CES OPENINGS IN CHILDCARE CENTRE

Kilcullen Community Childcare Education Centre is hiring for two positions on the Community Employment Scheme, advertised on Jobs Ireland. The roles are Assistant Childcare Support Worker (ref no: 2453044) and Kitchen Assistant (ref no: 2453038). 

No experience is needed, as full accredited childcare training will be provided, funded by the DSP. Applicants must be over 21 and have been receiving a qualifying Irish social welfare payment for at least one year. These roles offer the chance to support local families, gain valuable experience, and build skills for future opportunities. 

For informal enquiries, contact Máiréad or Deirdre at 045 448700.

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Interested in motor industry apprenticeship?

The Joe Duffy Group is expanding its apprenticeship programme, offering over 50 new opportunities across Ireland’s motor industry. The initiative provides paid, practical experience, structured training, and mentorship with leading automotive brands. 

An Apprenticeship Open Evening will be held on 11th August 2026 at Porsche Centre Dublin, Charlestown, from 5pm–7pm, showcasing various career routes. Gavin Hydes, Group CEO, emphasised the programme’s role in building meaningful careers amidst industry changes. Roles include Apprentice Technicians, Service Advisors, Sales Executives, and Parts Advisors, targeting individuals with a positive attitude and interest in technology-led industries. 

For more information, contact Mary Nolan at mnolan@joeduffy.ie.

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Home care staff opportunities

InisCare home care providers is recruiting staff to support clients in Naas and the surrounding areas. The company is seeking Healthcare Assistants, Rapid Responders, and Healthcare Supervisors to join its team.

There's a range of benefits for successful applicants, including mileage, a Refer-a-Friend programme, a bike-to-work scheme, mentoring, and sponsorship for QQI Level 5 (Care Skills and Care for the Elderly Person Modules). There's also a career progression plan.

Contact adrianareis@iniscare.ie for more information.

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Kilcullen GAA seeks a Groundsperson

Kilcullen GAA is seeking applications for a Groundsperson role under the Community Employment (CE) Scheme. The part-time position offers 19.5 hours per week supporting the upkeep of the club’s grounds and facilities.

The opportunity is open through Kilcullen Area CE Limited, and applications close on 24 June 2026. No prior experience is required, and accredited training will be provided as part of the developmental role. Full details here. 

Eligibility for the CE Scheme is generally for people aged 21 and over who have been receiving a qualifying social welfare payment for at least a year, with some exceptions for certain disadvantaged groups aged 18 and over. 

Applicants can register their interest through an Employment Personal Advisor at their local Intreo Centre.

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Supervisor post at Cross's Centra

Cross Retail Group is hiring a part-time Supervisor for evening and weekend shifts in Kilcullen. The role offers flexible shifts from 2pm to 10pm or 5pm to 10pm in a dynamic environment. 

Applicants with retail experience are preferred, but it is not essential — full training will be provided. The company provides competitive pay, training, development programmes, and direct support from management. 

Interested candidates can email their CV to CrossretailgroupHR@Centra.ie or drop it off at the Customer Service Desk in-store. Cross Retail Group values inclusivity and equal opportunities, recruiting without discrimination. 

Company locations include Cross’s SuperValu in Newbridge and Cross’s Centra stores in Naas and Kilcullen.

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Positions open at Kilcullen Childcare

Kare has vacancies for a Childcare Assistant and a Kitchen Assistant on the Community Employment Childcare Scheme at KCCEC Kilcullen.

No experience necessary. Accredited childcare training will be provided, funded by DSP.

Applicants must be over 21 and in receipt of a qualifying Irish social welfare payment. Please contact your local Intreo office to check your eligibility.

Informal enquiries to Mairéad or Deirdre 045 448700. Vacancies are advertised on Jobs Ireland.

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Kare is looking for Bus Escorts

The Kare organisation is looking for Bus Escorts to join the Kare team in the Curragh, Newbridge, Athy and Kilmeade areas.

Bus Escorts do important work of supporting children with intellectual disabilities on their journey to and from school each day. 

It's 18-20 hours of work each week, and full training is provided. The rate is €15.66 per hour.

For more information, contact damian.carroll@kare.ie. 

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CES jobs at Kilcullen Community Childcare

Several positions are open as Community Employment opportunities at the Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Centre. They are operational through the KARE Community Employment Scheme.

KCCEC provides a caring, progressive and inclusive environment for the children who attend, and the staff who work there.

The Community Employment Scheme enables participants to gain a funded, recognised qualification whilst they gain valuable on-the-job experience.

No experience is necessary. The jobs are advertised on JobsIreland.ie. They include Assistant Cook (#CES - 2392685).

For anyone interested or with any informal questions, contact: Mairead or Deirdre 045 448700.

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Relief Receptionist vacancy

Dunlavin Nursing Home is currently looking to recruit a temporary-relief person to cover their busy Reception, mainly at weekends.     

Full training will be given.

If you are interested in joining their dedicated team, please send your CV to afoley@silverstream.ie or phone 045 406628.

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Positions open at Kilcullen Childcare

Several positions are open as Community Employment opportunities at the Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Centre. They are operational through the KARE Community Employment Scheme.

KCCEC provides a caring, progressive and inclusive environment for the children who attend, and the staff who work there. 

The Community Employment Scheme enables participants to gain a funded, recognised qualification whilst they gain valuable on the job experience. 

No experience is necessary. The jobs are advertised on JobsIreland.ie. They include Assistant Childcare Support Worker (Job Ref: #CES - 2391897) and Assistant Cook (#CES - 2392685).

For anyone interested or with any informal questions, contact: Mairead or Deirdre 045 448700.

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Care assistant openings

Kilcullen-based home care service Affinity Plus has openings for full- and part-time care assistants.

The work locations are in Newbridge, Naas, Kilcullen, Baltinglass, Athy, Monasterevin and Blessington.

Full training is provided — experience is not essential but will be a plus in candidate selection.

Carer staff at Affinity Plus have 24/7 support from the service's office team. In addition to offering a good work-life balance, there are opportunities for further career development.

Those interested should email their CV to info@affinityplus.ie or call 045 916060.

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Affinity Plus seeks care assistants

Kilcullen-based home care service Affinity Plus are hiring care assistants, writes Brian Byrne. They are seeking compassionate and reliable individuals for clients in Newbridge, Naas, Athy, Kildare Town, Dunlavin and Baltinglass.

Hours are flexible and those working for the company have a supportive team behind them.

Anyone interested, or who knows someone who would be a great fit with the organisation, can get in touch on 045 916060 or email katie@affinityplus.ie.

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CE employment at Childcare Centre

Several positions are open as Community Employment opportunities at the Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Centre. They include Assistant Childcare Support Worker (Job Ref: #CES - 2368232) and Assistant Cook (#CES - 2371695), and are operational through the KARE Community Employment Scheme.

KCCEC provides a caring, progressive and inclusive environment for the children who attend, and the staff who work there. 

The Community Employment Scheme enables participants to gain a funded, recognised qualification whilst they gain valuable on the job experience. 

No experience is necessary. The jobs are advertised on JobsIreland.ie.

For anyone interested or with any informal questions, contact: Mairead or Deirdre 045 448700.

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Community Employment awards presented

Scheme participants with Anne Bolger, Christy Sweeney and Theresa Whelan.

Awards were presented this morning to 13 participants in the Kilcullen Area Community Employment Scheme at a breakfast event hosted by St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club on the Community Centre campus, writes Brian Byrne. The awards included certificates for completion in training programmes under the scheme, in Cardiac First Response, Manual Handling, Four-Stroke Small Engine Maintenance and Establishing Ornamental Flowering.

Those receiving certificates were Wayne Aspell, Ilona Brede, Matthew Dunne, Dayna Mitchell, Alan Ryan, Renate Matejeva, Joe Winder, Damian Kirby, James Brady, John Corrigan, Lidia Ciala, Lisa Stokes and Linda Anderson. Two major awards in Horticulture were presented to John Corrigan and Wayne Aspell.

Recipients of Special Awards in Horticulture John Corrigan and Wayne Aspell.

The scheme's supervisor, Theresa Whelan, said she was very proud of the work put in by the participants. She noted that they are 'in happy workspaces' with a range of sponsoring groups that include Kilcullen Community Centre, the GAA club, Tidy Towns groups in Kilcullen, Brannockstown and Calverstown, Kilcullen Parish, Kilcullen Heritage Centre, Pitch & Putt clubs in Kilcullen, Athgarvan and Newbridge, and Enable Ireland in Naas. 

"What a range that is," she said. "Without the scheme being available, it would be very detrimental to our sponsors and to these areas." She paid special tribute to the scheme's board of management, and to Anne Bolger of the Department of Social Protection and her team. "We are so lucky to be working alongside such professional and helpful individuals." She also thanked Johnny Sweeney and St Bridget's Pitch & Putt for hosting the awards event.

The scheme chairman, Christy Sweeney, thanked Theresa for the 'fabulous' work she does in supervising the scheme, and also congratulated the participants who were receiving their awards.

Anne Bolger said that it is one of the lovely parts of a job that she has been doing for 10 years, to work with schemes which have enthusiastic supervisors and the sponsors who give up their time freely. "It's a huge ask that we put on sponsors, and they do so willingly, and we thank them for their assistance. It's one of my favourite parts of the job to meet with participants on an occasion like this. I can see clearly the hard work that you put in and the benefit to you, and hopefully building on skills that you already have and learning new ones along the way." She also thanked Theresa Whelan for her own dedication to the scheme, adding that she 'maximises the training budget'. "But that's because you're all willing to do the work and put in the effort."

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer said that the area is very lucky to have the scheme. "I do see the results of the work around the area, and they are phenomenal. Thank you to everyone concerned, and it is important to remember that it is the people who make the scheme, not the other way around. It is only as good as the people involved."

On behalf of Kilcullen Community Action, one of the sponsors, Martin Sheridan said the amount of work carried out around the town by scheme participants is 'amazing'. "It doesn't matter what needs to be done, we just have to ask someone. If one group in the community has a problem, we all work together to figure it out." He highlighted last year's Tidy Towns win of a bronze medal, and this year's silver achievement, as examples of what the scheme does for the area.

Following the award presentations, Nessa Dunlea on behalf of the scheme's board of management presented bouquets to Theresa Whelan and Anne Bolger, saying that the community's interaction with them was 'never about problems, always about solutions'.

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Initiative offers work opportunities for Camphill

An Tearmann opening soon. Inset, Emma Jane Meredith of the Camphill My Dream Job initiative.

A My Dream Job initiative within the Camphill Communities of Ireland is working with service users and businesses to provide work experience for the organisation's clients, writes Brian Byrne. The programme is part of the WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme co-funded by the Government through the Department of Social Protection, and the European Union.

The initiative is being managed in Camphill operations in this area by Careers and Employment Facilitator Emma Jane Meredith. Implementation of the project began in June and a number of training workshops have already been held for participants at the Employment Hub in Carrick-on-Suir.

"These have included personal development, confidence building, and manual handling," says Emma Jane, who previously worked with the Kildare Leader Partnership and subsequently the National Learning Network in RehabGroup. "We have also had sessions on barista training, and basic maths and literacy. It's great to see all taking part, they're really into it, and the social element is also very important."

WorkAbility aims to ensure that people with disabilities are fully supported to find and maintain employment, and that suitable support and any necessary training is also provided to organisations which employ participants. The process includes identifying the skills and interests and support needs of interested participants, and matching those with prospective employers. "Those interested will fill out a short form, which includes what they would consider their dream job. After registration on the programme, we'll discuss preferences like whether they want to work indoors or outdoors, if they want to job shadow or like written instructions. It sets up a vocational profile that gives me an idea of where they'd like to be, what they'd be good at whether it's administration, customer facing, or outdoors, and so on."

Participants are then matched to potential employers through a careers portal website. "If, for instance, someone was interested in working in a garden centre, I'd go and talk to the manager and see if there would be availability for work experience. If there was, we'd set that up for a number of weeks." Hours of work would be tailored to the ability of the participants, and preparation for work, skills training, and on the job support are all part of the initiative. 

While initial engagement may be as work experience, the end goal, where possible, is a level of paid employment. "It would be up to the employer whether or not to pay something during work experience, but at the end we would have the conversation about whether there is ongoing opportunity for paid employment?"

In Kilcullen, the imminent reopening of the An Tearmann cafe will provide opportunity for three Bridge Camphill clients to work there, reactivating what was an important part of the Bridge Camphill experience before it went into lockdown for the duration of the pandemic. Other participants will also be given the opportunity for work experience here with a view to moving on out into the wider community to seek paid employment.

Participation in the programme is open to both residential clients and day service users of Camphill.

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