The Newspaper with the
BIGGEST circulation in the North County
We Deliver We deliver A registered newspaper at the G.P.O.
Your Quality Local Newspaper
7th May 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 17 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Swords Man To Represent Irish Credit Unions
County Leader
Darren O’Reilly from Swords has been selected by the Irish League of Credit Unions to represent them at a prestigious international event in Canada later in the year. Darren (22), who works for Swords Credit Union, has been selected, along with one other person, to participate in the World Council’s Young Credit Union People Programme (WYCUP) in Ottowa in July. This annual programme is designed to engage and promote the next generation of Credit Union professionals in the international Credit Union movement. In an exclusive interview with the County Leader, it was easy to see why Darren was selected to represent his country. He spoke about how this opportunity came about. “I have been involved with Swords Credit Union since I was 15 years old, when I set up a sub branch of the Credit Union at my school, Colaiste Choilm CBS. I established a school branch of the Credit Union, as part of a business studies project. I held the positions of chairperson, treasurer and secretary,” he said. All this work was about to reap rich dividends for him and a life changing decision was about to be made. “Around the time of my Leaving Certificate, I was approached by Swords Credit Union and they offered me a full-time position and a college scholarship.” Darren has since qualified as a Financial Advisor, which has allowed him to implement additional services, like Financial Health Check, a one to one session helping members budget and save. Darren has also qualified as an Accounts Technician and implemented a new accountancy package and operational procedures in the organisation. This has resulted in more accurate and timely information for management and has improved the daily operational efficiency of the front line staff He has since grown the School Saving Scheme initiative to 12 participating schools in the Swords area, encouraging children to develop a good saving habit and thereby sow the seeds of good financial management for the
By Patrick Finnegan
EXCLUSIVE
future. He also runs the annual ILCU School Quiz and Poster competition at local level. As a qualified Accounts professional and financial advisor, he has played a pivotal part in bringing the Credit Union concept to a
younger audience through digital media marketing, engaging these audiences through social media and services such as online accounts access and smart phone apps, thus enhancing the appeal of the Credit Union. He said, “I established Swords Credit Union on Facebook and Twitter to engage with our younger audience. To increase traffic to these sites, I teamed up with local companies to run promotions, resulting in increased business for both parties. I also advised other Credit Unions about the use of social media marketing, as well as implementing a new mobile enabled website and suite of online services.” “I soon realised a passion for marketing and helped address our outdated image by producing a new suite of promotional material and developing a new members’ pack to give the company a new look, resulting in increased membership and use of services,” he said. At just 22 years of age, Darren feels that his contribution to engaging the youth through various initiatives and introducing new services to the Credit Union, will stand him in good stead in the competition. We have no doubt that he will do himself and his country proud in Canada.
Darren O'Reilly is pictured at his desk in Swords Credit Union.
SUMMER FASHION TO SUIT ALL TASTES The Heart Of Shopping In Balbriggan
Balbriggan Primary Care Centre Granted Full Planning Permission
An artist’s impression of the Primary Care Centre
The news that Balbriggan Primary Care Centre has been given the go-ahead has been given a broad welcome in the town. Full planning permission for the centre was granted on Friday last, thus removing the last obstacle to the provision of world class medical care for residents of Balbriggan and surrounding areas. In welcoming the news, local councillor Tom O’Leary (FG) told the County Leader, “I’m delighted for the people of Balbriggan, that after more than seven years, they will get the primary care centre and medical facility they deserve in a new 40,000 sq feet building beside the church. The local HSE facility on Hampton Street, which is almost derelict, will now move to the new Kevin Tolan centre. There are no more obstacles to be overcome. Local doctors are on record as saying that they approve of this town centre site because of it’s accessibility,” said a delighted O’Leary. This new centre was also welcomed by Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce. Speaking to the County Leader, Kevin Tolan said, “We’re delighted that planning permission has been granted. It’s a very welcome move forward, which will breathe new life Cllr. Tom O’Leary and vitality back into the heart of Balbriggan, as well as providing much needed employment for locals. This is a really positive move for the town,” he said. This primary care centre was steeped in controversy at the end of last year, when Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly was accused of including Balbriggan as well as Swords in the list of areas requiring primary care centres, simply because they were located in his constituency.