The Government is granting Shannon Airport independence from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and merging it with Shannon Development to create a new State company to work with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland on developing an International Aviation Services Centre in the region.

Shannon Airport has suffered serious decline in recent years with passenger numbers falling by some 60 per cent.

The new state entity will develop the International Aviation Services Centre with Shannon Airport at its hub.

Two Shannon-based companies have already made commitments to create 850 jobs as part of the centre.

A report from the Aviation Business Development Task Force, set up by the Shannon Steering Group, said the centre ‘is conservatively projected to create and maintain 3,000-3,500 new direct jobs within five years, not including construction jobs’.

The new State company will control Shannon Development’s extensive landbank.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said the decision was ‘historic’ and would allow the board and management of Shannon airport to bring a ‘fresh approach’ to the development of the airport.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said the restructuring will ‘act as a catalyst for economic development and job-creation in the region’.

“We can ensure indigenous and multinational industry already in the region or considering locating there have access to a comprehensive range of supports,” said Mr. Bruton.

“By merging a strong independent Shannon Airport with the extensive property holdings, experience and expertise of Shannon Development we will create a strong new State company which will work with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland on developing an International Aviation Services Centre in the region.

“The implementation of these decisions represents a new start for enterprise and jobs in the Shannon region.”

It is now intended to make appointments to the Boards of the Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development to ensure that the necessary work is undertaken in relation to the establishment of the Shannon entity and the transition arrangements for Shannon Development.

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Centric Health is doubling the number of its healthcare and GP centres across the country from 10 to 20.

The company also plans to expand its diagnostic business.

Centric Health currently employs 350 people and operates 10 healthcare centres.

The expansion follows a $20 million investment by the European private equity group Metric Capital Partners.

Fifty of the 200 jobs will be created next year and will include medical, paramedical and administrative staff.

The first of the company’s new healthcare centres will open in Newbridge in February.

Mayo is one of 30 CEBs getting the extra funding. The county will get €105,000 to help create 20 jobs. Donegal is to get €350,000 to help create 57 jobs.

CEBs work to help the start-up and expansion of micro-enterprises. They also promote and develop entrepreneurship at a local level.

This year, CEBs already received €15 million in funding. The additional funding is being provided by the Government in response to specific requests from CEBs for more funding to help fund projects.

“This is the second year in succession CEBs have indicated the demand for their services is so strong that they need additional funding to respond to the needs of micro-enterprises in their area,” said Minister for Small Business, John Perry.

He said the funding would be used by the CEBs to provide direct capital assistance to companies, as well as mentoring and training, in order to help create 505 jobs across the country.

Facebook has launched its new Social Jobs app last week, allowing users to search for jobs posted through BranchOut, Jobvite, Work4Labs, Monster, and US.jobs. The app allows you to like, post, and message jobs to friends.

When testing out the new app, I hit speed bumps similar to Dave Johnson’s from the CBS News article, “Look for a job using Facebook’s new app”, but overall think it’s a good start to increasing job posting viability and sharing leads with friends looking for new opportunities.

What do you think of this new app? Will you be trying it out in your job search?

The internship offers students a fantastic opportunity to work on digital media for the largest event in Australia. Students would get hands-on experience across website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, iPhone and Facebook apps.

Because of the size of the Show, we receive a great amount of exposure in the media and across our digital channels (we receive 1 million website hits during Show time and we currently have around 40K Facebook ‘likes’), so this really is a great internship that would look impressive on a student’s CV! If interested in applying, students can get in touch with me direct and I will then send them an application pack which includes an assessment they will need to complete and return to me.

Contact:

Mona

Mona Doncevska
Digital Marketing Executive

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
1 Showground Road, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127

t (02) 9704 1471 : f (02) 9704 1122 : e mdoncevska@rasnsw.com.au 

Bord Iascaigh Mhara is considering projects similar to one off the Aran Islands, which is undergoing the planning process with Galway County Council.

Should the Galway project get the go ahead, it is expected to create 500 jobs.

A few of us decided to dress up for Halloween (although not for long — those masks and cape were warm!)

What’s been your best workplace Halloween costume?  What are your Halloween workplace dos and don’ts?

Happy Halloween from Stafkings Binghamton! (From left: Jen H., Nancy Y. and Evie D.)

Happy Halloween from Stafkings Ithaca! (Pictured is Hannah O.)