Double local jobs boost

IN A week of
devastating job losses elsewhere in the country, there was fresh hope for the
unemployed in Dublin North West last week with two positive job announcements
in Santry and Ballymun.

Some 130
positions are to be created with the opening of a new nursing home in Santry,
while a new McDonald’s outlet in Ballymun is bringing 60 jobs to what has long
been an unemployment blackspot.

The Cara Care
Centre, a nursing home in Northwood Park in Santry Demesne, is due to open at
the end of September. The centre is costing

?¬12 million and will provide 103
beds for public and private patients, day care and respite facilities.

It will be the
second nursing home run by the TLC group in Northwood Park. Their first home,
the TLC Centre, opened its doors in 2004 and is now fully occupied with a
waiting list.

The TLC Group
also has homes in City West and Straffan in County Kildare and currently
employs a total of 354 people. Two more nursing homes are being planned by the
TLC Group for Blanchardstown and Killiney.

Speaking to
Northside People this week, CEO of the TLC Group Dr Liam Lacey said the new
Cara Care Centre in Santry has already started to recruit nurses, care
assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chefs, waitresses,
kitchen porters, housekeeping staff, night porters, receptionists and administrators.

“We will also
need staff for our hair and beauty salon on site, as well as alternative
therapists for chiropody, aromatherapy and reflexology,

? said Dr Lacey.

“We’re actively
recruiting at the moment, and we expect that we will be admitting the first
residents to the home by the middle or end of October.

?

Meanwhile, the
new McDonald’s branch in Gulliver’s Retail Park in Ballymun marks the fast food
chain’s 80th restaurant in Ireland. The

?¬2 million outlet just off Junction 4
on the M50 has a capacity for 85 customers.

McDonald’s
Ballymun, Artane and Santry franchisee Ian Carroll told Northside People last
week that he was particularly pleased that most of the 60 employees are from
the local area.

“Our new
restaurant in Gulliver’s Retail Park has already proven to be a big hit with
customers. Ballymun has been in need of a restaurant like this for some time
and it has got off to a strong start. I expect that strong trading performance
to continue,

? added Mr Carroll.

John Atherton,
Managing Director of McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland, said the new Ballymun
outlet is a further sign of the company’s commitment to helping boost the Irish
economy.

“We’re committed
to providing 250 jobs in Ireland this year. and with this new store openings it
looks like we will create nearly 300,

? he said.

McDonald’s is
set to continue on the expansion trail with another new store due to open in
the Millfield Shopping Centre in Balbriggan in late September.