Training places for unemployed welcomed

PERSONS who are long-term unemployed can look forward to a bright 2013 after the Government announced free education and training places for up to 6,500 people.

The Momentum programme is a new Government initiative that has been launched by the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn and Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon.

Under this initiative, 36 education and training providers in the public and private sector will provide a huge range of programmes.

They will be spread right across the country, and will focus on the expanding employment areas of ICT, digital media, healthcare and social services, the green economy, food processing and sales and marketing.

Dublin Bay North TD Terence Flanagan (FG) welcomed the announcement.

“Creating job opportunities, particularly for the long-term unemployed, is a key aim for this Government,

? he said.

“We are completely rebuilding what was a broken economy, and a crucial part of this process is ensuring that our workforce has the right skills to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

“These 6,500 new education and training places are particularly focused on giving jobseekers access to areas of the economy where there are opportunities.

?

Deputy Flanagan said the courses would be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the long-term unemployed, using international best practice to suit the Irish context.

“For younger jobseekers, a range of activation projects will also be available for those aged under 25 to help them get into the workforce,

? he added.

Dublin Bay North TD Sean Kenny (Lab) also welcomed the Momentum programme.

“It has a strong emphasis on linking up shortages in skills with education and training, and focusses on both the long-term job seeker and the employer who is looking for specific skills,

? he said.

“Dublin VEC on the Northside of the city will provide courses in Sales & Marketing, Healthcare & Social Services, Food Production & Processing, Warehousing & Logistics, and Manufacturing.

“International best practice has demonstrated that programmes like Momentum offer the best possible use of public money by equipping people with the skills, work experience and knowledge, which is most useful for them in their quest for employment, and will see them being able to get back to work.

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Dublin North West TD John Lyons (Lab) congratulated Minister Quinn on his work in creating the further education and training places.

“Providing jobseekers with the skills and training they need to get into employment is key to tackling our high unemployment,

? said Deputy Lyons.

“I look forward to the roll out of the courses and the opportunities they will bring for the 6,500 participants.

?