Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Speaking in the Seanad on the Private Members Motion re the rights of persons with disabilities

Friday, 9 May 2014

"Switch On" Workshops for teachers in use of digital resources

I would like to warmly welcome the Government initiative "Switch On" announced by
Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte T.D.

“Switch On” is a Government initiative under the National Digital Strategy and is being undertaken in partnership between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Skills.

The workshops will focus on how schools can take advantage of digital tools and online education resources to improve the teaching & learning experience. Schools will be provided with useful information and case studies as well as signposting to further resources to help them to harness the potential of digital in the school setting.

Speaking at the launch event in Monaghan, Minister Rabbitte said:
“The Action Plan for Jobs and the National Digital Strategy underline the importance of ensuring young people are equipped with the skills required for the modern economy. My Department and the Department of Education and Skills are funding an ambitious programme that will see 100Mbps broadband connectivity delivered to every second level school in Ireland by the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, at a cost of over €30m. This is a key investment in future employment and employability as it feeds into the development of a more ICT literate workforce.
Digital technologies and the internet enable us all to access a richer source of media and learning. When schools take advantage of this, the educational experience for students and teachers alike is improved.”

Commenting on the rollout of the workshops, Minister Rabbitte added:
“The Switch-On workshops are designed to build on our investment in fast, reliable connectivity by helping teachers to make optimum use of technology in the classroom. Even more crucially we need to ensure that our teachers can seize the opportunities and are empowered to build the digital future in our schools. The forward looking schools and teachers here today are looking to grasp those opportunities. Digital, used smartly, can be a real asset both in teaching as well as in efficient school administration. Of course there will be wider benefits too – because schools are at the heart of our communities – and their digital achievements permeate out and enrich the communities around them.”

Over 30 schools from 6 counties, representing an enrolment of over 14,000 students are participating in the initial “Switch-On” workshops - the first of which are being held this month in the education centres in Donegal, Mayo and Monaghan.

eDundalk, the online newsletter/advertising site promotes inclusion, integration, tourism and Development education

The website launch/ banqueting dinner event was held on Friday 14 February at Crowne Plaza, Dundalk to create awareness of the Online Newsletter/Advertising site and to promote social inclusion. Over One hundred and fifty people from different backgrounds were in attendance. The event also promoted socio-cultural and economic presence of ethnic minority community in Dundalk/Louth. It was also used to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a very special way. The epic event was launched by amiable Senator Mary Moran- Seanad Labour Spokesperson on Education, Disability, Mental Health and Equality. For more exclusive photos of eDundalk launch as has never seen before click on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edundalk/ or Entertainment/Photo Gallery Page on www.edundalk.com.

eDundalk wishes to announce that due to popular demand from the community, similar event will be held in Dundalk annually on Valentine’s Day -14 February!

- See more at: http://www.edundalk.com/news/item/179-at-edundalk-com-launch.html#sthash.fGB9smR5.dpuf

eDundalk wishes to announce that due to popular demand from the community, similar event will be held in Dundalk annually on Valentine’s Day -14 February!

- See more at: http://www.edundalk.com/news/item/179-at-edundalk-com-launch.html#sthash.fGB9smR5.dpuf

eDundalk was initiated in September 2012 and subsequently the website was developed in October 2013.

It's activities include online marketing and PR, advertising, project management, even planning and management such as talent shows, networking and fundraising.
Technology driven this social group is dedicated to facilitating social inclusion, integration, peace, development education and tourism.The aim of the website is to build the local community and to give voice to local minorities in Dundalk. and to generally promote the work of NGOs in Ireland, Africa and the world.

You can follow them on Twitter @edundalk or on Facebook at eDundalk.

I was delighted and honoured to launch the website at a banqueting dinner event held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Valentine's night and it was wonderful to meet and engage with many of the over one hundred and fifty guests from many different backgrounds who were in attendance. The event, along with launching the website, promoted socio-cultural and economic inclusion in the area.

With Sarah Malone (Louth County Enterprise Board) and Amaka

eDundalk wishes to announce that due to popular demand from the community, similar event will be held in Dundalk annually on Valentine’s Day -14 February!

- See more at: http://www.edundalk.com/news/item/179-at-edundalk-com-launch.html#sthash.fGB9smR5.dpuf

Please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/edundalk/ or Entertainment/Photo Gallery Page on www www.edundalk.com .edundalk.com.
for more photos

eDundalk.com launch

Published in News Wednesday, 19 February 2014 12:55

(L-R - Sarah Malone - Louth County Enterprise Board, Amaka Okonkwo - eDundalk and Senator Mary Moran).

eDundalk wishes to announce that due to popular demand from the community, similar event will be held in Dundalk annually on Valentine’s Day -14 February!

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More in this category: « Over 300 jobs set to be created by two companies in counties Cork and Galway. Ethnic Entrepreneur Programme »

eDundalk wishes to announce that due to popular demand from the community, similar event will be held in Dundalk annually on Valentine’s Day -14 February!

- See more at: http://www.edundalk.com/news/item/179-at-edundalk-com-launch.html#sthash.fGB9smR5.dpuf

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Summer Works Funding worth €35m will benefit students and construction sector

Labour Senator Mary Moran has welcomed the announcement this morning by Minister Ruairí Quinn TD that 7 Louth schools have been selected for funding for repair works under the second round of the Summer Works Scheme 2014.
“This follows on from the March allocation in which 10 Louth schools (8 Primary and 2 Post-Primary) were designated for Summer Works. This time there are 6 Primary schools and 1 Post-Primary school allocated funding for roofing refurbishment and upgrading of toilet facilities. Minister Quinn has confirmed that more than €70 million will be spent in total on summer works in our schools and this is part of the €2 billion five year plan for education announced in 2012. Not only will the work being carried out over the summer ensure that our children will be educated in schools which are safe and warm, it will also give a much-needed boost to the construction industry. Combined with Round 1 of the Summer Works Scheme, in all 772 schools all over the country will receive funding costing €71million and delivering 5000 jobs. The re-opening of the Summer Works Scheme for the first time since 2011 is very positive as it allows schools to refurbish and repair with no disruption to teaching and learning.
Already during this academic school year 75 schools in Co Louth were allocated funding to carry out small capital or improvement works to their school. Each school received a payment of €5,500 per school and a further €18.50 per mainstream pupil or €74 per pupil with special needs.
As Labour spokesperson on Education in the Seanad I welcome the continued efforts of Minister Ruairí Quinn to improve the infrastructure of our schools which can only have a positive effect on educational outcomes.”
NOTE
Schools in Co Louth allocated funding in Round 2 of the Summer Works Scheme 2014
St Mary's Diocesan School Beamore Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth Roofs
Baile An Phusta N S Smarmore, Drogheda, Co Louth Toilets
Bellurgan N S Bellurgan, Ravensdale Dundalk, Co Louth Roofs
S N Bhride C Bothar Brugha, Drogheda, Co Louth Roofs
Scoil Bhride Mixed N S Lann Leire, Co Louth Toilets

Dundalk Chamber launch a new initiative, BUSINESSCLUB.

Dundalk Chamber of Commerce are launching a new initiative, BUSINESSCLUB. It is a rolling, monthly program of workshops utilising tried and tested solutions to develop and grow your business.

• Work with Business Owners just like yourself ..

• With exactly the same challenges ..

• Very much in a team environment ..

• Supporting and learning from each other ..

• Using tried and tested strategies and techniques that quite simply work ..

Businessclub is not a quick fix – it is not one of these events that will solve all your challenges by attending a seminar for a couple of hours. Businessclub is primarily about making fundemental developments in a business for long-term, sustainable growth.

Businessclub requires commitment. The more you put in the more you will get out!

Learn proven ways to increase profits in a tough economy

· How to increase your sales and profits by 61%

· Turn your marketing and advertising into an investment rather than an expense

· How many strategies do you have in place to maximise your business? When it comes down to it, most businesses only have 2 or 3 – what if you had 5 .... or 10 ..... what impact will that have on your business?

· Are your team fully engaged for maximum results?

· Too much fire-fighting and not enough control?

Key Ways to Survive and Thrive in a Tough Economy

· How to conserve cash flow in a tough economy

· Grow profits by working ON your business instead of IN your business

· How to systemize your business to achieve excellent consistency

· Leverage your time, team and knowledge to maximise efficiency and profits .. so your working SMARTER, not harder

Are you serious about developing and growing your business? Come along to the launch and hear what Businessclub can do for you. Even the launch will get you thinking and you will come away with loads of ideas you can implement in your business the next day.

BUSINESSCLUB is a monthly workshop program utilising tried and tested techniques to develop and grow your business in a large number of areas - Time, Team, Sales, Marketing, Customer Experience, Finance, KPIs, Systems, Planning etc.

Who should attend: Business Owners and advisors who are serious about finding new ways to drive profitable growth.

When: Wednesday 28^th May 2014, 6.00pm – 7.15pm

Where: The Fairways Hotel, Dundalk

Register: Call Kerry Ann or Luke on 042 9336343 or email certs@dundalk.ie

Monday, 5 May 2014

Clean-up event for Blackrock and Annagassan beaches. Can you help?

Clean Coasts Ireland are looking for volunteers to help tidy up Blackrock and Annagassan beaches in the coming weeks.

They are hosting Clean Coasts Week from Friday May 9^th to Sunday May 18^th with a clean-up event in Blackrock and Annagassan planned.

It is hoped to clean the beach – and others around the country – in time for summer.

On Tuesday May 13^th Blackrock Tidy Towns will be doing a clean up of Blackrock beach and foreshore with a group meeting at the car park at 10am on the day.

Meanwhile, Dillonstown Foroige Club will be doing a clean up of Annagassan beach on Friday May 16^th at 7pm.

Anyone who would like to help can come along on the day or log on to www.cleancoastsweek.ie for more information.

Airspeed Telecom is to provide a 100mb broadband service to 65 secondary schools nationwide.

This project is part of the Post Primary Schools Project, financed by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Skills, and managed by HEAnet (Ireland's National Education and Research Network).

Airspeed has stated that installation work should be complete before students return for the beginning of the new school year in September 2014. The speeds available are similar to those that are being offered to high end national and multinational companies that operate in Ireland.

When this phase of installation activity is complete it will mark the end of the entire project, meaning that 760 secondary schools in the country will have access to high speed broadband. Airspeed has already rolled out a 100 Mb service to 200 schools across the country, including schools on the Aran Islands and Tory Island.. Having such high speed connectivity will open new possibilities in education for these schools.

John Boland, HEAnet's chief executive, said the rollout of high speed broadband was vital to Irish secondary schools. " Connecting schools in remote locations, including island schools is a key objective of the project. HEAnet need a partner that can help us meet this challenge. Over the past four years, Airspeed Telecom has proven to not only be a strategic partner, but a reliable one."

Senator Mary Moran Louth/East Meath Labour Senator

Senator Mary Moran

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Speaking in the Seanad on the Private Members Motion re the rights of persons with disabilities

Friday, 9 May 2014

"Switch On" Workshops for teachers in use of digital resources

eDundalk, the online newsletter/advertising site promotes inclusion, integration, tourism and Development education

eDundalk.com launch

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Visitors Traffic

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Summer Works Funding worth €35m will benefit students and construction sector

Dundalk Chamber launch a new initiative, BUSINESSCLUB.

Monday, 5 May 2014

Clean-up event for Blackrock and Annagassan beaches. Can you help?

Airspeed Telecom is to provide a 100mb broadband service to 65 secondary schools nationwide.

Senator Mary Moran