There's been a call for the Irish Government to re-employ redundant apprentices to develop new visitor and tourist attractions in order to give much-needed work to hundreds of young people over the next two years.

The trade union SIPTU came up with the innovative proposal that would allow those disappointed by not completing their construction trades apprenticeships to instead be re-deployed on alternative jobs.

SIPTU said that the national training body, FÁS recently announced a €3.8 million initiative to assist 750 redundant apprentices to complete their apprenticeships with private employers.

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SIPTU has now proposed that a similar amount be give to State bodies to employ an additional 400 apprentices.

"There are currently 7,000 redundant apprentices. The vast majority of redundant apprentices are young people who are in the 18 - 25 year age bracket, who account for 30% of those who are now unemployed," said SIPTU Organiser, Brendan O'Brien.

"SIPTU is proposing that around 400 apprenticeship places be allocated immediately throughout various public sector bodies to work on tourism related projects across the country and help with the recovery of local economies."

The existing FÁS scheme can only assist a small proportion of the thousands of apprentices now threatened with long term employment, according to Mr O'Brien.

"A further €4 million, which could be diverted from the FÁS Employment Support Grant, could immediately create useful employment for another 400 redundant apprentices who can finish their apprenticeships, deliver new tourist attractions and visitor centres and help bring badly needed revenue into local communities," he said.

"A lot more needs to be done urgently for the thousands of apprentices who are facing into long term unemployment," he added.

(BMcC/GK)