More than 75% of Irish firms are family-owned

SUSTAINING the Family Business was the theme of the first national conference organised by the John C Kelleher Family Business Centre at UCC.

More than 75% of all businesses in Ireland are family-owned and account for 50% of employment in the economy.

Centre director Dr Joan Buckley said that despite its central importance to the economic well-being of the country, family business needs have been largely ignored by both the policy makers and educational institutions.