Tánaiste Officially Opens Clonberne Community Centre

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney today (Friday 21^st November 2004) officially opened the new Community Enterprise Centre at Clonberne in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway and described it as a very welcome development for the East Galway area.

The Enterprise Centre which is 650 sq. metres and consists of 9 units has been funded by Enterprise Ireland's Community Enterprise Centre 2002 Scheme and a number of other sources including the Galway Rural Development Company (Leader), Respond Housing and the community's own funds.

Speaking at the official opening the Tánaiste said "the Centre is a fine example of a local community getting together and working with the local authorities and state agencies to overcome the challenges facing the local community. This Centre will facilitate the creation of local enterprises in the area and should create new employment opportunities for local people."

"Community Enterprise Centres are important to local communities as they provide much needed enterprise space and can play a major role in encouraging the development of new local businesses. By helping communities like Clonberne to provide infrastructural facilities for enterprise in local areas, it is hoped to increase the number of entrepreneurs with business ideas. I know that seven of the units are already occupied and I have no doubt this Centre will prove invaluable to first time entrepreneurs," the Tánaiste added.

The Tánaiste said she was particularly pleased to see that the Centre will include a crèche which will provide a necessary service within the locality, enabling parents to return to the workplace. Future plans for the Enterprise Centre include a training resource office providing training and community facilities and the Galway County Enterprise Board hope to avail of the facilities to run their training courses in the future.

"I would like to congratulate all those involved in the development of this Centre and wish success to success to all its enterprises. I believe that Clonberne will have a bright future as a centre for the development of small business here in East Galway", the Tánaiste concluded.

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