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My name is Alan McDonagh, and I am one of many apprentices across the country who embarked on an Electrical Instrumentation program with the goal of attaining dual trade qualifications. Like many others, I was drawn to this career path under the assurance that we would receive both an electrical qualification and a qualification in instrumentation. However, this outcome has recently been denied, jeopardizing our career plans, despite nearing the end of the program.

The CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities) have recently made a decision to exclude Electrical Instrumentation Tradespeople from registering with Safe Electric. Both as a registered electrical contractor (REC) and attaining a qualified certifier number (QC Number). By denying us becoming REC's we cannot start our own electrical business (domestic, commercial or industrial) and by denying us a QC number we cannot sign off on any electrical installation (domestic, commercial or industrial). Essentially we won't become qualified electricians at all anymore, while still retaining the instrumentation qualification. 

I’ve spoken with many colleagues from the trade and every single one including myself began this trade with the assurance of it being a dual trade, Electrical primarily with an add on of Instrumentation. We complete almost all the required electrical exams and then carry out additional instrumentation exams. This is CRU's new stance on our qualification, registering with Safe Electric has always been available to us up until recently. This abrupt change not only affects present apprentices but also impacts all past E&I tradespeople who bore the promise of dual qualifications. Past, future and present apprentices risk missing out on this aspect of our trade.

Outlining the requirements on the Safe Electric website.
It states you must have:
A copy of your nominated Qualified Certifier's recognised electrical qualifications, - a National Craft Certificate (Electrical) or another suitable award, equivalent to Level 6 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications.

I have enquired with Safe Electric representatives to provide clarity on what qualifies under "another suitable award, equivalent to Level 6 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications”
They have rehashed the same response without answering the question at hand and referred the matter to the CRU whom I am still awaiting a response from.

If our trade, in which we have completed essentially the same electrical exams as the solely electrical trade, does not qualify then I could not possibly think of any that would.

This requirement is also listed on the CRU website under section: 1.2.12 Training and Competence of Qualified Certifier.
Part ii) of the aforementioned section “Another suitable award, equivalent to Level 6 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications”

This clearly indicates that there are other level 6 qualifications of the national framework that the CRU and Safe Electric deem acceptable. Which would certainly include Electrical Instrumentation.

This decision to exclude a large section of the electrical workforce from becoming registered through safe electric has not only damaged the credibility of our trade significantly but has been made without the consultation of those that are being affected by it.

The decision has baffled all of us within the Electrical Instrumentation trade and from speaking with lecturers from both electrical and electrical instrumentation backgrounds they too are confused and frustrated with the decision.

The Electrical Instrumentation trade has developed some of the most talented electricians in this country and to now be deemed unfit to register with Safe Electric is not only an insult to the trade but a massive step backwards in producing qualified personnel to wire and sign off on new builds in this country.

Home owners are already struggling to find electricians and this significant reduction in the workforce will only drive up costs and delay the completion of homes nationwide.

Anybody I have spoken with who opted for the electrical instrumentation trade did so on the basis that they would become qualified electricians with the added bonus of an instrumentation qualification, hence the extra time added to phase 2 and 4 for the electrical instrumentation trade.

I spoke with a senior staff member from Safe Electric who told me that in order for them to accept electrical instrumentation for registration they must get the go ahead from the CRU first. In order for this to happen, SOLAS will have to reach out to the CRU to clarify that our trade is sufficient for Safe Electric registration. If they speak with training advisers or lecturers around the country from the electrical instrumentation industry, they would ensure them that this is certainly the case and should never have been in question. 

The majority of people who do the Electrical Instrumentation trade work with electrical companies including myself, they come from all corners of the country and if they were to move back home to the countryside where I am from, the chances of gaining employment or starting our own businesses would be hindered drastically. 

Therefore, I am launching this petition to ensure that the future E&I apprentices are not shortchanged and that those in progress or who have completed their apprenticeship receive the dual qualifications as promised. We seek transparent dialogue with relevant authorities to address this pressing issue. Please show your support for E&I apprentices by signing this petition. Allow us to complete our apprenticeships with the qualifications promised, and give relief to the already serious labour and housing shortage in this country.