Kitt announces 500 jobs in the Social Economy

One year after the launch of the Social Economy Programme, Tom Kitt, Minister for Labour Affairs has welcomed its achievements in funding 90 new enterprises and creating 500 jobs.

Minister Kitt was speaking today (Thursday 18^th October 2001) at a Conference to review the first year of the Programme.

The Social Economy Programme funds enterprises, which deliver services into disadvantaged communities and create job opportunities for long-term unemployed people.

The new enterprises are in a wide variety of services including community childcare, community waste services, community media, estate management, transport for the disabled, care for the elderly, traveller persons services, environmental and landscaping services.

Minister Kitt said, "This is the first Government to recognise the value of the social economy in meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities and helping to eliminate remaining long term unemployment. It is a win-win situation for Government, local communities and people who benefit from the jobs."

The Minister thanked FÁS and all of those who contributed at local level, including the business, trade unions community and voluntary sectors, farming groups and public bodies, for making the Programme such a success. The Minister urged all local public authorities to use the successful model of social economy enterprises to expand their services to the community.