Minister for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD welcomed the range of initiatives proposed by the European Commission to maintain and create jobs, to upgrade skills, and to increase access to employment.
The Minister in particular welcomed the facility to accelerate the drawdown of the European Social Fund at a rate of 100 per cent financing for 2009 and 2010, the expected peak of the economic crisis. This, the Minister said, would support Ireland’s efforts to provide increased opportunity for active involvement in the labour market for the unemployed and builds on existing policies and programmes in this regard.
The Commission proposals are fully in line with the Government’s plans to protect employment and to provide incentives for those in short time working and those working in vulnerable sectors to increase their skills and employability.
“I look forward to working with the EU Commission on behalf of Ireland, to address the challenges posed by the economic crisis. Today’s announcement is another example of the EU’s commitment to finding solutions to the problems that Ireland is facing on the financial and employment fronts,” Minister Calleary concluded.
