Money has been allocated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to develop an e-learning repository for small enterprises in the Republic. The joint venture between Irish city and county enterprise boards and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be introduced on a pilot basis in five counties. It has been developed by a not-for-profit company, Operation Online.

The online repository will provide short learning modules, supported by interactive, media-rich learning activities.

The Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy, announcing funding of £138,000 (€175,349) said the project would complement and enhance the city and county enterprise boards' Empower initiative introduced earlier this year.