Co. Louth VEC meeting visits Bush Post-primary School

Co. Louth VEC held its first meeting of the 2010 school year in Bush Post-primary School, Dundalk. The meeting took place on 9th September last and the committee was welcomed to the school by the Principal, Ms. Teresa McKevitt, the Deputy Principal, Ms. Sinéad McDonnell and the school’s twenty strong prefect student group. Co. Louth VEC last held a monthly meeting in Bush Post-primary School in June 2008.

Principal Teresa McKevitt addressed the committee before the start of the meeting stating that it was with great pride that she welcomed the committee to the school. “The entire community is extremely proud of our school and this meeting here tonight provides management, staff and students alike with the opportunity to showcase the school’s excellence to the committee”. Ms. McKevitt briefed the committee on recent developments at the school including the range of refurbishment works recently completed, the very successful Summer Music School that was held in August and the development of a hair dressing suite for Transition Year and Leaving Certificate Applied students. Ms. McKevitt paid tribute to the staff of Bush Post-primary school for their commitment to the school and their dedication to their students; she also praised the school’s student body, and in particular the class of 2010, for the excellent results that they achieved in the 2010 Leaving Certificate examinations.

Colr. Oliver Tully, Chairman of Co. Louth VEC, thanked the school on behalf of the committee for hosting the first meeting of the school year and indicated that the VEC looked forward to having the opportunity to return to Bush Post-primary at a future date.

First Co. Louth VEC Adult Learning Service Education Conference a Great Success

Co. Louth VEC’s Adult Learning Service held their first Education Conference, entitled A Celebration of Learning last Wednesday in the Westcourt Hotel. The central theme of the conference was the difference the experience of returning to learning can make to the lives of adults. The conference organisers, Maria Morgan and Lorraine Murphy, wanted to celebrate this difference and to mark the work that goes on in adult learning in the local area all year round. The event was a resounding success with the number of attendees exceeding all expectations.

Co. Louth VEC’s Adult Education Officer, Sadie Ward McDermott gave the opening address on the day and welcomed everyone to the proceedings. Guest speakers included Mary Wilton, who, over 20 years ago, was one of the first learners on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) programme here in Drogheda. She described her journey through adult education having progressed from VTOS to a degree in psychology in Trinity College and subsequently on to obtaining a Masters. Máire Dempsey was also a guest speaker, travelling all the way from Clare where she is Co-ordinator of the Shannon Adult Learning Service. Máire spoke about the impact of learning on everyday life and how we are continually learning every moment of every day. Workshops in a variety of areas such as Boost Your Confidence; Discover Your Learning Style, and Change Your Life Through Learning were also held on the day and these proved to be very popular with attendees.

Report on Capital Projects

Staff will be delighted at the amount of refurbishments and improvements that have been carried our over the summer in our schools and centres and this work will continue for the coming months.

Drogheda Centre for Continuing Education will see major renovations over the coming months. This 1930’s listed building will soon have a lift installed to facilitate access for the public. The toilet facilities will be upgraded along with the fire alarm system and the emergency lighting system.

A new extension has opened in Drogheda Institute of Further Education and this will facilitate all students on the one campus. The new extension blends in beautifully with the existing building and will go a long way in relieving the need for space in the College.

St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda has seen major refurbishment and upgrading works in the past twelve months. The external drainage system has been replaced and new footpaths have been installed. A new ultra modern external CCTV system has also been installed which included 24 hour monitoring of the school grounds, including all school buildings, car parks and playing field. Inside the building the school’s electrical system has been completely upgraded and is now a modern energy efficient network. A new fire alarm and emergency lighting system has also been installed.

Refurbishments have taken place in the staffroom and main office block to reflect a modern working environment. The gymnasium has also received a long overdue facelift which includes the upgrading of the toilets, shower facilities, changing rooms, offices and storage spaces.

Planning is under way for a new extension which we hope will be operational in September 2011.

This summer has seen the completion of a new library in Scoil Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer. New disabled toilet facilities will be installed in the coming weeks and over the next few months a new extension and toilet refurbishments will take place. It is hoped that like, St. Oliver’s in Drogheda, the new extension will be complete by 2011.

Work is currently under way on a new state of the art Home Economics room in O’Fiaich College. This will involve the complete refurbishment of one of the Home Economics rooms and the installation of modern, energy efficient equipment. Planning is underway to seek funds for the extension of the solar photovoltaics panels on the roof of the building. These panels have proven to be very successful and cost effective. A new lift has also been installed in the College in recent months.

Renovations are also underway at Bush Post Primary school. All the windows are being replaced and the single glazing has been replaced with double glazing. The heating system has also been refurbished and between the windows and the heating the efficiencies will be calculable. Work is also underway on new disabled toilet facilities which should be complete by the end of the month.

Management recognise the disruption caused to staff and students during this period and greatly appreciate the co-operation received.

Co. Louth VEC schools initiate new approach to teaching Science

Co. Louth VEC has recently joined forces with the Discover Sensors project of the national Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) Programme that will see the introduction of a new and innovative approach to teaching science in its schools. The schools involved include O’Fiaich College in Dundalk, Bush Post-primary School in Riverstown, Dundalk, Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer and St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda.

DSE is the national integrated science, engineering and technology awareness programme managed by Forfás on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. DSE’s main aim is to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM subjects) among primary and post-primary students.

The Discover Sensors project will bring a new focus, and the integration of technology, to the teaching and learning of science in Co. Louth VEC schools. The project supports the use of sensor technology in hands-on scientific investigations by junior cycle Science students. It will help provide students with an experience of "real science" in the classroom by supporting the investigative approach promoted by the Science syllabus.

As part of the project DSE will deliver an integrated programme of continuous professional development to the science teachers of Co. Louth VEC. The teacher CPD programme will start next month and will incorporate a blended approach to using face-to-face, out of school, in school and on-line modules to the VEC science teachers.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of Co. Louth VEC, said that he “was delighted for the VECs schools to be involved in this project; the project will mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between DSE and Co. Louth VEC, with both organisations working together to spearhead the importance of STEM in the development of the SMART economy”.

Partners in the Discover Sensors project include the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the Education Centre Network, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and ICT Ireland (IBEC).

Free Classes for VEC Staff

As part of our ongoing commitment to In-Service training for our employees Co. Louth VEC is continuing to waive the payment of course fees for all staff who attend courses operating under the auspices of it's adult education programme.
Courese are being offered in O'Fiaich Institute in Dundalk and DIFE/St. Olivers in Drogheda. They will start later this month and enrolment takes place on the 13th and 14th September. Staff application forms are available in each VEC centre.
Click here for information on Dundalk courses, here for DIFE and here for St. Olivers.

Meet Our Admin Staff

Standing (l-r): Grace O’Shaughnessy, Fiona Begley, Gavin Traynor, Pauline White, Debbie Woods, Martine Kimmins, Edel Neary, Caroline Hand, Frances Devine, Kathy Maguire, Gráinne Laverty.

Seated (l-r): Veronica Traynor, Anne Whyte, Joan Regan, Aileen Conry.

Missing from photo: Gillian Begley, Rosaleen Hough, Marie Keelan, Teresa Ludlow, Áine Lynn.

New VEC Committee February 2010

Seated (L – R) Cllr. Declan Breathnach, Ms. Audrey Dorian, Cllr. Oliver Tully (Chairperson), Dr. Pádraig Kirk (C.E.O.), Cllr. Marianne Butler, Mr. Benny Devlin.
Standing (L – R) Cllr. Anthony Donohoe, Ms. Aishling Bracebridge, Cllr. Terry Brennan, Mr. Bernard Murnaghan, Cllr. Tomás Sharkey, Ms. Úna Kirk, Mr. Ciarán O’Donnell, Cllr. Jim D’Arcy, Cllr. Liam Reilly, Cllr. Seán Bellew, Cllr. Martin Bellew, Cllr. Jim Ryan, Mr. Aidan Faughey, Ms. Audrey O’Dowd

Peace III Update

Louth VEC PEACE III Project has received confirmation from the Louth Peace and Reconciliation Partnership to roll out its proposed training plan for 2010.

The training plan outlines how the project intends to provide capacity building training, language skills and facilitation to members of the Polish, African, Lithuanian, Travellers and Muslim communities in Louth and the Newry and Mourne area.

Additionally, the project intends to work with Louth VEC schools to implement a whole school approach to address issues of sectarianism and racism. The Project initially intends to pilot this work in St.Oliver’s Community College Drogheda. The whole school approach includes elements for parents, teachers, pupils and the school environment. The Louth VEC PEACE III Project then hopes that this pilot will be rolled out to other Louth VEC schools for the period 2010/2011.

New Boards of Management

At it's February meeting Co. Louth VEC elected new boards of management for all of its schools and centres including O’Fiaich College in Dundalk, Bush Post-primary School in Riverstown, St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda, Drogheda Institute of Further Education and Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer. New boards were also elected for Drogheda and Dundalk Youthreach centres and for Tara Education Centre. Each new board comprises of members of the VEC, staff and parent representatives and local community/industry representatives. The term of office for the eight new boards runs until the end of September 2012.

The following people were elected to the board of management of O’Fiaich College – Bernard Devlin, Cllr. Terry Brennan, Cllr. Jim Ryan, Gary Gilligan, Phil O’Connor, Teresa Lawlor, Ann Duffy, Declan Ward, Eamon Kinch and Nuala Donnelly.

The new board of Bush Post-primary School comprises of Bernard Murnaghan, Úna Kirk, Cllr. Jim Ryan, Cllr. Terry Brennan, Joe Corcoran, Sineád McDonnell, Brendan Thompson, Patricia McCann, Liam Woods, Rev. Fr. McParland and Aindreas O’Donnell.

The following people were elected to the board of Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer – Bernard Devlin, Cllr. Tomás Sharkey, Cllr. Liam Reilly, Cllr. Oliver Tully, Therese Clinton, Alan Hurley, Eranda Langeveldt, John Hand, Thomas Clare and Richard McGeough.

The following people were elected to the board of St. Oliver’s Community College – Audrey O’Dowd, Cllr. Declan Breathnach, Cllr. Anthony Donohoe, John Healy, Christine Kiernan, Trina Cunningham, Martina Hansberry, Michael McCormick and Teresa Healy.

The new board of Drogheda Institute of Further Education comprises the following people – Cllr. Gerald Nash, Cllr. Martin Bellew, Cllr. Oliver Tully, Cllr. Liam Reilly, Martin Spain, Joanne Nolan, Jill Birch, Ann Cleary, Edward McGovern, Vincent Black and Jimmy Mulroy.

The following people were elected to the board of Drogheda Youthreach – Cllr. Declan Breathnach, Ciarán O’Donnell, Clare Shanks, Mary Byrne, Janice Ryan, Caroline O’Neill, Hugh Doogan, Marion Horan and Patrick Kelly.

The new board of Dundalk Youthreach comprises Cllr. Marianne Butler, Cllr. Liam Reilly, Bernard Murnaghan, Cllr. Terry Brennan, Kieran Clarke, Marian Murphy, John Brady, Niall Weldon, Harry Traynor, Maria Kiernan and Colin Ryan.

The new board of Tara Education Centre comprises Audrey Dorian, Cllr. Martin Bellew, Cllr Tomás Sharkey, Úna Kirk, Yvonne Wynne, Margaret Ward, Catherine Vaughan, Seán Roche, Peter Nolan, Bill Tosh, Bernard Murnaghan, Susan Keogh and Eileen Lynch.

Speaking at the VEC meeting Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of Co. Louth VEC paid tribute to each of the outgoing boards of management and thanked them, on behalf of all the staff and students of the VEC, for their excellent stewardship during their term of office. Dr. Kirk also welcomed the eight new boards into the VEC and wished them well in their managerial role. “The level of voluntary commitment freely given by board of management members needs to be recognised” he said, “a certain responsibility comes with the role and each and every board member is congratulated for lending their expertise and for playing their part in their community”.

The VEC have provided training for all of its board of management members. Under the terms of the Education Act (1998) it is a statutory obligation for all schools to have boards of management in place.

Irish Sub-committee

At its most recent meeting Co. Louth VEC appointed a sub-committee to assess the demand in the county for all Irish education provision at post-primary level, and to determine how best this demand might be serviced. The sub-committee will present its findings and recommendations to a meeting of the full VEC later this year. It is expected that the committee will then take appropriate steps to progress the matter.

Speaking at the meeting the CEO of Co. Louth VEC, Dr. Pádraig Kirk said that “the government’s 20 year strategy for the Irish language recommends that Gaelscoileanna will continue to be supported at primary level and all-Irish provision at post-primary level will be developed to meet follow-on demand”. Dr. Kirk went on to say that “currently in Co. Louth there is significant provision of Gaelscoileanna at primary level, but this is not matched by follow on provision at post-primary level”.

Currently, there are two all Irish schools at primary level in the county catering for some 400 pupils between them. There is also an all Irish primary school close to Drogheda catering for well over 100 pupils. In addition, an application has been lodged with the Department of Education and Science for the establishment of a Gaelscoil in Dunleer.

The VECs sub-committee comprises of Cllr. Tomás Sharkey and Cllr. Liam Reilly, both of whom are second-level teachers by profession. Each of the VECs second-level schools throughout the county are also represented on the sub-committee and include Catherine Page from Bush Post-primary School, Michael Woods from O’Fiaich College, Trudy Rossiter from St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda and Fiona Ní Chonaill from Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer. A number of external personnel with expertise in the development of the Irish language have also been appointed to the committee including Eamon Kinch, a former member of Co. Louth VEC, who has been elected Chair of the committee.

The committee has met twice already on 9th March and 12th April and are meeting again on the 10th May. It is expected that they will consult widely with relevant interest groups and bodies.

Intercultural Celebration

Co Louth VEC in conjunction with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) organised their first Intercultural Celebration which was held on Tuesday 16th March 2010 and was open to the general public. The event which was entitled ‘All of Us’ took place on the DkIT campus and was officially launched by the President of the Institute, Mr. Denis Cummins, and the Chairman of the VEC, Cllr. Oliver Tully.

After the opening address the Anderson School of Dance from Portadown kicked off with a lively display of Irish Dancing and this was followed by an eclectic mix of musical talent drawn from a variety of cultures. The concert entitled ‘Ceiliuradh Sinn Le Chéile’ which was attended by several schools and was enjoyed by all.

The event was spread over a wide area of the campus and included colourful exhibitions of arts and crafts from an array of cultures such as African, Nigerian, Chinese and the Travelling Community. VEC students from Tara Education Centre, VTOS, Youthreach Drogheda and Louth Comhhairle Na nOg took an active part in the day by showcasing their crafts and information at a number of stands in the main exhibition hall.

There was something for everyone, with a food fair organised by International students, creative workshops on ‘World Cultures’ for pre-school children and ‘World Dance Performances’ by students from diverse cultures. The dance performances included Irish dancing, Chinese, Scottish, HipHop and Zumba.

The Living History exhibition which featured a working Tinsmith and a Traveller Wagon was very popular and afforded a unique opportunity for visitors to gain an insight into Traveller culture.

This combined venture between Co. Louth VEC and DkIT was deemed to be very successful in its first year and well worth building on in the future. This event further strengthens the link between these two educational institutions.

In Service Training for Youthreach Staff

Youthreach staff from both Dundalk and Drogheda centres came together on 22March to participate in a Continuing Professional Development programme.

Co Louth VEC, in partnership with the Second Level Support Service have worked with Youthreach Coordinators to both plan and deliver the first in what is hoped to be a series of in-service training inputs for all Teaching personnel employed in the two centres.
The theme for the first training day was ‘Supporting quality teaching and learning in schools/Centres'. The programme facilitator was Fiona Kindlon of the SLSS. The emphasis on the day was placed on exploration of Practical approaches to enhancing student motivation and achievement in the classroom. The facilitator engaged all Teachers in active participation throughout the day. On initial evaluation, feedback on the day was entirely positive and appreciative of the service being made available to Youthreach staffs and indeed the resounding response was for more of the same! It is expected the next CPD day will be held on the 22 April. Both groups of Teachers found considerable benefit from participating in joint training and thus this will be the format for day two of this training.

Local Youth Club Grant Scheme

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) supports voluntary youth club activities at local level. The Scheme, which provides grants towards the costs of running clubs, is part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery and is supported by the National Development Plan. Funding for the Scheme is provided by the Youth Affairs Unit (YAU), Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) and administered locally by Vocational Education Committees (VECs) on the Office’s behalf. VECs advertise the Scheme locally on an annual basis outlining the purpose of the grant and the eligibility criteria.The Scheme supports voluntary youth club activities for young people; with priority being given to young people between the ages of 10 and 21. The primary focus of this Scheme is to assist local voluntary youth clubs who offer a youth work response to young people. However, other clubs/groups that work with young people who are not specifically youth work are also entitled to apply for funding under this Scheme.

In 2009 Louth VEC have been allocated €34,365 by way of grant-in-aid calculated having regard to the cohort of young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in Co. Louth VEC area as per the 2006 Census figures. Successful applications for the LYCGS will be announced by Co. Louth VEC shortly.

O'Fiaich College Win Bob Eustace Cup

Congratulations to O'Fiaich College soccer team who have secured the Bob Eustace Cup on their first attempt in a cup final held in Cork Institute of Technology on the 10th March last.

O'Fiaich left no stone unturned in their quest for victory, setting off early for Cork IT to facilitate a pre-match training session.

The match kicked off at 1.30pm on a bright,dry, cool day, perfect conditions for football. From the start the pace of the game was relentless with both teams giving it their all. However double strikes from Tom McShane and Paul Adeniyi plus a Gary Clarke header saw O'Fiaich take their first ever Colleges FAI trophy in an astounding 5-0 victory over Inchicore College.

The team celebrated their win at the Colleges Football Association presentation dinner that night hosted by Cork Institute of Technology.

New VEC Committee

Our new VEC Committee has now been elected and will convene for the first time on 11th February, 2010 in Co. Louth VEC Head Office in Chapel Street, Dundalk. They will find it a very busy session as our new Chair and Vice Chair will be elected, and the various Schools' Boards of Management and other committees throughout the scheme will be ratified.

The new committee members are listed below:

• Martin Bellew (M.C.C)
• Seán Bellew (D.T.C)
• Declan Breathnach (M.C.C)
• Terry Brennan (M.C.C)
• Marianne Butler (D.T.C)
• Aishling Bracebridge
• Jim D'Arcy (M.C.C.)
• Bernard Devlin
• Anthony Donohoe (D.B.C.)
• Audrey Dorian
• Aidan Faughey
• Úna Kirk
• Imelda Munster (M.C.C.)
• Bernard Murnaghan
• Gerald Nash (D.B.C.)
• Ciarán O'Donnell
• Audrey O’Dowd
• Liam Reilly (M.C.C.)
• Jim Ryan (M.C.C.)
• Tomás Sharkey MCC
• Oliver Tully MCC

2009 CLVEC Staff Retirements

We wish all the very best and a long and happy retirement to staff members who retired from the scheme in 2009. A full list of these staff members can be viewed below:

Education Officer
Eugene Winters

Bush Post Primary
James Pepper

O'Fiaich College
Michael Challoner
Mary Cooney
Ann Cullen
Eoin O’Brien

Scoil Uí Mhuirí
Monica Agnew

St. Olivers' Community College
Frank Brady
Gerard Corrigan
Brian Lennon
May McBride
James O’Brien

Launch of New CPD Programme for Co. Louth VEC Teachers

Co. Louth VEC have recently engaged with the Second Level Support Service (SLSS) of the Department of Education and Science to put in place an ongoing programme of continuous professional development (CPD) for the scheme’s teaching staff.
As part of this collaboration teaching staff were surveyed last term as a means of ascertaining the current CPD needs of teachers. At this point the survey results have been analysed and a long-term best fit CPD programme has been developed. This programme commenced for Co. Louth VEC teaching staff on 19th January 2010 and will comprise different elements that are tailored for different groups and combinations of teachers across the scheme.
The first element of the CPD programme will run from January to May 2010 and is being aimed at all those teachers of Business subjects currently employed in Co. Louth VEC schools/centres. This group of teachers came together on the afternoon of 19th January 2010 in the boardroom at VEC head office, Chapel St. Dundalk and were facilitated by Ms. Fiona Kindlon and Ms. Della Meade from SLSS. The afternoon’s programme was devoted to “Practical Approaches to Enhancing Student Motivation in the Classroom” and the feedback from all those involved was very positive. The second and final part of this particular programme takes place on 15 March and 12 May 2010 respectively.
The teachers involved in this round are:

• Susan Ayton VTOS Drogheda


• Karen Wilkonson VTOS Dundalk


• Kathleen Brennan DIFE


• Phil Walsh DIFE


• Barbara Cooney DIFE


• Oliver Gray DIFE


• Maria Larney DIFE


• Regina Marron Walker DIFE


• Martina McKevitt Bush PPSSheila McDonald Bush PPS


• Evelyn Gallagher St. Oliver’s CC


• Annette Gannon St. Oliver’s CC


• John Healy St. Oliver’s CC


• Jane Gibney St. Oliver’s CC


• John Clune St. Oliver’s CC


• Valerie Kelly Scoil Uí Mhuirí


• Martina Farrell Scoil Uí Mhuirí


• Michael McGettigam O’Fiaich College


• Mary O’Hare O’Fiaich College


• Evelyn Sheeran O’Fiaich College


• Audrey Flood O’Fiaich College


• Noreen Mackin O’Fiaich College


• Ciara O’Meara O’Fiaich College

Two new CPD programmes will be offered in the September to December 2010 period and relevant teachers will be notified of the details before the summer holidays.

Employee Assistance Service for Teachers

Teachers! Do you know that you and your immediate family members can avail of a free counselling service?

The Employee Assistance Service can help with issues in any of these areas:

• Work related issues
• Family issues
• Emotional concerns
• Relationship difficulties
• Stress
• Harassment and bullying
• Isolation
• Workload
• Addiction
• Bereavement
• Health concerns
• Workplace conflict
  
  Here are some facts about the Employee Assistance Service for Teachers.
  
  It is free (the service is paid for by the Department of Education and Science).
  It is for teachers, their spouses or partners and their dependents above the age of 16 and even mother/ father where appropriate.
  The service provides access to a professional counsellor / psychotherapist who will listen in a non-judgemental way.
  The service is offered 24 hours/ day and 365 days of the year.
  The service is provided by ringing a Freephone number 1800 411 057.
  You can get immediate support by talking to the counsellor who answers the phone (this might be a single session or may involve further phone conversations).
  The service can also arrange face to face counselling (up to 6 counselling sessions). These are the steps involved: When you phone the service you are matched with a counsellor in your area. You can request to meet with a male or female counsellor and if you prefer you can ask to talk to a counsellor outside your area if you have concerns about privacy. The Employee Assistance Service will contact the counsellor and check that they can offer a service within 5 days. The local counsellor then phones the teacher/ client within 48 hours to make an appointment.
  This service is confidential.
  The Employee Assistance Service for Teachers is provided by Vhi Corporate solutions.
  Check out the website www.vhi.ie/dep_edu_science./index.jsp to find lots of useful advice about dealing with a range of issues.
  
  
  

Co. Louth VEC Training Programme aimed at combating racism and sectarianism

Co. Louth VEC recently secured PEACE III funding from the Co. Louth Peace and Reconciliation Partnership to deliver a major project under strand one of the programme which focuses on reconciling disparate communities. The Co. Louth VEC led project is aimed at combating sectarianism and racism on a cross border basis. The Project will run to the end of 2010. Co. Louth VEC has teamed up with two other Co. Louth based organisations to deliver this project: the North South Exchange Consortium based at DKIT and Coexist based in Dundalk town centre. The project is supported by the European Union's PEACE III Programme as awarded by Louth Peace and Reconciliation Partnership.

Co. Louth VEC PEACE III Project is managed by Eamonn Quinn, Project Co-ordinator with administrative support provided by Aoife Hughes and is based in the Chapel St office of Louth VEC. Eamonn has wide experience working on PEACE funded educational projects and of working within the community and voluntary sector.
Eamonn said “the Louth VEC PEACE III Project has the potential to bring enormous benefits to project participants and the wider community in tackling sectarianism and racism. The Project intends to hold a number of training programmes during 2010 in Co.Louth and possibly South Armagh/South Down to enable participants to deal more effectively with issues of racism and sectarianism within their own communities." Eamonn added he is available to meet with colleagues within the VEC who have a shared interest in this area of work and can see where possible linkages/partnerships might be developed between this project and those currently underway /in the planning process in the VEC’s school/Colleges.


Contact Details:
Eamonn Quinn
PEACE III Project Coordinator
Co. Louth VEC, Chapel St., Dundalk, Louth.

Tel: 00 353 42-9334047

Mob: 00 353 87 9370628
e-mail: eamonn.quinn@louthvec.ie

€4.2m Funding for Co. Louth VEC Schools

Since our last publication it is with great pleasure that we can report that an additional €3.1m in funding has been allocated by the Department of Education & Science for improvements in our schools and centres. This brings to €4.2m the total funding received from the Department in the 2009/2010 school year for capital projects.

In addition to the Summer Works Schemes of €1.1m which was reported in our last newsletter, funding has been received for a number of Emergency Works Projects. Bush Post Primary School has upgraded the toilet facilities at the school and the boiler has been replaced.

O’Fiaich College has a new boundary fence in place and work in currently underway on roof repairs and the installation of an elevator. In conjunction with Sustainable Energy Ireland, a comprehensive photovoltaic installation is taking place on the roof of the school. The energy generated with this installation will be fed directly into the college’s main switchboard to offset the electrical base load. In addition, remote view of the PV panels will occur with the installation of CCTV cameras transmitting images back to a TV display located at the main reception area.

The completion of this work will see O’Fiaich College become the flagship for the Department and will be used as a model for similar future upgrades throughout the country. The Principal, staff and students are to be congratulated for their patience while all this disruption was taking place. However, all would agree, it was well worth it!

As a result of these improvements, the demand for the use of the building has increased and this has resulted in the college moving a section of its course to the IQON Building at the Finnabair Industrial Estate from January 2010.

It is now 30 years since St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda had its first intake of students. Over the years thousands of students have passed through its doors. This year sees long overdue maintenance work being carried out. In addition to the complete toilet upgrade, new security lighting, CCTV cameras and a new fire alarm are being installed. The drainage system is also getting a complete upgrade, and the staff room and administrative offices in the school, which have served staff well over the years, are also being improved.

Just before Christmas, the sod was turned on the new €1M five classroom extension to Drogheda Institute of Further Education. Work has now commenced and staff and students expect to be in the new building for the commencement of the 2010/2011 academic year. The college numbers have risen dramatically this year due to the extensive range of excellent courses on offer and also aided by the down-turn in the economy which has seen more and more people returning to education.

Work on upgrading the toilet facilities in Scoil Uí Mhuirí has recently been completed, while work is also nearing completion to improve roof and cavity wall insulation levels in the school.

Co. Louth VEC is very aware of its obligations to make its buildings more accessible for persons of limited mobility. With this in mind, a number of centres have installed automated doors, such as the VEC Head Office and the Drogheda Centre for Continuing Education, DIFE and O’Fiaich College. In the near future, automated doors will be installed in St. Oliver’s Community College, Bush Post Primary School and Scoil Uí Mhuirí. Planning approval is currently being awaited for the installation of a lift at the Drogheda Centre for Continuing Education.

It is exciting times in Co. Louth VEC at the moment as work is underway in seeking extensions to St. Oliver’s Community College and Scoil Uí Mhuirí as student numbers are increasing rapidly – a testament to the high calibre of staff and excellent courses on offer within the scheme.