Fury as 4,000 young people told to emigrate to find work, is this the next to be used by IDS in his assault on the unemployed.
Welfare officials have sent 4,000 letters to young people encouraging them to take up work abroad, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton detailed how her department is urging people on the dole to go to the UK, Spain, France and Norway if they want a job.
She defended the cruel practice which was branded “a disgraceful tactic” last night by Fianna Fail who claimed the Government “has given up on young people”.
Ms Burton said: “It is important to note there is no obligation on unemployed jobseekers in receipt of income supports to apply for overseas vacancies.
“In notifying jobseekers of such vacancies the Department is simply drawing their attention to vacancies that exist and that are simultaneously being brought to the attention of jobseekers in other countries.
“The Department would be failing in its duties if it did not offer Irish jobseekers an equal opportunity to compete for such vacancies if they so wish.”
Ms Burton added the 4,000 letters this year have been sent to people outlining job openings in Spain, Norway, France and the UK.
She said a range of positions including English teachers, plumbers, sales, hospitality, mechanics and electricians are being offered.
The minister added it was not possible to know how many people applied for and secured employment using the service.
Fianna Fail’s Social Protection spokesman Willie O’Dea said this was a damning indictment of the Government’s job policy.
He added: “It is now blatantly obvious that a central plank of the Government’s plans to tackle unemployment is emigration.
Mirror
