Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to raise two matters. First, I thank Senator Horkan for his honourable mention of the mid-west and his visit there yesterday with the transport committee. I had a meeting yesterday with Limerick Chamber of Commerce. The rate of unemployment in Limerick is better than it was prior to Covid. The latest report published indicates that the rate is running at just over 4%. It is very good news for the mid-west that there is so little unemployment in the area. That is down to the collaboration between the council, the enterprise office, the office of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, and IDA Ireland. There has been a big drive in terms of the delivery of companies coming to the region. A significant number of high-end jobs have come to Limerick and the mid-west in recent times. Senator Horkan promoted Shannon Airport. It is certainly great to have the airport, as well as Shannon Foynes Port, on our doorstep and that has helped in the creation of these jobs. It is also down to having three third level institutes in the mid-west, which is really important.

That leads me to my final point, which is that yesterday evening I attended a collaboration between Griffith College and the Vintners Federation of Ireland. The college is running an apprenticeship degree programme for bar staff. I met and listened to some of the apprentices who are participating on the course. There are approximately 35 people in the first cohort, with more due to join the course in September. It is very positive to see a programme such as that being run, but also the collaboration and sponsorship that is coming from industry. I compliment the pubs because they have been through a hard time during Covid. They were one of the hardest hit industries. To see it now reaching out and taking on people is positive.