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Minister Tony Killeen Launches 1901 Census of Clare

Address by Mike Naughton, Regional Manager, Community Services, FÁS, The Training Authority, at the launch of the 1901 Census of Clare online

Professional, Caring, Flexible, Proactive & Trustworthy - these are the core values of FÁS which we as an organization aspire to and strive towards - and these are also the values exemplified by the work of Clare Local Studies Project - CLASP. The wide ranging endeavours of CLASP, of which the 1901 Census is but one example, have been funded and supported by FÁS these past 10 years. Both the number of discrete projects engaged in and the number of books published are now both in double figures as this programme moves from strength to strength. During these 10 years some 150 FÁS Trainees have each spent a year or so with the program, during which time they have developed highly relevant skills for today’s job market. The skills imparted here are not only technical “hard skills” but also the so called “soft skills” which are becoming more and more essential for the ever emerging work place requirements of flexibility, adaptability and the embracing of life long learning. The success of this particular FÁS Local Training Initiative is evidenced by the high progression rate into both the job market and into further education and training. But the CLASP project does more than this in that it helps to develop, in a very real way, the sense of community, history and heritage which is so much part of our national psyche - particularly so here on our western sea board. This means for us in FÁS Community Services that as well us achieving our goal of procuring and funding high quality labour market oriented training - we have the “added extra value” of supporting a significant and permanent contribution to the development of the social capital of Clare and the Mid West region. FÁS congratulates CLASP on this event and on their many achievements and wishes them well for the future.