Government accused of ‘empty spin’ over initiative to create 20,000 jobs

A high-profile initiative to create 20,000 manufacturing jobs within three years came under fire after the Government said no new money would go to the scheme and its budget remains unclear.

The move was branded an “empty spin exercise” by opposition parties who accused ministers of “conning” the unemployed.

However, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton insisted that the Government would deliver on its promise — despite the fact that only about 1,200 net jobs have been created across the whole economy in the past year.