Cross on Loop Head is a great example of repurposing an old school as a remote working hub. It is fantastic. Ballynacally community development group has developed a community café and it got funding in the latest round to provide two self-catering cottages. Bunratty also received funding, as did Killadysart for the fit-out of a toilet and shower facility in the harbour. This is a wonderful initiative and I urge the Minister to continue that good work into the future.

I want to speak today about three sectors that have been badly affected by this pandemic and the need for us to make plans to ensure their recovery. The three sectors are: aviation, including Shannon Airport and the related industries associated with the mid-west; the tourism sector, not only in Clare but right along the Wild Atlantic Way; and the entertainment and hospitality industry. Shannon Airport is the key driver of the economy in the mid-west region. I am aware the Government is formulating an assistance pa…

Shannon Airport is a key strategic asset for the mid-west, the western region and all of Ireland. Some 40% of the FDI companies in the State are concentrated in the Shannon catchment area. These companies depend on international connectivity. Our entire tourism sector right along the western seaboard depends on inbound connectivity. Some 140,000 people in the country work in the aviation sector, many of them in Shannon which has 80 aviation-related companies. We need to adopt an EU travel policy to bring us in line…

We need to restart aviation. What is the Minister of State's view on pretesting people for Covid before they enter the State? Has consideration been given to introducing such a policy? Other European states are doing just that. We should also introduce a system of rapid testing at our airports. Has the Minister of State given consideration to that? We need a roadmap to get aviation started again. I look forward to its publication next week.

I welcome this debate. I welcome the establishment of the new Department. I wish the Minister with responsibility for higher education, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, well in the new Department. I wish to compliment all our teachers throughout our educational system, whether in primary, secondary or third level, on how they managed to convert from a classroom scene to a digital format in what was literally a matter of days. I wish to compliment the many principals and their staff. T…

I am sharing time with Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. I wish the Minister well and congratulate her on her promotion to what is a very important position in the Cabinet. She was a very successful Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs in the previous Government and I have no doubt that she will have a very successful tenure as Minister for Justice and Equality. I also compliment the Minister on her interview this morning on "Today with Claire Byrne" during which she delivered a very clear, concise mess…

I congratulate the Ministers of State, Deputies O'Donovan and Smyth, on their appointments. I wish them well in their new roles. I support the Estimate as presented. I have a number of issues I want to raise, predominantly around the OPW and the work it does. There are many unresolved issues in County Clare. The flooding at Clonlara and in Springfield is an issue that has raised its head far too frequently over the past two decades. There was flooding in Springfield in 1995, 2002, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2020. W…

On the Ennis South flood relief scheme, it is the third and last part of a €40 million investment in providing flood protection works for Ennis. This and other schemes such as the Shannon flood relief scheme will have embankments. Will the Minister of State give consideration to provide cycling and walking lanes along these embankments? Funding has been set aside for the development of greenways in the programme for Government. Perhaps a new scheme could be put together to fast-track this type of development. Will …

The programme for Government commits to investing in new sewerage schemes in small towns and villages. Which Department will lead the development of these schemes? Will it be the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government or the Department of Rural and Community Development? A lead Department needs to put this scheme in place so that villages and towns throughout County Clare, such as Broadford, Labasheeda, Cooraclare or Carrigaholt, can get the sewerage schemes they deserve.

This is a major issue. I congratulate the Minister on his appointment as Minister with responsibility for tourism. Deputy O'Donnell and I met officials in the Department today along with the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. The Shannon Group has made a submission to Government for supports to keep these vital heritage sites open. We are talking about Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle, Craggaunowen, Dunguaire Castle and King John's Castle. These attractions bring people to County Clare and the mid-west. It is cra…

Fáilte Ireland stated that it is trying to encourage people to holiday here with its Ireland, make a break for it campaign. We are trying to encourage tourism in Ireland this year, in particular. That Bunratty and other sites will be closed at a time when we are encouraging people to stay in Ireland cannot be allowed to happen. We are reaching out to the Minister to ask him to consider and fund the proposal put forward by the Shannon Group. The temporary wage subsidy scheme will provide a significant amount of the …

I also wish the Minister of State well in her new portfolio. Shannon Airport is much more than just an airport. It is the driver of economic activity in the mid-west and west. The airport was struggling even before the Covid-19 crisis. Aviation is an industry that is highly exposed to the effects of Covid-19. Shannon Airport faces significant challenges. Traffic has decreased by 96% since March. Aer Lingus still has not returned to the Shannon-Heathrow route. United Airlines has announced that it will not return to…

I join my colleagues in pleading with the Minister of State to ensure that the Shannon Heritage sites remain open all year round. If such a proposal comes from the Shannon Group, I ask her to support it with the necessary funding. It is also important that the State should step forward and provide the necessary state aid to keep the airport operational and to facilitate capital expenditure works. We need a balanced regional policy for aviation if we are to stop the galloping, runaway horse that is Dublin Airport, w…

I wish to raise the issue of air travel and the current 14-day quarantine period for people arriving into the country. The Taoiseach indicated some weeks ago that work was under way to look at this restriction, with a particular view to opening up air corridors with countries in the EU, in the first instance, where the virus has been suppressed. As the Minister will be aware, the aviation and tourism industries are on the floor. One of the recommendations of the aviation task force was for the Government to look ag…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this debate at my request last week. A lot has been said and we are more or less wrapping up this section. I join my colleague, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, on the situation with Aer Lingus in Shannon Airport. It is vital that the Shannon to Heathrow route is restored at the earliest opportunity. Shannon Airport is being dealt with differently from Cork, Dublin and Belfast. It is the only airport that does not have a direct connection to a hub. Shannon Airport services the m…

Shannon Airport is a driver of economic activity in the mid-west and west. I have pulled together the group of mid-west Oireachtas Members. We had an inaugural meeting of the group this week to support Shannon Airport. It is clear that key sectors in our economy, including aviation and tourism, will need recovery plans and stimuluses. I want to get the Minister's views on that. I also want to get the Minister's views on the extension of the wage subsidy scheme. This is key for aviation, tourism and all our sectors.

I am seeking an update on school transport with regard to refunds for pupils and their parents and regarding the school bus operators. The bus operators were paid the normal rate after the initial announcement of the schools closing, but when the closures were extended during the Easter holidays their pay was cut by 50%. Can the Minister clarify the situation regarding refunds for pupils and their parents and the arrangement for bus contractors? Second, applications for the school transport scheme for new applicant…

Applications have to be made by 24 April, which is tomorrow.