Labour T.D. for Cork South West, Michael McCarthy, has welcomed news that 400 of the jobs created by Irish Water’s metering programme will go to people who are unemployed, graduates or in small business.

Deputy McCarthy, who is Chair of the Environment Committee said: "This is a huge project and I am pleased that efforts are being made to hire those who need employment the most. This is happening because of a social inclusion requirement that was contained in the water metering programme, which ensures there is a particular focus on giving skilled workers an opportunity to re-enter the workforce.

"Specifically, the jobs will be made up of 10% of people from SMEs, 10% from the unemployment register, and a final 5% who are apprentices, graduates or school leavers. The metering programme starts in July 2013 and will run until September 2016.

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"Unemployment remains too high in this country and we still have a long way to go in terms of tackling the scourge of joblessness that has sent people onto dole queues and onto flights to foreign shores. We must remember that some 350,000 jobs were lost in the three years before this Government took office, the reversal of that jobs drain is difficult, painstaking work.

"Despite this, increasingly we are seeing evidence that this Government's job creation strategy and architecture is paying dividends. The publication of the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs last week confirmed the historically high level of our exports, the rise of our international reputation, and that 12,000 jobs were created by the private sector last year alone.

"Employment retention and creation will continue to be the primary objective of this Government in 2013. I commend measures such as Irish Water’s social inclusion requirement as it directly opens doors to those who need employment the most."

(CD/GK)