Fast Track to IT Courses - Free Programmes to Upskill

Are you unemployed and looking to gain valuable computer skills?

Fast Track to IT is an initiative that links Government departments (and agencies like VECs and FÁS) with the likes of Microsoft, HP and IBM.

As part of the programme, job seekers can study free courses in several areas with real job prospects.

There are several courses starting in Whitehall College and Coláiste Ide this September.

Whitehall College

Course 1 : IT Warehouse & Database Management (FETAC Level 5)

Course 2: Business Through Computers (FETAC Level 5)

Information Session: August 17th @ 2.00pm in Whitehall College, Swords Road, Dublin 9

 Coláiste Ide:

PC Maintenance and Servicing Year 1 – Level 5/6, ECDL, CompTIA

Information Session August 16th @ 10am in Coláiste Ide, Cardiffbridge Road, Finglas, Dublin 11


To be Eligible for FIT Courses you must:


• Be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment for 156 consecutive days

• Be over 21

More About FIT


Fast Track to IT (FIT) is an organisation set up to promote an inclusive Smart Economy by creating a fast track to marketable technical skills for those at risk of unemployment long term.

Log on to http://www.fit.ie/ for more information (including details of other courses available) or email me on john.lyons@oir.ie if you've any questions.

Lyons Praises Innovative Work of Local Education Support Groups

I have today praised local education organisations, DCU in the Community and JUST Ballymun, for their fantastic contribution to the local community.

DCU in the Community and JUST Ballymun have helped many local residents gain access to further education and training in recent years.

DCU in the Community, who have a drop-in centre on Shangan Road in Ballymun, run a Bridge to Education programme (FETAC level 4) several times a year for anyone looking to get the study skills they need to progress to further study or to develop the skills they need for employment.

 The likes of the new Ballymun Football Foundation Course being promoted by DCU in the Community in conjunction with the FAI in Ballymun is an innovative response to unemployment and responding to local needs. The one year full-time course starts in September and provides Adult Education alongside the likes of coaching badges, coaching workshops and match analysis.

Jesuit University Support and Training (JUST), located in the Ballymun Job Centre, are also a hugely valuable resource to Ballymun. They help students find the course most suited to them and provides a one-to-one mentoring service for students throughout the time of their course or degree.

The message I’m trying to get across is that there are great supports available in the community for anyone interested in developing new skills or even returning to formal education after many years away.

We are surrounded by negative stories so much at the moment, but it is only right to highlight the incredible work of DCU in the Community and JUST and to help more people hear about the supports and services they provide.

As a member of the Oireachtas Jobs, Education and Social Protection Committee, I will be highlighting the work of JUST and DCU in the Community as models for increasing involvement in education and further study around Dublin and the country as a whole.

All you need to know about Springboard

Springboard is a programme which offers free higher education and training for jobseekers without affecting social welfare entitlements.

These courses are geared to equipping people to work in areas of employment growth, such as IT, medical devices and energy. The website has information on up to 1,000 courses, which can help in either upskilling in your career path or reskilling. There are up to 6,000 part-time places available and while some of them began over the summer, most are starting in September.

To be eligible for Springboard course you must be:

• Unemployed for at least 6 months

and

• In receipt of Jobseekers Benefit / Allowance, One Parent Family Payment

or 

• Signing for social insurance contribution credits

and

• Actively seeking employment

Courses available include those in the area of social sciences,business and law as well as engineering, computing and many others. Many deadlines are fast approaching so you should begin researching now if you're interested!

See http://www.bluebrick.ie/Springboard/ for more information and to apply for a course.

FIT Information Sessions for IT Courses

FIT (Fastrack to IT) is holding information sessions in Coláiste Íde, Cardiffbridge Road on Aug 16th at 10am and in Whitehall College, Swords Road on Aug 17th at 2pm.

Courses available include PC Maintenance and Servicing and IT Warehouse and Database Management. 

See http://www.fit.ie/ for more information.

Lyons welcomes announcement of 445 jobs in Government supported start-ups

I have today welcomed the announcement of 445 new jobs in start-up industries, most of which will be created in Dublin, as a very welcome boost for the City and Country.

Today's announcement of the creation of 445 jobs in Enterprise Ireland supported companies - of which over 200 will be in Dublin - is very welcome news.

These 24 companies are in high growth sectors such as bio-tech, food, life sciences and information technology and they show that Irish companies can be to the fore in capitalising on the potential of these sectors.

I have seen this potential in my own constituency where there is a business incubation centre in Dublin City University that combines research and innovation with business supports for start-ups. These types of initiatives are essential in helping small businesses expand.

We have considerable work to do in rebuilding our economy but an announcement such as today's, is very encouraging and shows how the right focus can reap dividends. As a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, I look forward to examining further ways of giving supports to businesses - to aid our recovery and tackle unemployment.

Finglas Village Historical Walk

There is a historical walk of Finglas Village taking place on Tuesday, August 23rd at 6.30pm (meet at Finglas Civic Centre, Mellowes Road).


Visit several of Finglas' ancient monuments, buildings and mementoes whilst discovering more about the historic events which took place in the area down through the centuries...


A great way to explore the little known side of Finglas!

Lanesborough Estate Leaflet August 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More fingal