Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. presented scholarship certificates to the first students to complete the inaugural Irish Nautical Trust Marine Skills & Technology scholarship programme, supported by Google.org at the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club Ringsend, Dublin 4 on May 27 2022.
The scholarship was launched in October 2021 as part of the Google Employment Task Force. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, provided €300,000 to the Irish Nautical Trust to develop a community-based environment maritime training programme aimed at educating local unemployed people and school leavers on the environment. The funding supports access for 30 students to obtain a certified level of maritime skills and enable them to gain sustainable employment in the marine industry. Today, nine students have been awarded certificates with four of the nine already having secured employment.
Speaking at the event, Minister Donohoe, said: “I am delighted to be here today to recognise the Maritime Skills & Technology programmes’ early achievements. The employment opportunities this programme provides to the students will play a key role in building a brighter future not just for the students but also the wider community. Already four participants from the first cohort have been successful in achieving employment and I look forward to hearing more in the future on the progress of this important programme.”
