Mr. Declan Hughes:

We were very clear in Monday's announcement when the three Ministers, Deputies Bruton, Donohoe and Madigan, visited the midlands. We heard about 400 jobs being created directly and indirectly to retrofit homes in the midlands, starting with social homes. A total of 100 jobs will be created in the National Parks and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate the bogland. That is committed funding in budget 2020. Bord na Móna will also prioritise job creation. I mentioned the engagement that has taken place with Enterprise Ireland. It envisages 100 new direct jobs and 150 indirect jobs involving the development of renewable energy assets by 2023. There will be 100 new jobs in the new recycling operations and potentially another 150 to 300 new jobs in new green business projects. Real work is being done in developing opportunities and bringing forward jobs.

I also mentioned the work of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to ensure we have a spotlight on the midlands and that it is an attractive place to bring investment. I mentioned the Glanbia investment in Laois, which is an area that had not got significant investment in a long time. There was an investment of €130 million in a new mozzarella cheese plant last year. That is a significant investment.