Ictu calls for semi-State initiative to boost jobs

THE BEST way to get early results in generating jobs is for larger semi-State companies to undertake specific labour-intensive infrastructural projects, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said.

In a letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the general secretary of Ictu, David Begg, said such companies had the financial strength, management capacity, geographic spread, administrative infrastructure and procurement capability to move quickly.

Mr Begg’s letter formed part of a submission made by congress to the Government in advance of its jobs initiative to be announced next week.

Congress also called for a complete overhaul of the skills and training system, with the creation of a new training agency.

It also said a new fund to finance upskilling of the workforce should be established. It said this should be achieved by diverting a portion of the existing National Training Fund.

Congress also argued that commercial State companies should be brought within the scope of an overall State holding company and that this should be used to leverage the individual companies’ aggregate assets for borrowing.

The proposals envisaged semi-State involvement in “big-ticket” projects such as a national water and waste system and delivery of a next generation broadband system across the country.

In its submission congress recommended that the Government should significantly increase its capital expenditure programme.

It also said there was a strong argument for raising funds through borrowing or from other sources such as increased taxation on high-income groups.