Journalist's first-hand experience on JobPath

PARTING COMPANY WITH TURAS NUA

- "Potentially, I was a poster boy for their endeavours"

BY BEN PANTER

What is it like to spend a year on JobPath? 

We recognise the importance of hearing from people experiencing disadvantage or discrimination.
Many have no doubt found JobPath worked for them, but despite statistics that point to low levels of complaints, the 'labour activation' programme seems to dissatisfy many. 

It has been debated at the highest levels in the Dáil, however nobody in that chamber has the first hand experience that Ben Panter was able to bring to the table. 

- Editor

FULL TEXT OF BEN PANTER'S ARTICLE, as published in the current edition of 'Changing Ireland' (available through Easons):

Jon was ecstatic – The Community Employment (CE) Scheme had offered him a role as a carer, enabling him to achieve his lifelong vocation, after a period of unemployment. Days later his tone had changed.

“Because I am with Turas Nua, I am not allowed to take the job,” he said.

I thought he was joking, but alas no. A place on a CE scheme is not a job.

Especially for people who’ve been excluded

Des Burke

The European Volunteer Service (EVS) contains “specific supports to enable the participation of young people with fewer opportunities, for example as a result of disability, educational inequality, poverty or economic exclusion,” says Des Burke of Léargas.

The organisation funded nine young people with fewer opportunities than most to volunteer through the EVS programme in 2011. Funding is available to meet specific needs such volunteers may have and they can opt to do a short-term voluntary stint of between anything from a fortnight to two months. This may then lead to a longer-term service.

W-Leargas.ie.

For our previous posts on EVS click here and here.

The pipes are calling to promote a thriving industry

While other sectors may be suffering,  one that certainly hasn’t been affected by the recession is Uilleann Pipe making. The national bagpipe of Ireland is one of the most complicated instruments in the world to build, usually taking a master craftsman somewhere in the region of 400 hours from start to finish.

The waiting list for someone to get their hands on a set, which can retail anywhere from  €7,000 to €20,000, is often more than seven years. Ireland currently commands only 20% of this €7million-a-year industry, so the possibility of expansion, and the creation of more jobs, is enormous.

 
To aid this possibility, Fingal LEADER Partnership and Na Piobairi Uilleann have teamed up to provide a three year course in Art of Uilleann Pipe Making. The comprehensive programme will cover all aspects of the trade, including basic engineering, fine precious metal mork, the history and evolution of the instrument, as well as how to run a practicing business.

It begins this year, and it is aimed that by the end of the course each student will have produced two full and high standard sets of pipes.

Thanks to Finbar from Mayo for the above.

The cut to the minimum wage has been widely criticised. The €1 cut equates to 11.5% of salary if you're on the minimum wage.

Business leaders have welcomed the proposal saying it will cuts costs.

However, Fine Gael have said they may revisit the proposal.