Business
Campaign underway to come up with 100 jobs for people with disabilities
Galway businesses have come together to support a campaign to provide at least 100 jobs before the end of the year for people with disabilities.
The #100jobs campaign is being driven by EmployAbility Galway, which is based in Galway Technology Centre in Mervue are funded by Department of Social Protection to support job seekers with disabilities and employers in Galway.
And they are looking for Galway City and County employers to support their goal of placing 100 people with disabilities in employment for 2016, to mark the 1916 centenary.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, EmployAbility Galway Coordinator Pauline O’Dwyer said that this vision mirrored one of the fundamental pillars and commitments of the Proclamation itself.
“The Republic guarantees . . . equal rights and equal opportunities of all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts,” she quoted from the Proclamation.
“In reality, work is one of the main providers of equal opportunity in our society, as it empowers people through financial independence, professional and personal growth,” she added.
Muintearas CEO and EmployAbility Galway Patron Sean O Choistealbha spoke to the attendees about his own experience of recruiting staff from EmployAbility Galway and the beginnings of his relationship with the organisation.
Sean spoke about how this led him to coming on board as Patron to encourage other employers to hire more people with disabilities.
“Hiring staff from EmployAbility Galway has been an enriching and rewarding experience for both our employees, and Muintearas as a company, and I would encourage any employer to avail of the opportunity to pledge a job for the #100jobs campaign,” he said.
“There has been a positive trend each year for the last two years, and we would really love the make the centenary of 1916 a year to remember in terms of employment opportunities for job seekers with disabilities in Galway City and County”, said EmployAbility Galway Chairperson Ann Loughney.
“The team have really worked hard throughout the City and County to help employers understand the skills and abilities our clients can bring to the workplace” she added.
Ann outlined the employer subsidies and grants made available to employers by Department of Social Protection which support inclusive employment.
“The Department of Social Protection who fund the company have gone through a lot of changes, and their new and improved Intreo services work hand in hand with ourselves to provide the best possible combined service to job seekers with disabilities in Galway City and County,” said Ann
This year so far EmployAbility Galway have supported over 50 clients in Galway City and County to achieve their employment goals and are calling on Galway City and County employers to pledge them 100 jobs for 2016.
You can pledge a job online directly at www.employabilitygalway.ie
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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