Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Wednesday 20th January, 1999) presented certificates to the first 14 graduates of the Landscape/Nursery Growers Traineeship programme at a ceremony in the Green Isle Hotel, Clondalkin, Dublin.

This Traineeship Programme emerged from a Partnership between FÁS, Teagasc, the Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association and the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland.

Speaking at the ceremony the Tánaiste said "I am delighted to be here to present these certificates. The model of two statutory agencies and two industry associations working together to develop, design and implement a training programme to meet the manpower needs of the industry is to be applauded as it has given added value to all concerned, not least to the participants."

14 participants have successfully completed the year long training programme which involved training modules with FÁS, Teagasc and 14 companies who had the vision to make an investment both in the programme and in the participants. Training modules consisted of horticulture training, customer relations, landscaping and portable tools, including chainsaw operations with Coillte. The Tánaiste said "The area of employment into which these award winners are now entering is a growth area both in the industrial sector and private dwelling market. One only needs to look up the road to see a very visual expression of this in the new City West Business Campus in which one of the participants and their host company were involved. I have no doubt that in the months and years to come that we will see similar expressions around the country of the work of the other participants as they carve out successful careers for themselves."

Concluding the Tánaiste said "I would like to close by congratulating all concerned with the successful operation of this programme and in particular I wish the participants every success for the future."