The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D. today (Friday, 14^th June, 2013) launched the 20th edition of the ‘Working for Work’ booklet produced by the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU). The booklet, which is an annual publication, brings together a wide range of information on supports available for unemployed people seeking to return to work, education or training.

This booklet is produced with financial support from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills. Some €244,000 is being provided this year to the INOU towards the cost of maintaining its welfare rights and information unit, administration, utilities and the overhead costs associated with the production of the booklet.

Speaking at the launch in the offices of the INOU, Minister Burton cited the importance of the annual publication, stating: “The INOU is an important partner in the provision of accurate, independent, comprehensive and user friendly information to customers of the Department of Social Protection including jobseekers and to those working within communities to address social exclusion.”

The booklet is used by jobseekers nationwide, people in receipt of welfare payments and people who are experiencing poverty and social exclusion. It is distributed to, and used by, statutory and community sector organisations providing a wide range of services and supports. (more…)

€8.5m investment to expand Renal Transplant programme

 €6m investment in outpatient Renal Dialysis Unit

Expansion will see savings of approx. €250 million over a 10 year period

Expansion to lead first active collaboration under Dublin North Hospital Group banner.

Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton welcomed the announcement of an investment of €14.5million and the creation of 30 new jobs as part of a phased expansion of the renal care facilities at Connolly and Beaumont Hospitals.

The investment incorporates further development of Urology services at Connolly Hospital with 8 new jobs been created. This expansion in services will now see a full time renal care facility been established for the first time at Connolly Hospital, with the appointment of 3 Consultants and additional support staff.

This will enable the two hospitals to prioritise and plan the deployment of resources on a shared basis. This is a prime example of how the recently announced Hospital Groups framework can enable two major hospitals to work together to achieve improved health outcomes for patients in a region.

The investment includes the expansion of the living donor transplant programme including the equipping of an existing operating, refurbishment of the transplant ward and development of laboratory facilities to accommodate the expansion. This is a major step towards achieving the aim of the annual performance of 250 kidney transplants from both deceased and live donor transplant programmes.

St. Benedict’s National School, Ongar

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Fourth Green Flag at St. Patrick’s Junior National School, Corduff

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, T.D., today (Friday, 7^th June) visited St. Benedict’s   National School in Ongar and later St. Patrick’s Junior National School, Corduff, where she joined with the pupils, staff and parents in celebrating the award of a Green Flag for each of the two schools.

‘Green Flags’ are awarded to schools who successfully participate in An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme.  The aim of the Programme is to raise pupils’ awareness of our environmental and sustainable development issues through classroom study.  Schools are encouraged to engage in practical activities which are based on the themes of recycling and conservation of energy and water.

Minister Burton expressed her delight to be raising the first-ever Green Flag for St. Benedict’s, which won the award in recognition of its significant reduction of waste generated by the school.  The school, which was established in 2006, is now a 24-classroom building catering for classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.   It currently has a teaching staff of 30, 5 special needs assistants, school secretary and school caretaker.  This state of the art school provides facilities for the local community of Ongar including an all-weather pitch which is regarded as a major asset to both St. Benedict’s and the community of Ongar. (more…)

New  Extension to include Sports Hall, Classrooms and Facilities.

I’m very pleased to say that the green light has been given for the long-awaited and much-needed extension at Castleknock Community College.

At its meeting today (Wed, 5th June) the Government gave the go-ahead for €150 million of additional investment under the Infrastructure Stimulus Plan, through which money will be invested in shovel-ready projects in the areas of education, energy efficiency and roads.

I’m delighted that the extension for Castleknock has been deservedly included as part of this programme.

The two-storey extension will include a new sports hall with balcony and changing rooms, ten new classrooms and a covered link to the existing school building.

The classrooms will replace the pre-fabs, while the sports hall will give pupils and the wider community the sporting facilities it needs.

Now that the extension has been sanctioned, it is expected to go to tender in the second half of this year, with construction work to begin in 2014.

As someone who has strongly supported the development of the school from its very earliest days, I am very happy that this development is finally in a position to commence.

Castleknock has an outstanding record of educational, sporting and civic achievement, and the new facilities will help to enhance that proud record in the years ahead. (more…)