John Clendennen
Offaly · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I carried out a survey last year on foot of which 600 business owners highlighted the concerns they had around the future viability of their businesses. This has been built on by ISME, which found that 78% of respondents cited business costs as a big issue facing SMEs.”
“I have a number of asks. First, we need to look at the effectiveness of the local enterprise office, LEO, reporting to the local authority and Enterprise Ireland. There is a question there of effectiveness. I would also like to see the local authority leading out on enterprise parks to give opportunities for businesses.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter on the cumulative regulatory burden and the rising cost of doing business. It is certainly not an abstract issue. As someone born and raised in a family business, I am acutely aware of the challenges that many businesses face.”
“They are no different from newsagents or hardware stores where they are providing not just employment and economic activity but they are social anchors in our community as well. This scheme proposing a tax credit of €20 on every 50-litre keg of draft beer would be a huge tangible benefit to our local communities.”
“At that pace of increase in registration, we are going to see one of the strongest years ever in relation to company registrations. There is no doubt that Ireland is a great place to invest. We are seeing exceptional growth in artificial intelligence and digital technology, as well as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.”
“It is Government recognition of the challenges and is very much welcomed, but we need to continue to address viability. When we look at some of the reports from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, in recent weeks, in which it has stated that more businesses need to consider switching, we note that this comes down to a lack of…”
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“We are on the right trajectory in relation to trying to cut out that red tape to ensure there is a seamless way of going about business and that it is encouraged. Far too often, we see now where there are challenges around succession from one generation to the next in family businesses. We have to ask: why is that happening? We need to see a broader and greater appeal and ensure that we do not see lights go out. One in five pubs has closed over the past 20 years. We see similar trends in relation to shops like newsagents and others. There is a real opportunity now to build on the work of VAT 9 in the last budget and to ensure that we continue to support small business.”
“They are no different from newsagents or hardware stores where they are providing not just employment and economic activity but they are social anchors in our community as well. This scheme proposing a tax credit of €20 on every 50-litre keg of draft beer would be a huge tangible benefit to our local communities. I ask for it to be considered in the 2027 budget. This will not just protect the heart and soul of our commercial trading but it will protect our social activity and jobs and will support businesses. We would continue to see that rural and regional development and activity and build on the work that has been done. I do not want this to be seen as being critical of the Government. We are moving in the right direction.”
“I have a number of asks. First, we need to look at the effectiveness of the local enterprise office, LEO, reporting to the local authority and Enterprise Ireland. There is a question there of effectiveness. I would also like to see the local authority leading out on enterprise parks to give opportunities for businesses. I would like to see more competition in the banking sector and looking at new creative ways of accessing finances for small businesses. I would like to see the following approach. A good example is what the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, VFI, has proposed in relation to an on-trade keg of draft beer or cider sustainability scheme where there would be proportionate and focused support for small pubs, considering their vital role in local communities.”
“I ask that concrete steps be considered for budget 2027 that will see meaningful and impactful measures to ensure the survival of small and medium businesses, and to build on the work we have seen with the recently introduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector, provided for in budget 2026.”
“An Coimisiún Pleanála announced this week that it will be up to a year before it has a decision on the water pipeline from the mid-west to Dublin. If that is what it takes for the largest infrastructure development the country has ever seen, at a cost of €5.9 billion, what encouragement does it give to a small business that wants to expand or introduce a storage facility? There is a real need for urgent action by the Government to engage with An Coimisiún Pleanála to ensure this process is not delayed and that we see delivery from small business, societal and economic perspectives. Overall, the SME test has been beneficial and productive, and we need to continue to do that.”
“It is Government recognition of the challenges and is very much welcomed, but we need to continue to address viability. When we look at some of the reports from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, in recent weeks, in which it has stated that more businesses need to consider switching, we note that this comes down to a lack of time for many of them. They are spending more time behind a desk and less time at the counter, where they should be serving customers. There are growing regulatory complexities and burdens, demanding tax obligations, investment needed in energy efficiencies, insurance premium hikes, complex applications for Government supports, and unattainable legal and planning costs.”
“I carried out a survey last year on foot of which 600 business owners highlighted the concerns they had around the future viability of their businesses. This has been built on by ISME, which found that 78% of respondents cited business costs as a big issue facing SMEs. That is also recognised by the Small Firms Association, which points to a 40% cumulative increase in costs over the past three years. My fear is that the burden of these costs is being placed on employers and is reducing the number of employees and employers, specifically small businesses. Not every business has the potential or wants to scale up. We have made progress in relation to the likes of the 9% VAT rate. I have met many of these businesses over recent weeks, and they have basically said that this was the difference between being in profit and being in loss.”
“At that pace of increase in registration, we are going to see one of the strongest years ever in relation to company registrations. There is no doubt that Ireland is a great place to invest. We are seeing exceptional growth in artificial intelligence and digital technology, as well as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. For many small and micro-businesses and family businesses, however, viability is becoming an increasing challenge. These are businesses that are the cornerstone of local communities, sponsoring local events, community groups and sports organisations. For many of them, it is now a question of survival. Since I entered this House, I have done a considerable amount of work trying to highlight that.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter on the cumulative regulatory burden and the rising cost of doing business. It is certainly not an abstract issue. As someone born and raised in a family business, I am acutely aware of the challenges that many businesses face. I am very conscious that the two Ministers of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputies Niamh Smyth and Alan Dillon, and the Minister, Deputy Burke, have very much taken a proactive approach in their Department, constructively leading to strong results by adopting a simpler, lighter and faster approach to enterprise and the sector. We have seen nearly 15,000 new companies registered in the first half of 2026, a 13% increase on the same period last year.”
“We have seen huge improvements in rail services that are benefiting commuters and regional development on a balanced basis. I recently received a commitment from Irish Rail in relation to the reintroduction of catering services later this year. I ask that it be considered on the Dublin to Galway and Westport route to benefit the Tullamore area. More importantly, after 7.30 p.m. five trains leave Dublin for Portarlington and Portlaoise, with the latest one running at 10.10 p.m. On the Dublin to Galway and Westport line, two trains leave Tullamore after 7.30 p.m., with the last one at 8.30 p.m. That is simply too early. We have managed to work on the timetables early in the morning to benefit commuters but we need to ensure now that they work later into the night.”
“Overall, this Bill is very positive and constructive. It sends out a very important message that we want to deliver, deliver, deliver. I thank the Minister of State for bringing it forward. I will share the remainder of my time with Deputy Devlin.”
“We cannot have the construction industry moving to more prefabrication and more consistency in quality by moving to in-workshop manufacturing and transporting it on the road while roads are being narrowed. I want to touch on the area of resources. Planners and the Office of the Planning Regulator are going to play a key role in this. I get a sense of concern from planners on the front line about this and about how it is going to be interpreted and implemented. The one thing I call for today is that if the Office of the Planning Regulator is currently committed to engaging with senior planners in relation to that training and roll-out, they might ensure it goes further down through the organisation so planners at all levels are aware and can share on-the-ground issues that senior planners, no disrespect to them, may not be aware of.”
“We are committing almost one in five euro to the likes of energy in the current infrastructure plan for the country. That is a monumental change to our commitment to infrastructure. It will give the confidence to ensure we see the housing, transport development and water development. In relation to modern methods of construction, a company in County Offaly, Banagher Precast Concrete, specialises in precast concrete and exports it all over the world. Recently, from a transport perspective, the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, DMURS, was introduced to ensure more footpaths and narrower roads. However, there is then an issue with these oversized vehicles being transferred along the roads of Ireland. We have to get that right.”
“There seems to be a level of complication there and the whole purpose of what the Minister of State and the Department are doing is to iron out those challenges and ensure we make these more seamless. Housing delivery is key and I fundamentally believe that ensuring planning permissions that are already in the system can continue without unnecessary delay will be an important part of this Bill. The Government is making a commitment for increased funding. I have seen in my county what the land activation scheme has done to unlock 2,000 new homes and rely not just on public sector development of housing but on the private sector as well. There is a commitment here that will go down well with the construction industry to ensure we can see a greater level of development.”
“Again, it gives certainty and we have to be cognisant that any piece of land in this country that is serviced should be in a development plan, regardless of the size, the population or the current demand. We need to be very ambitious about that. With land that is zoned because it has been serviced, an onus has to be put on the landowner to ensure that land is made available for development. Utility providers, such as Irish Water, need to show a greater element of transparency as to what capacity they have in every town and village right across the country and keep that updated with potential developments. The interpretation of standards around the country can vary. I have seen this in my constituency with the over-the-shop grant that has been introduced.”
“If we want to see large-scale projects delivered and certainty for further investment, we have to ensure that the planning system works rather than the judicial system having to work in relation to planning development. The Minister of State has talked about An Coimisiún Pleanála and some of the measures there to introduce statutory timelines for applications. They are very necessary. However, I am concerned that where a timeline is given, the applicant hears back at the eleventh hour from An Coimisiún Pleanála. There should be some means by which it identifies a problem early and remains engaged with the applicant in the best interests of time and, where possible, it could discuss concurrent issues over time to ensure the challenges are mitigated. In respect of the development plan, the ten-year period is a welcome step.”
“You can be profitable but have a very unsustainable business model. It is important that with this Bill and its planning guidelines we will see a level of certainty and ensure that the sector can invest. Far too many contractors and developers have moved overseas in recent times because of delays in the system. In fairness to the Minister of State and the Department, they have worked to iron out those challenges and ensure certainty can be given. Judicial review reform has been critical. We have had several debates at the Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery. In this country, judicial review is seen as the norm rather than the exception. It is part of the planning process. We have five times more judicial reviews than the UK. That is simply not acceptable.”
“I welcome this Bill. It will ensure the planning code works effectively when the remaining provisions commence later this year. If we look at the tone and sentiment of this Dáil term, it has been all about delivery across all types of infrastructure while maintaining public confidence in the planning system. If we consider some of the representative bodies, there is a changing view regarding how the pace of progress is increasing. Over 35,000 homes were delivered last year, an almost doubling since the start of the decade. Some of these measures will ensure that we will have a viability rather than a profitability argument around home development. Sometimes people lose sight of the difference between those two. In reality, we need to ensure we have viability for these projects so that income can cover costs.”
“We need to have that independence and security, and we need to ensure we pass on over time to the people and to businesses that affordability in the cost of energy, while also reducing our emissions in fossil fuels. Overall, this is a very proud day, and it was a real honour to have been present. I wish the Minister and Government well, and I look forward to seeing how the next six months unfold. I am sure it will be through a very positive lens.”
“I heard some of the debate earlier about a decision between drones and homes. We have to protect our country and ensure we have the necessary and adequate defence while also investing in our future infrastructure. We need to ensure that as we continue to work with member states as a Union, we also have our own independence. From a defence perspective, we need to ensure we continue to see that investment and not necessarily have to rely on our neighbours. The same applies to energy. We have had some difficult debates over the past couple of weeks in this House with regard to gas reserves and the strategic need for security, with others proposing we just rely on our neighbours. What happens if there is a challenge with our neighbours?”
“We see how transparent the recent elections in Hungary have been, but also here at home. Going into a count centre and observing how our elections unfold through the counting of ballots, this is not something we should ever take for granted. It is a significant part of where we are at as a society and country. Sometimes in this Chamber, defence is something we take for granted on several different levels. Like it or not, there is a threat to the European border of our Union and we need to stand by our fellow member states and the likes of Ukraine to ensure we are united together. A strong message was sent from a European perspective today, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance as well as António Costa. However, we cannot take it for granted and we need to invest in it and support the Union as a whole.”
“That is where EU funding officers, potentially through local authorities or regional assemblies, should be explored by Government and looked on as a potential way of ensuring we keep communities alive in order that we see that continual economic and social progression. In respect of the three pillars we are looking at in our own objectives - competitiveness, values and security - these are fundamental and something we live by daily. We have seen the cost of doing business in Ireland and the challenges around it, but we have to stay innovative and connected to that Single Market, and we have to advocate for entrepreneurship. If we can do that, we will be competitive and we will continue to see businesses flourish. From a values perspective, we can all be confident in the democratic system upheld in Europe today.”
“LEADER has been a significant player in giving businesses in small rural areas an opportunity to diversify, expand and bring new economic activity to areas. When I look at the slogan of the EU Presidency, "Ní neart go cur le chéile", I think back to a former leader of our own party, Garret FitzGerald, who regularly referred to how membership would protect our national sovereignty through the sharing of sovereignty with other EU states. Now that we are a leading net contributor to Europe, it is something we need to be conscious of to ensure we do not take it for granted that opportunities for funding are no longer there.”
“We have been critical in one sense of just transition in my own county but at the same time it has provided a foundation or platform to go forward and ensure that we can see the transition from an overdependence on fossil fuels to looking at renewables through a whole different spectrum. That is something that needs to be reflected, not only in my county, but nationally. The LEADER programme is a scheme that came about as a result of Europe and I would hope that there will be a commitment, through this Presidency, to ensuring that it is protected and maintained. It makes a significant difference to rural communities. I look at some of the challenges that we face in terms of small businesses and their investment.”
“When we see our investment overseas and the employment that we create right across the globe today, it shows how confident we have grown as a country and how we have invested and delivered, not only here at home, but overseas. It is a proud day for me as well when I see the logo of the EU Presidency and its connection to Offaly in that the whirlpool nebula, which was identified in the 1840s through the great telescope at Birr Castle. There is another reason to try to bring this EU Presidency on the road and explore such venues as Birr Castle. I look at some of the funding that comes through the EU and wonder where would we be as a country without it, including most recently the European Structural and Investment Funds, Erasmus and the just transition.”
“I do not believe that there is any facet of Irish society or the economy that has not benefited from Europe, from students, workers and farmers to families and entrepreneurs. When we look at all of the different initiatives since the turn of the century, we have got a common currency in the euro, a common travel area, interrailing for students, European health insurance cards and Erasmus. Those sorts of change have given Irish students and every element of the Irish people a real sense of opportunity beyond our shores. We are a country of 5 million but when we see what it opens us up to in terms of hundreds of millions of people, it has given us a new outlook, not only on Europe, but on the world.”
“My county is paired or twinned with Belgium and we have ambitious plans to bring the European message to every corner of the county. There is a lot of work being done in relation to the likes of the Blue Star programme in primary schools but I think that this is an opportunity for local authorities to engage and maybe look at a European community day, where, led by local authorities, we could encourage every community to embrace this and get involved. Otherwise, I am concerned that a lot of this will be in Dublin. It will be in Dublin Castle and around the M50. Will it get out into rural communities? Will it be regionally balanced right across the country? We should be looking at initiatives to try to determine how that can be done better.”
“I will start by acknowledging the Minister and her officials for the event that took place in Dublin Castle today. It showcased the best of every facet of Irishness, our identity and how we had evolved since we joined the EU all those years ago. It was a day when I was proud to be Irish and proud to be European. It shows our strong affinity with Europe and how we have evolved over the past 50 years. I am very much proud to be a member of Fine Gael and of the EPP, one of the leading parties in Europe, but one of the things that we should try to look at as part of this Presidency is ensuring that future generations recognise what it means to be part of Europe. One of the key parts of that is engaging at community level with our schools and communities. I met the Belgian ambassador, H.E. Mr. Nicolas Nihon, today.”
“I cast my mind back to the national broadband plan and some of the commentary of the Opposition about that plan facing catastrophic failure and it being reckless to proceed with it. It is the same song with a different tune today. We need this. We need to ensure we remain competitive, that we see digital and tech advancements and that we keep our position on the global stage in attracting employment and making sure this is a good place to invest, work and live. This is not a decision of either-or when it comes to large energy users or homes. It has to be that they work concurrently and for the right reasons. We cannot pause this. We have to proceed with it. It is an important Bill. It sends the right message that Ireland is working towards renewables, but is also working towards energy security.”
“It cannot become a backdoor for new commercial fossil fuel infrastructure, nor can it lead to an overall increase in our national gas consumption. Our focus on the development of renewables must be steadfast. County Offaly has been to the fore. I hear other speakers here say we need to do more on renewables. Why do they not go back to look at their county development plans and outline more spatial areas for renewable development? That is what we did in Offaly and we have been successful with 30% of our landmass in the county. We are one of the highest producers of energy in the country. Rather than looking at national Government, Deputies should have a discussion at local government level to see how county development plans can be prepared and devised.”
“To be fair to the debate at the committee, one of the items we debated comprehensively in terms of the provisions in the Bill was how we would allow development or operation by a commercial operator. Those concerns have been listened to, despite the shorter timeframe for pre-legislative scrutiny. Only public bodies will be prescribed by the Minister in relation to this operation. If this is truly to be a strategic reserve, we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario and it must stay within the confines of State control as a result. We are seeing growing demand and growing economic activity and we need to ensure we proceed with this strategic gas emergency reserve in the form of the floating storage and regasification unit in Clare. It must be strictly an emergency reserve.”
“In that context, it is unacceptable not to act when we can see clearly where our vulnerabilities lie. To that end, I support the Bill and the intentions behind it. This is an insurance policy for the State. We also have a temporary energy generation facility at Shannonbridge in my constituency to ensure that we do not see mass blackouts. We must be fair and open to the public at large that we need that backup plan and energy security. We need a contingency in place to plan for the worst. In terms of independence, we are going in completely the opposite direction when we talk about interconnectors. We cannot depend solely on our neighbours for our energy supply. We must have independence. That is another reason it is so important that we ensure this Bill proceeds.”
“Fundamentally, there is a responsibility on the State to ensure that we have security around our energy and that is the objective here, while also being cognisant of our client obligations. This Bill came about as part of 17 actions highlighted by the Department's 2023 strategy, Energy Security in Ireland to 2030. I recently attended an EirGrid strategy launch where its representatives said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, demand was not peaking and we did not have the same level of economic activity that would result in spikes. However, since we have exited the pandemic, there is that additional demand and additional focus required to ensure investment. Considering current global volatility and international conflicts, how they weaponise energy supplies and how fragile global markets can be, we must have our own independence.”
“I welcome the Bill. It is legislation that we debated at length at the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. As a member of the committee, I can say that we had open and frank encagement. Objectively, our goals are to be independent, secure and affordable and to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels but we also need to ensure that we have a backup policy in place. I listened to some of the criticism about other projects taking too long to deliver and that we talk about them too much. On the other hand, we now want to talk about them further. There was pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. It was to a shorter timeframe but we must highlight and emphasise that this is an emergency, this is a temporary measure and we need to ensure its delivery.”
“Implementing a functional, clear and effective regulatory framework will not only meet our EU obligations, but also strengthen our position as a leader in responsible AI development, which will, in turn, attract further investment and foster economic growth. This Bill demonstrates our commitment to online safety and the promotion of trustworthy AI innovation. I commend the Minister of State on bringing it to the House. I very much welcome it.”
“Strengthening the DPC's mandate to include a clearer business support and guidance function would complement rather than diminish its independence as a regulator. I encourage the Minister of State to look at the amendments to strengthen the enterprise support mandates of the proposed AI office and the DPC. I acknowledge our position globally. We will ensure that protections in high-risk areas such as biometrics, education and employment are robustly implemented by the December 2027 deadline. Considering our location and that Ireland is home to eight of the leading foundational AI model providers globally, we are uniquely positioned to be a hub for AI innovation.”
“The AI office should have a stronger enterprise support mandate. This would include providing practical guidance to businesses on compliance, delivering training and awareness programmes, advising Government and State agencies on measures to increase SME adoption, and promoting innovation, competitiveness and responsible deployment. We must be cognisant of the fact that regulation and innovation are not competing objectives. If implemented appropriately, they complement each other. The Data Protection Commission could also have a greater role. It has protected citizens and their rights through the enforcement of the GDPR. However, as AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, organisations increasingly need practical guidelines and guidance on how to comply with both data protection requirements and emerging AI rules.”
“We have discussed SMEs at length in the enterprise committee. Let us look at some statistics. SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy, yet evidence shows a growing divide in AI adoption between larger companies and smaller firms. Recent data from the CSO shows that while 58% of large enterprises are using AI, only 17% of small enterprises are doing so. Ireland currently ranks only mid-table in Europe for business AI adoption. If we are serious about competitiveness, we must close that gap. Should the AI office have a stronger statutory mandate than is currently provided for in the Bill? At present, the legislation contains extensive provisions regarding investigations, sanctions and enforcement. By contrast, there is no real focus on supporting businesses to adopt AI responsibly and successfully.”
“I welcome this Bill. It underscores Ireland's commitment, under EU direction, to a future where technological advancement will be inextricably linked to ethical governance and societal well-being. The commitment to implementing this through the EU AI Act is about protecting citizens and building trust around AI. More often than not, we hear too much doom, gloom and negativity around AI. We hear about the threats it poses rather than the opportunities it presents. We must focus on ensuring the regulations are robust in that regard. The context makes this Bill not a mere legislative formality, but our collective national response to artificial intelligence as we ensure that we implement the EU AI Act effectively and responsibly. I want to focus particularly on responsibility this evening.”
“Any delays that we can rule out, we should be addressing them. I ask the Government to engage with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the HSE to ensure that we reduce these barriers as soon as possible.”
“Earlier this year I received confirmation that an additional 12 therapists would be appointed to the midlands integrated healthcare area. This would benefit my own constituency with occupational therapy, physiotherapy and children's disability services. I fully understand the challenges around recruitment right now but this week another barrier was brought to my attention via a response to a parliamentary question. This is the whole area of Garda vetting, with the HSE referring to significant delays in the process in relation to recruitment. I have no issue with strict Garda vetting. It is necessary but when it becomes an additional barrier to recruitment we have to address it. There are too many families waiting on these services, on the likes of physiotherapy and disability services.”
“I would like that reassurance from the Government today to ensure that it can prevail so that activities can be booked and families can be accommodated.”
“The summer programme or July provision scheme has proven an invaluable resource to families and provides a vital service over the course of the summer months. Since the turn of the decade, those numbers have quadrupled from 13,000 to almost 70,000. However, I have received a number of queries from principals in the past 24 hours whose special needs assistant, SNA, allocation for this summer scheme has been cut. One particular example is Ballinamere National School, which had nine SNAs last year. It has been allocated six by the Department. We have had many debates in relation to SNAs in this Chamber. I would like reassurance from the Government that there will be no cut to SNAs in relation to the summer programme and that it will ensure that this vital service can be provided from 24 June. It is only a matter of weeks away.”
“These are important projects for the growing school communities, students, parents and teaching staff and they have already gone through significant planning work. Will the Government give consideration to bringing forward additional funding capacity so that these much-needed projects can proceed at the earliest possible opportunity?”
“I fully acknowledge the Government's commitment to education, with over €7 billion committed over the lifetime of this Government, including €1.6 billion in capital funding in 2026 alone. However, there are several schools across my constituency that have progressed to stage 2B in recent years and are now anxious to move forward to tender and construction but they seem to be stuck in a waiting area. Some examples of schools include Geashill National School, Scoil Charthaigh Naofa in Rahan, Scoil Mhuire Bainríoghan in Dunkerrin, Oxmantown National School in Birr, Scoil Naomh Seosamh in Gortnamona, St. Brendan's Community School in Birr and Oaklands Community College in Edenderry.”
“Countries are looking to us with regard to what we have done in respect of STEM education at a time when we are putting funding in jeopardy. That cannot happen. If I could ask the Minister one thing it would be to find funding for opportunities like that.”
“I will give the Minister one example of just transition whereby funding was made available in order to address the void left by the ESB and Bord na Móna for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, officers. The latter have done an exceptional job. Every primary school and every secondary school in Offaly now has VEX Robotics. This has created a whole new culture of STEM, led by Mr. Ray Bell and Mr. Dean Hodge. At the end of this year, however, just transition is due to conclude and the jobs of those STEM officers could potentially be in jeopardy. We cannot have that situation when we are working to innovate and looking to be dynamic and adaptable when it comes to new sectors. We need to get them up and running. We have schools that are enjoying success in competitions in the US on an annual basis.”
“That shows that there is an ability and a desire on the part of our young people to improve themselves, but what we need to do is ensure that they have the flexibility to provide that in other areas. When we look at the likes of trades and apprenticeships, we need to continue on our trajectory in making it more appealing and encouraging people to get into that area. The Minister visited the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board in Offaly on Monday. The progress that has been made there in terms of diversification and the number of different courses that have been invested in has been exceptional. It has truly made a difference to my local community.”
“It is broadly agreed that 65% of children who start primary school this year will start work when they finish their education in jobs that do not currently exist. That shows the level of change we are seeing. The OECD and the World Economic Forum have outlined that the average person will have ten to 15 different jobs during their working life. On foot of that, we need to be more dynamic and more adaptable than ever before in what we do in the area of training, skills and innovation systems. Eurostat figures show that in relation to tertiary education attainment, we are well above the European average and our target currently of 65% of youth between 25 and 34 years have attained educational qualifications compares to the European average of roughly 40%.”
“We need to ensure the supports are readily available in a manner that supports businesses rather than putting an additional burden on them. That must be the fundamental approach. I welcome and support the Bill. I acknowledge the ongoing work in this area by the Ministers of State, Deputies Dillon and Smyth, and the Minister, Deputy Burke. The legislation is progressive and it is badly needed. It will be very much welcomed by the enterprise sector from the perspective of looking to remaining agile, competitive and fit for purpose both on the global stage and in every village, town and city across the country.”