Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with the comments and second the proposal from Senator Burke regarding taxis. The exact same problem exists in my own area in a number of towns, where a parent is not able to transfer the business to a son who is willing to run the business and where there is a shortage of taxis. The vehicles are wheelchair accessible but they cannot transfer the licence. As Senator Burke said, there is a proposal for longer opening hours in public houses. I have my own opinions on that and do not fully agree with it but regardless of that, we need to have a taxi service.

Senator O'Sullivan mentioned the greenways, which are a fantastic addition to our countryside. There are more and more people out walking and cycling on them but it has been brought to my attention that lots of people, particularly children, do not wear helmets. It is not mandatory to wear a helmet but that may need to change. We will be dealing with legislation with regard to e-scooters and so on and we should consider making it mandatory for children and adults to wear a helmet when on a bike for their own safety. It is worth considering and if children start wearing them when they are young, they will continue to do so later in life.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Edgeworthstown enterprise hub in Longford, co:worx, which was nominated for an EU award. Approximately 800 projects from across the EU were shortlisted down to 20 and co:worx is one of the 20 projects on the shortlist. The project started with a voluntary group in Edgeworthstown approaching me and the local authority. We worked with the local authority to purchase the former Ulster Bank building that was for sale in the town. The project received funding from Government, including from the town and village renewal scheme, enterprise funding and LEADER funding, which was used to turn the building into a working hub that is the envy of many around the country.It shows that with collaboration between the community, the local authority and the Government, we can develop a project like that. I pay tribute to the voluntary committee in the local area that has seen this from the start through to fruition, and has now seen it actually nominated. I hope it is successful. I congratulate the committee and the local authority that supported it along the way.