Families in Donegal living in defective concrete block homes could see an end to their plight sooner, after the government revealed plans to spend three quarter of a million euro on a campaign to attract Irish construction workers home.
That’s the view of Councillor Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly who has welcomed the development, having raised the issue at the most recent Plenary meeting of Donegal County Council.
Cllr Kelly was speaking to the Donegal News this week after the government announced plans for an advertising blitz to try to attract Irish construction workers living abroad to move home in a bid to address the housing crisis.
An outreach programme is being set up to entice builders in cities like London, Sydney and New York to relocate back to Ireland.
“I welcome the announcement regarding the construction blitz. I raised this issue at last month’s plenary meeting when I tabled a motion asking that the Council contact Minister Simon Harris and Minister Norma Foley asking them to make apprenticeships more attractive and invest in making skilled work a greater option. This announcement is a step in the right direction,” said Cllr Kelly.
“The amount of money the government plans to spend on this is attractive. We have an endless number of our people living abroad, and many are still emigrating. With this investment, we could hopefully see some of those people returning home to stable employment within the construction sector.
“I hope it will entice young workers to return home, as it could also help speed up works for those affected by the mica crisis.”
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says Ireland needs its construction workers to come home.
“We want to send a message to Irish people who may have left because there weren’t jobs in construction in the past, there weren’t jobs when the economy crashed. That Ireland is a very different place now. That Ireland needs you to come home. Ireland needs you to help us build homes. And that if you wish to come home, there are jobs here – well paid, reliable jobs.”
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