Level 1 Actions Part B: Level 3 Actions - Donegal County Council

Minutes of CDB SIM Group
Letterkenny Public Services Centre
Tuesday, 17 th February 2009
Attended by: Michael O’Heanaigh, Anne Marie Conlon, Donna McGroarty, Loretta
McNicohlas, Roisin McBride, Niamh Brennan & Bridie McBrearty, DCC, Siobhan
McLaughlin, DTP, Daragh Severs, Dept. of Education & Science, Crona
Gallagher, Donegal VEC, Gearoid O’Maonaigh, DLDC, Paul Skinnader, Border
Action, John Jackson, IDP, Ciaran Martin, LTC, Francine Blache-Breen, DCWC,
Angela Holohan, CIS, Margaret Toner, Letterkenny CDP,
Apologies: Tom McArdle, DFSA, Finola Brennan, DWN, Maire O’Leary, HSE
___________________________________________________________
M O’Heanaigh thanked everyone for attending the meeting and welcomed Angela Holohan, Bridie
McBrearty and Margaret Toner to the Group. Items from the circulated agenda were discussed as follows:
1. Minutes of last meeting
o One amendment required - F Blache-Breen advised that S McLaughlin should also have
been included in the Peace III working group.
o The minutes of the CDB SIM Meeting of the 19.11.08 were proposed by F Blache-Breen
and seconded by S McLaughlin.
2. Matters Arising
o No matters arising.
3. Planning for 2009
o AM Conlon thanked the group for submissions received in relation to the circulated
questionnaire. AM Conlon summarised the information in the report.
o The group felt that this was a worthwhile exercise and made the following points:
o The long-term unemployed should receive same support and assistance as ‘newly’
unemployed
o Skills deficit of unemployed to be assessed and matched with appropriate training/upskilling
o Would it be possible for the CDP network to be represented at economic sub-group?
o Lack of coordination of services. CDB should be made aware that front-line staff are more
aware of changes required than managers
o Work practices and inefficiencies of organisations need to be reassessed as well as
finances/revised budgets
o Long waiting lists currently exist for VTOS and BTEI courses. There has also been a
significant increase in demand for adult literacy and numeracy courses. It was noted that
60 people commenced literacy classes with VEC in past week
o The CDB Network is proposing to hold information sessions via Highland Radio as many
newly unemployed people are not aware of assistance/support available.
o There is a gap of up to 12 weeks between applying for and receiving benefits
• D Severs agreed to highlight problems caused by delays in budgetary announcements by
Dept. of Education.
• M O’Heanaigh requested that the group quantify the issues raised in terms of, lack of
course availability, no. of requests received, percentage increase in clients, waiting lists as well
as existing capacity/resources available for additional course places, volunteerism etc. and
agreed to present report to CDB.
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