As you know, Castleknock Community College (CCC) has long been seeking the green light to proceed with a much-needed two-storey extension that would include a new sports hall with balcony and changing rooms, ten new classrooms and a covered link to the existing school building.

I have consistently raised the matter with my colleagues, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, because CCC, in my view, has an unarguable case for funding.

There are ongoing discussions in Government with a view to developing further investment in much-needed infrastructure.

People may have seen, for example, that the European Investment Bank visited Dublin recently.

My own view is that we need further stimulus to invest in crucial infrastructure – building projects that will deliver necessary facilities and create jobs.

Schools would have to be a key component, and CCC, in my view, absolutely merits funding under any such plan.

Despite years of promises by the previous Government, funding never materialised for CCC.

I understand one of the key criteria for inclusion on any new plan will be that projects are shovel-ready, and CCC has done everything possible to get to that stage.

As a result, I’m very confident that the CCC has every chance of being on any further investment plan.

I will continue to keep you updated on this hugely important issue.

A greater focus on social investment is needed across the EU to counter the effects of the economic crisis, the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, has said.

Speaking on the 3rd May 2013 when concluding a two-day conference on the Social Investment Package hosted by the Irish Presidency in Leuven, Belgium, Minister Burton stressed the importance of social investment, saying a purely economic response to the crisis would not be enough.

“I’ve spoken already of my personal belief that the EU needs to shift towards an economic policy based on sustainable growth, investment, full employment and social inclusion.  It’s not enough to simply navigate our way out of the economic storm if we leave millions of people behind fending for themselves. That is where social protection, and social investment, comes in,” Minister Burton said.

“And that is why the Social Investment Package is so important. We need to act swiftly and decisively on its implementation. It would go hand in hand with an economic approach based on jobs, investment and growth.” (more…)

Three in five JobBridge interns secure employment

Independent evaluation demonstrates internship scheme among the most successful in Europe

Three in five participants in JobBridge – the national internship scheme – secure employment following their internship, according to an independent evaluation published today (May 1^st) by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.

The evaluation, conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants, shows that 61% of interns progress to paid employment after completing their internship.

The 61% progression rate for JobBridge is among the best in Europe, where progression rates for similar internship schemes average just 34%.

The evaluation report also found that:

• 96% of host organisations would recommend JobBridge to another employer
• 89% of interns stated that JobBridge had given them new skills
• Interns found that they also benefitted from:
  • an increase in their self-confidence
  • the opportunity to gain quality work experience
  • the opportunity to establish a network of contacts

The Taoiseach and Minister Burton jointly launched the report at the offices of LinkedIn in Dublin. LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 200 million members, is among the companies which have benefitted from JobBridge, hosting interns who later progressed to full-time employment with the company. (more…)

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, T.D., today (Friday, 26^th April 2013) officially opened the Intreo Centre in Coolock.

The Coolock Intreo centre, which is located in the Department’s offices in Northside Civic Centre, Bunratty Road, offers jobseekers in Dublin 17 and the Coolock and Artane areas of Dublin 5, and parts of Donnycarney and Malahide, income supports and tailored employment supports in a one-stop-shop location.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Burton said: “The opening of the Intreo centre here in Coolock is the sixth such office to be opened in Dublin.　 Every Intreo office is a very clear example of the type of fundamental reform that is taking place in the Department of Social Protection.　 Welfare offices no longer simply manage payments for unemployed people.　 Today, I am pleased to say that these Intreo offices offer a service that helps jobseekers gain the essential training and skills to find work. Intreo is pro-active, ensuring jobseekers get not just the income supports they need but also employment supports to help them on the path back to work. This one-stop shop model is also available in a number of the Department’s offices around the country. The full Intreo service will be rolled out to all the Department’s offices nationwide by the end of 2014.” (more…)