New tourism training centre for Cork

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue has officially opened the new Fáilte Ireland Training Centre in Cork.

The €1.4m state-of-the-art centre will provide skills training for the tourism industry, with a particular emphasis on training of adults. It will also provide consultancy advice to tourism and hospitality businesses in the greater Cork / Kerry region. It is one of four such centres in the country operated by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority.

The new Centre, has been open for business since the first of September and provides a range of FETAC accredited courses including professional cookery, food and beverage and bar operations.

It is expected that up to 250 trainees will participate in courses run by the Centre each year.

Fáilte Ireland Chief Executive Shaun Quinn said the new Centre would be integral to the development of the tourism industry in the southern region.

According to the latest Fáilte Ireland Tourism and Business Employment Survey, in the hotel sector alone, the South-West region employs the largest number of staff outside Dublin, accounting for 18% of the total number employed in the hotel sector nationally.