Education
Most occupations in this zone require job specific training (vocational training) related to the occupation (NFQ Levels 5 and 6 or higher), related on-the-job experience, or a relevant professional award.
Related Experience
Previous work-related skills, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, several years of full or part-time employment in the area may suffice.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognised apprenticeship or training program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organisational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include restaurant managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, hairdressers, and web developers.
Plasterer | |
Salary Range (thousands per year)* |
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13 - 36
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Related Information: | |
Apprentice Rates: 13 - 16
Qualified / Experienced: 23 - 36 The Construction Industry is governed by a Registered Employment Agreement (REA). The REA is a nationally negotiated deal which sets legally binding minimum rates of pay and conditions. All building workers are entitled to these benefits. It is unlawful to be paid less. Rates for the Construction Industry CRAFTSMEN: 01-Jan-08 €18.60 04-Feb-11 €17.21 |
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Data Source(s): | |
SOLAS / REA Rates
Last Updated: March, 2016 |
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* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries. |
With almost 2,000 job ready job seekers there remains an overhang of supply from the recession for this occupation. However, as apprenticeship registrations in this area remain low, shortages could emerge if an increase in residential activity occurs.
The high employment growth rate should be treated with caution.
National Skills Bulletin 2018
Occupational Category |
Bricklayers & Plasterers |
Also included in this category:
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Number Employed: |
9,900 |
Part time workers: | 5% |
Non-Nationals: | 19% |
Applies plaster to walls and ceilings in all kinds of buildings.
Follow the links below to watch videos related to this occupation: Note: you will be leaving the CareersPortal Site |
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Plasterers mix and apply plaster to inside walls and ceilings. They may also apply cement mixes to floors and outside walls or do decorative work. Plasterers use tools such as trowels, floats and hawks.
They also make ornamental plasterwork and decorative panels by moulding and casting plaster in workshops. The finished pieces are then fixed on-site. Fibrous plasterers may work from architects' designs or copy pieces of plasterwork from artists' drawings or from photographs.
They must finish off their work to a high standard and leave it ready for painters and decorators to work on.
The following is a list of the most commonly reported tasks and activities for this occupation
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Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns. |
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Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing. |
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Create decorative textures in finish coat, using brushes or trowels, sand, pebbles, or stones. |
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Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat. |
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Cure freshly plastered surfaces. |
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Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping. |
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Rough the undercoat surface with a scratcher so the finish coat will adhere. |
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Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco. |
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Install guide wires on exterior surfaces of buildings to indicate thickness of plaster or stucco and nail wire mesh, lath, or similar materials to the outside surface to hold stucco in place. |
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Spray acoustic materials or texture finish over walls or ceilings. |
The following is a list of the most commonly reported work activities in this occupation.
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Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
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Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. |
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
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Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
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Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
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Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
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Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
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Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
The following is a list of the five most commonly reported knowledge areas for this occupation.
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Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. |
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English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
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Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
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Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
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Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
The following is a list of the most commonly reported skills used in this occupation.
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Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
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Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
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Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. |
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Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
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Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
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Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
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Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
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Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems. |
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Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
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Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
You must be physically fit, as the work involves a lot of bending, lifting and stretching.
Plasterers often work at heights using ladders or scaffolding.
The employer pays the apprentice while s/he is being trained on-the-job. A training allowance is paid by the local ETB while the apprentice is attending the off-the-job training, and an Apprentice Rate of pay during the on-the-job phases of their apprenticeship. Generally, the rates of pay are based on a percentage of the fully qualified rate for the occupation:
A training allowance is paid by the local ETB to apprentices while attending off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid if deemed eligible. The sector the apprentice's employer is engaged in will determine the allowance payable. These allowances are calculated on the gross wages paid by industry in each sector. The amount the apprentice gets will generally be less than that, as it is based on the net take-home pay of the relevant sector. The weekly gross wage norms for different industries can be found here
The Annual Student Contribution is charged to students attending Higher Education Institutions including Institutes of Technology (IoT). Apprentices now pay the same contribution as full time students, but their contribution is based on the time they spend in the Institute or College.
The Student Contribution is payable to the IoT /College on the date of registration for the training phase. You should consult the relevant IoT/College for details of payment options.
Note: Apprentices are required to pay an examination fee to the IoT or College for repeat exams. For further information, click here.
Last Updated: November, 2014
A detailed description of this occupation can be found on a number of online databases. Follow the link(s) below to access this information:
Note: you will be leaving the CareersPortal Site
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Organisation: | Construction Industry Federation |
Address: | Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6 | |
Tel: | (01) 406 6000 | |
Email: | Click here | |
Url | Click here |
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Organisation: | SOLAS |
Address: | Castleforbes House, Castleforbes Road, Dublin, 1 | |
Tel: | (01) 533 2500 | |
Email: | Click here | |
Url | Click here |
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This occupation is popular with people who have the following Career Interests... |
...and for people who like working in the following Career Sectors: |
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Architecture, Construction & Property |
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Further Ed & PLC Course Suggestions |
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