Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Monday 25th January, 1999) officially launched the new £4 million Guinness Enterprise Centre located at Taylor's Lane, Dublin 8. The centre will provide accommodation for about 200 new and existing entrepreneurs in small and start up businesses and will open in early 2000.

The new premises (6,000m sq.) is one of the largest enterprise centres in Ireland and has been finalised with the assistance of private, public community and semi-state investors. A new company, The Dublin Enterprise and Technology Centre Ltd has been established to build and manage the centre and its board members include representatives from the founding partners and the local community.

Speaking at the launch the Tánaiste said " I am very happy to see this type of private/public sector co-operation in such a vital area as enterprise encouragement and job creation. The Guinness Enterprise Centre will have over 200 people working in Dublin's Inner City in new business, and I am particularly happy that my Department has been able to support this public/private venture which I hope will lead to others. I congratulate Guinness and the other partners."

The partners in the project are:-

Guinness Ireland Group - which will provide the enterprise building itself and £1 million towards its refurbishment. Dublin Corporation - which contributed £500,000, and is providing the design, architectural quantity surveying and tendering skills relating to the building innovation.

Dublin Business Innovation Centre - which will contribute finance and expertise as well as managing the centre for the company.

Dublin City Enterprise Board - which will contribute £500,000 supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Enterprise Ireland - which will contribute £500,000, as well as key marketing, technology, enterprise development and business training advice. Guinness Workers Employment Fund - founded by Guinness workers in 1958 to help create jobs and which will celebrate its 40th year in existence by contributing £100,000 to the project.

It is anticipated that units in the new centre will be made available to those setting up businesses in the software and service orientated sectors, small-scale manufacturing and light high tech engineering services.

Welcoming the new development the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Joe Doyle said "The Corporation is deeply committed to developing the Inner City for people to live and work to provide job opportunities for its residents. This project is an exciting way to bring life and hope into this area. Working with Guinness we were able to provide, as well as substantial funding, the corporations skills in design and project management."

Mr Shaun Holliday, Managing Director Guinness Ireland Group said "Guinness is particularly pleased to be associated with this new centre- not only because it addresses the task of job creation but because it illustrates what can be achieved by a partnership approach to issues of common concern."