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Minister Pat Carey launched a new €0.5m training initiative in north Dublin on Monday 28th January. The new North Dublin Skillnet will provide subsidised training to local business. Local business people and members of the local community gathered at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Santry Demesne to mark the official launch of the network. Dublin North Skillnet is funded by Skillnets Ltd, an enterprise-led support body whose mission is to enhance the skills of people within employment and Irish industry to support competitiveness and employability. Skillnets is funded from the National Training Fund and its stakeholders include leading employer and employee representative bodies, such as IBEC, Chambers Ireland, CIF, SFA and ICTU.
Minister Carey addressed the delegates at the launch and commented:
"Ballymun Partnership has once more demonstrated great innovation in working with North Dublin Chamber of Commerce, local employers and employees in the  development of this very useful training support programme… The Dublin North Skillnet will provide an invaluable tool in Ireland’s race to compete in this innovative and knowledge driven economy. The fact that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has increased the funding allocated to the Programme to support the Training Networks in 2007-2009 is indicative of the importance of it to the economy, to employers, employees and ultimately to communities."
Pictured right are Declan Dunne, CEO, Ballymun Partnership with Minister of State Pat Carey, T.D.
Dublin North Skillnet was formed in December 2007 after Ballymun Partnership and a group of local employers, with support from the North Dublin Chamber of Commerce, successfully applied for and received €468,503.00 of funding. Local employers will provide €88,625.00 of matched funding This funding will be used to deliver training to owners, managers and employees of north Dublin based companies. To date over 30 businesses have joined the network as member companies. Each member will benefit from having their training needs subsidised by up to 90%. Dublin North Skillnet will focus on the locally delivered accredited skills training to network members during the period 2008-2009.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Tony Boyle, president of the North Dublin Chamber of Commerce commented:
“The decision of Skillnets to approve funding for the Dublin North Skillnet is a significant boost for this area. It represents a great opportunity for business to up-skill employees at reduced cost. This will have positive impacts on our competitiveness and help us meet the demands of the ever changing economy. As a key partner we will certainly be recommending Dublin North Skillnet to our members within the North Dublin Chamber of Commerce.”
The first training courses will begin in February 2008. It’s envisaged this training will have impacts, not only in improving productivity and competitiveness of the businesses involved, but will equip individuals with the key skills required to progress and develop in today’s evolving local and national economy.
Dublin North Skillnet is funded by Skillnets Ltd, an enterprise-led support body whose mission is to enhance the skills of people within employment and Irish industry to support competitiveness and employability. Skillnets is funded from the National Training Fund and its stakeholders include leading employer and employee representative bodies, such as IBEC, Chambers Ireland, CIF, SFA and ICTU. Skillnets Ltd was allocated increased funding to continue its support for training.
For further details and to join the network contact:
Robert McCulloch – Network Manager
Tel: 01 842 1111
Mobile: 085 720 7593
robert@ballymun.org.
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