MID Logo 2021
Supporting Growth & Opportunity
 
Applications are invited for the position of:
Community Development Officer
 
 
This position offers you the chance to be part of MID's Community Development Team, using your skills and experience to support communities across Co Monaghan. It involves working with individuals and groups in local communities, especially disadvantaged communities, targeted under SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme) 2018 – 2023. The CDO will be responsible for establishing contact with individuals and groups and supporting local communities in collective action to address local issues and develop community initiatives.

The Role
The purpose of the role is to:
  • Support local communities to engage in collective action, including community group formation and identification of needs/issues
  • Support members of New Communities to achieve social inclusion, including coordination of Fáilte Isteach programme
  • Link individuals and groups in disadvantaged communities to resources and supports available through state agencies and other service providers to address their needs/issues
  • Link individuals and groups to resources available through Monaghan Integrated Development (MID) including SICAP, RDP, LAES, TUS/RSS and other MID Programmes.
  • Promote social inclusion in local communities through effective use of community development principles and practice
The position is based in County Monaghan with Monaghan Integrated Development CLG. Monaghan Integrated Development CLG is an equal opportunities employer. Interviews for this position will be competency based and shortlisting will apply on the basis of the information provided in the application form.

Click on these links to download the Application Form, together with a full Job Specification and guidance on the competencies required (Team Work; Information Management & Decision Making; Delivery Of Results; Interpersonal & Communication Skills; Specialist Knowledge, Expertise & Self Development) or yu can request them from .

Closing date for applications: 5.00pm Thursday June 8th 2023 (8/6/2023). Interviews will be held on Monday June 26th 2023 (26/6/2023).

This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Tá an tionscadal seo cómhaoinithe ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus an tAontas Eorpach.  

 
MID Logo 2021
Supporting Growth & Opportunity
 
Applications are invited for the position of:
CASEWORKER - Monaghan Cavan Local Area Employment (LAES)
Panel of Full-time & Part-time Caseworkers

The Position:
Enjoy meeting people and using your skills and energy to help them grow and develop, then the LAES Caseworker role will provide you with an exciting opportunity to help people progress their career and find the right job. As a LAES Caseworker you will engage with unemployed clients referred to the service. The role involves working with clients/jobseekers to guide and support them towards full-time employment. As Caseworker, you will build professional relationships, inspire motivation and confidence with jobseekers and network with employers and relevant agencies to ensure progression opportunities for clients.

The Role:
  • Providing clients with individual career path planning, advice and guidance and employment supports
  • Managing and operating the caseload management system within annually agreed targets.
  • Proactively assisting with job search and referring clients to employers.
  • Provide aftercare support to clients placed in jobs.
  • Referring clients to counselling, training, education courses and other relevant services as appropriate.
  • Liaise with employers on behalf of the jobseekers
The successful person should:
  • Hold a Level 7 qualification or willing to work toward a relevant qualification and /or experience working with long term unemployed adults.
  • A high level of awareness, understanding / experience of the issues that concern unemployed people
  • Good understanding and knowledge of the local jobs market.
  • Own their own car and have a clean driving licence.
This position is based between County Monaghan & Cavan requiring flexibility to cover both Counties and attend meetings.

Interviews for this position will be competency based and shortlisting will apply on the basis of information provided in the application form. A panel may be formed from which future candidates may be drawn.

Click on these links to download the Application Form, together with a full Job Specification and guidance on competencies required (Career Guidance; Caseload & Information Management; Delivery of Results; Interpersonal & Communication Skills; Team Work) or they are available on request from . 
 
Closing date 5pm Wednesday 31st May 2023
 

 
The LEADER team at Monaghan Integrated Development (MID) want to hear your views on how the new LEADER Programme can fund & support communities & enterprises in Co Monaghan!
Your responses will help inform the delivery of the new LEADER 2023-2027 Programme (€6 million allocated to Co. Monaghan)
 
Please fill in this online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8TY7P2 
Or scan the QR code below to access it!
 
For more info, contact  / 087 176 0877 / 042 974 9500 
 
 

 Vacancies Available on the Rural Social Scheme

The Rural Social Scheme is a government initiative funded by the Department of Social Protection and administered in Co. Monaghan by Monaghan Integrated Development CLG.

 

The scheme provides an opportunity for farmers or their spouses, and in some cases their children or their siblings to earn additional income through employment provided in their local communities. The main aim of the RSS is to use the skills and knowledge of the local farming community in the development of local amenities, facilities, and services. All the work carried out by participants on the RSS will be community-based.

Types of Work

  • Environmental services (conservation and maintenance of national walkways)
  • Caring services (childcare, care of older people) 
  • General community services (newsletters or information provision for communities)
  • Para-educational services community playgroups
  • Energy conservation work in community buildings
  • Social care for all age groups and people with disabilities
  • Caretaking, securing, and supervising community buildings and spaces
  • Renovation of community and sporting facilities, including the regeneration and enhancement of community, recreation, and sporting spaces
  • Work in support of cultural and heritage activities
  • Community administration and community event management
  • Coaching for sporting activities

The types of work carried out under the RSS include 19.5 hours per week and these hours will be based on a farmer-friendly schedule in order to ensure that it does not impede farming activities. To be eligible to participate on the RSS applicants must be actively farming, be between 25 and 66 years of age AND be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection

  • Farm Assist.
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance.
  • Jobseeker’s Benefit, if previously on a FÁS Community Employment Scheme or the Rural Social Scheme in the previous 12 months.
  • Disability Allowance.
  • One-Parent Family Payment.
  • Widow(ers)/Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (contributory and non-contributory).

In most cases, the rate of payment on the RSS will be equal to the current rate of payment in addition to a top-up payment of €27.50. There is a minimum weekly payment of €247.50. A class A9 PRSI contribution is paid on behalf of all RSS participants and the payment is not subject to the Universal Social Charge.

In order for an applicant to be deemed eligible to participate on Rural Social Scheme, they must provide proof that they are actively farming by providing a copy of: Their application for the EU Basic Payment Scheme for the current year, which includes a valid herd number together with a copy of the associated receipts.

OR  for online forms taken from The Department of Agriculture website, the following will be accepted:

A copy of the review and submit page and a copy of the confirmation page for the year prior to the participant applying for Rural Social Scheme • A copy of the application summary details as above

Eligible Organisations

  • The work placements are proposed and provided by community and voluntary organisations.
  • The organisations must provide good quality work opportunities that are of benefit to the community.
  • Organisations with a proposed work placement should register with MID.
  • They will be asked to submit an application detailing the work and the number of participants requested.
  • MID will then assess and make a decision on the proposal.

The criteria for eligible organisations are as follows

  • Be Community, voluntary, and not-for-profit in nature: and
  • Have a recognised informal or formal/legal structure; and
  • Have a track record of working with or providing services to and within their communities; and
  • Demonstrate a capacity of managing the candidate in the work placement with the supervisory support of the Implementing Body.
  • Be able to provide a beneficial placement experience for the Person(s) in placement

There are 72 RSS Positions in Co. Monaghan and MID has a panel in place for interested candidates to join the RSS Scheme or for Community Groups wanting to become placement providers. 

If you are interested in becoming an RSS participant or if you are a community and voluntary organisation interested in applying to host RSS participants or seeking further information on the scheme you can contact any of the following:

Team Leader & South Monaghan Area - Aurelia Callan - 087 6021177/  

North Monaghan - Kathryn McCague - 087 7927902 /  

West Monaghan - Geraldine Maguire - 087 4171052 /  

Southside Partnership - Social Enterprise Support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
There was great attendance and response from attendees at last week’s Monaghan Women’s Collective Ireland (previously Dochas for Women) Women's Health event at St Patricks Hall Monaghan. Gerard Callan of the 'Fit for Work and Life Programme' at Monaghan Integrated Development (MID) and Sinéad Keenan and Grace Sherry of the Monaghan Volunteer Centre at MID were delighted to be part of the day.

The Monaghan Volunteer Centre staff shared information about volunteering roles in local areas throughout County Monaghan along with the health benefits of volunteering, answering volunteering queries and registering interested people with Monaghan Volunteer Centre in situ if they wished. To learn more about the Monaghan Volunteer Centre, visit volunteermonaghan.ie and or contact / 047 72191.

Gerard of MID spoke about the 'Fit for Work and Life' programme which includes practical advice on living well including diet, exercise, alcohol, smoking and more. If you wish to register for the programme, contact Gerard on 087 665 2162 / .
 

 
New agricultural show management software supported by Monaghan LEADER

The Irish Shows Association (ISA) is delighted to announce the launch of its ISA SuperShow Platform, an integrated show management IT system, which will be available to its members throughout Ireland. During the enforced break in ISA’s regular activities due to COVID-19, the association was able to focus on bringing this innovative digitalisation project to fruition.

In recent years, shows have found it increasingly difficult to attract people to administrative positions due to the significant time and paperwork involved. Recognising the need to future-proof their shows, the ISA set about seeking funding to develop a cloud-based show management system to reduce the administrative burden on the agricultural show volunteers.
Following investment in market research and a feasibility study, the ISA went to tender and awarded the contract to Irish software development and integration company, Dotser. The ISA is delighted to partner with an indigenous Irish company to provide this exciting ICT solution to member shows. This new system will allow organisers/entrants/participants to log information, such as animal details, only once and use this same data for their next show.

The project is part-funded under the LEADER national cooperation programme, which is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Agriculture as part of Project Ireland 2040.

The project is being led out by Monaghan Integrated Development CLG in partnership with Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG, Galway Rural Development CLG and Southwest Mayo Development Company CLG.

Gabriel O'Connell, CEO of Monaghan Integrated Development and Lead project Partner says: “It has been a great pleasure to work with the Board of the Irish Shows Association and being able to support this worthwhile project under the LEADER National Cooperation Measure. He noted that Monaghan LEADER Local Action Group was on board from the start, cooperation funding meant we could pool together resources from the 4 counties involved and provide the support needed to develop this innovative shows management system which will make sure local agricultural shows in Ireland continue in the community well into the future."

45 ISA member shows will be live on the new system for the coming showing season and exhibitors are encouraged to avail of this very useful service. A list of all participating shows will be published on the Irish Shows Association website, www.irishshows.org.

The roll-out of the project has commenced with training actively underway including a session held at the ISA AGM recently, where Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys commended the ISA for "the great work being done in digitising and future proofing the shows".

           
 

County Monaghan Sustainable Energy Community (SEC), supported by Monaghan Integrated Development (MID), launched their Energy Master Plan (EMP) for County Monaghan at the Íontas Arts & Community Resource Centre, Castleblayney on Tuesday 20th September.
 
Gabriel O’Connell, CEO of MID, pictured speaking at the launch.

The EMP establishes the baseline of energy use in the county, identifying opportunities to reduce energy consumption, to become more energy efficient, and the plan recommends a range of activities to promote the uptake of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants to make homes more energy efficient. The report recommends targeted community engagement including hosting information clinics and events. A necessary step to promote the uptake of home energy efficiency measures was identified; providing information on the grants available and supporting homeowners with their grant application.

‘Residential Energy accounts for over 53% of total energy consumed in the county, Monaghan has a higher proportion of householders using oil as the main source of heating, 64% v’s 37% nationally. If Monaghan is to do its bit to meet the national targets as set out in the Climate Action Plan by 2030 it requires 700 homes upgrading to B2 annually and 561 homes installing a heat pump annually in County Monaghan. Presently 82% of houses in Monaghan have a C1 or lower BER rating, so we have a long way to go in meeting the 2030 targets’ states Julie Clarke, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) Development Officer at MID who organised the launch and energy expo.

‘Poultry is the most energy intensive, farming activity, in the County with 240 farms followed by diary with 707 farms. Heating fuel, kerosene, accounts for the highest (49%) form of energy consumption on Monaghan farms’ notes Dawn Murphy of Action Renewables, who completed the study. In the Agriculture sector, the need to encourage the uptake of the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine’s Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) to modernise farm buildings, equipment and PV installation in all agricultural sectors was identified. Similarly, the need to encourage the uptake of the SEAI Support Scheme for Renewable Heating Systems (SSRH) for the installation of biomass renewable heating systems in poultry, pigs and mushroom production to reduce costs and CO2 emissions was also highlighted.

‘County Monaghan SEC is one of 700 SEC’s across the country, 70 of these groups have successfully completed their Energy Master Plans to-date and 130 more are underway’ Susan Richardson from SEAI congratulated County Monaghan SEC on the completion of their EMP. The County Monaghan SEC formed in 2020 when MID brought a range of stakeholders together (Irish Farmers' Association - IFA, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board - CMETB, Dundalk Institute of Technology - DKIT, Teagasc, Monaghan County Council, MID, South West College - SWC and Transition Monaghan) to begin work on developing an Energy Master Plan for the County. The SEC group secured funding from SEAI to complete the plan which focuses on the residential and agricultural sectors.
 
FREE HOME ENERY EXPO

Following the EMP Launch, the MID SICAP Team hosted a FREE HOME ENERGY EXPO in the foyer of the Íontas Centre attracting over 80 homeowners. The event presented attendees with ways to make their homes more energy efficient with a breakdown and further information of the various SEAI grants available to support this by Mel Gavin from the Atlantic Technological University (ATU). Homeowners also had access to information and advice on applying for the SEAI Warmer Homes Scheme (from CMETB & SICAP), One Stop Shops Grants (from Kore Insulation), and Individual Home Grants (from County Monaghan SEC & ATU) while Aisling of the Citizens Information Service answered queries about Fuel Allowance eligibility which is one of the qualifying social welfare payments to apply for the Warmer Homes Scheme.

To find out more about the SEAI grants, visit www.monaghansec.ie.
 
Click on the link to download and or view a copy of the Energy Master Plan, or telephone Margaret at MID on 042 9749500 (0) for further information.

 
We were at Moffett Automated Storage’s Grand Opening! 'A proud day in County Monaghan!' as Minister Heather Humphreys said
 
Monaghan LEADER contributed to the extension, remodel and upgrade of their existing office space, helping increase production and efficiency alongside staff retention and attraction. Moffett announced 30 new positions in the company
 
Gabriel O'Connell, CEO of MID, spoke on behalf of Monaghan LEADER who provided funding of €195,000 toward the project, under the Enterprise Development theme. The Monaghan Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Monaghan County Council and MID are delighted to have supported this worthwhile project
 
MID, through a variety of projects, considers and researches Rural Attractiveness and how to attract people to live and work in County Monaghan, and so, it pleases us to support Moffett Automated Storage’s forward thinking with this LEADER funding to do just that!
 
Best wishes for the future!
#MASopening #Monaghan #OurRuralFuture
 
    
 
    

 
‘Understanding and Caring for our Waterways’ is a practical and hands-on free training programme open to all (18+)
 
Learn more about and how to assess the structure, function and health of our rivers, lakes and wetlands at free, facilitated water resource management training with Ken Whelan & Martin McGarrigle from 9.30am - 3.30pm;
  • North Monaghan; Sat 3rd & Sun 4th Sept and Sat 8th Oct
  • South Monaghan; Sat 17th & Sun 18th Sept and Sun 9th Oct
*Participants are welcome to do any and or all of the training days - just notify in advance please.
 
Register to attend the Online Intro Session on Mon 29th Aug, 7-8pm, at https://bit.ly/3Qp3Oc9 
Register your interest for the Course days in either or all North and South Monaghan locations at; https://forms.gle/kFdPbrp7vKaPXN2d6 
 
The introductory webinar is a great opportunity to get a feel for what this training will entail. The training is open to all; from Tidy Town groups and farmers, to anglers and walkers, wildlife groups and teachers, plus many more! This training is funded by Monaghan LEADER.
 
For more information, contact Monaghan LEADER at  / 087 176 0877 / 042 974 9500

Ministers McGrath and O’Brien launch the Government’s Social Inclusion Programme Annual Report
 
• Report details numbers of groups and individuals supported in 2021
• ‘Learning Brief’ – A comparison of Women and Men supported by SICAP also published
• Programme internationally recognised with UN award
 
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, joined Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, today (Tuesday 12th July) to launch the ‘Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) Annual Report 2021’
at the Mansion House in Dublin.

SICAP is co-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the European Social Fund.

It currently employs approximately 600 community workers across Ireland working to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

The Programme was recently awarded the prestigious UN Award for Public Service during Covid. A ‘Learning Brief’ which examines the different experiences of men and women who have been
supported by the programme was also launched today.

The SICAP 2021 Annual Report highlights the vital importance of the Programme in addressing inequality and improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged groups and individuals in the country.

In 2021, 2,646 Local Community Groups and 26,483 individuals were supported by the programme.
The report also acknowledges the role of the Local Development Companies (LDCs) and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) who deliver the Programme at County and local area level.
 
Speaking at today’s launch, Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy said:
“I am delighted today to welcome colleagues and friends from Dublin's community and local development sector who partner with Dublin City Council in delivering the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). It's success is attributable to the hard work and commitment of all delivery partners working at local and central government and
especially to the programme participants themselves".

“We are busy in July expanding SICAP actions across Dublin to include dedicated service responses to meet the needs of recently arrived Ukrainian refugees".

“This effort supports our wider Community Forum response in helping meet presenting and urgent needs".

“I want to thank our Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and its staff team for their ongoing and important work overseeing all aspects of SICAP in Dublin and ensuring it has gone from strength to strength since it's inception in 2018".

“SICAP is a proven success for Dublin. Going forward I support an enhanced resource commitment across all aspects of its delivery so that it success is maintained as SICAP continues to adapt and meet the needs of households.”
 
Launching the report, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD said:
“I am delighted to launch the SICAP Annual Report here in the Mansion House today. This report clearly shows the importance of the Programme in addressing inequality and improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged groups and individuals in the country.”

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Minister O’Brien and his Department on winning the prestigious 2022 UN Public Service Award for the social inclusion programme."

“This international award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the immense work of the programme, particularly over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic."

“We cannot underestimate the importance of this programme and its impact in communities around the country.”
 
Minister O’Brien said:
“I am very pleased to have Minister McGrath join me today to help raise awareness of the important work of SICAP."

“This programme is the State’s primary social inclusion tool and in addition to working daily to target poverty and disadvantage, the programme workers were also hugely responsive to both the Covid crisis and more recently the Ukrainian crisis.”

“Minister McGrath’s presence here today is testament to this programme’s importance in overall Government policy and I am delighted that last year’s Budget provided significant additional funding to SICAP in recognition of that important role it plays in communities across Ireland.”
 
The Governments Social Inclusion Progress Report was researched, written and produced by Pobal who administer the Programme on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
 
Pobal’s CEO, Ms Anna Shakespeare, said:
“Pobal is very pleased to work with and on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies (LDCs) and other stakeholders towards a common aim of reducing disadvantage, poverty and promoting greater social inclusion and equality”

“I very much welcome the launch of a ‘Learning Brief’ produced by Pobal which is the first detailed gender analysis of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)."

“It analyses and compares the different experiences of men and women, who have engaged with the Programme. It is important to understand these differences, what drives them and to
examine what can be done to address the existing barriers”
 
The SICAP 2021 Annual Report can be downloaded here: https://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2022/07/SICAP-2021-Annual-Report.pdf 
 
 
The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office
01-773 6843 / 086 7912704
 

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