Skillnet opens in Dingle
An Gaeltachtaí na Mumhan Skillnet Training Initiative was officially launched by an Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue at the Dingle Skellig Hotel on Friday. The launch formed part of the annual Féile na Bealtaine which was taking place for the fourteenth year in the town.
Gealtachtaí na Mumhan Skillnet Network was set up in the Gaeltacht areas of the province earlier this year with a view to enabling both new businesses and existing enterprises to avail of specialised training. The initiative is funded by Skillnets, the support body for these training schemes and the Dingle one is promoted by Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne (CFCD) in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh.
At the launch, companies in the region (outside the Gaeltacht area as well) were invited to make applications to take part in the courses. Representatives of 25 companies from the five Munster Gaeltachtaí were at the launch, each taking the opportunity to operate a stand at the event. Also in attendance were Eamon Ó Neachtain (regional manager, Údarás na Gaeltachta), Antaine Ó Sé (ceo of MFG), Alan Nuzum (ceo Skillnets) and Tomás MacGearailt (cathaoirleach CFCD)
A number of courses are already in place and more will be developed in the coming months. To date, over 50,000 employees have taken part in training organised by Skillnets which was formed in 1999.
Kerry improves as Tralee numbers rise
A small increase in the numbers on the live register at the Tralee Exchange runs in a contrary direction to the other six centres in the county where there were falls in the figures on the live register in April.
The March figures were swelled by the numbers of part-time staff signing on over the Easter period but in Tralee a further 11 went onto the lists during the month bringing the total there to 3,660.
This means that 46.7% of the live register claimants in the county are centred in Tralee.
However, in the full year since April 2006, there have been significant rises at all of the exchanges in Kerry with the total rising by 24.6% to 7,830 in the period.
Surprisingly, then, Tralee is actually second lowest in terms of percentage increases in the year with Dingle increasing by over 50%, Listowel up over 36%, Killorglin by 32.3%, Kenmare by 29% and Killarney by 27.5%. Only Caherciveen, up 18.9%) has fared better than Tralee at 20.3%.
Kerry live register figures for April over the last five years are:
2004 6,122
2005 5,928
2006 5,913
2007 6,203
2008 7,830
Nationally, there was a seasonally-adjusted drop of 200 on an actual fall of 2,394 but there are now 41,279 more on the lists than there were a year ago although there may be some relief that the 200,000 mark has been avoided for the time being. The April total was 195,598 having barely avoided the mark in March.
The standardised unemployment rate has risen to 5.5%, up from 4.6% in the previous quarter.
In April, there was a bigger increase in female claimants on the live register than males. In Kerry, male numbers actually went down by 34 in April.
Castleisland to host Job Search Programme
Unemployed individuals who are seeking to return to the workforce are invited to a Job Search Programme which is set to begin in Castleisland next week.
By Con Dennehy
Run by the Sliabh Luachra Local Development the training is free of charge and delivered by Sliabh Luachra Local
Development staff at the Castleisland Community Centre. The programme is open to both male and female.
“The programme starts on Tuesday 13th May from 10.00am to 1.00pm. It runs on Wednesday 14th, Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st, Thursday 22nd, Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th. The content will include Personal Development,
Developing Job seeking skills, Identifying your own strengths and match them to local work opportunities, C.V’s and letter of application and Interview Training,” Barbara O’Connor told Kerry’s Eye.
Refreshments will be served. For further details contact Margaret at 066-7142576 or Barbara at 066-7142211.
Kerry car registrations up 32%
There were 395 new private cars licensed for the first time by Kerry County Council in March, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.
by Owen O’Shea
The past five years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of new vehicles registered in the county. A comparison of figures by Kerry’s Eye has shown that there has been a 32% increase in the number of new cars on Kerry’s roads since 2003.
Five years ago, Kerry County Council registered 3,829 new private cars but last year saw a massive 5,651 new vehicles register with the local authority.
The figures bear out a common perception, particularly among motorists in the county’s large urban centres, that the volume of traffic on the county’s main arteries has increased dramatically in recent years.
The new statistics also verify the views expressed by senior gardaí in the county recently that the rise in the number of vehicles on the roads is reflected in increased number of penalty points awarded and traffic offences detected in recent years.
IBEC welcomes Lisbon tax statement
IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, has welcomed the definitive statement from the independent Referendum Commission that there are no changes in the Lisbon Treaty with regard to tax - Ireland has a veto.
According to IBEC regional director Chris O'Donovan, the Treaty actually clarifies the position on tax, and sets out in clearer terms than ever before that every country in the EU has a veto over decisions in this area.
He accused some campaigning against the treaty of deliberately spreading false information in an effort to confuse voters.
Speaking at the launch of the Referendum Commission's information campaign chairman Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, a High Court judge, said that as far as taxation is concerned “our considered view is that there isn't any change, that the present veto on taxation will continue".
One of the main reasons IBEC is calling for a yes vote, is that Ireland's veto on tax issues is secure, according to Chris O’Donovan.
“This was a significant achievement for Irish negotiators, who very successfully protected national interests in the years of debate that led to the Lisbon Reform Treaty," he said.
IBEC also welcomed the launch of the Referendum Commission's information campaign, which will include the distribution of two million copies of a 14-page guide to the treaty to every home in the country.
"It is vital that everyone has access to clear information on the Treaty, so that people can make up their minds knowing all the facts," concluded Mr O'Donovan.
IBEC has launched a dedicated website to provide practical information on the Treaty, www.ibeclisbon.ie.