Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is welcome to the Chamber. I was delighted when I saw his name beside this Department and portfolio because I believe he has a unique and innate understanding of the different regions of Ireland, and a great passion for the people of Ireland. He can relate to all of them. I saw that at first hand when he had his previous portfolio. He was traversing Ireland when I had the good fortune to escort him around south Kildare to see some of our local small family businesses, and he was able to respond to them. To a person, I know they appreciated his support and that he got where they were at. There is no doubt but that we, as a country, are facing challenges but there are also strong opportunities out there.

When we talk about balanced development, we are talking about rural and urban development in different parts of the country. In Kildare, we have both an urban and a rural population. The Minister saw at first hand a small area in north-west Kildare, including Rathanagan, Allenwood, Derrinturn and Carbery, where there is not a lot of industry. I believe it is ripe for a good apprenticeship school. Many years ago, when Bord na Móna was the largest employer in the area, people travelled from all over the country to do apprenticeships, and many of those small towns and villages grew up around that. Now we have a dearth of those types of training facilities and apprenticeships. I am not going to say there is no connectivity because there is some, and we were thrilled that two weeks ago, the 888 bus commenced, linking Allenwood, Rathangan, Monasterevin and Athy. However, we need to look at areas where there is unemployment. There is a need for a cohesive community to come together around further education and employment. That area could contribute. While the apprenticeship area is not directly within the Minister's Department, there is a strong link with it. In terms of connected hubs and driving job creation, that is where we need to be expanding some of the excellent apprenticeship programmes we have but doing so in the community.

Tourism is also a part. When you look at it, you have a little bit of everything, which is difficult because there are a lot of different homes. Tourism is a part of how we can regenerate areas. The blueway is a big part of Kildare and I look forward to bringing the Minister to the area and showing him what we have done. It has not yet been formally launched and there are still some works to be done, including a pedestrian bridge that has just started construction in Rathangan. The blueway is a catalyst for a lot of investment in the area. It is for the local people as well as attracting visitors to our region.

When we talk about tourism, the Curragh of Kildare absolutely needs to be a heritage park. It is a very special place that is, of course, home to the Army, the horse industry and lots of sheep. It was home to the legendary Fionn mac Cumhaill and to St. Brigid. Kildare County Council and the Department of Defence have brought forward an excellent plan to attract people to the Curragh. It needs investment and another agency to be charged with looking after it, which will be subject to legislation coming down the line. I would again be happy to show the Minister around all these lovely parts.

The revitalisation of town centres, which I know the Minister is passionate about, is key to many of us and the areas we represent. Covid brought home to us that we all have places of beauty and great pride in where we live. The opportunity to revitalise our town centres is badly needed. People in other European cities are living over shops. We see communities gathering on the main streets of those cities in the evening time for social reasons. We do not have that, and it is something we need to put in place.

I thank the Minister for his work to date and wish him well. I know he will make a difference within his portfolio.