Issue 34: November 2001 - Youth Work Ireland

For application forms and moreinformation contact:Social Welfare Local Offices or: TheInformation Service,Department of Social, Community andFamily Affairs,Aras Mhic Dhiarmada,Store Street,Dublin 1.Te l: (01 ) 8748444Website: www.welfare.ieFor further Information contact:Department of Enterprise, Trade andEmployment,Kildare Street,Dublin 2.Te l: (01) 631 21 21Fax: (01) 6312827Website: www.entemp.ieOn 14 August the Tanaiste Mary Harney announcedfunding for a major new initiative to raise awarenessand promote the employment of people withdisabilities. In 2000, proposals were invited from thesocial partners for initiatives aimed at furtherpromoting the employment of people with disabilitiesin the private sector.Resulting from the process the Department ofEnterprise, Trade and Employment reached anagreement with ICTU and IBEC to fund this newinitiative driven by those organisations. The initiativewill provide funding of up to £700,000 to the end of2003.The initiative will involve IBEC and ICTU jointlyestablishing a number of regional networks involvingemployers, trade unions, people with disabilities,service providers and relevant State Agencies,coming together to raise awareness · of theemployment potential of people with disabilities.The networks will explore local skills availability andlocally available employment opportunities. It willprovide information to employers, employeerepresentatives and people with disabilities onsupports, available to assist the integration of peoplewith disabilities into the workforce.On Wednesday 10 October, 2001 the Minister forHealth and Children, Micheal Martin, T.D., launchedan information leaflet on dealing with the warningsigns and risk factors of suicide at Dublin Castle.Documenting ways to respond to such signs, italsoprovides the key facts about suicide and self-harmand includes a list of contact organisations.The annual report 2000 of the National SuicideReview Group entitled "Suicide Prevention,Education & Research " was also launched on thisoccasion. Set up in 1998 to review and respond tothe ongoing trends in suicide, the Review group hasworked to tackle the problem of suicide at a policylevel and in terms of supporting and enhancingcapacity building in the community in relation to theissue.This report examines progress to date andprovides recent research and statistical informationon suicide in Ireland.For further information contact:Research & Resource OfficerNational Suicide Review GroupWestern Health BoardOffice 10Orantown CentreOran moreGalwayE-mail: nsrg@eircom.netIrish YouthWork Scene•November 2001