Tuesday, April 21, 2009

1 in 5 out of work by 2010, claims Brosnan

One in every five people could be unemployed in the Midwest region by this time next year, it has been claimed.

The bleak prediction is made by businessman Denis Brosnan, who has been charged with delivering a blueprint for the region’s economic recovery. In an unpublished letter to Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, Mr Brosnan said: “From all I have heard, it would be my personal prediction that there will be one in every five unemployed in the region by this time next year”.

The Irish Times newspaper today reports that the Midwest Taskforce chairman and former chief executive of the Kerry Group, Mr Brosnan made his gloomy prediction after concluding phase one of the taskforce’s work which involved meeting all agencies associated with employment, industries affected by the Dell jobs loss, as well as leading economists. “This is enabling us to form a view as to what unemployment could be at in the region in the event of no new initiatives being taken,” Mr Brosnan said.

The taskforce was established in the wake of Dell’s announcement of 1,900 job losses at its Limerick manufacturing facility in January.

1 in 5 out of work by 2010, claims Brosnan

One in every five people could be unemployed in the Midwest region by this time next year, it has been claimed.

The bleak prediction is made by businessman Denis Brosnan, who has been charged with delivering a blueprint for the region’s economic recovery. In an unpublished letter to Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, Mr Brosnan said: “From all I have heard, it would be my personal prediction that there will be one in every five unemployed in the region by this time next year”.

The Irish Times newspaper today reports that the Midwest Taskforce chairman and former chief executive of the Kerry Group, Mr Brosnan made his gloomy prediction after concluding phase one of the taskforce’s work which involved meeting all agencies associated with employment, industries affected by the Dell jobs loss, as well as leading economists. “This is enabling us to form a view as to what unemployment could be at in the region in the event of no new initiatives being taken,” Mr Brosnan said.

The taskforce was established in the wake of Dell’s announcement of 1,900 job losses at its Limerick manufacturing facility in January.

Funding For Twelve Clare Counselling Services

Fianna Fail T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen (LEFT) has received confirmation from Government that €61,620 is being provided to support County Clare families through Marriage, Child and Bereavement Counselling Services.

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin T.D. approved the grants, which will be allocated to twelve separate groups throughout the county.

The Clare groups benefiting from the funding allocation include Clare Haven Services Ltd. - €15,000; Amethyst Resource For Human Development (Killaloe) - €5,900; Compass - €5,900; STEM (Strength Through Every Meeting) - €4,400; Congress Information and Opportunities Centre - €12,300; Rainbows Shannon - €1,250; Shannon Bereavement Group - €1,270; Rainbows St. John Bosco College, Kildysart - €800; Shannon Family Resource Centre Ltd. - €4,000; Scoil Chriost RĂ­ (including Rainbows), Ennis - €5,000; Ennis National School, including Rainbows - €4,800; and Rainbows Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire, Newmarket-On-Fergus - €1,000.

“I am delighted that funding has been allocated to groups in Ennis, Killaloe, Shannon, Newmarket on Fergus and Kildysart. Each of the funding recipients provide vital marriage counselling, marriage preparation, child counselling and bereavement counselling supports”, Deputy Killeen commented. He added, “The focus of this scheme is on the development of support services in the community for families to enhance stability in family life and assist families and their members to deal with difficult periods, which they may experience. The aim is to ensure a larger and more accessible service, to ensure the highest level of service possible and that the service is provided at the lowest cost to the client.”

Overall, 559 organisations will receive funding under the national allocation of almost €3.48m.