Tag Archives: Dormant Accounts Fund

A ‘World of Welcome’ has been extended to local primary schools as part of a new inclusive arts and education programme launched by Clare Libraries. The programme consists of a five-week course that encourages children to celebrate diversity through the arts. Pupils will visit their nearest library branch each Monday to attend interactive workshops with arts practitioners, where they will explore the topics of diversity and inclusion through puppetry, drama, music, creative writing, and podcasting. Arts practitioners include children’s author Debbie Thomas, musician Niamh O’Brien, podcaster Oisín O Cualáin, puppeteer Sarah Fuller, and actor and theatre maker Zara Starr. The participating schools are Flagmount National School in Caher, Doonaha National School in Kilkee, Ennis Educate Together National School, St Conaire’s National School in Shannon, and Ballyvaughan National School. All participating students will come together for a special celebration in glór, Ennis on Wednesday, October 19, where storyteller Niall de Búrca promises to deliver a “hooley of tales” guaranteed to captivate his …

A range of exciting initiatives will be possible in Clare Library Service as a result of a €26,743.94 grant from the Dormant Accounts Funding, according to the county librarian. These will include aids to help those with reading difficulties, books in Ukrainian and other languages,­ and a programme of events for recent arrivals in Clare. The funding, announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, will enable the provision of electronic resources both in library buildings and online and will also be used to assist libraries in offering literacy supports across the library network. In recent years Dormant Accounts Funding has helped Clare’s libraries to fund online literacy supports, sensory spaces and gardens, among many other relevant and important literacy-based projects. One of the highlights of the funding this year will be the purchase of “C-pens”, which have a simple scanning mechanism that reads text aloud and will be available for borrowing in a number of libraries, …

A NEW €650,000 social innovation fund has been launched for projects in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary that empower communities, tackle poverty, and promote social inclusion. The Ignite Midwest Fund, the first of its kind specifically for the Midwest, has been created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with several private donors from the region including the Parkes Family Limerick, the Community Foundation for Ireland, and is matched by the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund. There will be a minimum of five awardees with the fund now open for applications until 29th March 2021. The Ignite Midwest Fund is the latest social innovation fund created by Rethink Ireland (formerly Social Innovation Fund Ireland), which has launched over 30 funds in the past five years totalling over €65 million. Speaking to mark the launch of the Ignite Midwest Fund, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities Joe O’Brien TD said, “The objective of the Ignite Fund …

THE latest lessons at Scoil Chríost Rí in Ennis have been causing quite a splash among its students. Last week saw 90 primary school students take part in a pilot programme introducing them to kayaking. This is just the first step of a project which is hoped to result in establishment of an Outdoor Adventure Hub at the riverside school which will benefit the entire town. Kayak le Chéile was formed earlier this year by primary school teachers, Jó Mag Fhearadhaigh and Conor Healy, with a view to establishing a club in Ennis which would facilitate access to the River Fergus for water sports. The new club began its ambitious programme with a Level 1 training course for staff members with an interest in kayaking. Nevsail Watersports provided tuition and the course was attended by representatives from Gaelscoil Mhichíl Ciosóg, Clare Youth Services, Scoil Chríost Rí and the local community.  With the support of Clare Sports Partnership, a pilot programme …

CLARE has been selected as one of eight counties in the country to receive funding for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) services under the Dormant Accounts Fund. In November 2019, Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, published the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 providing funding to address disadvantage across the country. This includes the provision of €200k to support LGBTI+ community organisations. County Clare was selected as one of eight organisations nationwide and has been awarded €35,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund. The funding is based on proposals received from organisations around the county who are seeking to complete projects which ensure that existing community infrastructure is inclusive and welcoming to LGBTI+ people. Following a countywide call for expressions of interest, 10 organisations across the county will benefit from the funding, including: Clare Women’s Network, Clare Haven, Clare Youth Service, North West Clare Family Resource Centre, Ennis Musical Society, Fishbowl Youth, Burren Art Gallery, …

CLARE Civil Defence Unit’s emergency response capability will be enhanced when two new four-wheel drive vehicles are added to its fleet. The Defence Minister Paul Kehoe has allocated 32 new Ford Ranger crew cabs to the Civil Defence as part of the Government’s ongoing investment in the organisation and two have been earmarked for Clare. “Throughout our response to Covid-19, our Civil Defence and other volunteer agencies played a vital role in their respective communities. From transporting patients to hospitals, nursing homes and testing centres in Clare to the collection of medications and medical equipment – we are rightly proud of our Civil Defence volunteers,” commented Fine Gael TD Joe Carey. He added, “I welcome that the Government is continuing to invest resources in Civil Defence, in this instance through the provision of vehicles. These new vehicles will be an additional resource for those who give their time and work so hard in times of emergency. “This will further enhance …

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton has announced that €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund, has been made available to provide a range of supports for home carers. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will sponsor the new round of funding, which includes measures to promote supports for home carers. The new measure will be administered and managed by Pobal, who today (Monday) stated that applications will be open to eligible groups from July 1, with a closing date of July 22. Pobal will also be providing a series of four regional pre-application information meetings which will take place during the month of June.