Written Answers Nos. 89-109
89. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks his plans to accelerate the national broadband plan to schools in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24989/20]
View answer104. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks his plans to accelerate the national broadband plan to facilitate remote working in homes and business in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24990/20]
View answer160. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the progress being made on implementing the national broadband plan, with a particular emphasis on the roll-out of same in County Clare. [24365/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 104 and 160 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed on 19 November last to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties and steady progress is being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed as of the 15 September. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected around December.
In Clare surveys have commenced in the areas of Cratloe, Ballycannan, Ballyglas and Cloghrea and further surveys are due to commence in the areas of Kilkishen before the end of this year. This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This will enable design solutions for the provision of a fibre network.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 144 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through 'service provider' contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) for schools.
There are a number of BCPs located across County Clare including at Caherconnell, Cree Community Centre, Loop Head and Michael Cusack Visitor Centre. A number of schools including Kilmurry McMahon, Shragh, Ennistymon and Stonehall National Schools will also be connected to high speed broadband as part of the BCP initiative. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ . The Department will work with DES to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP.While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network. The extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible.
The Covid 19 pandemic has also highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. This is reflected in the commitments in the Programme for Government where delivery of the National Broadband Plan will be a key enabler to many of the policies envisaged particularly around increased levels of remote working.
The Programme for Government has committed to seek to accelerate the roll out of the National Broadband Plan. In this regard, my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Exploring the potential to accelerate the network rollout is being undertaken in parallel with the measures required to mitigate delays arising as a result of Covid-19.
90. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if the planned climate action (amendment) Bill will include a ban on fracked gas and oil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/20]
View answerThe purpose of the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill is to strengthen the governance structure in supporting Ireland's response to climate breakdown. The Bill, which the Programme for Government commits to introducing into the Dáil within the first 100 days of Government, will:
- Set a target to decarbonise the economy by 2050 at the latest.
- Make the adoption of five-year carbon budgets, setting maximum emissions by sector, a legal requirement.
- Strengthen the role of the Climate Change Advisory Council, including in relation to proposing appropriate carbon budgets.
A statutory ban on fracking in Ireland is already established under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Act 2017, which prohibits the exploration for and extraction of onshore petroleum by means of hydraulic fracturing. Additionally, in line with the Programme for Government, my Department is no longer accepting new applications for exploration licences for natural gas or oil.
The Programme for Government also states that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas and undertakes to develop a policy statement to establish this approach. My Department is working to develop a proposal to meet this objective which I will bring to Government for approval. The work that is underway includes consideration of what, if any, legislation will be required. Any such legislation would not form part of the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill.
93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the number of new connections to homes and businesses that will be completed in 2020 in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively by the national broadband plan. [25000/20]
View answer100. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the number of homes and businesses in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively, that will be connected to high speed broadband by the national broadband plan in 2020. [24999/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 100 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed on 19 November last to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties, and steady progress is being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed as of 15 September. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected in Cork around December this year.
In County Laois, surveys have recently commenced in the areas around Portlaoise and the surrounding townlands. This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. In County Offaly survey work is underway in areas located around Brosna, Shinrone, Mount Heaton and areas close to the county boundary with Tipperary. This survey work will inform design solutions for provision of the fibre network. NBI provides a facility for any premises within the Intervention Area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website (https://nbi.ie/map/).
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 144 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) for schools.
A number of schools in County Laois, Shanganamore, Killadooley, St Joseph’s National School and Gaelscoil Shlí Dála will be connected for educational access as part of this initiative, while the public will be able to benefit from this service at locations across the county such as EMO and Vicarstown Community Centres and Donaghmore. Shinrone and Lumcloon National Schools in County Offaly will also be connected for educational access as part of this initiative, while the public will be able to benefit from this service at locations across the county such as Kilconfert, Coolderry and Seir Kieran Community Centres and Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Bringing connectivity to remote rural locations is central to promoting regional development and BCPs represent an important delivery in the early stages of the National Broadband Plan.
94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks his plans to fast-track the delivery of the national broadband plan in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government; the cost implication this will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25173/20]
View answerThe Covid 19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. This is reflected in the commitments in the Programme for Government where delivery of the National Broadband Plan will be a key enabler to many of the policies envisaged particularly around increased levels of remote working. The Programme for Government has also committed to seek to accelerate the roll out of the National Broadband Plan.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed last November. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years. As of 15 September, design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties and steady progress is being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed to date. By year end, NBI expects to have completed some 120,000 surveys. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected around December this year in Carrigaline, Co.Cork.
While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network. The extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible.
My Department is currently engaging with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of the NBP rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. These discussions are ongoing. Any changes proposed will require detailed technical, commercial and financial analysis.
Exploring the potential to accelerate the network rollout is being undertaken in parallel with the measures required to mitigate delays arising as a result of Covid-19 which must be the primary focus at this juncture.
95. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks his plans for the demolition of two ESB midlands stations located at Shannonbridge, County Offaly and Lanesborough, County Longford; the reason the repurposing of the plants will not take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25131/20]
View answerWhile the management of ESB-owned facilities is the responsibility of the Board and management of ESB, discussions are underway with the Company to set up a group to look at the future of the plants, as part of Government’s commitment to delivering a Just Transition for the Midlands region.
As the Deputy will be aware the first progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey, was published on 22 May. Government is already acting on a number of the recommendations made in this Report and is committed to preparing an implementation plan to address the remainder, which I intend to publish in the coming weeks. The recommendations and associated actions will support job creation efforts and create new opportunities for affected workers in the Midlands.
96. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks his plans to increase the availability of public charging points for electric cars nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25146/20]
View answer159. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the number of electric vehicle charging points by capacity installed in each county to date since funding was announced in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25213/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 159 together.
Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.
We have committed €10 million from the Climate Action Fund to promote the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:
- 90 additional high power chargers (150kW), each capable of charging two vehicles
- 52 additional fast chargers (50kW), which may replace existing 22 kW standard chargers
- 264 replacement standard chargers (22kW) with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points
Since the delivery stage of the project commenced in October 2019, 159 22kW chargers, each with two charge points, have been replaced bringing the total number of these chargers nationally to 318. The breakdown, per county, of these chargers is set out in the table below:
|
County |
New 22 kW Charger Replacements since Oct 2019 |
Total Charge Points available |
|
Carlow |
4 |
8 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
6 |
|
Clare |
6 |
12 |
|
Cork |
18 |
36 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
10 |
|
Dublin |
26 |
52 |
|
Galway |
8 |
16 |
|
Kerry |
9 |
18 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
16 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
2 |
|
Laois |
3 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
7 |
14 |
|
Longford |
2 |
4 |
|
Louth |
5 |
10 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
10 |
|
Meath |
8 |
16 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
8 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
4 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
12 |
|
Waterford |
6 |
12 |
|
Westmeath |
4 |
8 |
|
Wexford |
7 |
14 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
10 |
|
Total |
159 |
318 |
In addition to the new replacements for 22kW chargers, three multi charger sites have also been delivered, one each in Galway (M6), Kildare (M9) and Laois, while the programme to upgrade 50 22kW chargers to 50kW has already commenced with 10 installations now in place. More information on these upgrades can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/our-network/high-power-charging-hubs.
In addition to the ESB project, my Department also provides support through the SEAI Public Charge Point Scheme which has been in place since September 2019 to provide funding to local authorities for the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of EVs, who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles on public streets, to charge their EVs near their homes. A total of 75% of the capital costs is provided through a grant, up to a maximum of €5,000 per charge point.
My Department will continue to support this scheme through the grants provided by SEAI and in parallel is also developing a charging infrastructure strategy, in line with the Programme for Government, which will ensure capacity keeps ahead of demand while also putting in place guidance for local authorities on how best to expand the network of public charge points at both local and regional level.
Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will help sustain and service the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging while at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. To support home charging, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit.
97. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the timetable for the roll-out of broadband in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; the details of alternative provisions that have been put in place to facilitate students and persons having to work from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25106/20]
View answer99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the areas of County Cavan which will have broadband infrastructure upgraded in 2020 in view of recent reports that the county is to be prioritised for the rollout of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25037/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed in November last to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties,with steady progress being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed as of 15 September. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected in December this year.
In Cavan, 3,738 premises have been surveyed to date and network designs completed to deliver the new Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network. NBI crews have started initial works for the build in townlands outside Cavan town including Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles, and Caughoo, in the south of the county.More recently, surveys have commenced in Monaghan with surveyors working in areas such as Cornacassa, Cortolvin, Ballybay, and Stranooden. Other areas which will be surveyed include Mullinahinch, Bellanode, Drumhilock, Tydavnet, Cloughnart, Scotstown and Killymarley. In Meath surveys are due to commence in the areas of Dunboyne and Clonee before the end of the year.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 144 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) for schools.
In Cavan, the public will be able to benefit from this service at locations across the county such as Drumavaddy, Templeport, Cornafean, Mullahoran, Glengevlin and Bunnoe Community Centres. In Monaghan, Drumcorrin and Drumgossatt National School will be connected for educational access as part of this initiative, while the public will be able to benefit from this service at locations across the county such as Corduff, Corcaghan, Mullyash, Saint Alphonsus Community Centre, Monaghan GAA centre of Excellence as well as Geraldines GAA Club, Carn and Latton Resource Centre. In Meath, the public will be able to benefit from this service at locations across the county such as Cormeen sports centre, Rathkenny, Boardsmill and Meath Hill community centres, Syddan, Drumree and Castletown GAA clubs. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Bringing connectivity to remote rural locations is central to promoting regional development and BCPs represent an important delivery in the early stages of the National Broadband Plan.
98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of plans included in the recently published Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25174/20]
View answerEarlier this month I launched a new national waste policy for the period 2020-2025, “A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy”. The overarching objective of this plan is to drive the shift away from our current model of production and consumption towards a more sustainable circular economy model where we move beyond merely considering how we manage our waste and give a greater consideration to product design and resource use.
The plan has been developed following an extensive engagement process with stakeholders and the general public including a high level stakeholder forum in September 2019, a formal public consultation process, which was open from December 2019 to February 2020, and the work of the cross-sectoral Waste Advisory Group.
My officials have now commenced the process of putting detailed plans in place to ensure the successful delivery of the over 200 detailed actions outlined in the plan over the next five years. The Waste Advisory Group will also be reconvened to work with my officials on the implementation phase of the plan.
101. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the number of additional jobs which will be supported in the midlands through the funding provided in the July Stimulus for retrofitting.. [25130/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets for the number and depth of residential retrofits to be completed by 2030. The targets are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. A Retrofit Taskforce has been developing plans to drive achievement of these targets. A central element will be SEAI grant schemes.
The July Stimulus package commits to increasing the SEAI budget by €100 million in 2021. This additional funding will be focused on community retrofit schemes, retrofit schemes supporting those in energy poverty as well as other initiatives to support the achievement of our retrofit targets. The SEAI will shortly be announcing the first details of the new and expanded retrofit schemes. By announcing this funding now, the Government is providing certainty to the sector so that they can continue approved programmes of work, bid into new and expanded schemes, maintain a pipeline of retrofit activity, and sustain and create jobs.
It is estimated that the additional €100 million announced in the July Stimulus will support 3,200 direct and indirect jobs throughout the country. As such, the additional funding will benefit not only the Midlands region but will also help to support residential retrofit schemes in all counties.
In addition, the Midlands retrofit project is a key action in the Climate Action Plan and will provide evidence of the benefits and challenges of delivering retrofit through an aggregated, area-based approach. The project will also act as an economic stimulus in the regions most affected by the cessation of peat harvesting for electricity generation. The social housing retrofit funding of €20 million will support an estimate of 400 jobs directly and indirectly. This initiative is an example of the Government's commitment to making Ireland a leader in responding to climate change through the delivery of policies to reduce emissions across key sectors and supporting a just transition.
102. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if he will report on the cross-departmental micro generation working group set up under action 30 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25151/20]
View answerAwaiting reply from the Department.
103. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of the rollout of the national broadband strategy in north County Dublin as of September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24993/20]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed on 19 November last to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties and steady progress is being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed as at 15 September. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected in Cork around December this year.
I am advised that surveying of townlands in Skerries is imminent. This will involve physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network. NBI provides a facility for any premises within the Intervention Area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website (https://nbi.ie/map/ ).
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Approximately 300 sites in rural areas were identified for connection by the end of 2020 including 75 schools. 144 BCP sites have been installed by NBI as of 8 September. The high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) for schools. In North Dublin, Balscadden National School will be connected for educational access as part of this initiative, while the public will be able to benefit from this service at locations across the county such as Man Of War GAA Club, Newbridge House and Farm, and Fingal Ravens GAA Club. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Bringing connectivity to remote rural locations is central to promoting regional development and BCPs represent an important delivery in the early stages of the National Broadband Plan.
105. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach the number of self-employed persons here. [25259/20]
View answerThe Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household survey which provides quarterly statistics on employment and unemployment and is the official source of labour market estimates in the State. The primary classification used for the LFS results is the ILO (International Labour Organisation) labour force classification.
The most recent figures on the number of self-employed persons available from the LFS are for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2020.
The information requested by the Deputy is published on a quarterly basis by the Central Statistics Office in Table 5 of the LFS release.
See link: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/lfs/labourforcesurveylfsquarter22020/.
The information can also be extracted from CSO's online database StatBank.
See link: https://statbank.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=QLF17&PLanguage=0.
Table 1 below shows the number of self-employed persons aged 15 years and over classified by gender in the State.
Self employed persons aged 15 years and over classified by gender, Q2 2020
|
- |
'000 |
|
Male |
229.2 |
|
Female |
79.2 |
|
All persons |
308.5 |
Source: Labour Force Survey, Central Statistics Office.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Reference period: q2=Apr - Jun.
106. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach the number of sole-traders here.. [25260/20]
View answerIn the CSO's statistics on Business Demography for 2018, there were 136,712 enterprises classified as Individual Proprietorships, out of a total of 270,344 enterprises. This classification is based on the legal form of the business, as distinct from the number of persons engaged. Businesses classified as Individual Proprietorship had a total of 204,555 persons engaged in 2018.
The above figures relate to the private business economy which comprises the Industry, Construction, Distribution, Financial and Services sectors (NACE Rev 2 codes B to N, excluding code 64.20 “Activities of Holding Companies”) as classified by the CSO.
107. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach the number of small and medium enterprises here in which the definition of an SME is a business that employs between 10 and 250 persons.. [25263/20]
View answerFor the purposes of EU statistics on business, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are defined as those with between 1 and 249 persons employed. Within the SME category, micro-enterprises are defined as those with less than 10 persons, small enterprises as those with between 10 and 49 persons, and medium-sized enterprises as those with between 50 and 249 persons employed.
The latest figures on the number of SMEs published in Table 6 of the CSO's annual Business Demography statistics. They show that in 2018 there were 248,333 micro-enterprises in the private business economy, 18,077 small enterprises, and 3,277 medium-sized enterprises. This gave a total of 269,687 SMEs, i.e. enterprises with between 1 and 249 persons engaged. There were 21,354 enterprises with between 10 and 249 persons engaged. The total number of enterprises in 2018 was 270,344 and 657 of these were large enterprises.
The private business economy comprises the Industry, Construction, Distribution, Financial and Services sectors (NACE Rev 2 codes B to N, excluding code 64.20 “Activities of Holding Companies”) as classified by the CSO.
108. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach the number of microbusinesses here in which the definition of a microbusiness is a business that employs fewer than 10 persons. [25264/20]
View answerThe latest year for which the information requested by the Deputy is available is 2018. The figures, which are published in Table 6 of the CSO’s annual Business Demography statistics, show that in 2018 there were 248,333 enterprises in the private business economy with under 10 persons engaged.
The private business economy comprises the Industry, Construction, Distribution, Financial and Services sectors (NACE Rev 2 codes B to N, excluding code 64.20 “Activities of Holding Companies”) as classified by the CSO.
109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons on the live register for more than three and more than six months.. [25525/20]
View answerThe Live Register series provides a monthly breakdown of the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Benefit,
Jobseeker's Allowance and Other Registrants as registered with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
The most recent Live Register figures available are for August 2020.
Table 1 below shows the number of persons on the live register for more than three, more than six months and all durations.
Table 1 Number of persons on the Live Register classified by duration, August 2020
|
- |
August 2020 |
|
3 months and over |
149,024 |
|
6 months and over |
107,094 |
|
All durations |
225,844 |
Source: CSO Live Register
