In Summary
A Geo-Driller is a skilled worker who uses heavy mechanical plant called drill rigs to advance holes in the ground that are used to investigate subsurface strata (soil and bedrock) to provide detailed information in the evaluation of economic potential for industries such as aggregates, minerals, water supplies and to assist in planning, design and construction of infrastructure development.
The work of a Geo-Driller also involves extracting samples, installing monitoring equipment, undertaking in-situ testing, assessing and developing water supplies and allowing the passage of services under sensitive structures such as roads, railways and canals, and 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 record accurately the variations encountered below ground either by sampling, written documentation or a combination of both.
The Geo-Driller apprenticeship is a two-year course which includes off-the-job training at SETU-IT Carlow with the remaining time spent training on-the-job.
A Geo-Driller is a skilled worker who uses a heavy mechanical plant called a drill rig to advance holes in the ground to investigate soil and bedrock. This provides detailed information in the evaluation of economic potential for industries such as construction and water supplies.
See the Geo Drilling Apprenticeship Brochure here
To view full details of this occupation, view information from our Careers database for the following occupation: Geo-Driller
Entry Requirements
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-IT Carlow Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy and applicants who wish to apply using this route can request the specific RPL for their programme.
Training
The Apprenticeship is delivered by the SETU-IT Carlow and the lead industry partner is Geoscience Ireland. The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship is a two-year programme combining work experience with academic study. Trainees 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-IT Carlow. An apprentice registers with SETU south east technical Univrsity-Carlow Campus (IT Carlow) via the link below prior to September for each years intake Apply here.
Apprentices will receive practical training in the use of drilling equipment and operating procedures as well as classroom training in:
• Drilling equipment & operations
• Sample retrieval and processing
• Environmental management & stakeholder engagement
• Geology
• Geo-informatics
• Health & safety
• Communications
Skills & Qualities
- Plan and organise
- Communicate effectively
- Solve problems
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Show a positive attitude
- Demonstrate good work practices including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness and safety awareness
- Site practice including - safe use/maintenance of tools and equipment, setting out, drilling, testing and sampling, 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, environmental protection of sub-surface and groundwater resources
- Making and repairing drilling equipment, water pumps, drill rigs etc.
- Fitting and assembling the 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 the 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
Work Activities
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 record accurately the variations encountered below ground either by sampling, written documentation or a combination of both.
Work will involve:
- Moving drill rig to site – competent in transportation of 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
Career Progression
Industries supported by this apprenticeship include:
• Mining
• Mineral Exploration
• Quarrying
• Groundwater
• Geothermal Energy
• Site Investigation (Infrastructure)
• Directional Drilling
This apprenticeship will provide the students with a platform to continue their role as drillers, continue their studies or move to middle and senior management within their field of expertise or change careers into an associated industry.
The Goal of this apprenticeship is two-fold:
(A) To improve the quality and safety of drilling undertaken in Ireland and abroad by Irish companies
(B) To create opportunities in the careers of the drillers so they can progress to whatever level they desire. Some will remain drillers and some will advance to be Managers, Foremen/Forewomen, Technicians and Engineers. - The off-site modules will consist of those listed, that will allow the student to progress into areas such as Drilling Site Management, Quarry Management, Earthworks, Control and Monitoring, Construction Studies and other areas when they have successfully completed the apprenticeship.
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.
• Mining
• Mineral Exploration
• Quarrying
• Groundwater
• Geothermal Energy
• Site Investigation (Infrastructure)
• Directional Drilling
Professional Development & Employer links:
Mining and quarrying companies, large and small drilling contractors.
The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship issupported by member organizations in:
Getting an Apprenticeship
To become an Apprentice in Ireland you must be first 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. You can search for vacancies by location, and employers in each apprenticeship.
Use this link to explore a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship type.
The apprentice registers with (SETU)- IT Carlow via the link below prior to September for each years 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 via the
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 and securing your apprenticeship
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.
Online Jobsites
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.
Below are the results for an Apprentice from indeed.ie.
Pay & Fees
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.
Apprentices complete their off-the-job training in a higher education institution, for which they are required to pay a student contribution SETU-IT Carlow Fees policy.
The amount payable is a proportion of the annual student contribution for students attending a full-time course in higher education. The student contribution is paid directly to the higher education institution over the two years.
Geo Driller
| Year 1 | €1,500 |
| Year 2 | €1,500 |
| Total Fee | €3,000 |
