Laois County Council - New Developments

New Developments

Social Capital Funding

Funding has been received in the sum of €240,000 from the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government for the development of Durrow Courthouse as a community facility.

Interagency Strategy for Travellers

County Development Boards have been requested by the Department of the Environment and Local Government to draw up Interagency Strategies for Travellers. Consultation has already been held with representatives of various agencies working with the Travelling community and relevant data has been compiled. It is proposed to hold four workshops for members of the SIM group and representatives of other agencies working with Travellers on the 12th September in County Hall, Portlaoise. The workshops are on the following themes:
1. Accommodation
2. Education and Training
3. Income and Employment
4. Health

Follow up consultation will then be held with Travellers, in partnership with MDASI, PCAP and Laois Travellers Action Group, with a view to preparing a draft strategy by the end of September.

Funding to enhance capacity to meet labour market needs of lone parents

The Gender Equality Unit of the Department of Justice Equality and Law reform has granted funding of €10,000 to Laois County Development Board to participate in Strand A of the Lone Parents Initiative. The objective of Strand A is to enhance capacity at local level to meet the labour market needs of lone parents. A number of activities are suggested which may be taken under Strand A and these will be discussed with members of the SIM Committee, before decision is made as to what activity will be undertaken The overall initiative will conclude in Autumn 2007.

Cohesion

Following a directive of the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, a Cohesion Committee has been established to oversee the development of a unified structure for the county-wide delivery of the LEADER and Local Development Social Inclusion (LDSIP) Programmes from January 2007. The Cohesion Committee has established a number of subcommittees, including a HR subcommittee to consider staffing issues for the new organisation and a Premises Subcommittee to look at various options for premises in which to locate the new company. In addition a Research and Development Worker has been appointed to assist in the development of plans for the LDSIP programme in the area not currently covered by this programme, i.e. all areas of the county apart from Portlaoise and Mountmellick. These plans will be developed in consultation with the local community in these areas.

Laois Local Anti Poverty Strategy (LAPS)

The Draft Anti Poverty Strategy for the county has been prepared and following a short consultation with stakeholders, will be submitted to all agencies (including Laois County Council) for adoption before the end of the year.

PDF Document icon Poverty Profile Part 1
(PDF Document - 3,350 kb)