ICT players Microsoft, Dell, IBM, Siemens, Eircom and Lionbridge have warned that reskilling and training are crucial to secure the 80,000 jobs outlined in the Government’s green strategy.

The companies who sit on the board of Fastrack to IT (FIT), an innovative programme now in its 10th year, focused on returning long-term unemployed individuals to the workforce, say that in one niche alone – wind turbine maintenance – as many as 1,500 jobs could be created.

Government announcement welcome

The group welcomed the Government’s announcement that 80,000 jobs could be created through the emerging green economy sector they but highlighted the point that these jobs are of no use unless Irish people have the skills to work in them.

FIT in partnership with industry, government, education and training providers, mainly FAS and the VECs, as well as with local development agencies, has successfully trained 8,000 long-term unemployed people over the past decade.

The Digital Marketing Institute is also playing it's part - during the coming year, the company, Ireland's only training firm specialising in digital marketing, is expecting to re-skill up to 500 marketing professionals in Ireland and UK.

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Anthony Quigley