Jobs boost for graduates and building workers

Over 400 jobs are to be created following two announcements yesterday.

About 280 jobs are being created by the country’s largest accountancy firm PwC. It is seeking to recruit staff for its assurance, tax, and advisory divisions across Ireland. Carmel O’Connor, human resources partner with the company, said the firm would take on graduates with financial background and others.

“The majority of our graduates come from various forms of accounting and business degrees, but we also encourage excellent graduates from other disciplines who desire a progressive career in business to apply.”

PwC, which employs about 2,500 people in Ireland, is taking on the new staff as part of its annual recruitment drive. Jobs will be will be available in all its offices around the country.

Meanwhile, work to meticulously restore St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, which was gutted in a Christmas Day blaze, will create 150 jobs during the 14 months it will take to rebuild.

It is hoped the cathedral will reopen five years to the day of the inferno and celebrate Christmas Mass in 2014.

Bishop Colm O’Reilly said the signing of contacts for work to begin was a milestone.

“It is the day we have been waiting for a long time. Much time has been invested since then in order to ensure that our planning and preparation process befits this enormous structural project. Thanks to all the work which has taken place on the planning phase of the restoration, the rebuilding phase has now begun, thank God,” he said.

St Mel’s was destroyed after a blaze, which started in a boiler flue, tore through the cathedral just hours after midnight Mass had been celebrated.