Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome what the Minister has said about the focus of the Department and that he recognises this is a special case. He also mentioned the Slieve Bloom bike trial, which is an important project for Laois-Offaly. That needs to be completed and the Minister's officials might send me a note outlining where the Department is at on that project because it is important to see it through to completion. Big progress is being made on that important project.

I will refer to the enterprise pillar in the action plan for rural jobs. There are excellent jobs clubs in the midlands, including the one in Portarlington and the Laois partnership. The jobs club in Portarlington deals with people from Laois and Offaly. There has been a focus in recent years on moving people to organisations such as Turas Nua. The Minister will recognise that jobs clubs turn out the goods despite the very small amount of money that goes into them. There may be a need for more jobs clubs to provide supports to get people back into work and allow them to diversify.

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