Taoiseach backs high-skill jobs initiative in West

It is hoped a number of new highly skilled jobs will be created in the West over the next three years.

The Taoiseach has given his backing to a pilot programme which is aimed at developing the West as a region of excellence for manufacturing.

The initiative will offer upskilling opportunities to engineers through education in partnership with government agencies.

Horizon West, which is leading the programme is calling on other organisations to get involved and offer those out of work a chance to retrain.

Aiden Corcoran of Horizon West told iRadio it could create lots of jobs.

"We have proposed that the Government backs a forum where we can bring stakeholders together, such as manufactuers, educational and institutional bodies and government, so we can develop a highly efficient manufacturing sector in Ireland," he said.