Prendergast welcomes €36m in EU funding for unemployed Irish construction workers
Nearly €36 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) has been approved by the European Parliament to assist unemployed Irish construction workers.
Speaking from Strasbourg after Parliament approved the funding today, Ms Prendergast said: “I’m delighted the European Parliament today cleared the payment of this money which will assist almost 6,000 construction workers who have lost jobs in the wake of our economic crisis.
“Our economic collapse had a particularly dramatic affect on the construction sector because the previous government had adopted an
unsustainable development model.
“Roughly half the jobs in the construction sector between 2007 and 2010 were lost, so this money is a critical lifeline to those workers, renewing their hopes of finding employment again.
“This funding can be used for retraining and upskilling, occupational guidance or support for self-employment and enterprise creation. This can also include support to part-time students or apprentices.
“Together with the share contributed by the Irish Government, the funding for construction workers adds up to €55 million and is also a welcome development in that it mobilises resources to assist workers from small and medium-size companies.
“I believe our government will keep in mind the mediocre management of EGF monies by the previous administration, and manage the programmes in a timely fashion, so as to get the best value for the money and avoid loss of funding due to missed deadlines.
