News

BTWEA Featured Business – My Little Pet Shop

My Little Pet Shop by Joanne Griffin

Helping Pet Owners since June 2014, My Little Pet Shop at Upper Bridge Street, Killorglin, is fast becoming recognised as a benchmark in the provision of pet care & products. A true family run business, Michelle O Grady, together with her partner Ross Scott started this business after being unable to find high quality pet products at reasonable prices in the immediate locality.

All the products in stock are handpicked by Michelle and are of excellent quality, fantastic design and of course appealing price tags. Michelle’s personal involvement in the industry goes back to her college days, where she studied Equine Science at the University of Limerick before travelling to the USA and Canada to gain invaluable experience.

My Little Pet Shop will cater for all your pet needs from dogs to cats, birds to fish and even equine products. Michelle prides herself in offering a second to none customer service and so if the product is not in store, Michelle will source and order the product for you. The store is rapidly expanding and as a result, the addition of a grooming parlour is in the pipeline in the not too distant future.

More information on this exciting new enterprise can be found by contacting Michelle directly on 066 976 2500 or by mobile on 087 973 6711, by email on [email protected] or by viewing her face book page @ My Little Pet shop

This exciting new enterprise has emerged in 2014 with the help of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) facilitated by South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd (SKDP). This scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to take up self employment opportunities by allowing them to retain a proportion of their social welfare payment, plus secondary benefits.

For further information on the BTWEA, please contact an Enterprise Officer from SKDP in your area. Joanne Griffin (Killorglin and Kenmare) on 087 615 2660 or Anne O Riordan (Cahersiveen and Killarney) on 066 947 2724.

News

Tom McBride Education Bursary 2014

To Download an English Language version of the application form please click Application Form Tom McBride 2014

Chun cóip Gaeilge don foirm a fháil cliceáil le do thoil ar Application Form 2014 Tom McBride Gaeltacht

CLOSING DATE: 5pm on Friday 12th September, 2014 

Applications are now being sought by the South Kerry Development Partnership through the Tom McBride Education Bursary fund from people interested in getting a second chance at education. The fund, which is named in honour of a previous chairman of SKDP, is funded through the Local Community Development Programme administered by SKDP and is targeted at giving assistance to those in disadvantaged areas to get back into education.

The fund is targeted in particular at people on low incomes, those who are socially & economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, those engaged in seasonal work or lone parents. SKDP Education co-ordinator Julieann Lane pointed out that the fund can cover both direct costs such as course fees as well as indirect costs such as travel, childcare and the costs of books. Last year almost 40 people received assistance in getting a second chance at education through the bursary.

Angela Healy from Killarney who benefited through the fund last year to undertake a degree course in French and Spanish said that without the assistance received through the bursary, she would not have been able to do the course. The course brought additional benefits for Angela given that because she achieved a distinction in both subjects, she secured a scholarship to undertake further study in Spain and will now progress into her second year in 2014. Angela said that getting this qualification will greatly enhance her employment prospects including enabling her to teach these languages.

The courses or training eligible for the fund must be accredited nationally and must be seen to improve the employment prospects of the person undertaking the course. However funding may be provided for non accredited courses where a specific prospect of work exists for the person on completion of the course. Expenses covered by another source of funding are not eligible for grant assistance and those applying must be living in the South Kerry area. A percentage of the bursary is allocated specifically to applicants from the South Kerry Gaeltacht area.

“The importance of education in terms of securing employment is one that cannot be overstated” according to Julieann and this fund can greatly assist people to gain qualifications that can greatly improve their chances of getting into the workforce. Julieann also pointed out that both full and part time courses are covered by the bursary but that people must apply annually for funding where a course is more than 1 year in duration.

The closing date for completed applications is 5pm on Friday, September 12th and application forms are available to download from the SKDP website www.skdp.net or they can be collected from the reception at any of the SKDP Offices in Cahersiveen, Killorglin, Killarney or Kenmare. People can also contact Julieann directly by e-mail [email protected]  or by phoning 066 9761615.