David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chairman for letting me come in a second time. I want to follow up on the remote working spaces. I am interested in what Mr. Shanahan said about how circumstances have evolved and developed during the pandemic. There are a lot of remote working hubs but many of them are more hot desks. I am looking for us to be a bit more ambitious. I know lots of companies would be very concerned about their security of information and may want their space. Will IDA Ireland have a look at developing remote working spaces so that companies could avail of them if they wished? Bearing in mind the competition for labour and talent, if somebody could work in his or her own town, it could help. Working from home is not always the best option for people. They are on their own at the kitchen table or in the box room. It may not work long term. Having a working space in a regional space such as Youghal, which I mentioned earlier, would mean that people would not have to travel long distances and their quality of life would improve. People might think about going back to work because they are offered that kind of flexibility and, therefore, maybe it is something IDA Ireland might explore with its companies or do something on a pilot basis to see how it would work. Mr. Shanahan is correct. Circumstances have changed dramatically. People may not want to work from their house but may want to work from their town. It would also rejuvenate local towns, many of which have suffered hugely in the recent past.

I return to the N25 because I want to be clear about what is happening there. How much has IDA Ireland invested in the Ballyadam site over the years? I understand that it is fully serviced. I think IDA Ireland purchased the site at one stage. This site has been sitting virtually idle for 12 years. One of the reasons put to me was that access to the site has been very difficult. The N25 is outside the gate but when you come out of there, you must go east to go west. Mr. Shanahan is familiar with this. Most recently, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, decided to abandon fairly advanced plans to upgrade the N25, which would have led to very good access to that site. I am not sure if he is aware of that. If he is, could he tell me whether IDA Ireland has made any comment to TII or the Department of Transport about the decision to abandon the upgrade? TII had spent €1.3 million on plans to upgrade the N25 but decided in December to abandon the whole thing so we do not know where it is. It leaves that site in limbo. I am aware of IDA Ireland's planning application. It has caused a lot of angst locally because it will increase local traffic through Carrigtwohill, which is already chock-a-block.

Has IDA Ireland any involvement in the development of new technology relating to offshore wind and green hydrogen in particular? Is it engaged with supporting companies that may be interested in getting involved with that?