours degree course in Environmental Science and Wildlife Biology at Munster Technological University, Tralee. I am currently at the end of my third year and doing my nine-week internship at IRD Duhallow where I am working on different EU funded environmental projects. Looking back, I know that I would never have reached this point if it wasn ’t for the help and guidance that I received from my tutor all those years back.