NEW DEAL - A SMALL STEP TOWARDS FUTURE
New Deal - A Small Step Towards Future
MINISTER LAUNCHES OMAGH CONSORTIUM
BY: MICHEL CANNING
NORTHERN Ireland's Education Minister was in Omagh on Monday to launch a unique opportunity which will help the entire community as it faces the difficult task of building the economic future of the town.
John McFall, who recently took over the education, training and health portfolios, visited the town to launch the government sponsored New Deal, a package aimed at enhancing the job prospects of the unemployed.
He said the programme, set against Omagh's uphill struggle, is a small step on the road to the district's new future and pledged government support, where possible.
His pledge followed a call from the Chairman of Council, Sean Clarke, to the government seeking support and endorsement for the creation of new job opportunities "at this critical time".
The Minister met with the local consortium, which will manage the programme, on Monday morning-led by Omagh Council- and said the launch of New Deal would go some way to helping the community get back to some degree of normality.
"The New Deal provides a unique opportunity to help Omagh's young people, its employers and in turn the whole community.
"In partnership with so many local people who have rallied to get the programme off the ground, the New Deal will provide vital opportunities for the unemployed in the area."
He said the support the programme has received will contribute towards its success.
"I know that your consortium is fortunate to have so many high quality organisations from the education, training and community sectors to help deliver a first class programme."
Mr McFall said New Deal, launched last April, is different in that it is a national programme focusing on the individual.
"It offers high quality training and is designed to get people off benefits and into work, giving people hope for the future where perhaps there was none."
New Deal currently has more than 1000 employers committed to it, with more than 4000 people already on Gateway looking forward to making their mark on the world of work.
The Council Chairman said when New Deal was first announced the Council had unanimously welcomed the initiative as the cutback in ACE had prompted concern in the community.
Omagh Council is the lead partner in the consortium appointed by the Training and Employment Agency to deliver three of the New Deal options- a job for six months with the voluntary sector or the environmental sector or full-time education or training.
Mr Clarke said he believed Council has the financial and human resources to take on the lead role.
Addressing Mr McFall he said "Minister, you are well aware of our troubles here in Omagh at this time and I make a special appeal to government, seeking its support and endorsement for the creation of new job opportunities at this critical time.
"I would also like to thank everyone concerned for providing the opportunities for our people and our future."
Chief Executive, John McKinney, said New Deal was a win, win situation for the unemployed of Omagh.
"As Omagh gets back on its business feet our thoughts turn to the economy and attempting to tackle the perennial problem of long-term unemployment.
"I know that the government recognises that we experience unacceptably high levels of unemployment and its commitment to helping turn that around is welcomed.
"We will make New Deal work but for New Deal to be a success into the future we need investment, investment that will produce new and real jobs and disposable income for our people so that over time the pain of our tragedy can somewhat ease and our town can once again offer hope for the future."
Mr McKinney said each member of the consortium offers a wide range of expertise, work experience opportunities, on and off the job training, qualifications and the opportunity to prepare for a job.
The consortium is made up of Enterprise Ulster, Irish World, Jobtrack, Omagh ACE Network, Omagh Area Training, Omagh College, Omagh District Council, Omagh Training Centre, Prince's Trust, Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Tyrone Training Services and Younghelp.
"The Omagh consortium, as a further development, is also in the process of submitting a bid to deliver the New Deal programme for people with disabilities in conjunction with the Social Education Centre," said the Chief Executive.
He added "Partnership is an approach that this Council has long endorsed as a way of achieving results and involving all the relevant players.
"As the lead partner Omagh Council has been working behind the scenes in conjunction with the Executive committee to establish systems and procedures.
"This new approach to the delivery of vocational training represents a major new challenge to all of us to deliver results that will benefit unemployed people and the economy as a whole.
"I am sure that with the combined experience of the individual organisations and people that make up the Omagh New Deal consortium that this will be achieved."
Omagh Job Centre Manager, Mary O'Kane said "New Deal can play a part in the renewal of the community bringing people together to work towards a better future- New Deal has given our unemployed a massive opportunity."
During the Minister's visit to Omagh on Monday he met with ambulance personnel who were on duty on the day of the bombing at Market Street.
MINISTER LAUNCHES OMAGH CONSORTIUM
BY: MICHEL CANNING
NORTHERN Ireland's Education Minister was in Omagh on Monday to launch a unique opportunity which will help the entire community as it faces the difficult task of building the economic future of the town.
John McFall, who recently took over the education, training and health portfolios, visited the town to launch the government sponsored New Deal, a package aimed at enhancing the job prospects of the unemployed.
He said the programme, set against Omagh's uphill struggle, is a small step on the road to the district's new future and pledged government support, where possible.
His pledge followed a call from the Chairman of Council, Sean Clarke, to the government seeking support and endorsement for the creation of new job opportunities "at this critical time".
The Minister met with the local consortium, which will manage the programme, on Monday morning-led by Omagh Council- and said the launch of New Deal would go some way to helping the community get back to some degree of normality.
"The New Deal provides a unique opportunity to help Omagh's young people, its employers and in turn the whole community.
"In partnership with so many local people who have rallied to get the programme off the ground, the New Deal will provide vital opportunities for the unemployed in the area."
He said the support the programme has received will contribute towards its success.
"I know that your consortium is fortunate to have so many high quality organisations from the education, training and community sectors to help deliver a first class programme."
Mr McFall said New Deal, launched last April, is different in that it is a national programme focusing on the individual.
"It offers high quality training and is designed to get people off benefits and into work, giving people hope for the future where perhaps there was none."
New Deal currently has more than 1000 employers committed to it, with more than 4000 people already on Gateway looking forward to making their mark on the world of work.
The Council Chairman said when New Deal was first announced the Council had unanimously welcomed the initiative as the cutback in ACE had prompted concern in the community.
Omagh Council is the lead partner in the consortium appointed by the Training and Employment Agency to deliver three of the New Deal options- a job for six months with the voluntary sector or the environmental sector or full-time education or training.
Mr Clarke said he believed Council has the financial and human resources to take on the lead role.
Addressing Mr McFall he said "Minister, you are well aware of our troubles here in Omagh at this time and I make a special appeal to government, seeking its support and endorsement for the creation of new job opportunities at this critical time.
"I would also like to thank everyone concerned for providing the opportunities for our people and our future."
Chief Executive, John McKinney, said New Deal was a win, win situation for the unemployed of Omagh.
"As Omagh gets back on its business feet our thoughts turn to the economy and attempting to tackle the perennial problem of long-term unemployment.
"I know that the government recognises that we experience unacceptably high levels of unemployment and its commitment to helping turn that around is welcomed.
"We will make New Deal work but for New Deal to be a success into the future we need investment, investment that will produce new and real jobs and disposable income for our people so that over time the pain of our tragedy can somewhat ease and our town can once again offer hope for the future."
Mr McKinney said each member of the consortium offers a wide range of expertise, work experience opportunities, on and off the job training, qualifications and the opportunity to prepare for a job.
The consortium is made up of Enterprise Ulster, Irish World, Jobtrack, Omagh ACE Network, Omagh Area Training, Omagh College, Omagh District Council, Omagh Training Centre, Prince's Trust, Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Tyrone Training Services and Younghelp.
"The Omagh consortium, as a further development, is also in the process of submitting a bid to deliver the New Deal programme for people with disabilities in conjunction with the Social Education Centre," said the Chief Executive.
He added "Partnership is an approach that this Council has long endorsed as a way of achieving results and involving all the relevant players.
"As the lead partner Omagh Council has been working behind the scenes in conjunction with the Executive committee to establish systems and procedures.
"This new approach to the delivery of vocational training represents a major new challenge to all of us to deliver results that will benefit unemployed people and the economy as a whole.
"I am sure that with the combined experience of the individual organisations and people that make up the Omagh New Deal consortium that this will be achieved."
Omagh Job Centre Manager, Mary O'Kane said "New Deal can play a part in the renewal of the community bringing people together to work towards a better future- New Deal has given our unemployed a massive opportunity."
During the Minister's visit to Omagh on Monday he met with ambulance personnel who were on duty on the day of the bombing at Market Street.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0404
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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