Coillte staff awarded QQI cert from Minister. Pictured above are, Cormac MacGiollacoda, Minister Andrew Doyle T.D., Brendan Lynch and Stephen Fletcher.

Minster of State Andrew Doyle TD presented Brendan Lynch of Coillte and Martin McManus with their QQI (Quality & Qualifications Ireland) certificates at Avondale House, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.

This followed their successfully completing a Level 5 award in forestry forwarder operations, making them the first students to successfully complete this newly commenced course run out of Ballyhaise College. The two graduates, Brendan Lynch and Martin McManus were congratulated by Minister Doyle on their achievement.

With Ballyhaise College now running the new Harvest Machine Operators Course including a state of the art Harvest Machine Simulator, Ireland now has world-class accredited training available to those wishing to pursue a career in timber harvesting.