Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In light of the impending announcement later today which poses uncertainty for businesses throughout Ireland, I wish to highlight the student enterprise programme run by local enterprise offices. The national competition has been taking place, with the national final due to take place in May. On the way to Dublin yesterday, I had the pleasure of dropping in to the Athlone Springs Hotel, where the Roscommon final, run by the Roscommon local enterprise office, was taking place. You would be enthused and encouraged to see the young people coming up with their business ideas. I am sure the students from Ramsgrange Community School who were here a moment ago are very familiar with this initiative as well.

A number of businesses were represented, including the textile business and the creative arts element. A number of them would be commercially viable and ready. I wish to acknowledge some of the awards: the commercial potential award went to Devine Design from Elphin Community College; the one to watch was Treasured Threads from Mercy College Roscommon; the best business report went to Bee Bright Candles from Castlerea Community School, which is my old school; the best stand and display on the day was Kommunication Keychain from Roscommon Community College; and the sustainability award was won by Poll2Pole from Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, where students came up with an innovative way of repurposing old electoral posters for use as farm safety signs. I know some Members have advertised to the latter group already. The Technical University of the Shannon had an award for innovation which was won by Farm Alert, an unbelievable idea from transition year students. It utilises GPS and smartwatch technology to alert family and the emergency services if something happens to a farmer working on his own on his land. The farmer would be able to instigate this alert. I wish to acknowledge the programme, which is encouraging tomorrow’s entrepreneurs today. Some 28,000 second level students participate in it annually. As I said, the national final will take place on 8 May. I wish all the schools the best of luck.