Official Opening of The Ballyshannon IT Centre

This is a very welcome development for Ballyshannon and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Erne Enterprise Development Company for their dedication and hard work over the years which have helped make this Centre a reality.

Ballyshannon IT Centre is a fine example of a local community getting together and working with interested groups and state agencies
This initiative will facilitate the creation of local enterprises in the town which might otherwise be lost to the community.

The Ballyshannon IT Centre is a new, high quality building with 10,000sq ft of enterprise space. The centre represents a collaborative effort by a local community development company, the Erne Enterprise Development Company and Enterprise Ireland.

This project represents the second phase of a programme where Enterprise Ireland have provided €300,000 in assistance and follows on from the Finner Incubation Units in Ballyshannon, which also received support from Enterprise Ireland in 1996.

I would also like to acknowledge the support of the Peace II Programme and the International Fund for Ireland, which have supported the program in the amount of €385,000 and €400,000 respectively.

The need for balanced regional economic development is very much part of Government policy. The efforts and support of my Department and Enterprise Ireland under the Community Enterprise Centre Initiative, together with the support and involvement of County Enterprise Boards and the various rural development bodies, can help make this goal achievable.

My Department has also shown its commitment to Ballyshannon

I understand that the design of a metropolitan area network where high speed telecommunications connectivity will facilitate connections to local business and the residential community is underway. The ESB have already provided high speed fibre connectivity to the area.

As a further demonstration of the Governments commitment to Ballyshannon, I would like to announce that the Government is planning for the setting up of an emergency call answering service in Ballyshannon. This service will involve the developing of a critical piece of national communications infrastructure which will connect to the control rooms of all the emergency services. It is planned that up to 50 jobs will be located in Ballyshannon. The selection of Ballyshannon for the location of such an important service is a reflection of the confidence of the Government in Ballyshannon and that Ballyshannon is equipped with the people, communications infrastructure and the physical infrastructure which we see here today to deliver a critical service to the emergency services.

With the launching of the IT Centre, I look forward to the local community and the Enterprise Boards working together with all of these key infrastructure elements to made a real difference to the community and to foster an environment where economic activity will flourish.

Community Enterprise Centres are important to local communities as they provide an integrated approach to enterprise development. They provide much needed enterprise space and can play a catalytic role in encouraging the development of new local businesses. Micro enterprises and small businesses constitute an important source of economic activity and employment. Therefore, it is important to ensure that our enterprises have the right conditions and the right incentives to enable them to win success on a continuous basis.

An objective of Enterprise Ireland’s Community Enterprise Centre programme is to facilitate the development of community based enterprises

Enterprise Centres enhance the development of an enterprise culture by helping to provide infrastructural facilities, which in turn support the establishment and expansion of micro enterprises through local community involvement.

Since 2000, Enterprise Ireland has committed almost €26 million for local communities throughout the country to provide their own enterprise space and
support the establishment and expansion of micro enterprises.

The support of State Agencies for such projects clearly underlines the Government's commitment to fostering an enterprise climate throughout the Regions and to supporting small business, during the earliest stages of development.

Starting up a business is a formidable challenge and is often about overcoming obstacles. Having the ability, self- belief and discipline to invest your time, money and effort in the establishment of an idea or plan, is a feat in itself. By helping communities like Ballyshannon to provide infrastructural facilities for enterprise it is hoped to increase the number of entrepreneurs with business ideas.

I understand that Enterprise Ireland is now working with the managers of Community Enterprise Centres regionally to facilitate the development of Networks of Enterprise Centre Managers. The Community Enterprise Centres have so far achieved reduced purchasing costs through bulk buying initiatives, and increased efficiency through knowledge sharing between Centers.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Ballyshannon IT Centre, its promoters, management and companies, every success in the future.
I would in particular, like to acknowledge the contribution made by Barney McLoughlin, the previous Manger of the Erne Enterprise Development Company who now has now moved to Donegal County Council, for his commitment in delivering this project. I also look forward to learning of the success of the Centre and all the local community who I know will work to make a success of this enterprise.

Thank you for your attention

Ends