Farm machinery centre boosts skills

THE €500 million a year Irish farm machinery industry has a new training centre to serve the island of Ireland.

It is based in Naas, Co Kildare, and will provide training and development for the sector, which employs 3,800 people and has annual exports valued at €200m.

European Commissioner for Internal Markets and Services Charlie McCreevy, who officially opened the centre, also announced a €500,000 training budget for it during 2008 and 2009.