Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
454. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the campaigns by the Government to attract construction workers to come to Ireland and to return home to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71091/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Future Building Initiative, a dedicated team staffed by Intreo from the Department of Social Protection, SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards, supports recruitment and training for the construction industry. The Department of Social Protection is leading the initiative to drive national and international recruitment activities. Future Building has to date been supported by the Department of the Taoiseach under the Government’s Housing for All Implementation Fund.
On an ongoing basis Future Building works with many construction companies, sharing construction vacancies with many EU/EEA countries through the EURES (European Employment Services) platform, and matching interested jobseekers with relevant employers. Future Building also organises events where construction firms showcase opportunities, apprenticeships, and graduate programmes.
In November the EURES team in my Department, in conjunction with Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project, organised "Failte Back". This was an online job day aimed at the Irish diaspora across the world planning on returning to Ireland. Thirty-nine construction employers participated in the event which offered direct access to employers and relocation advice.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is currently implementing the Careers in Construction Action Plan, which comprises 20 actions that relate to structural, promotional, and training activities to minimise barriers, promote career opportunities, and make construction jobs more attractive to women.
Among these actions are several campaign initiatives supported by the 2024 and 2025 Housing for All Implementation Fund. These include the "Building Heroes" peer-to-peer social media campaign, a documentary on careers in construction for second-level schools, and the "Build Back Home" campaign focused on Irish construction workers abroad.
