Each week in the run up to the General Election, JOE is asking a representitive from each of the main political parties to answer a burning question relevant to Irish men in 2011.
We’re not putting any spin on their answers: we ask the question, they give us their answers, and we print what they tell us.
Representing Fianna Fáil on our virtual panel of Dáil Deputies is the TD for Mayo Dara Calleary.
Question: “What would you do, and do quickly, to stop the flood of young bright Irish men leaving our shores? Does it really make a difference which party leads the government, as many of these young men have lost faith in Ireland and can’t see a reason to stay, let alone stay and vote?”
Answered by Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary TD
The last thing that I or any of my colleagues in Government want to see is another lost generation, especially bright, young, highly educated and skilled young people of my own generation.
The loss of such talent is a waste.
And I have been promoting and continue to promote job creation as my priority in my capacity as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation so that such losses can be kept to an absolute minimum.
To this end I have promoted the introduction of a number of job and training incentive schemes over the course of the last 18 months.
During this time we have announced a range of practical measures to provide those who are seeking work with the best opportunity to get the jobs that become available.
A €20 million multi-annual higher labour market fund will enable unemployed people to access part-time education. This will range from certificate to post-graduate levels.
Initiatives
We have introduced two initiatives for redundant apprentices, many of whom have been affected by the downturn in the construction industry including an expansion of the very successful Redundant Apprentice Place Scheme.
This provides on-the-job training for up to 1,000 apprentices in the public and private sectors to allow them to complete their training and has a budget of €7.3 million. The Scheme proved to be very successful last year, so it’s being changed to make it even more attractive for employers as they will no longer have to supplement a redundant apprentice’s wages.
In addition to this, the Institutes of Technology will be making available 700 places for redundant apprentices and craftspersons in 2011.
We have also maintained a very progressive capital expenditure programme that will create thousands of jobs in the construction sector.
We have also extended and expanded the Work Placement Programme with an additional 5,000 places being provided in the public service and 500 placements in the private sector and we have adopted the Employment Subsidy Scheme and Enterprise Stabilisation Fund which is designed to help companies sustain and develop their business.
We have also maintained a very progressive capital expenditure programme that will create thousands of jobs in the construction sector including 6,000 in the construction of the Dublin Metro.
We have and will continue to invest heavily in tourism infrastructure and just this week announced our policy document in my home town of Ballina with a potential for tens of thousands of jobs.
We also hold an extremely positive record in terms of IDA investment.
75,000 jobs will be created through the IDA and a further 60,000 through home-grown companies supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Dara Calleary TD is standing for election as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Mayo constituency. Check out Dara’s website at daracalleary.ie
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