Waterford board’s job creation hailed

AN enterprise board which has helped directly create and sustain over 900 jobs in ten years has been commended by government.

The job creation record of the Waterford City Enterprise Board was hailed by the Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern TD as the board celebrates the 10th anniversary of its establishment.

Launching the board’s ten-year review at a celebration dinner attended by over 250 guests in Waterford last night, Mr Ahern noted what he described as the “record of sustained achievement” produced by the Waterford City Enterprise Board (WCEB) since October 29, 1993 when the board first met.

Lauding the board’s work and the determination shown by the Waterford businesses that have been supported in creating over 900 full-time and sustainable jobs, Mr Ahern said that the WCEB had been set up at a time when tackling unemployment was a huge issue for the Government with many of those on the live register having been out of work for prolonged periods.

This record of achievement was, the Minister said, all the more remarkable given that the total public funds administered by the board in its first 10 years was just over €7.2m, a fraction of what was available to other State agencies.

“The Ireland of 10 years ago would be barely recognisable to anyone who is only familiar with the more recent period of sustained economic growth and almost full employment.

"Waterford City Enterprise Board and its sister enterprise boards throughout the State played a very significant and often underestimated role in not only reducing unemployment but also providing additional opportunities for the thousands of workers who joined the labour force in the last decade,” he said.