Donegal must benefit from €20 million re-training fund for under 35s
Unemployed people in Donegal must benefit from a €20 million Government Fund aimed at helping people who lost their job due to a decline in their chosen industry. 02/01/10Thats according to Donegal North East TD Niall Blaney, who has been in contact with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan, about the "Labour Market Activation Fund".
“It was confirmed in the Budget that €20 million was being allocated to help people who are unemployed because of a downturn in the industry they were trained in,” explained Niall Blaney TD.
“This will be particularly relevant in Donegal where we have been hit badly in the past with the downturn of the textile industry, and more recently with the downturn in construction.”
“I have been in contact with the Tánaiste about the Fund and I have urged her to consider Donegal as a priority for consideration when devising the strategy for this fund.”
“Her Department is now actively looking for input and proposals from private organisations about the best methods to re skill up to 3,000 people aged under 35.”
The "Labour Market Activation Fund" will consist of two strands. One strand is to up skill those who have lost jobs in badly hit sectors such as construction, retailing and manufacturing and the other strand is to retrain university graduates and people with qualifications who have lost their jobs – such as civil engineers, architects and solicitors.
“The scheme will be aimed at people aged under 35 because young people have been badly affected by the recession and need opportunities to get back into the workforce.”
“The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is looking for companies to come to them with innovative ideas about how young people can be re trained and in what areas. An obvious area of potential is the green technologies field.”
“This is the first time the Department has gone to the private sector seeking submissions on suitable areas for training and I want to urge companies in Donegal to consider what they might be able to offer to the process.”
“Applications for tender will be assessed by the department and it is hoped that the training schemes will be up and running by Easter.”
“This scheme can, and should I believe, benefit Donegal in two ways. Companies in the county should see what part they could play in its establishment and young people in Donegal who are currently out of work should also benefit when it the scheme is activated.”
“I will remain in contact with the Tánaiste about the Fund and any local companies that want to tender to participate in the scheme, or young people who wish to be notified when it gets off the ground, can contact me at my office in Letterkenny and I will assist them in any way I can,” concluded Niall Blaney TD.
