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RYAN BREN NEWS JOBSEEKERS A4 2408_a4 04/02/2013 12:08 Page 1

BRENDAN RYAN TD

LABOUR PARTY Newsletter JOBSEEKERS INFORMATION DAY Friday 22 February 2013 Carnegie Court Hotel Swords 2pm-4pm I am hosting a Jobseekers Information Day on Friday 22nd February in the Carnegie Court Hotel between 2pm and 4pm.

There are currently 5,000 people on the live register in Swords and the purpose of this Information Day is to highlight the range of information and services available to those seeking employment, training or education.

This event will be attended by a broad coalition of organisations providing information on unemployment assistance, education guidance, enterprise supports and internship opportunities for jobseekers. Please feel free to drop in at any time between 2pm & 4pm when representatives from the various organisations will be available to speak with you.

Brendan Ryan TD Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 618 3421 Fax: 618 4584 Email: bren.ryan@oir.ie Web: www.brendan-ryan.ie @BrendanRyanTD CLINIC TIMES Malahide: Mondays, 11.00am St. Sylvester’s GAA Clubhouse, Church Road Donabate: Thursdays, 5.30pm St. Patrick’s Parish Hall

All Welcome Rush: Thursdays, 7pm Rush Community Centre, Main Street

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JobBridge

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Fingal Volunteer Centre

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Fingal Leader Partnership

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Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed

Employability Services Dublin North

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Citizens Information Swords

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Fingal County Enterprise Board

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National Adult Literacy Agency

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FAS

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Fumbally Exchange

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Money Advice Budgeting Service

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Fingal Adult Education Service

Leargas - Youth In Action Programme

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Department of Social Protection

Lusk: Thursdays, 8pm The Carnegie Library, The Green Swords: Fridays, 5.30pm Swords Day Centre, Chapel Lane Balbriggan: Saturday, 11.00am The Combined Clubs Community Centre Skerries: Saturday, 12.00pm The Carnegie Library, Strand Street OTHER AREAS BY APPOINTMENT 618 3421

RYAN BREN NEWS JOBSEEKERS A4 2408_a4 04/02/2013 12:08 Page 2

GOVERNMENT MUST PROTECT LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS I have written to the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin seeking the protection of incomes for low and middle income public sector employees. The negotiations on a follow-up to the Croke Park Agreement have begun in earnest and I am calling for all stakeholders to pursue these negotiations with a view to protecting low and middle income earners first. Many conservative voices in the media state that the majority of public sector workers are overpaid and under worked. This is plainly UNTRUE. The facts are this; 68% of public servants earn less than €50,000 and 82% earn less than €60,000. This is not an extravagant wage and for a modest family with a modest home, such an income can be stretched to its limits just to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. For example, workers at Fingal County Council have seen a drastic decrease in their wages over and above the initial pay cuts of 14% in 2008/2009. Loss of overtime, pension changes and shift changes have seen cuts further cuts of between €150 and €250 in weekly take home pay depending on the grade. As a result the take home pay for general operatives is averaging at €400 per week. These cuts are reflective of many other low and middle income workers over many sections within our public sector.

These are the workers who have given so much already in terms of pay and have little or nothing left to give. It is vital that these low and middle earners are protected through whatever is drafted from the on-going public pay talks. There would be great potential of further decline in consumer confidence and serious personal indebtedness if these workers were forced to take a further disproportionate fall in income.

The Croke Park Agreement has so far delivered recurring annual savings of €1.5 billion and is on target to deliver net savings of €3.3 Billion by 2015.

GOVERNMENT GIVE €5 MILLION TO WIDEN M1 AT SWORDS The allocation of €5 million by the Government to widen the M1 between Drynam and Lissenhall at Swords is good news for all commuters. The noted bottleneck can cause huge delays during rush hour for commuters in cars and buses.

The provision of this money confirms this Government’s commitment to continue to improve much needed local transport infrastructure despite the difficult economic climate.

BRENDAN’S SWORDS ADVICE CENTRE I am available every Friday at 5:30pm on the Senior Citizens Day Centre on Chapel Lane (behind the Star Pub).

No appointment necessary and all are welcome to discuss any issues of either national or local concern.

I am always available for the people of Swords and North County Dublin and continue to work hard on your behalf.

YOUR TEAM IN SWORDS: Cllr. Gerry McGuire Tel: 087 2381980 Cllr. Tom Kelleher Tel: 087 2837165

CONTACT BRENDAN: Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 3421 Fax: 01 618 4584 Email: bren.ryan@oireachtas.ie Web: www.brendan-ryan.ie www.labour.ie/BrendanRyan Follow me on Twitter: @BrendanRyanTD 0612