Thousands of construction workers are considering leaving Ireland due to building sites being closed.
It is leading to fears there could be a skills shortage when the industry resumes.
Families facing additional financial pressure due to shut down of construction on homes need social welfare supports to be made available. I spoke about this in the Dáil with @nealerichmond this evening. https://t.co/QSwZHmEu5S pic.twitter.com/gx36KUnqhd
— Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (@CarrollJennifer) March 4, 2021
They Could Earn More Than Twice Their Wages
Over the past few months hundreds of Irish construction workers have moved abroad for work.
Six British firms are actively recruiting in Ireland for major projects across the UK.
Due to Brexit, workers here are ideal candidates as new requirements have not affected them compared to other EU citizens.
Director General of the Construction Industry Federation, Tom Parlon, says this will lead to a skills shortage on Irish sites:
"There's a massive recruitment campaign going on here, trying to get Irish workers to go over there (UK) and onto the continent."
"We're shooting ourselves in the foot here."
Chief Executive of the Irish Plant Contractors Association, Brian Coogan, says some people are being offered more than double their current wages in the UK:
"These people have left these shores over the last few months, it's running into the thousands and it's starting to stack up."
"You're losing very very talented people."
Many construction projects will not return until after the 5th of April with the easing of restrictions set to be limited.
