Fine Gael’s NewERA stimulus plan to create thousands of jobs in Trades & Construction Sector – Coveney

Friday, 18 February 2011

FG Five Point Plan has best plan for jobs & growth

Fine Gael’s 5 Point Plan to Get Ireland Working contains the most comprehensive jobs and growth strategy of any Party in this election, according to Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesman Simon Coveney.

“Fine Gael believes that NewERA, combined with our other jobs initiatives, can create 100,000 new jobs over the next five years. Integral to that plan is the creation of at least 20,000 jobs directly in the trade and construction sectors though investment in key infrastructure projects.

“Fine Gael is the only party to put forward a costed and credible plan to invest in modern national infrastructure, involving an investment of €7 billion. The bulk of this will be invested in
our energy, water, and communications networks in order to bring them up to the best international standards.

“Our NewERA investment plan will stimulate the construction sector and the wider economy in the face of the recession. The new jobs are likely to be spread evenly across the regions, incorporate a range of skill levels, and concentrated in the following areas:

• Plumbing, electrical work and other construction crafts;
• Telecoms, civil and structural engineering;
• Construction materials suppliers;
• Plant maintenance and operation;
• Insulation and home energy appliances;
• Software programming and support;
• Construction professionals like architects, engineers.

“Fine Gael’s plan has been described as making ‘absolute sense’ by David McWilliams, the “best thought out strategy’ by Eddie Hobbs and ‘interesting, exciting, and achievable’ by Jim Power. These independent experts have recognised the merits, wisdom and ambition of Fine Gael’s NewERA plan, and increasingly the public are impressed by it too. This plan will modernise our economy, make it more competitive and in the process create vital jobs in areas where they are most needed.”