Offaly makes a start - as 5 people get a start

BY ROBERT MCNAMARA

A programme supporting those at risk of social exclusion has, in the past few months, helped 55 long-term unemployed people move towards paid employment in Co. Offaly.

Five of the people who last December completed the 16-month programme gained full-time or part-time employment, five more found seasonal work and most of the remainder went onto advanced courses and programmes.

They had all been long-term unemployed.

PROFILE: Mike Redmond, Kilkenny Tús Supervisor

Alan Jacques

Reporter ALAN JACQUES recently interviewed one of the 200 supervisors being hired this year to work with Local Development Companies on the national Tús Scheme:

County Kilkenny Leader Partnership recently appointed Mike Redmond as the supervisor of its Tús scheme.

Mike has years of experience in the rail and construction recruitment industry here and in Britain. His main focus was to recruit, co-ordinate and manage operatives on some of the biggest British projects.

Mike Redmond, Tús Supervisor in Kilkenny

Mike told ‘Changing Ireland’ he is now profiling candidates for the scheme and matching their skills for the areas in which participants are needed.

“We’ve been into the communities and spoken to the different organisations and groups to identify the participants that they require. We’ve had huge interest from around 70 different groups in the Kilkenny area and we will have no problem filling the 80 places on the Tús Scheme. We’ve interviewed 18 people in the Piltown area this week,” said Mike.