The 12 participants of the LTI Furniture Making and Design course in Doneraile received their FETAC certificates from Minister of State Seán Sherlock recently.

The 48-week Local Training Initiative course, undertaken at The Bridge on the main street in Doneraile, comprises of seven FETAC Level 5 modules. Prior to presenting the certificates to the participants, Minister Sherlock congratulated those graduating on completing the course as well as having the courage to return to education

“I just want to say well done to all of you. It’s a course where some of you might have been out of formal education for quite a period of time. So the very fact that you have taken the decision to come back into a structured scenario again and acquire new skills, it’s speaks volumes on the courage you have.

“Sometimes the pathway defined by society isn’t the pathway that suits everybody, and sometimes the system needs to bend a little to an initiative, like the LTI initiative, and partner with other entities that suits people to have that kind of blended learning, so people can realise their own goals,” he said.

LTI Coordinator Max Hennessy, also congratulated the 12 participants and praised them for their willingness and efforts throughout the course. “It’s great to see lads now starting to take ownership of what their trying to do in the future, and make the most of the qualifications they’re getting with us. It was a joy to work with everyone this year.

“It is a really good course with a lot of hands on workshop time. We have a fully fitted out workshop with all the tools and equipment needed to make good quality pieces of furniture which the learners get to take away at the end of the programme.”

William Hallihan of the Doneraile Development Association said he understand that six of the participants have already secured employment. “This is fantastic,” he said.

“It’s only onwards and upwards, there is no doubt about it, it doesn’t matter about what bit of education someone has, it’s more than the person who hasn’t it. If you have that bit of extra education, you can go the next step up,” he added.

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