Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is really important that the region owns this project. I have no doubt on that, having heard from the Deputy and others in County Kerry. It is a massive opportunity and investment. When I go to Kerry with the Deputy, I wish to speak to chambers of commerce and schools about the difference this will make to the people of the county and their lives. It is something we can support in Dublin financially, and we will do so every step of the way, but it needs to be owned and driven by the region, as I know it will.

While we are speaking about higher education, I am very conscious of the role and the job my Department has to do in terms of further education, which could be training, apprenticeships or helping to get people back to work. When I met the south-west regional skills forum, which covers County Kerry, we discussed how we can help to get the hospitality and tourism sector back on its feet, to get people who have lost their jobs or been out of work due to this awful virus back to work, and to provide training and access to courses. I look forward to having a chance to explore those issues with the Deputy in January.

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