Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I believe we have had a very productive meeting here today. I thank the witnesses from Enterprise Ireland, the Offaly LEO and the chief executive of Offaly County Council, Ken Tobin from HQ Tralee, and Abodoo, which is a very progressive private company.

The committee is putting together a report on remote working and smart working. There is a lot of work being done in this area. There is a massive movement towards remote working using co-working places. I compliment Offaly County Council and wish it well with its conference on 8 March. I thank it for communicating with our committee and for taking this opportunity to come here today and for presenting so well.

There is a need for co-ordination and collaboration as Deputy Martin Kenny has mentioned, and bringing everyone together on the one hymn sheet. There are many different ways to draw down funding. Mr. Tobin referred to the town and village renewal or the fund that was there in Enterprise Ireland, the rural regeneration programme. There seems to be a need for a more co-ordinated approach, possibly that is what Senator Coffey said about a national plan for remote working. That should involve different stakeholders such as a private company. Grow Remote was fantastic when it was here, for the voluntary work it does encouraging communities to set up chapters. I attended one in Clarecastle. There is a meeting tomorrow night in Ennis and I compliment everyone involved there. From that people can grow and develop a shared working space and address the issues Deputy Ó Cuív has raised about congestion in Dublin, the need to rebalance our country and get away from commuting and congestion, and the stagnation in Dublin where there is a housing crisis, to areas where there is not such a demand.

Our researcher is here today and she has taken note. We hope to be in a position to present a report. We will be in touch with the witnesses and they should feel free to stay in touch with the committee. I again thank them for attending.