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Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has today welcomed the commitment by Irish Water to reserve a significant portion of jobs on its nationwide metering programme for persons who are unemployed.

Irish Water today announced the creation of 1,600 jobs as part of the metering programme. The jobs will be available across the country and recruitment begins immediately, with 10% of the new positions earmarked for persons on the Live Register, another 10% for small and medium enterprises, and 5% for apprentices, graduates and school leavers.

Minister Burton said:

Today’s announcement by Irish Water is very welcome, and I would like to see this replicated across all major public contracts.

Job vacancies are frequently filled by persons who are already in employment but wish to move. People who are out of work can find it very difficult to compete, particularly if they are long-term unemployed, as research shows employers are often reluctant to hire from the Live Register, despite the skills mix and talent of people on it.

That is why the commitment by Irish Water to reserve a significant portion of the new positions for persons on the Live Register is so important. I would like to see similar commitments in all future major public contracts. That is why, separate to today’s announcement, the Government will examine if social clauses can be included in future such contracts – meaning the successful bidder would be required to allocate a portion of jobs to persons on the Live Register.

Read the full press release

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