I was delighted to attend the official launch of the new remote working hubs in Base Enterprise Centre in Mulhuddart earlier this month.
Base is providing two NEW remote working hubs, a remote working meeting room with the latest IT and 24 hour access to post and working space for distance work. The new hub in the Michael Galvin Building will increase opportunities for remote work for those in our community, and help people to opt for remote working on days where they’d like to lessen their commute time and spend more time with family and friends in the area.
Sustainability developments include the provision of electric car charging and 30 solar panels to reduce running costs. Outside the building swift nesting boxes have been installed to the front cladding above the entrance with a swift caller to attract nesting colonies and the fence line has been greened with pollinator plants and shrubs.
Minister for Equality and Integration and Dublin West T.D. Roderic O’Gorman has announced that projects in Dublin 15 and Fingal are set to receive funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2022.
St. Luke’s National School in Tyrrelstown and Fingal Ethnic Network will be awarded €5,000 each in funding to support their community-based projects which aim to play a greater role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees.
With funding support from the Minister’s Department, St Luke’s NS, which hosts a large intercultural population, will create a school cookery book by collating hundreds of international recipes from pupils and their families. The book, which will include pupils’ illustrations, will be launched at an international cuisine evening to be held in the school.
Fingal Ethnic Network, a network of ethnic minority groups and individuals living in Fingal, will be hosting their annual Intercultural Day of cultural performances, food and art exhibitions, and workshops to promote integration and intercultural awareness.
Welcoming the funding, Minister O’Gorman said:
“I am delighted that St Luke’s NS and Fingal Ethnic Network have been awarded funding under the Communities Integration Fund this year. Both organisations are championing what it means to promote diversity, inclusion and integration, and are making a real difference in our community.”
Commenting on St. Luke’s future project, the Minister said:
“Food is a great way to bring people together, and St. Luke’s project is an exciting idea that will allow families to celebrate their own cultures while learning about new cultures and cuisines too. I’ll certainly look forward to seeing the project come together and trying out some of the recipes at home.”
Commenting on Fingal Ethnic Network’s future project, the Minister said:
“Fingal Ethnic Network has been hosting events in the community for several years now, and has had huge success in promoting diversity and an inclusive environment for everyone who lives in Fingal. I’m really excited to see how they build on that success this year, engaging different communities in their integration initiatives.”
Great to attend the National Community Radio Day event in Phoenix Park today with Cllr Pamela Conroy and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Craol Community Radio Ireland.
Community radio plays such an important role across many villages and towns across Ireland, bringing people together and promoting a more inclusive and open society where collaboration and integration is celebrated and valued.
This week, I signed the regulations for the Gender Pay Gap Information Act. These regulations require organisations with more than 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap for the first time in 2022, and state the reasons why such a gap exists in their company and set out what practical measures they will take to eliminate or reduce that gap.
In 2024, organisations with more than 150 employees will be required by law to report on their gender pay gap and, in 2025, organisations with more than 50 employees. This incremental approach will allow smaller companies the time to learn from larger companies who have greater capacity to implement the new reporting measures sooner.
For more information on how to report on the Gender Pay Gap, visit gov.ie/genderpaygap
Really enjoyed my visit to Powerstown Educate Together, Tyrrelstown, D15 on Friday.
I had the opportunity to see the forest and garden projects and meet with the school’s picker pal’s . I was also given some great lessons on Mexico.
I also learnt that the school carried out a cycle survey for #bikeweek, and are running a competition for the schools new GAA jersey – can’t wait to see the finished design!
Thank you to Principal Helena Trench and the Student Council for showing me around.
From 9 May, young people can enjoy 50% cheaper public transport fares!
I was delighted to work with young people on this Young Adult Card proposal, which will make public transport more affordable and attractive to young people. This permanent 50% fare reduction for students and young people aged 19-23 applies to all subsidised journeys on Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and Local Link. Huge thanks toComhairle na nÓg who championed this national policy – one by young people, for young people. This would not be happening without their work.
This is going to make a real difference to so many young people in Ireland, whether they’re commuting to college or work, or just hanging out with friends.
We’ve also reduced fares across Ireland by 20% so that everyone can benefit from reduced public transport costs. This is the first national public transport reduction in 75 year
It was great to visit Blanchardstown Library the other week and meet with the staff, children and their parents/guardians from Home Start creche who were joining the library and collecting their free book bag.
As part of the My Little Library initiative, all children starting primary school in September are invited to their local library to pick up their own free bag of books and join the library.
I would encourage anyone who has never been down to the library before, to head down and learn about what the library has to offer children (and adults too).
I was delighted to announce a really exciting initiative for children this week. The My Little Library initiative will see more than 60,000 children starting school in September invited to collect a free bag of books from their local library.
Children’s books open really important pathways to learning about friendship, love and adventure, and allow children to expand their worlds with wonder and curiosity. I hope this initiative will help to encourage a new generation on a life-long love of reading and stories. It is by introducing children to reading at an early age, that we can help to inspire young minds, and open them up to a world of possibilities. Full details here.
