Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome to Deputy Flaherty's guests today. I send my congratulations to Lisa O'Rourke, a fantastic boxer and footballer from a very sporting family in County Roscommon. Recently, she brought glory not only to Castlerea and Roscommon but to Ireland. She won the European under-23s championships, so I wish her well. I also congratulate our GAA club, St. Barry's, which won its first final in 17 years at the weekend. It was a junior final and there were great celebrations. I send my congratulations to the senior champions this year as well, Pádraig Pearses, which won the title on Sunday. Hard luck to Roscommon Gaels and, indeed, to Clann na nGael in the other final.

Today, I want to focus on the commitment that was given on a further education and training centre for Roscommon town. The former Minister for higher education, now Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, met with the political representatives on 19 March and in fairness to the man, he is totally behind this project. I know as Taoiseach he still gives his full support to that. In our local press this week, we read that the whole structure has stalled. There was great hope in the county of this progressing. A meeting took place on 8 April in which it was agreed that SOLAS would continue to support the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, GRETB, to identify relevant further education and training, FET, requirements for this region.

We were told the GRETB was exploring possible collaborative funding mechanisms which might support possible proposals for any associated capital infrastructure requirement. That is from a letter from the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, which arrived in June 2024. We were discussing the matter at that stage.

I know the time is short and there is an election around the corner but I really want the Minister to come in to talk about this project. This is absolutely vital to give people who want to do an apprenticeship in our county and in our area the opportunity to do so. There is a need and a want for it and if there is an issue with the site in Roscommon town, we will get another site in County Roscommon. We should look for a debate with the Minister on this matter. It is really important to our county and our county town, or to some other town in the county. We were promised this, we want it and we need it. We do not want it stalled for 15 or 20 years.