A new hospitality management training programme has been unveiled by Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin.
The Irish Hospitality Institute's "Skillnet" initiative will train more than 1,500 employees in the hospitality and tourism industry over the next two years. Up to 40 per cent of those places will be provided for unemployed people or people in part-time employment.
The programme is funded by companies in hospitality sector and Skillnets Ltd, which is funded by the Department of Enterprise.
Ms Hanafin announced the new programme at the Irish Hospitality Institute's managers' conference in Dublin today. She said the success of tourism enterprises largely depended on the people who provided the services.
"Ireland's reputation for hospitality is renowned the world over and it is very important that we maintain that well deserved tribute," Ms Hanafin said.
Shane Cookman, president of the Irish Hospitality Institute, said the hospitality industry was surviving, despite its many setbacks.
"While there have been causalities, business failures and some job losses, we have nevertheless retained a strong, vibrant and cost-effective industry which is well placed to benefit from economic recovery which will inevitably follow," he said.
