Dundalk People's Centre for Information and Training offer free courses

Located at 30 Clanbrassil St Dundalk, the People's Centre for Information and Training is offering free training programmes to people who wish to update their computer skills.
The course is called IT-4-today and is being organised through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in partnership with the Department of Communications. It is aimed at over 55s, or unemployed, disadvantaged or without formal educational qualifications.

The course will include topics such as email, social media, Skype, internet banking etc. Classes will have small numbers to allow for individual tuition.

The centre is also offering training opportunities for those who qualify under general disability allowance criteria from the Department of Social Protection. to qualify, participants should be in receipt of any illness-related payment such as disability allowance, invalidity pension, disability benefit, incapacity supplement or injury benefit.  People will have the opportunity to achieve FETAC level 3 to 5 accredited training in work experience, personal and interpersonal skills and computer training. These courses will be available from October.

Anyone interested in any of these opportunities should contact the Centre on 042-9338820

Springboard courses available in DKIT

There are vacancies on the following courses on the Springboard programme in DKIT:
 

• Certificate in Digital Marketing and Digital Media Management
• Certificate in Writing for Transmedia
• Diploma in Agri Food Business Excellence
• Diploma in Food Supply Chain Management
• Higher Diploma in Business in Enterprise Development
• Higher Diploma in Science in Computing.

To be eligible for a place on a Springboard 2013 programme a person must be:

• Unemployed* with a previous history of employment AND satisfy one of the following three criteria:

• Be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection :
  • Jobseekers Benefit
  • Jobseekers Allowance
  • One Parent Family
  • Disability Allowance
  • Qualified Adults of Working Age
  • Carers Allowance
  • Farm Assist/Fish Assist
  • Widow(er)s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension
  • Blind Pension
  • Deserted Wives Allowance
  There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme. Participants in receipt of an eligible payment at the time the Springboard course commences are eligible to apply for a place on that course. However, providers will be required to give priority to applications from people who are long term unemployed.

OR

• Be signing for social insurance contribution credits

OR

• Be previously self-employed

AND

• Be actively seeking employment

People participating in the Community Employment Scheme; the Rural Social Scheme; Tús; JobBridge or in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or the Short Term Enterprise Allowance may apply for Springboard and, with the approval of a Department of Social Protection Case Officer, take up a Springboard course.

 

To participate in a NFQ Level 9 (Post Graduate) course, a period of at least one year must have elapsed since completing a full time undergraduate degree course leading to a major award at level 8 on the NFQ.

 

*For the purposes of determining eligibility for Springboard the term unemployed also includes people who are on short term working and in receipt of a Jobseekers payment from the Department of Social Protection.

 

For more information on Springboard eligibility please contact Springboard Freephone:

Freephone: 1800 303523

Email: springboardhelpline@gmail.com

Opening Hours: 9:30 - 4:30

Dundalk Grammar School bid for success in F1 Schools World Finals

A team from Dundalk Grammar School will represent Ireland in Austin, Texas in the "F1 in Schools" competition .

  F1 In Schools is basically the world of formula one racing,  miniaturized to a 1/20th scale, and instead of College Graduates doing   all the work it is placed in the hands of secondary school
students.

 Infinity F1 has earned a position at the F1 In Schools World Finals, in Austin, Texas in November. The entire team is thrilled with the news and very excited  about the next few months. They now face the tough task of raising €20,000  to fund their trip to Austin and compete at the world finals, a job  which will take hard work, determination and of course the help of the  general public as well as businesses.

The video clip below will give you some idea of how you or your business could help these young people achieve their dream,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5CgIqqKt_c&feature=youtu.be

CAO courses still open for application

The CAO have published a list of unfilled courses. These remain open for applications from those who didn’t originally express an interest in these courses on their CAO applications, but also for those who missed the deadline for submitting CAO applications.

Details of how to apply for these available places can be found at: http://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=vpl_enter

The list of courses which are currently open for such applications can be found at: http://www.cao.ie/courses/vpl_courses_popup.htm

These are important opportunities for students who haven’t been accepted onto any of their preferred course options, and for those who missed the deadline for CAO applications.

Heritage Week in Co Louth 17th -25th August

There are many events taking place this week all over the country in celebration of Heritage Week. All the information on events in Co Louth is available on:
www.heritageweek.ie‎

Community Education Service Grants 2013. Apply before August 28th

 

Louth and Meath Education and Training Board’s (LMETB) Community Education Service supports and assists new and existing community groups and voluntary organisations to establish community-based education programmes. The service aims to develop new approaches to programmes in a non-formal, community-based setting. These programmes aim to help adult learners develop their self-confidence and educational skills base so that they can actively take part in their communities.

The Community Education Service also provides support to community groups and voluntary organisations with the provision of grants. This grants scheme provides tuition hours or costs to groups or organisations that wish to run adult learning programmes in their own areas.

Applications are now invited from community groups and voluntary organisations for support regarding the delivery of educational programmes under LMETB’s Community Education Programme.

 To find out more and to obtain an application form Click Here

 Closing Date for Applications: 28th August 2013, 4.00pm

Congratulations to Leaving Cert students

I would like to congratulate the 55,572 students who sat the Leaving Cert in June and who are collecting their results either in person from their school or on-line this morning.

I am particularly pleased to see that this year saw an all-time record of 26% of students (more than one in four) taking the Higher Level Maths paper, up from one in six two years ago. The 25 bonus points awarded for those achieving a D3 or higher grade has certainly encouraged students to take the Higher Level paper with 97% of students achieving this bonus.

This year has also seen a 16% rise in the number of candidates taking Higher Level Irish. Last year saw the introduction of  40% of the marks allocated for the oral component of the exam. This significant rise in the numbers taking the Higher Level indicates that students are encouraged by the changes which have taken place in the syllabus.

While many students will be celebrating their achievements today, there will be disappointment for some. I would encourage these students to look at all the options open to them.  Schools will provide support and advice where needed.  As in previous years, an exam helpline has been established by the National Parents Council, post-primary, to offer information and guidance. The helpline is open from 8am this morning (Wednesday) to take calls from students, parents and teachers looking for advice and information on the choices available to students and is staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. All queries on third-level courses, the points system, rechecks, repeats, CAO procedures, apprenticeships and further training options will be dealt with in professional and confidential manner.

Those seeking advice, information or reassurance can contact the helpline on 1800 265 165. It will be open August 14, 15 and 16 to answer exam result queries, and again on August 19, 20 and 21 for queries regarding the CAO first-round offers.

Finally I would appeal to all students to celebrate wisely and keep safe in the coming days.

Fun computer programming for kids in DKIT. August 24th 12-3pm

 

Computer class for young people aged 8 and upwards who are interested in programming'

 

These classes are free, aimed at young people  focusing on those in second level aged 13-17 but are also accepting kids at a younger age if accompanied by a parent.

Time	Saturday 24th August, 12pm-3pm
Location	PJ Carrolls building, DkIT, Dundalk, Louth, Ireland

 

Additional information at: http://zen.coderdojo.com/dojo/128
You can register ahead on the above website.
 email dundalk@coderjojo.com

 What's it all about?

 

"At CoderDojo Dundalk, we aim to encourage computing from a young age. Not only that, we want to help them be great at it! Computing is a hot area for employment here in Ireland and we believe that it's here to stay. We want to get young people aged 8 and up involved, primary and secondary school students alike.
Absolutely no programming experience is required, so if you are interested in checking out computing, come along to a session and try it out!
Like all Dojos we try to make it relaxed, fun, cool and interesting. There are no lectures or classroom approaches involved. Instead it's 100% hands-on coding with volunteer mentors available to help, to pass on their knowledge and of course, to keep you challenged!
Time: Specified Saturdays from 12pm-3pm. See Eventbrite booking link below for further details. Booking is essential!
What you need to bring:

• A packed lunch.
• A laptop. Borrow one from someone if needs be.
  
• A parent! (Very important). If you are 12 or under, your parent must stay with you during the session.

Topics: We currently cover HTML, CSS (website design & development), Scratch (an introductory programming language developed in MIT), Java (using the Greenfoot development environment) and robotics through Lego Mindstorms (seasonal). As the Dojo develops, we intend to cover a variety of other topics, including Databases, PHP, Python and Mobile Applications. "

 

Update on Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

So far this Summer, 207,000 payments have been made through the  BSCFA scheme. These relate to those who were automatically awarded the payment with no application form required as they had qualified for the award in 2012 and their circumstances had remained unchanged.

 

The Department of Social Protection is currently processing the 50,000 additional applications received this year and is now dealing with claims received on July 19. It is expected that the majority of customers will have their payment within five weeks of application.

 

Some 74% of customers who are expected to qualify for payment of BSCFA in 2013 have now been paid and a total of €35.8million has already been paid out in respect of this scheme for 2013.

 

Forms are available from Local Offices, via SMS (text "Form BTSCFA" followed by your name and address to 51909) and on www.welfare.ie.  A phone bank is operational to deal with queries on the scheme.  The LOCALL number is 1890662244.
You can also contact me at 042-9329052 or at mary.moran@oir.ie

SUSI still accepting late applications

SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), the body which processes the applications, has said it had received 82,000 of the anticipated 90,000 applications expected this year by the deadline of midnight on Monday.

Although the closing date has passed, late applications will be accepted and the SUSI helpline will remain open as usual on weekdays. However, applicants received before yesterday's deadline will be prioritised for processing.

This year students can track the progress of their application on-line without having to contact SUSI.


 The much-anticipated Leaving Cert results are due out next week. Potential students do not need to have a college place awarded to make an application. The round one third-level places will be made by the CAO on August 19.

Fun walk for Motor Neurone Disease on Sun Aug 4th Oriel Park

This Sunday, August 4th, come along to Oriel Park where a family fun afternoon will take place to raise funds for MND. Dundalk F.C., the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Peter Stewart and family have joined forces to organise an afternoon of activities for all the family.
The walk will start at Oriel Park at 3pm and go around the town at a gentle pace before returning to Oriel where the afternoon will continue with fun activities. Stephen Kenny and some of the Dundalk players will be there to kick off the proceedings and encourage the participants.
Entry for the walk is €5 for adults and €2 for children. So come along and support this very worthwhile fund-raising event.

Motor Neurone Disease is an incurable progressive disease which leaves sufferers unable to do the everyday things in life that the rest of us take for granted.

The IMNDA is dedicated to providing care for people with Motor Neurone Disease, their carers and families as well supporting research into the causes and treatments of MND.