About Us
LAOIS Partnership Company is the Local Development Company for County Laois. A State and EU funded organisation, it delivers a range of programmes and supports to people, communities and businesses in the county. These programmes aim to make Laois a better place to live in by enhancing community life, combating disadvantage and social exclusion and supporting enterprise development.
Initiatives include: The Rural Development Programme (LEADER); Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), DEASP funded Job Club; Community Employment Scheme; Tus Programme; Rural Social Scheme; Services to the Elderly Programme(LSTEP); National Childcare Schemes; Back to Education initiative.
The Company’s catchment area is the whole of Laois, and it also delivers the Walks Scheme for Laois & Offaly.
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of our CEO Anne Goodwin. Anne passed away peacefully at home Friday 19th June in the loving care of her much loved family. Anne was a wonderful colleague, leader and mentor and we will miss her in the weeks and years to come. Her work in Laois through LEADER is a legacy that will remain for decades. Our thoughts and sympathies are with her family, friends and colleagues. May she rest in peace. On behalf of the Board and staff of Laois Partnership Company, Peter O’Neill, Chairman.
Catherine Cowap
Acting CEO
sicap@laoispartnership.ie
| Catherine is Acting CEO & Social Inclusion Manager. |
Peter Maher
Rural Recreation Officer
Tel 0578661900
| Peter manages the engagement with private landowners whom make up the Walks scheme on both the Offaly Way and the Slieve Bloom way. Also participates in a number of integrated tasks that cover the development and maintenance of physical trails-, advising maintenance crews; to administration and financial reporting elements and include project planning, stakeholder networking. |
Sylvia Rouget
Community Development & Youth Officer
Tel 057 8682783
| Sylvia is Community Development & Youth Officer working with residents, groups and individuals who wish to improve their lives and address any issues they might face. |
Michelle Touhy
Employment & Training Officer
Tel 087 3107777
michelletuohy@laoispartnership.ie
| Michelle provides one-to-one supports for unemployed people who are interested in employment. Support is given through an individual tailored mentoring programme by providing access to education, training and employment. |
Karen Bambrick
Enterprise & Employment Advisor
Tel 087 7385965
| Karen provides one-to-one supports to unemployed people who are interested in becoming self-employed. We offer advice & guidance on all aspects of setting up or developing a business, including applying for Back to Work Allowance (BTWEA & STEA), applying for grant aid, registering with revenue, completing business plans & projected financials. We process Microfinance Ireland (MFI) applications for loans of up to €5K.We also provide a suite of enterprise workshops covering marketing, finance, and book-keeping. |
Jenny Collier
Project Development Officer
Tel 087 9810499
| Jenny is a Project Officer for the LEADER Rural Development Programme. If you are thinking of setting up a business, expanding an existing business or a community development group you can contact Jenny for details of eligibility for LEADER grants.. |
William Marum
Manager of Laois Services to Elderly People (LSTEP)
Tel 057 8682779 stepp@laoispartnership.ie
| Laois Services to Elderly People (LSTEP) Est 2008 provide a subsidised service for the older person, by maintaining gardens, undertaking internal and external painting of homes, also general maintenance work, LSTEP is registered with POBAL to facilitates grant applications for Personal Alarms for the over 65 age group. These services are provided to enhance and support independent living for older people in Laois, by offering Safety, Security & Comfort in the homes of the Older Person. |
Therese Ryan
Childcare Manager
thereseryan@laoispartnership.ie
| Therese is the Childcare Manager for Laois Partnership Company who manages a pre-school and three afterschool programmes, based in three community facilities in Portlaoise. Each facility has a co-ordinator and assistant co-ordinator. As Childcare Manager, Therese oversees and co-ordinates the efficient operation of these services to the highest standards in line with Tusla and Department of Children and Youth requirements. |
Liam Dunne
Tus Co-Ordinating Supervisor
Tel 087 9600434
| Liam is Tus Co-Ordinating Supervisor working alongside five other Tus Supervisors to deliver the Tús programme throughout County Laois. |
Eimear Kelly
Training & Employment Officer
Tel 087 2230710
| Eimear Kelly is the Training and Employment Officer with SICAP. Her role entails assisting and supporting unemployed people to access suitable training opportunities to improve employment prospects. Under the BTEI initiative Eimear offers certified training in the following areas: Computer Training, Retail Skills, Healthcare, Horticulture, Building Skills, Catering Skills and HACCP training. |
John Finlay
Supervisor of Rural Social Scheme
Tel 086 8160666
| John is Rural Social Scheme (RSS) Supervisor, which is an income support scheme to low income farmers and provides certain services of benefit to rural communities throughout County Laois |
Mary Keane
Community development worker
Contact marykeane@laoispartnership.ie
Telephone 087 3331809
Working with Men’s sheds in Laois and supporting community development programmes and resident’s groups in Laois.
Contact: Miriam or Lisa
Phone: 057 8663241
jobclub@laoispartnership.ie
The job club provides a four week programme which covers job seeking skills, practical career advice, support and guidance, one to one coaching, CV Preparation, Confidence building, Interview Preparation, Assessment, Aptitude, & Psychometric Testing
Board Members
Peter O’Neill (Chair), Teresa McEvoy (Vice Chair), Ann Marie Maher (Treasurer), Pat Culleton, Michael Cobbe, Mary Delaney, Josephine Sutton, Paul Lynch, Noel Gavigan, Trevor Stanley, John Fitzpatrick, Padraig Fleming, Tom Mulhall, Declan Kirrane and Laurence Phelan.