I had the wonderful pleasure of launching a revolutionary new energy technology project in Rhode last month called Schwungrad Energie Ltd., already employing 15 people, which has the potential to create huge employment and attract international investment to the North Offaly region. Already 40 jobs were created at the construction and development stage of the flywheel battery units on the site of the former peat-fired power station in Rhode, and the whole initiative is being pioneered by a Tullamore-based company, RR Projects, with whom I have been working very closely in my capacity as Chair of the Oireachtas Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Committee.

RR Projects have amassed a great deal of expertise in energy sector innovation and they have teamed up with a number of other Irish and international investors to get the Rhode project off the ground. The technology being used in Rhode is a 100% clean power source with no direct fuel use or emissions and no water consumption. It assists the national grid by storing power and then releasing electricity into the grid when the frequency of the power drops elsewhere.

I would like to strong commend RR Projects and its team, led by Kilcormac native, Nigel Reams, on this revolutionary initiative in Rhode. I have no doubt that, as we must move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy source in order to meet our 2020 targets, Rhode will be at the very heart of the new clean, green energy policy for this country. I look forward to continuing to work closely on this project and the creation of more employment in the North Offaly area.

I was delighted to have been closely involved in the behind-thescenes negotiations which resulted in the announcement of 30 new jobs for Tullamore by Irish veterinary biologics company, Nexvet, who will begin operations in the facility which was formerly occupied by Genemedix in the Srah Industrial Estate.

As Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, I am particularly pleased to have been able to assist in the negotiations to bring these jobs to Tullamore and I am working on a continuous basis with all the various job-creation agencies in the constituency in the hopes that we may be able to deliver further good news on the jobs front in the coming months.

Since the Government launched the Action Plan for jobs, over 1.300 new jobs have been added to the Irish economy every week. I was delighted that the Midland Regional Action Plan for Jobs was launched in Tullamore recently.

I am well aware that, while we have made great strides to get people back to work, a lot remains to be done on jobs front, particularly at local level, and I pledge to continue to liaise closely with all the job-creation agencies in Offaly and with local business representatives to ensure that we all share in the recovery of the economy.

In the forthcoming general election there will be a newly created constituency of Offaly and North Tipperary.

Already I have met many of my new North Tipperary constituents, and I am very much looking forward to meeting many more of you over the coming months. I hold regular constituency clinics at Tim Egans and I would welcome your views, perspectives and concerns, so please feel free to contact me anytime at 057-9125825 or 087-6330039.

The last four years have been very busy and challenging for me as a newly-elected Fine Gael TD. I have always tried to the best of my ability to serve the needs of my local constituency alongside my national responsibilities. I pledge to work wholeheartedly for the entire constituency, and to learning more about the issues which are facing the electorate in the North Tipperary area.