The Government has launched a €500,000 initiative to improve employment opportunities for vulnerable immigrants.
The Employment of People from Immigrant Communities (Epic) scheme will identify immigrants who experience difficulties getting jobs. It will then support them in finding jobs by providing guidance, training and personal development opportunities.
Minister of State with special responsibility for Integration Policy Conor Lenihan said the smooth integration of migrant workers into the workforce would be of benefit to the nation. "It is in our interest to ensure that both the migrant and the Irish economy benefits to the fullest extent from the education and skills of the workforce.
"Through this project vulnerable migrants will undergo specialised training and development programmes designed to address each person's identified skills deficiencies and job aspirations," Mr Lenihan said.
The project is a continuation of a similar smaller-scale initiative that helped 88 immigrants to find employment last year.
Mr Lenihan said the money for the new scheme was the biggest allocation made to date in his ministry and he hoped some 300 people would find employment through the project. "We are committing more money to this project because we have seen that it works," Mr Lenihan said.
