EUROPEAN INTEGRATION FUND PROJECT ANNOUNCED FOR BLANCHARDSTOWN

Blanchardstown Area Partnership has been advised by Pobal that their application to the European Integration Fund (EIF) has been successful. This project will provide English language and job seeking skills to Third Country Nationals living in Dublin 15, who are currently on the Live Register but who do not possess sufficient English language skills to enable them to access employment.

Pictured with the Chairman are Linda Curran, CEO and Guy Thompson, Director of Blanchardstown Area Partnership.

 Dublin 15 has one of the highest populations of foreign nationals in the country – at 23.5% this is more than double the national average – and unemployment levels are much higher among this group. The year long project will provide English language targeted towards the world of work in Ireland, and this will include CV preparation, interview skills and support with job seeking.

Partners for the project include the Department of Social Protection and Fingal County Council. The Department is looking forward to working with BAP and FCC in making a success of this venture.

Signing the agreement, the Chairman of Blanchardstown Area Partnership Councillor Kieran Dennison said “I am delighted that the Department of Social Protection and Fingal County Council are both partners in this project. There are more than 10,000 Third Country Nationals living in Dublin 15, according to CSO statistics. This project aims to demonstrate that a combination of English language and job seeking skills can support individuals to find work, and improve the quality of life for them and for their families”.