Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_03_22/GA_2203_E1_033.pdf 

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March 22 2007

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

N E W S 33

Public North Galway employers meeting for urged to employ people older people with intellectual disabilities
BY MARY O'CONNOR BY MARY O'CONNOR A local Fine Gael TD is urging employers in north Galway to consider employing people with intellectual disabilities. Deputy Paul Connaughton's comments come in the wake of his recent visit to Brooklodge Nursery, Ballyglunin, a centre for people with intellectual disabilities. "As part of their ongoing efforts to get better conditions for people with disabilities, I was invited to listen to their stories recently," he says. "The sky seems to be the limit as far as their aspirations for their future is concerned. This group of highly motivated young people who attend this centre five days per week and who are transported to and from their homes every day paint a pretty picture of a group who are anxious that the world would appreciate what they can do rather than what they cannot." The horticultural centre, which is under the aegis of the Galway Association, caters for 18 people, mostly in their twenties and thirties. "The centre grows carrots, parsnips, potatoes and other garden produce for supermarkets but it is in the area of production of flowers for sale that they really excel. The centre is run on a commercial basis and profits from the sale of the garden produce and flowers play a substantial part in the financing of the centre." He says two of the group got part-time jobs in Tuam supermarkets and now many others are eager to follow in their footsteps. "Like all young people they have been trained to try to better themselves, to integrate with the outside world and to seek employment outside what can best be described as a sheltered employment environment. At Ballyglunin it should be noted that the effect of this employment on the rest of their colleagues was nothing short of startling. When the pay packets were produced, the reaction was no different than in any other family, it was seen as a great achievement. There is now a desire and a realistic expectation amongst many in the centre that they are ready to `dip their toes' in the commercial world. They wanted it to be known to employers that there are jobs they can do just as good as anybody else, if not better." He is urging employers in the north Galway area to consider offering any of these young people "a few days work". "It is now possible to match the job specification with the suitability and capability of potential employees for the specific job. The Galway Association together with the Brothers of Charity have a special member of staff who will act as a go between with a prospective employer. I got the distinct impression that if this type of scheme is well managed and supervised, it is not known what levels of satisfaction will be encountered both by the employer andthe new employees." A public meeting organised by the local branches of Age Action Ireland and the Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament as part of the "Older and Bolder" campaign will take place at the Meyrick Hotel

(formerly Great Southern Hotel) Eyre Square on Friday March 30.The meeting is open to all older people and will begin at 2pm and end at 4.30 pm. Candidates running for election in the two Galway constituencies are invited to address the meeting at 3pm.

Former Gort chamber head to run in Galway East
In an article in last week's Galway Advertiser, it was stated that Galway East Independent candidate Adrian Feeney was the chairperson of Gort Chamber of Commerce. Mr Feeney is a former chairperson of the chamber and does not currently hold the position.

MOTORING ON MONDAY

At the Boston Scientific 'Stars in Their Eyes' in the Salthill Hotel in aid of NBCRI and Galway Rape Crisis Centre were Patricia Johnson as Dolly Parton and Niall Doorhy as Garth Brooks. Photo Martina Regan

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