Stormont Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey today lauded the work of the Construction Skills Register (CSR), at a reception marking the scheme's achievements in Northern Ireland.

CSR aims to raise health and safety standards and reduce accidents in the industry by ensuring construction workers undertake health and safety training every four years.

Over 100,000 cards have been issued in the province since the launch of the CSR scheme in 1997.

Minister Empey said: "Construction workers should not be put at undue risk because of unsafe working practices. Health and safety training, and accreditation, play a crucial role in reducing accidents and it is for that reason that the CSR scheme is so vital.

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"The fact that over 100,000 people have registered for the CSR Card highlights the commitment the sector shows to health and safety, and to skills, training and continuous improvement, despite the current economic downturn affecting the industry and the challenges which that is bringing," he added.

Sir Reg praised those involved with the CSR scheme and encouraged the construction industry to look beyond the current downturn and continue to invest in the skills of the workforce.

He said: "In the current economic climate, the role of skills is especially important. Experience from previous periods of economic turbulence shows that those companies who have the foresight to invest in their staff reap the benefits in the better times ahead."

(PR/JM)