Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also want to welcome good news. I am chairperson of the board of management of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh. The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, announced the building project for the school can now go to tender. We have been waiting for this news for two years and it is fantastic. We will have a 26-classroom school for 650 students.

While I am on the subject of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, one of its teachers, Naomi Carroll, is a member of the Irish women’s hockey team that will travel to the Tokyo Olympic Games at the end of the month. I should also acknowledge that seven of our Olympics team will be travelling from Limerick to the games. It is an opportune time to wish the Irish Olympics team all the very best. We have Naomi Carroll and Róisín Upton on the Irish women's hockey team. Sarah Lavin, who recently achieved a new personal best, looks like she will be travelling, as will Carolyn Hayes from Newcastle West, Greg O’Shea, a member of the rugby sevens team, and Mark English. I wish them all the best.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, produced a pre-budget submission report on the reopening of hospitality and what the sector has suffered as a result of Covid. It recommended the wage subsidy scheme for the sector be extended to June 2022 and the 9% VAT rate be extended to 2023 because the hospitality industry has suffered more than it fair share. If we are to secure many businesses and ensure they remain in operation, it is important we support that call. I call for a debate on the reopening of the hospitality industry. While I understand yesterday's meeting with representatives of the sector went well, the statement this morning by a Minister that reopening could be put off until August was disappointing. I do not know what has been the experience of my colleagues but my phone lit up when that statement was reported. If the industry has to wait until August to reopen, many businesses will never open their doors again. It is important reopening happens as soon as possible.