Construction workers in Ireland affected by the recession may get more than €35 million from the European Commission’s globalisation adjustment fund to help get them back to work.
The aid was requested by Irish authorities to cover more than 3,300 enterprises.
In a statement today, the commission said it proposed to provide assistance of €35.7 million from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF) to offer training and income support to almost 6,000 construction workers throughout the country who have been made redundant.
The proposal must be approved by the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers.
"Construction in Europe, particularly in Ireland, has plummeted and its workers are facing huge difficulties in finding new opportunities. I am confident that the support and training the EGF can provide to the Irish workers will help them and allow a smooth transition to a new job," said László Andor, EU commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion.
"These applications demonstrate how the fund benefits workers from small and medium sized enterprises as well as those from larger companies."
The applications covered almost 10,000 workers who have lost their job as a direct result of the downturn. The EU funding targets those who are considered to have the greatest difficulties of re-integration into the labour market.
The entire package is estimated to be worth €55 million; the balance will be provided by the State.
The move was welcomed by Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness.
"One of the major challenges facing the construction industry nowadays is the need to diversify and develop new skill sets. Builders and trades people are experts in their field and a previously booming sector meant they did not require alternative skills,” she said.
“Now, amidst a dwindling building industry, those made redundant need to look at their other talents and abilities in order to avail of new job offers. This fund will be a step in the right direction.”
Fellow MEP Nessa Childers urged Irish authorities to implement the fund, and warned there was still hard work ahead.
"Every Irish application to the European Globalisation adjustment Fund has been approved so far, yet somehow the EGF hasn't been the success that it should have been," she said.
"This is because of tight time restrictions imposed by the Commission, the difficulty in organising a large body of workers- all with their own ideas on how to spend the funding- and in organising training with the relevant authorities once a programme has been agreed."
