Irish Independent
By Aine Kerr and Sarah Stack
Monday August 30 2010
UNEMPLOYED people claiming the dole will be made to work in the community for their benefits under new government plans. Social Protection Minister Eamon O Cuiv has revealed that the new measures could be enforced within months.
Under a pilot scheme, intially up to 10,000 unemployed people will receive €210 for 19.5 hours work every week by helping out with local after-school and childcare services, sports clubs, services for older people and environmental projects.
Those who fail to show up or miss hours will be struck off the dole under the plans.
The "social employment" scheme hopes to keep the 10,000 people in regular work as they search for a full-time job and a return to the labour market. If successful, the scheme could be extended to 40,000 people over the next two years.
It will initially be run for a trial period over the next four months. "Changing the way we approach our existing resources can unlock the potential of new ways to create locally-based jobs," Mr O Cuiv said.
"We must create a better future for people who find themselves without a job; to provide them with work activity in the short term, to up-skill them and give them opportunities to get back into the mainstream workforce as speedily as possible.
"Maintaining people's employability through regular work activity will be important for getting people back into the competitive economy."
The Government's work opportunity schemes -- which include the Community Services Programme and the Rural Social Scheme -- are set to expand from early autumn, when they are transferred from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to Mr O Cuiv's office.
Between them, both schemes already give work opportunities to 5,300 individuals nationwide.
Mr O Cuiv believes the move will make a difference to services throughout the country.
Feidhmíonn Comharchumann Árainn Mhór mar eagrais forbartha pobal a sholáthraíonn aiseanna pobal, seirbhísí trádála, seirbhísí riaracháin agus tacaíochta do phobal Árainn Mhór. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an chomharchumann, trínár gcuid gníomhaíochtaí, acmhainní timpeallachta, turasóireachta, chultúrtha agus oidhreachta an oileáin a fheabhsú agus a fhorbairt, ar mhaithe le saol eacnamaíochta, cultúrtha agus sóisialta pobal an oileáin a fheabhsú. Bainisteoir: Nóirín Uí Mhaoldomhnaigh.
29.8.10
27.8.10
The Irish Language
Eagarfhocal: Donegal News 27/8/2010
The Irish Language
The Irish are not good at presenting a united front. Differences of opinion, personality clashes and pure bloody-mindedness have sunk many a good cause. As the old saying goes, the first item on the agenda is a split. Therefore an open letter signed by individuals from some thirty businesses and organisations should be treated seriously. This week we publish such a letter which was sent to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste from interests in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Providing detailed figures they claim that if cuts are imposed then the Department of the Gaeltacht and Údarás na Gaeltachta will be extinct by 2016, the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. The letter writers argue that while all departments are facing cuts, the Department of Community Equality and Gaeltacht affairs' budget will be slashed by over 70% at a time when the Irish language is facing it's most serious challenge yet.
The writers quote from what is known as the The Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht which concluded that Irish could be the minority language in the strongest gaeltacht areas within fifteen years.
Even for non-Irish speakers this should be unacceptable. Is the present ruling generation to be the one that allowed Irish to die in the gaeltacht because of an economic crisis? That is the stark question facing not only the government but our society. The answer must be a resounding no.
The Irish Language
The Irish are not good at presenting a united front. Differences of opinion, personality clashes and pure bloody-mindedness have sunk many a good cause. As the old saying goes, the first item on the agenda is a split. Therefore an open letter signed by individuals from some thirty businesses and organisations should be treated seriously. This week we publish such a letter which was sent to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste from interests in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Providing detailed figures they claim that if cuts are imposed then the Department of the Gaeltacht and Údarás na Gaeltachta will be extinct by 2016, the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. The letter writers argue that while all departments are facing cuts, the Department of Community Equality and Gaeltacht affairs' budget will be slashed by over 70% at a time when the Irish language is facing it's most serious challenge yet.
The writers quote from what is known as the The Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht which concluded that Irish could be the minority language in the strongest gaeltacht areas within fifteen years.
Even for non-Irish speakers this should be unacceptable. Is the present ruling generation to be the one that allowed Irish to die in the gaeltacht because of an economic crisis? That is the stark question facing not only the government but our society. The answer must be a resounding no.
Participants in the National Lobster V Notching Scheme 2010
An comharchumann has received the first payent on behalf of the participants in the BIM Lobster V Notching Scheme 2010. Payments have been processed and await collection by participants.
26.8.10
Self-Employed Trades/C2 Holders
Anyone wishing to register their interest in carrying out works which may arise from time to time, on a self-employed basis should contact an comharchumann with their details.
UPDATE: Páirc Uile Aimseartha – All-Weather Pitch
Update: The application for funding for the All-Weather Pitch which has been applied for by an comharchumann has as yet, not been approved by the Department. The development of the pitch is one of the Development Projects detailed in the Arranmore Development Plan.
The addition of the pitch will be of tremendous benefit to the entire community and students and staff of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada.
Funding of Project
As with most funding applications, a substantial percentage of funding for community projects must be collected from the community. In this instance, 20% of the overall cost which amounts to €70,000 must be provided by the community. Contractors who previously tendered for the contract have recently been requested to re-submit their tenders as costs have fallen considerably since the initial tenders were made. Should the revised tenders be less than the original prices, the community contribution will in turn be reduced.
Location of Pitch
The committee of an comharchumann agreed to provide the grounds at the Baile Saoire for the project. It was decided to support the Gairmscoil’s proposal, by means of applying for funding, and by organising and participating in fund raising activities.
Lodgements
An Comharchumann has opened a PO account in the name of ‘Páirc Uile-Aimseartha’ and all funds raised by an comharchumann to date have been deposited into the account.
The account number is 2668880483 for anyone wishing to make a donation.
To date, an comharchumann fundraising activities has raised €4141.51
Further Fundraising
A sponsored walk will take place on Wednesday 15 September to raise funds for the pitch. Anyone wishing to support the walk can do so by providing sponsorship or by taking part in the walk.
Thank You
Thank you to all who have supported comharchumann fundraising activities to date.
An offer to organise a fundraiser in Scotland has also been gratefully received this week.
The addition of the pitch will be of tremendous benefit to the entire community and students and staff of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada.
Funding of Project
As with most funding applications, a substantial percentage of funding for community projects must be collected from the community. In this instance, 20% of the overall cost which amounts to €70,000 must be provided by the community. Contractors who previously tendered for the contract have recently been requested to re-submit their tenders as costs have fallen considerably since the initial tenders were made. Should the revised tenders be less than the original prices, the community contribution will in turn be reduced.
Location of Pitch
The committee of an comharchumann agreed to provide the grounds at the Baile Saoire for the project. It was decided to support the Gairmscoil’s proposal, by means of applying for funding, and by organising and participating in fund raising activities.
Lodgements
An Comharchumann has opened a PO account in the name of ‘Páirc Uile-Aimseartha’ and all funds raised by an comharchumann to date have been deposited into the account.
The account number is 2668880483 for anyone wishing to make a donation.
To date, an comharchumann fundraising activities has raised €4141.51
Further Fundraising
A sponsored walk will take place on Wednesday 15 September to raise funds for the pitch. Anyone wishing to support the walk can do so by providing sponsorship or by taking part in the walk.
Thank You
Thank you to all who have supported comharchumann fundraising activities to date.
An offer to organise a fundraiser in Scotland has also been gratefully received this week.
25.8.10
Impact of Gaeltacht Cuts - Irish Times 26 August 2010
A chara,
The recent report from the Department of Finance, Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010-2016 is a source of great concern to us in the Gaeltacht.
If its proposed State capital expenditure cuts are implemented, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Gaeltacht Development Body, Údarás na Gaeltachta will effectively cease to exist by 2016 when we will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Is this a fitting tribute?
According to The Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht (2007) commissioned by this Government, there is a linguistic crisis in the Gaeltacht at present, even in the strongest Gaeltacht areas: “The unambiguous conclusion of the survey on young people is that, without a major change to language-use patterns, Irish is unlikely to remain the predominant community and family language in those areas with the most widespread and inclusive Irish-speaking networks (ie Category A Gaeltacht districts) for more than another 15 to 20 years.”
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)