North Clare Area Learning Network Meeting; Jun 16th 2011 Fall’s Hotel, Ennistymon.
Attendees: Mike Ryan (BTEI), Katie Lewis (CABES), Enda Molony (Youthreach), Ann
Knox (Community Education), Anne McCormack (FAS), Catherine O’Mullane (North West
Clare FRC), Tom Woulfe (Teagasc), Teresa Conneely (Mary I Lisdoonvarna), Jennifer
Coleman (CSES).
Apologies: Richard Collins (BOC), Conor Flynn (CAGS), Aobhan Haverty (VEC), Amanda
O’ Connor (CABES), Marian O’Callaghan (Mary I Lisdoonvarna), Mary Crawford (St
Joseph’s, Spanish Point).
Matters arising from minutes: FAS fair in Limerick very successful. 3,500 attended with
employers from Ireland and abroad. See below FAS update.
Samantha McCarthy 065 6866800 is the education contact for CLDC.
Katie – Clare Adult Basic Education Service: ITABE programme L2 Visual Art and
Design coming to a close. Working on a Sewing programme for September. Some interest
from group of traveller women. Family Learning for September at planning stage. There are
changes likely to Home School Liaison service.
Mary Immaculate Sec School, Lisdoonvarna: Substantial PLC programme planned with 3
one year, L 6 strands: Supervision in Childcare, Business and Professional Arts Practice. 4
Level 5s: Childcare, Community and Health Services, Business Studies and Art Craft and
Design are planned. The 200€ contribution is a barrier, though those on grants, medical card
holders and those in receipt of BTEA are exempt. Usual BTEI on offer.
Enda – Miltown Youthreach: Students just finished LCA. 4 are graduating. 3 are finishing
Junior Cert tomorrow. Are investigating a possible Health and Fitness at L5. This includes
core competencies.
Summer programme coming up. This includes research on history of textile factory which
will culminate in a documentary hopefully.
Students will be on work experience during Willie Clancy week.
BTEI: Remit is part time modular, certified programmes from L 3-4 FETAC. BTEI has
made application for funding under the jobs initiative programme, with focus on core
competencies, work preparation, retail skills, customer service, craft and tourism and
heritage. Expects to hear by end of June.
43 sat Leaving Cert countywide and BTEI hopes to have greater range of subjects next year
(5 subjects this year). Considering Science and a pre LC Science through FETAC.
September provision being planned and will be posted to www.clarelearningnetwork.org/
North West Clare FRC: (Catherine): have some activity in old Teagasc building but fully
moving in shortly. Drop in women’s group coming to a close. Hope to run Women in
Transition programme with Christine Jenkins, in September.
Teagasc: Teagasc has moved out of Ennistymon but are extending in Ennis. New Certs in
Agriculture at L5 must be completed fully before applicants progress to L6 Advanced Cert.
Applications for L5 course are closing on July 4th Applicants may be eligible for Technical
Employment Grant from FAS. Also doing one off REPS course, introduction to the Internet,
H &S and farm accounts.
Community Education: Active Citizenship: The Active Citizenship Network held World
Café Events on May 13th and 27th @Cois na hAbhna. Attendance was approx. 30
LIT Cert in Business Computing Ennis Regional Learning Centre. Closing date for
applications is 10th of June. Full time so qualifies for no fee and grant should cover
registration fee.
Currach Building: A group hopes to build a currach in Ballyvaughan for
September/October subject to premises being identified.
Congrats to OBAIR on article in Explore magazine.
Guide to Course due early July.
CSES: Would love opportunity to bring service to learners or to brief tutors on their service:
for instance an employee earning €8.65 per hour for a 21 hour week, would be paid €70.35
by employer and €111.30 by FAS.
One does not have to be on a disability allowance to avail of this service, but if a loss of
productivity of 20% has happened (has to be verified), the person may avail of the WSS
scheme.
Employer must be a limited company( including a community group) and not public service
Anne (FAS): FAS supports Irish looking for work abroad as well as EU citizens looking for
work in Ireland. When working in Europe need a 101 form from Fas and Anne can support re
finding a job or info re environs in which you may be working if you have found a job
yourself. At present 3 Norwegian companies recruiting Engineers, welders, electricians etc
for work in Norway in 3 different locations. Work 2 weeks (long hours), 3 weeks off. In case
of Langstet, flights home and accommodation paid. English is the working language. Anne
also has contact with Holland. If interested send CV to anne.mccormack@mw.fas.ie
Possibility of local registration to be organised from here prior to departure.
Also look into Internships on www.fas.ie – participants work full time for social welfare
payment + €50 expenses for 6 – 9 months. Public sector private sector or community and
voluntary may get involved.
Anne interested in an event to raise profile of members in North Clare.
AOB: Added value of attending network meetings was discussed. A number of members
found it very helpful and one referred to checking up minutes to see what was going on. It
was agreed to reduce annual meeting to 3.
Ann K and Anne McC agreed to work on event to raise profile of adult learning in North
Clare. Members will be consulted as soon as they have explored possibilities. It was agreed
that Community Centre in Ennistymon may be a suitable venue.
Issue of bringing in people to attend is crucial.
Timing of meeting is an issue. It was agreed to hold next meeting at 1.30 on Thursday and to
reconsider Thursday v Friday. 1.30 is a suitable time.
Next Meeting – Thurs 22nd September at 1.30 – Fall’s Hotel, Ennistymon