Engineers Ireland has welcomed the €4 billion Project Ireland 2040 funds for rural development, urban regeneration, climate action and innovation.
The four funds have been developed by the government to ensure balanced regional development and are designed to stimulate renewal and investment in rural and urban areas, and in the environment and innovation, preparing Ireland for a future with one million more people and 660,000 more people at work.
The funds, which will also aim to leverage investment from other sources, will be open to applications from state agencies, local government, business, educational institutions, chambers of commerce and other applicants.
Principles and practices of balanced and sustainable development
Having called for and supported increased capital investment as part of a sustainable approach to enhance economic recovery and to meet the needs of society, Engineers Ireland director general Caroline Spillane said: “Engineers Ireland has long been committed to the principles and practices of balanced and sustainable development.
"As our population is expected to increase by up to one million in the next 20 years, coupled with EPA projections that greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 will only be approximately six per cent below 2005 levels, far behind Ireland’s 20 per cent reduction target, today’s funding announcement is to be welcomed.
“Engineers will have a key role to play in our society’s transition to a low-carbon economy, enhanced regional accessibility, high-quality international connectivity and a strong digital economy.
Creative capacity of engineers
"The creative capacity of engineers is critical to the delivery of innovative technologies and applications, including smart manufacturing, AI and robotics, which will help tackle national and global challenges.”
With the CAO Change of Mind deadline of July 1 fast approaching, Spillane added: “We need to encourage young people to study engineering at third level. The fundamental skills of engineers, such as logical thinking, problem solving and numeracy, combined with innovation and curiosity, are highly desirable skills in today’s workforce.
"A strong graduate pipeline is crucial to the development and delivery of these projects aligned with Project Ireland 2040 funds.”