The INOU Out and About
The Welfare Rights Section of the INOU had a busy 3 days during the DEASP National Jobs Week.
First off was the Information/Jobs Fair 26/3/19 in the DEASP/Intreo offices in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Tom McMahon and Robbie Kelly attended on behalf of the organisation for what was a busy morning engaging with invitees on a variety of welfare/back to work issues. There was a high turnout with great demand for the literature/information on offer from the INOU.
The following day 27/3/19 Robbie Kelly attended a similar event in Athy, Co. Kildare as part of Jobs Week. This was also an invitational event with the focus on back to work supports and, as such, was of value to all Jobseekers/OFP/DA recipients etc. with an interest in returning to the workplace.
On the same day 27/3/19 Tom McMahon and Conor Flynn from the section were in Finglas for an EmployAbility led event aimed at providing those on a disability payment with the relevant information necessary in order to take up work while engaging with EmployAbility.
28/3/19 was the day for the main DEASP National Jobs Week event in the Printworks, Dublin Castle. This has been the flagship feature for a number of years and attracts a couple of thousand people, those on a particular payment who have been invited, and a considerable amount of “walk-ins” who would have an interest in what is on offer in terms of social welfare benefits, initiatives, supports and educational options, but would not necessarily be in receipt of any welfare payment.
All the staff from the Welfare Rights Section were in attendance due to the high numbers and the day proved to be as busy as expected. The stream of queries at the INOU stand was constant throughout the event and the demand for copies of the organisation’s publication, Working for Work, was such that the considerable supply ran out before the end of the day. The occasion also afforded newer members of INOU staff to meet with the DEASP Minister, Regina Doherty TD, for the first time.
On the 9/5/19 Conor Flynn and Robbie Kelly made a presentation to the Dress for Success organisation in the LES/Obair offices in Blanchardstown. This event covered all the back to supports on offer to jobseekers as part of the programme run by Dress for Success, which was very well attended, with many follow-up queries for the Welfare Section.
The following day, 10/5/19 Conor Flynn and Robbie Kelly were in the newly revamped offices of Jobcare in Dublin for a Career Clinic. This consists of 5 half-hour sessions with people engaged in jobseeking activities/career guidance etc. as part of a Jobcare course. The INOU is regularly invited to these events and, as always, it was a busy morning for Conor and Robbie with the primary focus on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance for most attendees who had an interest in becoming self-employed.
The DEASP hosted an Information Fair in Athy, Co. Kildare on the 17/6/19. This was an invitational event with some 400 people attending, so again it was a very busy day for Conor and Robbie from the Welfare Rights Section. The main points of interest from an INOU perspective were the Working Family Payment, Back to Work Family Dividend and any other back to work income supports on offer.