Published: Wednesday, 12th August, 2009 12:00pm

Calls for spotlight on creating jobs in construction

Cavan construction employers are to set to urge the Government to make job protection and creation the number one priority in December's Budget. The employers have been responding to a call from Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Director General, Tom Parlon to consider and input their views into the CIF's pre-Budget submission.

Nationally, CIF has established a forum of senior employers from all sectors of the industry to formulate the submission. As part of the process, the Federation is engaging extensively with its members in the Midlands Branch (including Cavan) and other regional branches and has already met with external experts.

"The priority has to be maintaining existing jobs and creating new jobs where possible through targeted government supports," said Mr. Parlon. "Construction, as the economy's most labour intensive sector, represents an obvious opportunity on the jobs front, particularly by prioritising the rollout of badly needed labour intensive construction projects. Undoubtedly, there are also new opportunities the other sectors and these should be supported by government. In particular, there are opportunities in renewable energies, waste treatments and the broader communications infrastructure.

"Balancing the various recommendations will not be easy but if sight is lost of jobs the benefits of savings elsewhere will be quickly eroded," he concluded.