Mayor Eamonn Maloney on behalf of the members of South Dublin County Council and Tallaght EQUAL Assists Welcomes Transnational Partners to Tallaght and South Dublin County Council

Tallaght EQUAL Assists project is part of a transnational partnership comprised of the Employability Access Project - Belfast, Qualificare, Milan - Italy and Inseremploe Castlilla la Mancha, Spain. Whilst each of the partners has a different focus, the common element which is the basis of the partnership is finding pathways to employment for the most disadvantage people. All partners of the project will meet in Tallaght from the 16 18^th November. Mayor of South Dublin County Council Eamonn Maloney will officially welcome all partners to the Ireland.

The Tallaght EQUAL Assists project was developed by over twenty organisations in the Tallaght area to enhance the supply of trained carers to meet demand in the community, day care centres, residential homes and in Tallaght Hospital.

The organisations involved in the project include the HSE, VEC, Tallaght Hospital and charities like Enable Ireland, Firhouse Day Activity Centre, etc. The project is being co-ordinated by Tallaght Partnership.

In addition to promoting caring as a career choice, Tallaght EQUAL Assists also aims to enhance the status of caring through piloting certified training courses for care workers; highlighting the importance of good pay and conditions for workers and increasing the supply of care workers to meet growing care needs.

All transnational partners have a common interest in sharing best practices and influencing policy in their respective areas. Additionally leadership of the transnational agreement is shared so this gives an opportunity for the most relevant people to take part in the activities of the transnational agreement with the intention that the learning will cascade through the partners organisation of the Development Partners.