Funding to assist construction workers who are unemployed to get back into the work place has been made available by the European Union according to local Fianna Fail Councillor Andrew McGuinness.
On November 5, the European Commission proposed to provide Ireland with €35m from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF ) to help 5,987 redundant construction workers across the country back into employment including the thousands who are left without jobs in Kilkenny.
Minister Ciarán Cannon’s office stated this week that this funding is 'imminent' according to Councillor McGuinness.
"Should this money, requested by the Irish authorities through three applications, be granted, it will cover ex-workers from 3,348 mostly small enterprises. The proposal has gone to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for their approval. If approved it will be of huge benefit to local construction workers, many of whom have been unemployed since the property market crashed," said Cllr McGuinness.
The Irish applications relate to a total of 9,089 redundancies from small and medium sized enterprises operating in the construction sector. The dismissals were a direct consequence of the financial and economic crisis.
"The package will help the workers by providing them with occupational guidance, training programmes (vocational/second & third level education programmes ), enterprise/self-employment supports, and training allowances and income supports. I have spoken to many local construction workers who have lost their jobs recently and they would benefit greatly from this funding once approved," said Cllr McGuinness.
It is an innovative feature of these applications that 2,258 redundant apprentices will be helped with on- and off-the-job training by means of alternating temporary employment and college education, enabling them to finish their apprenticeships and gain internationally recognised qualifications.
