Louth Tidy Towns Table Quiz on Wednesday, 11th March at 8pm in Crowne Plaza Dundalk

 

Significant Increase In DEIS School Students Completing Leaving Cert

I welcome the significant increase in the retention rate of young people attending DEIS schools with 82.1% of young people who began secondary school in 2008, now completing the Leaving Cert in comparison to a completion rate of just 68.2% in 2001. The findings, published in the School Retention Report by Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD, examine the progress of 56,075 students throughout their second-level journey.

　

Overall, more students are finishing their Leaving Cert than ten years ago, which is very encouraging news to get from the findings of the Department of Education. This confirms that the hard work of teachers, school leaders, principals, parents and people employed in DEIS schools, is paying off and it is a fantastic achievement. It is this hard work, dedication and commitment, which has led Ireland to have the 8th highest secondary school completion rate in the EU, and I look forward to helping schools and students to build upon that achievement.

　

However, despite the many positives in the report and despite progress made by many organisations, including the invaluable contribution of Youthreach and training courses to young people, I am concerned that one in every ten students dropout for various reasons, which is a sad reality. As a former teacher, I will continue to strive and work to help and support my colleagues, as we work on behalf of students and teachers working in Louth schools.

　

I look forward to further engagement with the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD, to work together to help and support students, teachers, principals and parents alike to continue the fantastic work that they do every day."

Happy to welcome the launch of new programmes to help jobseekers

 

Two new Government programmes, specifically devised to help young people gain employment, have been launched today. First Steps and JobsPlus Youth, which are expected to benefit 3,500 young job seekers in 2015, were launched by Tanaiste Joan Burton and Junior Minister for Activation, Kevin Humphreys.

'I am delighted with the launch of the two new activation programmes, which will benefit the lives of thousands of young people at a vulnerable and crucial juncture in their lives, as they begin the journey of their professional development.

“JobsPlus Youth and First Steps will give a step-up to young people who are searching for a job and help them to up skill and gain valuable training to climb the important first steps of the employment ladder, in a supported way. Being unemployed for any length of time can become a disheartening and demoralising experience for people, which the Government recognises. Gaining training and support in a working environment has been and continues to be an important lifeline that many young people need, to restore their confidence, to teach them skills and to ultimately give them a future.

“I am delighted to see the launch of these new activation schemes, which demonstrates the Government's commitment to help unemployed people and to address youth unemployment as an urgent priority. In particular, the requirement that a young person has to be unemployed for a minimum period of four months (instead of twelve months) is a very welcome development since the programme aims to help young people get back to work quicker and to intervene at an earlier time for them, which is progressive. This means, faster access to training and development for vulnerable young people, which will make the difficult jobhunt process, that bit easier for them.” 

"I look forward to additional funding and investment from the Department of Social Protection to help people who are unemployed and to further engagement with Minister Humphreys and Tanaiste Burton, to work together to help and support people return to work."

First Steps

First Steps will help young jobseekers aged between 18 and 25 years to gain valuable work experience and training. Each placement will last between six and nine months as part of a four week programme, which allows jobseekers use the fifth day to job search. Participants in this programme, will receive an additional €50 per week in addition to any existing social welfare entitlements that they are in receipt of.

The Government target is to provide up to 2,000 work experience placements for young jobseekers during 2015, with placements beginning in April 2015. Employers can register their interest in offering a First Steps placement by emailing firststeps@welfare.ie

JobsPlus Youth

JobsPlus Youth, an expansion of the JobsPlus employer incentive scheme, is expected to support 1,500 young jobseekers (under 25s) return to work this year. The qualifying period for employing young people has been reduced from 12 months to four months.

The JobsPlus incentive is payable on a monthly basis over a two-year period and provides two levels of payment; a payment of €7,500 over two years to the employer for each person recruited, who has been unemployed between 12 and 24 months, which amounts to €312 a month; a payment of €10,000 over two years to the employer for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months, which amounts to €416 a month.

Since the launch of JobsPlus in 2013, almost 4,000 people have returned to work, including three out of five people who had previously been unemployed for two years or more.

The JobsPlus Youth programme is now open and employers can register their interest at www.jobsplus.ie 

Delighted to welcome Scoil Bhride Mixed N.S and St. Patrick's NS, Drogheda to Leinster House

I was delighted to welcome Scoil Bhride Mixed National School Dunleer and St. Patrick' s National School Drogheda to Leinster House last week. The students toured the Houses of the Oireachtas and witnessed democracy in action. It was a pleasure to meet them all.

Visit from Scoil Bhride Mixed National School, Dunleer

 

Visit from St. Patrick's National School, Drogheda

Special Needs Assistant Survey on 'The Role of the SNA'

 

 

 

I have recently taken over as the rapporteur for the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. I am currently compiling a report on 'The Role of the SNA'.  Feedback back from Special Needs Assistants would be greatly appreciated and will add a crucial perspective in compiling this report.

 

I would appreciate if Special Needs Assistants would fill out this survey on 'The Role of the Special Needs Assistant'.  Please find a link to the survey below

 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VPQH95Y

 

 

Please feel free to contact my office on 042 932 9052 or mary.moran@oireachtas.ie if you'd like to provide any comments or observations regarding this report.


 

Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics North Leinster Track & Field Event

Special Olympics Ireland will be holding a North Leinster Track and Field Event at Bush Post Primary School on Saturday, 16th May 2015.  Special Olympics Leinster are recruiting a team of volunteers with all skill types but are particularly keen to involve those from an Athletics/Event Management background to run this event to a high standard. 

If you would like to learn more on how to volunteer Special Olympics Leinster will be hosting:

'Volunteer Information Evening'

 

Monday, 23rd February 2015

 

7:00pm-8.30pm

 

Bush Post Primary School (Sports Hall)

 

http://glenmoreac.com/about-us/location/

 

 

If you are available to attend the 'Volunteer Information Evening' on Monday, 23rd February or interested in volunteering for the Track and Field Event on Saturday, 16th May please contact Paddy O'Reilly on 01 629 6999 / 087 9391896 or at Patrick.oreilly@specialolympics.ie .

SalesSense Announce 100 New Jobs For Dundalk

I have welcomed the official announcement today that SalesSense will create 100 new jobs in their new customer engagement centre at the Finnabair Industrial Estate in Dundalk. SalesSense specialises in sales and customer services and provides a fully cloud-based customer engagement centre.

I was delighted to attend the official announcement of 100 jobs by SalesSense this morning in Finnabair Industrial Estate. This is a very welcome announcement for the Dundalk area with SalesSense expecting to fill the new posts this year. SalesSense will be recruiting for positions in data analysis, IT, sales, marketing and recruitment specialists this year.

Dundalk is a very attractive area in which to do business in large part to our highly skilled and prepared workforce in the local area. DkIT is a very important factor for companies looking to invest in our county. Year on year DkIT produces highly qualified graduates prepared for the ever evolving job market who are job ready.

While I welcome this announcement, I am very conscious that we need to continue to drive investment into Co. Louth and continue to drive down the unacceptable unemployment rate.

I would like to wish SalesSense every success in the coming months.

 

Senator Moran with Simon Brown, Chief Operations Officer of SalesSense

 

 

 

 

Senator Moran at the announcement of 100 new jobs in Dundalk with Simon Brown, Chief Operations Officer SalesSense and Ger Teahon, CEO