Officials in New Zealand are planning to recruit Irish construction workers to help repair thousands of buildings damaged in three major earthquakes in the country's second biggest city over the past year.
The Earthquake Commission says it needs around 8,000 labourers to rebuild and secure around 100,000 houses in Christchurch on the South Island.
Thousands of buildings were damaged in September last year when a 7.2 magnitude quake struck just outside the city.
Six months later, in February of this year, 181 people were killed when another quake devastated the city.
A third earthquake in June caused further damage.
Chief Executive of the EQC Ian Simpson has said Irish workers are being sought because they are English speakers, they have the necessary skills and there is a large number of unemployed workers available.
It is understood recruitment for the construction jobs will begin in New Zealand and Australia, and then in Ireland.
The commission says it is receiving around 1,500 requests for emergency repairs each week.
Repairs to around 22,000 homes have already been carried out.
The Construction Industry Federation has welcomed the news but warned of the growing crisis within the industry in Ireland.
Director General Tom Parlon expressed concern that the industry would lose more Irish workers to emigration.
He cited the latest Ulster Bank construction purchasing managers' index which showed that activity in the construction sector reached its 50th month of decline in July.
A number of job vacancies in Christchurch were posted on the website constructionjobs.ie earlier today.
The Earthquake Reconstruction Project is looking for project managers for residential and commercial properties.
The positions are permanent and the salary is between €40,000 and €60,000.
There is also an advertisement for a qualified carpenter/builder with a salary of €30,000.
