Mr. Declan Hughes:

With regard to the seven strategic objectives of the regional enterprise plan, the stakeholders, working in conjunction with the agencies in the region, have decided that these are the areas of greatest opportunity for the midlands region. The transition to the low carbon economy is a huge challenge but also an opportunity given the asset base that the midlands have. The new opportunities, which we just discussed with Senator Hackett, include the opportunities to reuse Bord na Móna bogs for an energy park, aquaculture, herb growth, etc. There are, therefore, tangible opportunities for reuse.

A second opportunity arises from having a low carbon town, namely, Portlaoise, acting as a demonstrator and developing new technologies, including smart technologies, for managing urban areas. These can then act as demonstrators for others and will, hopefully, stimulate innovation. Another opportunity is the county climate change adaption plan, which involves local authorities working on resource efficiency and reuse. As a pillar in its own right, that presents opportunities for developing new jobs and businesses and for transitioning the workers. Last Monday, Bord na Móna issued a statement on what it considers to be opportunities to create about 500 new jobs.

The Deputy asked about leveraging opportunities in big data and data analytics. That is really saying we should position the region for the future. A key part of that is investing in research, science and e-hubs in the region so as to create jobs for people who, as the Deputy noted, live in the region but may commute to jobs in Galway or Dublin. Could we get these people to come back? Are there opportunities in those areas and in developing the talent pool?