Ms Martina Earley:

I will respond to Deputy Hayes's recollection about the collapse of the lumber industry in Canada. I recall three examples in our own company. This is the same for every company because we are community-led and innovative companies. In the early 1990s in the north Roscommon-Leitrim area, there was the closure of a power station and the end of the coal-mining industry. There were two community-led projects that the LEADER programme and CLÁR programme supported: the Arigna Mining Experience, which is now a whole tourism project and social enterprise, and The Food Hub in Drumshanbo, which was one supplier but is now at several reiterations. There are over 350 people now employed in that area. Rather than having one, there is a multitude.

Currently in Ballaghaderreen, we are needs-led. Our company responds to the needs. Integration was an issue in Ballaghaderreen. There was a large influx of numbers. We developed and sourced funding for childcare provision there under the community recognition fund. We are working on a whole plan for the creative sector. We are working with Enterprise Ireland on a whole response to the need to see new people as an asset in terms of their huge creativity and where they are coming from. We are putting in place a whole plan to support that. The answer to the Deputy's question is that local people have the solutions. They need to be resourced.