KENNY WELCOMES 6,500 MOMENTUM PROGRAMME PLACES FOR TRAINING & EDUCATION

Posted on December 19, 2012 12:09 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour Party T.D., Seán Kenny, has welcomed the news that 6,500 training and education places are to be made available for jobseekers.

"The Momentum programme announced by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, 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.

"The programme includes work experience modules alongside the development of workplace skills, in areas which have been identified as being associated with good job opportunities. Some of these are ICT, digital media, gaming, telecommunications, transportation, sales and marketing, health care, the food industry, manufacturing, and natural resources.

"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.

"There is a strong emphasis on the under 25 year olds, with a clear objective of trying to get them into employment through education and training in targeted programmes. €4.2 million of the total spend will allow for 1,500 of the new places to be provided to under 25s. Over 30% of our young people unemployed and the proportion of young people not in employment, education or training, standing at approximately 18%. It is vital that we target this sector of the population and get them on the ladder to employment.

"Dublin VEC for the Northside of Dublin will be providing the 'Sounding Board' Training Network for Start Ups and Self Employment for people under the age of 25."