Special jobs fund could help Ireland

A special fund to help Ireland and other bailout countries create jobs could use EU money unspent by other countries, according to the European Commission.

The fund could run to several millions of euro unspent last year and is being discussed by the Commission at present, a source confirmed. Normally such money would go back to the member states.

Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski said he supports the idea aimed at helping create and grow jobs in programme countries.