November 12, 2010

Sinn Féin Councillor Seán Crowe has called on the National Roads Authority to make the employment of a set amount of apprentices a condition upon which public contracts are awarded to contractors building roads in Ireland.

Councillor Crowe today attended a meeting of the Southern Regional Assembly, which was also attended by the head of corporate affairs at the NRA.

Speaking afterwards Councillor Crowe said:

“In the current economic climate many apprentices are struggling to finish their training as there is no work for them to complete there on site phases.

“The state has to respond to this crisis with innovative proposals to create youth employment.

“Today I asked the a senior representative of the NRA if he would consider a proposal to make the employment of a set amount of apprentices a condition upon which public contracts are awarded to contractors building roads in Ireland.

“While this was given a relatively positive response ultimately this will be a political decision and I would urge Minister Noel Dempsey to give this his urgent attention.

“A similar scheme is in place in the North under the Sinn Féin Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy and it has been hugely successful.” ENDS