Waterford Leader Partnership

LES Clients Excel on Traditional Stonewall Building Course in Lismore

Thirteen clients of the Local Employment Service (LES) recently completed an intensive 9-day Traditional Stonewall Building training programme in Lismore, under the expert guidance of John O’ Neill (Tutor). The programme was generously supported by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) and the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) which is co-ordinated by Waterford Leader Partnership (WLP) Ltd.

This course has been organized in the past but this particular set of trainees covered additional modules as many had previously worked in the construction industry. Their Tutor, John O Neill, commented on the high standard of their workmanship and their eagerness to learn and progress after the course by using their newly-acquired skills in the areas of conservation work and stonework as part of landscape gardening.

During the programme, modules covered included safety procedures in stonework, best tools for use in stonewall building, sorting stone, laying foundations, facilitating drainage, using through stones and finishing with a coping. Following instruction, the Participants made mortars, Portland cement and sand mixes, lime putty and hydraulic lime.  Trainees also participated in building entranceway structures, square piers, round piers, curved walls, steps which were incorporated into a retaining wall structure.

The course was further enhanced as the trainees learnt and practiced the techniques involved in re-pointing stonework on the Old Railway Station Buildings, a beautiful and appropriate setting for this really worthwhile training programme.  The work was carried out to the highest possible standards in a manner sympathetic to the age, style and character of the old stonewall structures which were being restored or conserved (Restoration and conservation work included lime plastering work to restore the buildings).

Liam Murphy (DSFA) met with the group towards the end of their training programme regarding DSFA supports available to those considering the option of self employment under the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BWEA). People taking part in the BWEA scheme, and in receipt of certain DSFA payments, can keep a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to 2 years. (If you are getting BWEA before 1 May 2009, you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 4 years - More information regarding eligibility criteria for the BWEA can be found on www.welfare.ie )

The LES were delighted with the success of the programme and the interest displayed by the participants in learning a new skill. For further information on the Service (which is a free service for job-seekers in receipt of Social Welfare payments) and the training programmes on offer (which include IT (Basic & Intermediate); Core Employment Skills and information on FAS Programmes) please contact us at 058-45750.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Participants pictured at the recent Traditional Stonewall Building Training Programme, organized by the County Waterford Local Employment Service (LES) and funded by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) and the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP). Included in the photo are Liam Murphy (DSFA); John O’ Neill (Tutor); Niamh Kuhne & Julie O’ Donnell (LES).