Dublin is missing out on EU-funded jobs – de Burca
Dublin is missing out on hundreds of well paid, professional EU- funded jobs, said Green Party Senator and European candidate for Dublin, Deirdre de Burca today.
“Examining one category of EU grants alone – Research and Development grants for Employment and Social Affairs – I find that the European Union spend tens of millions of Euro a year on research projects, but almost nothing in Dublin,” said Senator de Burca.
“In the category ‘Grants for Industrial Affairs and Social Dialogue’ 76 research grants totalling €13.8 million were approved by the EU for 2008. 29 projects totalling over €4 million were approved for research into Equal Opportunities. The European Trade Union Institute alone received €9.8 million, the Centre for Workers in Europe €3 million and the University of Essex €1.5 million for policy simulation.
“These grants are examples of research projects funded by the European Union in just a single category. Tens of millions of Euro are being spent by the European Union each year on research projects – projects that form the basis of sound policy making. Dublin’s share of all these valuable employment opportunities appears to have been a mere €76,000 to the Department of Employment.
“Dublin clearly needs more energetic representation in Europe to secure this employment. The funding is there in Europe, the expertise to do the work exists in Dublin in abundance, but what is missing is the energy and political will to bring the jobs home.”
