Chairman: John Butler - Chief Executive, Dundalk Employment Partnership

This group was formed to tackle some employment black spots within Dundalk and the group has focused on two specific initiatives. The first of these is the development of targeted training programmes for local residents in preparation for new investment in the town. With the recent and future increases in retail and hotel developments in the town, it is important that local residents are given an opportunity to avail of the employment that will be generated. Training programmes for the retail and hospitality sectors are in preparation and trainees are being identified.

The second initiative is the inclusion of the local labour clause. The Social Inclusion group studied how the Dublin Docklands Regeneration Programme managed a similar initiative and has since drafted a local labour clause for Dundalk which will highlight the availability of skilled and unskilled labour in the town.

The group is also working on early school leaving, which remains a challenge for the town. The School Completion Programme, focussing on ensuring that students continue their education from Junior to Leaving Certificate level, has been expanded to cover 4 secondary schools in Dundalk. This group has also initiated consultations for the regeneration scheme for both Cox’s Demesne and Muirhevnamor – two of the town’s identified areas of disadvantage.  They are currently awaiting government approval of their regeneration plans.