Bringing emigrants home ‘central’ to Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2016
However, Tánaiste Joan Burton has conceded that some of these returning Irish may not be able to find jobs straight away.
As part of the fifth action plan launched yesterday by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and a number of ministers, the Government has promised to deliver 200,000 net jobs by 2020. This will bring the total number of people in employment to 2.18m.
]social=twitter]https://twitter.com/joanburton/status/689101767246770178[/social]
There will also be a focus on new sectors including the bio-economy and audio-visual sector. Mentoring and management development programmes will also be provided across 1,300 companies this year.
Speaking at the publication of the action plan at Kerry Group’s Global Centre in Co Kildare, Mr Kenny said: “To be competitive you have got to be in a position to create jobs and employment and by so doing you strengthen your economy.”
He said the Government “now has a clear path set out to 2020 to create a further 200,000 jobs and bring back 70,000 of our young people who are working abroad in different countries at the moment”.
A new web portal to advertise job opportunities to returning emigrants is also included in the plan.
Government launches Action Plan for Jobs 2016 today aimed at creating 200,000 extra jobs by 2020 #apj16 @Entirl pic.twitter.com/oLXxuHG6w6
— Enterprise Ireland (@Entirl) January 18, 2016
However, in December, Ms Burton revealed that those returning had driven up the social welfare budget, and yesterday she admitted that people with low skills levels may struggle to find work.
She said returning young people with qualifications and experience are “very much being headhunted around the country and getting into a variety of very good jobs”.
“There are also people who left who would have very low skills levels and who, when they come home, may find it difficult to get something immediately.
“They may have been working in construction as general operatives and in that case what we are doing with our Intreo offices around the country, including the one here in Newbridge opened recently, we are talking to them, we are getting people to make a plan and if that involves training or education, or if that involves contact with employers, we are helping them to get work,” she said.
#APJ16 - Our goal is sustainable economic growth so we can invest in better services, give back to the Irish people. pic.twitter.com/XoeCt1KcIS
— Damien English (@Damien_English) January 18, 2016
Mr Kenny said he had spoken with regional employers in recent weeks and there are opportunities for people who want to return home.
“It’s a challenging target, we think it’s very achievable,” he said.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association welcomed the focus on regional development, skills, and apprenticeships, but said economic success should not be measured solely on job increases.
