by Alan Jacques
A NEW jobs and boat building initiative for unemployed young people has been launched on a wave of optimism in Limerick.
Inaugurated last week by Finance Minister Michael Noonan, the project established by Scouting Ireland in conjunction with Limerick City Build, will involve a three year commitment by 48 trainees aged between 18 and 25 years of age.
Participants will receive FETAC accredited skills training as they learn to build a fleet of steel sailing and rowing boats used by Scouting Ireland in the development of water-based scouting activities throughout Ireland.
Used by Sea Scouts in the Netherlands, four ‘Lelievlets’ were imported to Ireland in 1998 by Scouting Ireland for use at the National Water Activities Centre in Killaloe. The boat’s name is derived from the international Scout logo, the Scout Fleur de Lis.
Scouting Ireland obtained a license from their Dutch Scouting colleagues to build the boats in Ireland, and to developed the training programme in partnership with Limerick City Build.
It is planned that forty boats will be built by Lelievlet trainees in Limerick over the next three years.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Noonan commented, “Limerick has a proud maritime tradition and, in the past few years, we have seen a revival of boat building projects within our city. This new project is a valuable addition to the practical training schemes tackling youth unemployment in our city.”
“Not only will it provide trainees with practical skills, but it will also provide a foundation for new leisure and tourism opportunities on the River Shannon,” he added.
Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick believes this programme will provide participating young people with practical skills such as metal fabrication, welding, computer skills as well as important life skills based on the Scout programme to provide them with opportunities for future employment.
“Life skills, commonly referred to as 21st Century Learning skills, including team work, leadership, personal responsibility, communication skills and problem solving are extremely valuable in the employment market and will be integral to the training,” said Mr Shinnick.
“We are running this employment initiative in conjunction with Limerick City Build in response to the national challenge of youth unemployment. We hope to tackle youth unemployment in Limerick while creating water based tourism opportunities and Scouting opportunities in Limerick City and on the entire Shannon waterway from Limerick to the Cavan,” he concluded.
