More than 80 mainly unemployed young people have left for a variety of European countries as part of the European Experience Programme to gain work experience and language skills. The EEP is financed by the Department of Social Welfare, FAS and area development partnerships in Dublin and Louth. IBEC's European orientation programme team manages the scheme.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, has praised the initiative. His Department was "actively involved in trying to keep young people from falling into the trap of long term unemployment", he said. All participants have completed a six week intensive training course in language and computer skills.