Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today there was an announcement of just transition funds. That is over €80 million of Exchequer funds combined with EU just transition funds of another €80 million. That is €160 million for the counties in the midlands, including Roscommon and the Ballinasloe municipal district in County Galway. I compliment the groups, community groups and entities that will receive funding. For example, Aughrim is village located a few miles from Ballinasloe. The Battle of Aughrim visitor centre will receive €100,000 to come up with a plan to, potentially, extend its opening hours. The centre only opens during the summer months.

The Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in Country Roscommon will receive close to €1.2 million. The park is one of the jewels in the crown of the Hidden Heartlands. The park has an amazing range of activities for families. People can avail of hikes and trails and there is even a canopy walk through the forest. People can go kayaking, etc., on the waterways. Everything comes together in the amazing outdoors. The fund is about how we are going to increase capacity and look at more activities that will encourage people to explore what is right on our doorstep.

I am very happy to see that Bord na Móna is working on developing trails. The jobs in Shannonbridge and Lanesborough were changed and just transition needs to provide tourism jobs in these areas. Shannonbridge is just ten miles from Ballinasloe, although in County Offaly, and the marina and Shannonbridge Plaza will receive millions of euro. All of this investment will support tourism which benefits all the counties in the surrounding area.

I acknowledge that €7.8 million will be invested to develop Clonmacnoise, which is one of the most amazing historical areas in Ireland. Clonmacnoise is located on the banks of the River Shannon and dates back to the eighth century. Such development is important as it shows that historical heritage is not just the things one can see in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. I encourage people to visit these places that come alive when there are interpretive centres and the funding to develop them.