Social Forum

1. Social Forum Chairman Joan Martin 15th March 2010

2. Background • Social Forum – includes the work of the Social Inclusion Measures (SIM) Group. • Meeting on a bi-monthly basis to facilitate the work of sub-groups • HSE representative now confirmed • Two work- groups established.

3. Objectives & Actions Current Forum focus is on a number of specific actions: • Sustain existing community based employment initiatives. • Support and sustain Early School Leavers Initiative. • Support and engage with School Completion and mentoring programmes with a view to sustainability. • Promote community awareness drugs initiatives.

4. ACTION: Sustain existing community based employment initiatives. • Working group established. • RAPID, Fás, DSFA,LLP, Pobal, LCCC , VEC & Secretariat • Two interim reports presented to Forum. • Final report and recommendations for future actions by Forum/CDB expected at the May meeting. • Report Methodology • Overview of the scheme & number participating. • Four case studies with a geographical spread.

5. Report Highlights… 1,665 participants engaged in Louth Community Service (Fás) Live register figuresOct 2008 – Oct 2009 49% rise in Dundalk 66% rise in Drogheda 74% rise in Ardee This may lead to higher demand for CE placements CE participants are key to the delivery of many community based services particularly on the environmental front with an increasing number of social services providers also dependent on the scheme.

6. ACTION: Support and sustain Early School Leavers Initiative • Working group established. • VEC & DES • Forum presented with details of the level of early school leavers. • Second presentation focused on the initiatives to combat this problem and a way forward. • Group to further report to the May meeting.

7. Report Highlights… • Definition: non-participant at school who is less than 16 years or before completing 3 years post primary • 1,625 (12.6%) primary pupils in Louth absent 20 days or more in 2005/2006 • 1,503 (17.6%) post-primary pupils in Louth absent 20 days or more in 2005/2006 • National Response to the issue • DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools • 16 primary & 5 post-primary • School completion Programme • Home School Community Liaison • Visiting Teacher Service for Traveller pupils • National Educational Welfare Service

8. Report Highlights… • Support Measures include • Garda Diversionary projects • HSE & Local Authority Social Workers • Community and Youth worker/services • Counselling Centres • The House, Coxes • St Vincent De Paul, Society old and Underprivileged • Second Chance supports / Programmes • DES Youth Reach, VTOS, BTEI etc. • HSE Springboard • Partnership Grant Aid • DSFA –Financial supports • Youth Reach – 2 centres Dundalk & Drogheda • capped at 90 places – (possible next step to expand)

9. ACTION: Promote community awareness drugs initiatives. • Niall Mulligan, Simon Community made presentation on work ongoing in the county particularly in the Dundalk Area. • Issue to be progressed at May meeting by way of presentation from Regional Drugs Awareness co-ordinator. • Forum to consider how best existing initiatives can be supported.

10. Other Initiatives • Community and Voluntary Forum Selection of JPC community nominees being facilitated through the C&V Forum • ARD Committee re-activated & progressing objectives of the strategy • Traveller Interagency Committee ( LCC, DES, HSE & Fás) to meet to progress Strategy review by June - • LCC 3rd Level Bursary programme Schools being advised by end of March • Peace III Programmes continuing to roll out. Expect to commence work on Phase two plan in the coming weeks.