Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

After County Wicklow, west Clare is one of the most beautiful parts of our country. I take the Deputy's point. I also take the point about the importance of our regional and technological universities. One of the reasons we have put such a focus on making sure we have university capacity outside of the big cities is for balanced regional development and to provide the opportunity for local communities to try to harness the potential of relatively new industries, new jobs and where that will bring us in the future. I am conscious that in the Deputy's county, Ennis is now a university town. County Clare is now a university county, which we could not have said a number of years ago. We need now to ensure we work with the regional and technological universities to ensure they are providing the courses to equip the workers who may be required for offshore renewable energy work. I am pleased to say that work is under way in that regard, both with our technological universities and ETBs. My Department is supporting a number of initiatives to meet the skills needs for the green transition, including through springboard courses and the human capital initiative. I will send the Deputy a note on the issue.

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