Outdoor dining and Shannon base
Deputy Andrews asks whether outdoor dining supports can be extended to gyms and health centres, while Deputy Munster raises delays at Drogheda Educate Together and Deputy O'Donnell seeks action on Aer Lingus cabin crew in Shannon. Minister Ryan says he will consult the relevant Ministers, pass on the school concerns, and address the Shannon issue with Aer Lingus.
We have run out of time but I seek the Minister's co-operation. There are three speakers left. I suggest they have 30 seconds if they want. Otherwise we will not get to them at all. If I allow each speaker 30 seconds, the Minister can reply to all three. Is that agreed? Agreed. The first is Deputy Andrews.
Comment on this
The outdoor dining enhancement scheme will help and support businesses in the hospitality sector to get back to work. I welcome this scheme. Gyms and health centres are so important to us all and have struggled badly because, like the hospitality sector, most of their business is done indoors.
I was in the Dartry Health Club with Mr. Barry Walsh recently. It wants to set up outdoor classes and exercise areas, but it is very expensive. Will the Government extend the outdoor enhancement scheme to gyms and health centres?
Comment on this
After a series of delays and blunders, the new Drogheda Educate Together secondary school on the Mill Road is finally being given the go ahead. I have been contacted by the parents' building committee which is seriously concerned that the school is still only at the pre-planning stage and may not be completed until 2024 or later. This is despite the fact that the Minister, Deputy Foley, announced that the school would be delivered under the Department's design and build programme which usually takes 18 months or less. Will the Minister, Deputy Ryan, ask the Minister for Education to liaise with the parents' building committee to ensure the school is delivered on track and completed on time and that no further delays ensue?
Comment on this
I raise the issue of the closure of the Aer Lingus cabin crew base in Shannon which affects 81 workers. The Minister met the Aer Lingus CEO, Ms Lynne Embleton, yesterday. Can he give us an update on that discussion? We want the decision to be reversed. Can he commit to ongoing discussions with Aer Lingus to ensure connectivity out of Shannon and that the base remains? The 81 cabin crew affected are not being paid by the airline. They are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. There is no cost to the State. The airline should not have made that decision.
Comment on this
On the extension of the outdoor dining supports to the health sector, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, what is possible.
I congratulate the Drogheda Educate Together school and am glad to hear the construction of the school building has been agreed. I have heard the concerns expressed about the timelines and will share that information with the Minister, Deputy Foley.
I met the Aer Lingus CEO yesterday, as well as representatives from Shannon Airport. Can I give some reassurance to people in the Shannon region? They need it at what is a dark and difficult time, in particular for the workers in the airport and Aer Lingus. We will get services back in Shannon. I expect Aer Lingus will have regular services from Shannon in the autumn. We will look to protect the critical and vital Heathrow slots. The return of North American services will be key to the recovery of the region and country. While it is very difficult, our thoughts and efforts are for the workers involved. There will be a strong future for Shannon, that is one thing I am sure of.