The apprenticeship is for recent school leavers and mature learners, aged 16 or older.

Applicants under the age of 23 must have:

  Leaving Certificate: 5 grades at O6/H7 including English or Irish and Mathematics.

Applicants over the age of 23 years are classed as mature learners. There are no defined entry criteria for mature candidates entering this programme.

All programmes are mapped to the SETU Carlow Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy     and applicants who wish to apply using this route can request the specific RPL for their programme.

This apprenticeship is delivered by South East Technological University (SETU) Carlow Campus. The lead industry partner is Geoscience Ireland.

The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship is a two-year programme, combining work experience with academic study.

Apprentices will work with employers for 41 weeks and attend classes from each September for 4 days a week for 11 weeks.

The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship programme will be delivered by the Faculty of Engineering, SETU Carlow.     An apprentice registers with SETU Carlow Campus via the link below prior to September for each year's intake. 

Applications to the programme can only be submitted by registered employers.

Click here to view application contact details.     

Apprentices will receive practical training in the use of drilling equipment and operating procedures, along with classroom training in the following areas:

• Drilling equipment & operations
• Sample retrieval and processing
• Environmental management & stakeholder engagement
• Geology
• Geo-informatics
• Health & safety 
• Communications

• Planning and organising
• Effective Communication
• Problem-solving 
• Working independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrating a positive attitude

• Good work practices, including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness, and safety awareness
• Site practices, including the safe use/maintenance of tools and equipment, setting out, drilling, testing and sampling, and installing and logging
• Understanding engineering drawings including plans and sections

• Safety: hazard avoidance and risk assessment, good workshop practices, basic first aid, fire extinguishers, pattern development, materials, manual and mechanical handling, light fabrication, and environmental protection of sub-surface and groundwater resources
• Making and repairing drilling equipment, water pumps, drill rigs, etc.
• Fitting and assembling necessary parts
• Using appropriate hand tools and machine tools

• Accurately documenting and communicating sub-surface variations to designers
• Servicing and maintaining relevant equipment
• Understanding pricing and use of Bills of Quantities, and accurately recording quantities

On successful completion of this apprenticeship, the Geo-Driller will have knowledge of: 

• Computer Aided Design
• Surveying – EDM, GPS
• Soil and rock sampling
• Soil and rock description
• Monitoring equipment installation
• In-situ testing
• Pump and permeability testing
• Laboratory testing
• Site monitoring

The Work of a Geo-Driller involves extracting soil samples, installing monitoring equipment, undertaking in-situ testing, assessing and developing water supplies, facilitating the installation of ground support, and preparing holes to be charged with explosives for blasting.

Soil and rock are extremely variable and competent drilling requires care, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately record the variations encountered below ground, either by sampling, written documentation, or a combination of both.

Work involves: 

• Moving drill rig to site – competent in handling and transporting heavy equipment.
• Assessing ground conditions for set up of a rig.
• Setting up a drill rig at predetermined locations – uneven ground, sloping ground, soft ground, under ground.
• Safe and productive drilling in varied ground conditions – competent in the areas of health and safety and manual handling.
• Sampling and recording (logging) the investigation/drilling findings accurately for use by designers – engineers, geologists, hydrogeologists.
• Communicating drilling findings.

This apprenticeship is supported by the Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS)    , Geological Survey Ireland    , and Geoscience Ireland.      

Opportunities can be found in mining and quarrying companies and large and small drilling contractors.

Industries supported by this apprenticeship include: 

• Mining
• Mineral Exploration
• Quarrying
• Groundwater
• Geothermal Energy
• Site Investigation (Infrastructure)
• Directional Drilling

This apprenticeship provides learners with a foundation to continue working as drillers, pursue further studies, advance into middle or senior management within their field, or transition into a related industry.

The goal of this apprenticeship is two-fold:

(A) To enhance the quality and safety of drilling operations carried out in Ireland and internationally by Irish companies.
(B) To create career opportunities for drillers, enabling them to progress to any level they aspire to. While some may choose to remain in drilling roles, others may advance to positions such as Managers, Foremen/Forewomen, Technicians, or Engineers.

The off-site training modules are designed to support this progression.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, learners will be equipped to move into areas such as Drilling Site Management, Quarry Management, Earthworks, Control and Monitoring, Construction Studies, and other related fields.

These studies will create a pathway for each student to progress to Level 7 courses and beyond in areas such as Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, Construction Studies, and Quantity Surveying. 

Professional Development & Employer links:

The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship is supported by member organisations in:

Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS)    

Geological Survey Ireland    

Geoscience Ireland.      

To become an apprentice in Ireland, you must first be hired by an employer.

Apprenticeship employers are formally approved by SOLAS     in advance of employing apprentices.

Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal at Generation Apprenticeship. You can search for vacancies by location and employer in each apprenticeship.

Explore a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship Type here.    

The apprentice registers with SETU via the link below prior to September for each year's intake. Apply here    

Full eligibility criteria for this apprenticeship are available in the Geo Driller Apprenticeship brochure    .

This apprenticeship is managed by Geological Survey Ireland.
If you are interested in a geo-driller apprenticeship you should make contact with Geological Survey Ireland at the details below. 

For more information contact:

Joe Mongan/ Sean Finlay
Geoscience Ireland Expert Panel
Science Centre
University College Dublin
Belfield
D04N3E5

Geo Science Ireland Tel: 01 678 2808
Email: [email protected] /  [email protected] 

Web: https://www.geoscience.ie/ 

Finding an Employer

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship and secure an apprenticeship work contract you can search apprenticeship vacancies on the Apprenticeship Jobs Portal . You can search for vacancies by location and by apprenticeship type.

Your local Education and Training Board may also hold details of employers seeking to employ an apprentice.

You should also directly connect with local employers who might be interested in taking on an apprentice. It is a great idea to get a part time job with a local employer who might be more inclined to take you on as an apprentice following a successful work experience placement or a part time job contract.

Online Job Sites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn.

The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job and off-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.