Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his very comprehensive reply. I acknowledge the work of the staff of the local enterprise offices, LEOs, including Ms Jacqui McNabb. Ms McNabb is absolutely inspirational and her team do really incredible work mentoring and supporting new businesses. However, with regard to existing businesses, I believe that apart from addressing the obvious shortage of skilled labour mentioned by the Minister of State, providing access to capital is really important.

I also want to give a shout out to Mr. Allan Shine and his team in County Kildare Chamber because they work very well with the LEO and Kildare County Council in attracting employers and supporting employers within Kildare.

The Minister of State mentioned apprenticeships. He is absolutely right that we need more. One area of concern is north-west Kildare, with which I know the Minister of State will be familiar. It is on the border with Offaly. We do not really have any apprenticeship programmes there. I am referring to the area between Rathangan, Allenwood and Carbury and also to some very small areas. I mentioned this before to a former chief executive of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, ETB, in respect of providing a building.

We are lucky that plenty of houses are being built in Kildare but there is still concern about the cost. For those who may have to access jobs that are not that highly paid, there is an issue around the affordability element.