Page 41 of the programme for Government, which deals with jobs and rural development, states that the Government is committing to revitalising every community across this State. The Tánaiste is aware of the situation at Bord na Móna where up to 430 job losses are in the pipeline. I support the call made by Deputy Cowen for a forum to be set up but the Government has responsibilities in this area as well. The midlands has been neglected in terms of job creation. We have the second lowest income rate in this State. These workers and their families are very upset and annoyed, as am I. I am also very concerned about the small businesses that will be affected. There will be a knock-on effect. What actions does the Government propose to take in terms of job creation in the midlands and supporting small businesses in communities in counties like Offaly that will be directly hit as a result of any job losses?

Could special emphasis be placed on the need to replace the jobs in the areas in which they are about to be lost? Could we use the decarbonisation of the energy sector as a means of doing so?

I wish to reassure Deputies that Bord na Móna is taking its responsibilities very seriously and has put forward a series of enterprise initiatives that will develop alternative employment. This takes into account the fact that there is a decline, as Deputy Cowen said, as a result of decarbonisation, which has been widely recognised. As Deputy Cowen also indicated, there will be an application for globalisation funds through the EU. We have the regional enterprise forum, the regional skills forum and the rural development fund. Bord na Móna is committed to working with local authorities using those funds to develop new opportunities, including looking at enterprise centres and other possibilities for the development of the midlands. As the Tánaiste has said, employment creation in the midlands has been significant -15,000 jobs during the course of the regional plan. That regional plan has been very successful. It has brought an enhanced focus on regional development both by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. In the context of this decision, there will be renewed effort in this area. It is possible to apply for regional enterprise funds and the rural regeneration fund. We will be utilising all of those vehicles to respond.