The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has officially opened a new enterprise centre in Tallaght which will provide employment, training, conference facilities and a childcare service.
The £1.4 million Brookfield Enterprise Centre was developed by Tallaght community organisations, with a £200,000 contribution and a human resources support programme from Roadstone, whose headquarters is based in the area.
The balance of the funding came from the Government and through the support of South Dublin County Council, the Tallaght Task Force, Tallaght Partnership, Enterprise Ireland, Get Tallaght Working, South Dublin Urban Initiative, South County Dublin Enterprise Board, Action Tallaght and the EU Regional Fund.
More than 5,000 people are out of work in Tallaght, and the 27,000 sq ft centre comprises 16 light industrial units, nine office units, a training and conference centre and a childcare centre. A Local Employment Service office and a health centre have already been built. South Dublin County Council is to develop retail units, a community centre and a small housing complex.
Ms Harney yesterday described the centre as "a major demonstration of the successful operation in the Tallaght area of linkages and partnerships between community enterprise groups, local authorities, State bodies, local employment services and the private industrial sector.
"Roadstone, the sole private sector contributor, is to be congratulated for making the centre's development possible."
The managing director of Roadstone, Mr Donal Dempsey, said the centre "can be the critical force in driving the local economy in the years ahead". Roadstone has supported a other community and business initiatives in Tallaght.