David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It has been a long session, so I will be brief. I will follow up on what Deputy O'Reilly said about decent jobs as the matter relates to migrants, under-25s from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. Although there are mobility and transport supports for people with disabilities, people in these three groups find it difficult to get jobs. I have been involved in the Open Doors Initiative since the start. Has Enterprise Ireland engaged with the initiative or would it consider getting involved? The IDA and many other State agencies are engaging with it. It seems that many employers want to get into this space and support these groups, who face challenges. The initiative gives employers an opportunity to do so while also gaining some badly needed labour and good workers.

Is broadband proving a challenge to setting up businesses and so on in various parts of the country? A great deal of work is being done on this and broadband is rolling out commercially and through National Broadband Ireland.

Has Enterprise Ireland any role in establishing enterprise centres? Hubs and the like have been mentioned. People want to stay in their own towns, particularly in rural areas – one I am familiar with is Youghal in County Cork – and not have to travel long distances into cities to work in industrial parks. Many are under accommodation pressure. Has Enterprise Ireland any role in setting up enterprise centres in towns in rural areas?

I referred to the great work that was being done at second level. Mr. McElwee spoke about his satisfaction in visiting schools and seeing what was being done. I agree that it is heart-warming to see what they are doing. It is happening a little at primary level as well. What is happening with third level students, though? Has Enterprise Ireland any engagement in that regard or has it considered doing so?

Some Enterprise Ireland companies found it difficult during the pandemic to engage with the likes of the HSE because of procurement rules in particular. A company in my area was involved in manufacturing PPE but was virtually excluded by the HSE for a while. Does Enterprise Ireland have any role in this regard? Has it examined procurement challenges and does it assist companies in that space?