Fine Gael Cork Senator, Colm Burke, has welcomed a vote in the European Parliament in favour of the release of funds for re-training Irish Construction workers saying the Government must now ensure that available funds are drawn down for this purpose.

"The importance of obtaining monies from the European Globalisation Fund, which can be used to re-train and upskill Irish workers who have lost their jobs, cannot be overstated as 5,987 of our redundant construction workers are set to benefit from it.

-- Advertisement --

"Applications for funds from Europe for Ireland were approved by the European Council on Monday and I am delighted that the European Parliament voted in favour of releasing the funds.

"There is now €35.7 million available to us and I am calling on the Government, as I have done in the past, to ensure that the full extent of these funds are delivered for our unemployed. The deadline for drawing down funds is June 2012 and the Government must ensure that our application is water-tight and that it does not fall short as was the case with an application submitted by the pervious Government."

(CD)