20 years of helping jobseekers

IT is 20 years since the Local Employment Service Network (LESN) programme started in Ireland and the providers recently came together at a national event in Dublin to celebrate its success. Louth Leader Partnership has delivered the service in Dundalk since 1996. The Dundalk LESN provides a career guidance and recruitment service to both job seekers and employers. All Local Employment Service Networks are funded by the Department of Social Protection.

Dundalk LESN has played a major part in helping unemployed people in the area to find work. In 2016, 235 clients secured employment. A further 250 were supported by LESN to return to education and training. As the number of jobseekers continues to decline, the LESN is focusing on delivering a more intensive career guidance and job placement service to those who are longer term unemployed.

‘Our career guidance service is free to job seekers and supports access to training, education, government employment schemes and employment opportunities. We also assist with job searching, including CV preparation and interview skills. The service is also free to employers seeking information on government schemes or interested in recruiting job seekers’, said Siobhan Rankin of Dundalk Local Employment Service.

Ciaran Reid, CEO of Louth Leader Partnership who delivers the LESN in Louth on behalf of the Department attributes the success to the commitment of the staff to the service and to their clients. If you are a job seeker or employer in Dundalk contact the Local Employment Service, Partnership Court at 042 9328897.