Taoiseach Enda Kenny has welcomed the announcement that Business Development Managers have been appointed to two Mayo based Community Enterprise Centres, IRD Kiltimagh and IRD North Mayo - West Sligo.
These appointments form part of Enterprise Ireland’s €2 million Community Enterprise Development Programme to sustain and grow business in the community and are amongst 37 new posts to be assigned to Community Enterprise Centres across the country.
Those appointed will be responsible for managing Community Enterprise Centres, building business links and driving entrepreneurship at local level with the aim of sustaining and growing the approximately 800 companies and 5000 jobs which are supported by these Centres across the country. CEC’s provide space in a supportive environment for budding entrepreneurs and support the development of local entrepreneurship in urban and rural locations.
The Taoiseach stated: “Under this announcement by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, €1.6million of funding has been allocated to support the management infrastructure within the national community enterprise centre network, managed by Enterprise Ireland. A second call for proposals for a further €400,000 of funding will be published in 2013.
“Job creation remains this Government’s priority and these appointments relate to a key commitment under the Action Plan for Jobs. In Mayo specifically, this will involve an intensification of the efforts of IRD Kiltimagh and IRD North Mayo - West Sligo in terms of growing local business and promoting jobs and that is very good news indeed for our county’s future employment prospects”, the Taoiseach concluded.
The announcement of the new appointments by
Making the announcement Minister Richard Bruton stated: “A key part of the Government’s plan for sustainable jobs and growth is a drive to support enterprise in the community. In many cases communities, by coming together to focus on job creation, can have a much greater impact on their local economy than Government ever could, and initiatives such as ‘Local Heroes’ and ‘Fiver Friday’ have shown what can be achieved.
“This Government is determined to support community efforts for job-creation, and the Action Plan for Jobs contains a series of measures aimed at this goal. Today’s announcement will mean that more entrepreneurs in more communities will have more support as they seek to start businesses and create jobs”.
