I am delighted to be here today to launch this joint venture partnership between the Ardilaun Hotel and FutureNet Ireland. This new venture will add an additional facility to this beautiful hotel here in Galway. Not only does the hotel provide excellent accommodation, wedding, conference and leisure facilities, it also will now be able to provide computer training courses for all adults whether they are business people or members of the wider community who wish to develop their computer skills.

It is worth recalling that one of the reasons for our recent economic success has been the availability of a well educated and highly skilled labour force. However, in order to sustain our economic success into the future, we must ensure that the skills of those in the labour force are continuously up-graded. Training and learning is a means of securing the future employability of workers in an ever-changing modern workplace, while at the same time creating competitive advantage for companies through increasing the skills-base of firms.

I am delighted to be associated with this private sector project whereby the skills of our workforce will be developed. The Ardilaun Hotel and FutureNet are to be congratulated on taking this excellent initiative.<<p>I am told that FutureNet is our leading computer training franchise network for adult and corporate skills training.

The company offers a very comprehensive range of courses in computer education in a number of centres throughout Ireland. The current facilities are in Derry City, Sligo and Dublin together with this excellent new centre here in Galway. In the next few months it plans to open centres in Ennis, Cork, Belfast and Mullingar with other centres throughout the Country opening quickly thereafter. In total FutureNet plans to have 13 centres open by the end of this year with another 8 centres in strategic locations by the end of 2002.

I am delighted to see that FutureNet are specialist trainers in a number of different areas and have accreditation with internationally known and recognised training courses. The one which we are all most familiar with would be the European Computer Driving Licence which has become an essential business tool for any person wishing to obtain a job in industry or develop their career.

I am also pleased to see that the advanced ECDL Course is been added to the list of courses available as and from this month.

It is an indication of FutureNet’s professionalism that they have been approved to deliver City & Guilds, Pitman and Microsoft Office courses. These courses are suitable for persons with a range of abilities, starting with beginners, progressing to intermediates and culminating in master classes. Specialised courses in graphics, accounting and the internet are also available here.

I would also like to compliment FutureNet Galway on the very innovative way in which they have advertised the official opening of this centre here this week. Many of you will have heard of the promotion on Galway Bay FM run by Mr. Keith Finnegan, whereby 500 free computer training courses are being provided, as a special introductory offer.

Not only does this show that Mr. Elmer Kerr is an astute businessman but that he is providing a very valuable service also to the wider community here in the West. As the person with political responsibility for Science and Technology, I wish to compliment him on this exciting initiative.

Before finishing I would like to pay tribute to my long time friends, John and Mrs. Breda Ryan who are the Managing Directors here of this magnificant hotel. I would like to sincerely congratulate them on their great initiative in developing the Ardilaun Hotel into one of the premier hotels in this country. Securing the FutureNet franchise is a remarkable achievement, and represents another milestone in the commercial success of the Ryan family. I personally believe that it is a great idea to integrate their business centre that is already located in this hotel more fully with the core business of this outstanding hotel.

The Ardilaun Business Centre has excellent facilities for customers and clients alike. It is an excellent location within this beautiful and historic City, has convenient car parking and quality restaurants. As you will see from an inspection of this centre, it now has 2 training suites with a total of 16 computers available for training purposes and various other ancillary facilities.

Finally, I would like to wish the Director of Training Ms. Janet Duncan well in her endeavours and I know that another success will be made of this very worthwhile venture in this growing Western Capital.