Job stimulus announced

ESB's jobs stimulus announcement has been enthusiastically greeted by Government, the Opposition and representatives from all sections of the economy as a welcome boost at this very difficult time. The series of initiatives leading to the creation of up to 6,000 jobs and training opportunities over the next five years was announced last month at ESB headquarters in Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.

The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, immediately welcomed the initiatives which will lead to 3,700 new jobs being created outside ESB in Ireland. He described the announcement as "refreshing", a view echoed by the Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan. "This is the green economy writ large and in action" Mr Ryan said.

The jobs, in line with ESB's Strategic Plan involve the following new jobs (in brackets): Smart Networks (750); Smart Metering (750); Electric Vehicles (600): Wind Energy (300); Property Construction (550); New technologies -Eco Fund (350); Energy Service -Home Insulation (250); Others -Telecoms, Biomass, Green Fleet (150)

This brings the total number of jobs to be created to 3,700.

ESB will sustain a further 1300 jobs, also outside the company. ESB will recruit 250 engineers and 50 other professionals. It will also train 800 apprentices over the next five years including 400 FAS apprentices who lost their jobs in the recent economic downturn and will now be able to complete their craft training, paid for by ESB.

Specific projects include:

• The roll-out of Smart Metering and the Smart Networks Strategy which will lead to 1,500 jobs by 2013.
• Novus Modus (ESB's new energy technology fund) has committed to a five year programme of investment in clean energy and energy effi ciency (350 jobs). The fund has just invested €2.5 million in the Cork-based company, Nualight, which is creating up to 60 additional jobs locally.
• Electric vehicles (600 jobs) and roll-out of recharging infrastructure.
• The redevelopment of ESB's Head Office complex in Dublin which will create 400 construction jobs.
• Working with Sustainable Energy Ireland, ESB will offer free homeenergy efficiency surveys to 25,000 householders and subsequent support to allow them implement necessary measures.
• ESB will finance 50 apprentices each year for the next four years to allow them to achieve a third level engineering degree.

ESB Chairman, Lochlann Quinn, said the Company is determined to use its resources and strength to help stimulate growth in the economy and to support jobs in Ireland. "Having set out our strategic framework last year, ESB is pressing ahead with practical initiatives that will assist the economy in a real way in very difficult times. ESB is able to do this because as a utility business we have a long term perspective on investments" he added.

ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, said that job-creation must now be a priority for companies with the capacity to invest. "Energy, and particularly the emergence of new technologies in the renewables area, presents us with the potential for really substantial job-creation in Ireland. As a major Irish company, ESB has the will, ability and commitment to take a lead and to invest in viable enterprises and inject energy into the economy," he said.