Cumann Curachoireachta na h'Eireann   The training and development unit are responsible organising a comprenhensive programme of training courses each year.   The Training and Development Unit also achieves its objectives through the promotion of a scheme of canoeing awards. The Awards Scheme, with its emphasis on safety, training and development is based upon the achievement of successive levels of personal proficiency and/or instructional and leadership skills. The scheme is broadly divided into three categories based on the type of craft being used. The overall Award Scheme can be summarised as follows:

Kayak Awards Awards Scheme Introductory Proficiency The Introductory Proficiency Award aims to encourage and foster participation in canoeing and to enable participants to: perform fundamental kayaking skills understand and explain fundamental canoeing safety rules. Basic Kayak Proficiency The Basic Kayak Proficiency Award aims to enable participants to: kayak safely and competently on flat water of Grade 1 difficulty assist in basic rescues Intermediate Kayak Proficiency The Intermediate Kayak Proficiency Award aims to enable participants to kayak safely and competently on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade 2 difficulty as a member of a group being led. be capable of negotiating obstacles encountered on water of Grade 2 difficulty. assist in rescues Advanced Kayak Proficiency The Advanced Kayak Proficiency Award aims to enable participants to: kayak safely and competently on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade 3 difficulty be capable of negociating obstacles encountered on water og Grade 3 difficulty be capable of executing efficiently, effectively, and safely, certain rescues,as required during the Advance Kayak Proficiency Assessment. develop group awareness Basic Kayak Tutor The Basic Kayak Tutor Award aims to enable candidates to: become qualified to unstruct introductory, basic and intermediate flat water proficiency level kayaking skills on water of no higher than Grade 1 difficulty or in a suitably sheltered coastal area such as a harbour. organise introductory and basic courses increase the skill level of course participants. Instructorship The Instructorship Award aims to enable participants to: become qualified to instruct and lead groups on water og Grade 2 difficulty in a kayak assess for the ICU Basic and Intermediate Proficiency awards. introduce canoeists to competitive Leadership The leadership award aims to enable candidates to: develop the necessary skills to provide competent leadership of groups on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade 3+ difficulty. deal competently with rescue and leadership situations, which might coour, on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade 3+ difficulty deal competently with First Aid situations in the river environment Senior Instructorship being formulated at present...contact ICU office for more details. Open Canoe Awards Basic Open Canoe Proficiency The Basic Open Canoe Proficiency award aims to enable participants to: canoe safely and competently on water of Grade 1 difficulty assist in basic rescues. Intermediate Open Canoe Proficiency The Intermediate Open Canoe Proficiency award aims to enable participants to: cannoe safely and competently on water of Grade 2 difficulty as a member of a group be capable of negociating obstacles encountered on Grade 2 water. assist in rescues.   Basic Open Canoe Tutor Award The Basic Open Canoe Tutor Award aims to enable candidates to: become qualified to instruct basic proficiency level open canoe skills and introduce relevant open canoe skills on water no higher than Grade 1 in difficulty or in a harbour organise introductory and basic courses increase the skill level of course participants organise an appropriate open canoe day trip   Sea Kayaking Awards Sea Kayaking Proficiency The Sea Kayaking proficiency award aims to ensure that the successful candidates have sufficient skill and knowledge to undertake simple sea journeys with safety under guidance of other more experienced paddlers. Advanced Sea Kayaking Proficiency The purpose of the Advanced Sea Kayaking Proficiency award is to: encourage, train and qualify sea kayakers wishing to lead others on advanced sea journeys. The course also aims to provide candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to help develop sea kayaking and help promote awareness of safety procedures with the groups they lead.    For additional information, contact the ICU head office and request a copy of the Awards Scheme handbook.