COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 14, 2020
QUESTION NO. 4
QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins
To ask the Chief Executive what supports are available at Council level to support and assist older people who have lost their jobs, particularly those who were self employed, to return to work. There is a perceived bias in employment terms against those in their fifties or older who find themselves having to start again despite having worked hard all their lives.
REPLY:
There is close collaboration between SDCP, LEO and South Dublin Library Service with regard to our supports and services offering for older people seeking employment and self-employed people seeking to return to work or indeed set up new business opportunities.
Looking at the Enterprise and Employment supports from SDCP they include the following :-
Local Employment Services (LES) can offer one to one guidance supports as well as potentially accessing a €500 training allowance per person per year under Local Employment Services mediation funding for further training to enhance the job prospects.
The Job Club offers a structured work preparation programme which includes career planning, job application assistance and mock interview support.
South Dublin County Partnership’s SICAP enterprise and employment team can provide Information on employment or self employment options locally including
Ø part-time and full-time job opportunities
Ø part-time work placements in your local community with training supports on TUS and CE
Ø advice on setting up your own business and assistance with accessing grant supports
Ø We offer a range of job preparation supports including: employment training, CV preparation and interview skills
In addition South Dublin Public Library service provides free and Open access to:
- Stock (including a wide range of business books)
- Online Courses (Free access to Universal Class-offering 500 online continuing education courses)
- High Quality Broadband and Wifi
- Print and scanning facilities
- Online Reference Resources including business.ie (a database of over 130 000 company records) Press Reader (allowing access to hundreds of international papers) and much more.
The South Dublin Public Library service is also are part of WM programme (Work Matters) - where they work with 4 stakeholders to provide support and information to people out of work/entrepreneurs/ people who wish to upskill.
Branches regularly provide free talks/workshops in this area e.g. How to update your CV/ Interview preparation/ Creating your website etc.
Many of our branches have rooms which are available for booking by business groups. Three library branches have IT rooms where computer classes can be provided.
Local Enterprise Office offers training and mentoring supports to all self employed who wish to upskill or those who may be exploring the opportunity of setting up a new or first time business. LEO financial supports are open to all individuals who have a business idea which meet the basic criteria and are deemed eligible activities.
Brief overview of financial supports together with details on eligibility criteria and application process can be accessed at https://www.localenterprise.ie/SouthDublin/Financial-Supports/