Written Answers Nos. 279-299
279. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the reason some rural NDLS centres are only opened one day a week which is resulting in persons having to travel to get appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26601/21]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
280. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether plans to extend the runway at Cork Airport could disrupt the extended summer season; if the works can be brought forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26604/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware Cork Airport is progressing a Runway Reconstruction and Remediation Project which will be the single-biggest construction project and the biggest investment by daa at Cork Airport since the opening of the new terminal building in 2006.
I acknowledge that the anticipated closure of the airport from 12 September to 22 November this year will be disruptive for many in the Cork region. However, taking a range of factors into consideration, Cork Airport decided that the optimal approach for completing this project would be to close the airport for 10 weeks rather than restricting works to night-time hours only, which would push out the project’s delivery timescale to 9 months. The airport engaged extensively with airline customers and stakeholders on this issue and the vast majority were in support of the airport’s approach.
Delivering the runway project over the shorter time period is safer in both construction and aeronautical terms; will have the lowest impacts on passengers and airlines; and is the most cost effective option when compared with the alternative night time closure option.
The runway upgrade is a complex and large project that also involves a full renewal of all the airside electrical systems. Given the costs involved, this project falls within the scope of the Public Spending Code (PSC).
Given the detailed procurement process involved for an infrastructure project of this scale and the requirements under the PSC, it would not be feasible to bring this project forward any earlier than is currently planned.
281. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the amount the NGO and charity sector receive in funding from his Department per annum. [26638/21]
View answerMy Department does not provide any funding to either the NGO or the Charity sector.
282. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if a record will be provided of the annual funding received by the NGO and charity sector from his Department in each of the years 2000 to 2020. [26651/21]
View answerMy Department does not provide funding to the NGO and Charity sector.
283. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated to each NGO and charity in each of the years 2010 to 2020 by his Department. [26664/21]
View answerMy Department does not provide funding to the NGO and Charity sector.
284. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties purchased by REITs in Ireland in each year since 2013. [25712/21]
View answer285. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the profits accrued by REITs since 2013 in Ireland by year. [25713/21]
View answer286. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of REITs incorporated in Ireland since 2013. [25714/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 286, inclusive, together.
I am advised by Revenue that due to the small number (less than 10) of REITs that operate in Ireland and Revenue’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of taxpayer information, specific quantitative information in relation to these entities cannot be provided.
However, in relation to PQ 25712/21, I am advised that Revenue has recently undertaken a review of Stamp Duty data to identify property purchases by entities such as trusts, partnerships and companies, including REITs and Irish Real Estate Investment Funds (IREFs), as well as other purchasers of multiple properties. It is tentatively estimated that the number of residential properties purchased by such entities was 2,070 in 2019 and 1,330 in 2020.
I would like to reiterate that I do not support the bulk purchase of completed homes by institutional investors. I am currently working together with the Minister for Housing to develop targeted measures to address this issue.
287. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the criteria for receiving a car adaptation grant is that a person must not have the function of two limbs, either both arms or both legs and that this excludes persons such as those with cerebral palsy that often have one side of their body effected and do not have the full use of an arm and a leg; the steps he is taking to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26171/21]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.
The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain organisations. In order to qualify for relief an organisation must be entered in the register of charitable organisations under Part 3 of the Charities Act 2009, be engaged in the transport of disabled persons and whose purpose is to provide services to persons with disabilities.
In order to qualify for relief the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC) issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate (BMC) issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other criteria apply in relation to the vehicle and its use, including that the vehicle must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant.
The terms of the Scheme set out the following medical criteria, and that one or more of these criteria is required to be satisfied in order to obtain a PMC:
- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;
- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;
- be without both hands or without both arms;
- be without one or both legs;
- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;
- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
A Supreme Court decision of 18 June found in favour of two appellants against the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal's refusal to grant them a PMC. The judgement found that the medical criteria set out in the Regulations did not align with the regulation making mandate given in the primary legislation to further define criteria for ‘severely and permanently disabled’ persons.
On foot of the legal advice received, it became clear that it was appropriate to revisit the six medical criteria set out in Regulation 3 of Statutory Instrument 353 of 1994 for these assessments. In such circumstances, PMC assessments were discontinued until a revised basis for such assessments could be established. The medical officers who are responsible for conducting PMC assessments need to have assurance that the decisions they make are based on clear criteria set out in legislation. While Regulation 3 of Statutory Instrument No. 353 of 1994 was not deemed to be invalid, nevertheless it was found to be inconsistent with the mandate provided in Section 92 of the Finance Act 1989.
In order to allow for the PMC assessments and appeals to recommence I brought forward an amendment to the Finance Bill to provide for the existing medical criteria in primary legislation which, following the approval of the Finance Act 2020, allowed assessments to recommence.
Following approval of the Finance Act 2020, a comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities and the criteria for qualification for the Scheme, will be conducted this year. On foot of that review new proposals will be brought forward for consideration.
Further information on supports available to persons with disabilities can be found at
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/reference/guides/guide_to_entitlements_for_people_with_disabilities.html
288. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Finance when the overdue farm safety scheme will be launched; the form it will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26301/21]
View answerAt Report stage of the 2020 Finance Bill I introduced a new section to make provision for a Farm Safety and Disabilities Adaptation Equipment Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) scheme. Currently, capital allowances are available at 12.5% p.a. over eight years for agricultural equipment generally. The scheme will provide for ACAs at 50% p.a. over two years for eligible specified farm safety and adaptive equipment for the purpose of preventing accidents or facilitating farmers’ return to work following an accident. The scheme will be subject to a scheme total equipment cost of €5 million p.a. ex VAT.
The section is subject to a commencement order. This was to allow for ensuring compliance with EU State Aid rules and for various operational aspects of the scheme to be developed and put in place. The work to achieve this is currently being undertaken by my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Revenue.
Notwithstanding this, as the scheme is one that will take into account expenditure across a full year, the expectation is that, once the relevant provision is commenced, relief will be available for relevant expenditure incurred in the current year.
289. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance his views on reducing VAT for the hospitality sector for the duration of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25565/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in Budget 2021 I announced that the 9% rate of value-added tax would apply from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021 to the supply of restaurant and catering services, guest and holiday accommodation and entertainment services such as admissions to cinemas, theatres, museums, fairgrounds, and amusement parks.
Future tax changes are generally taken in the context of the Budget. Deputies will be aware that my officials prepare a series of papers containing tax options for the Tax Strategy Group to be considered in the context of the budgetary process, alongside a wide range of submissions from various stakeholders and lobby groups.
290. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance his views on ceasing the real estate investor tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25577/21]
View answerIt is presumed that the Deputy is referring to Real Estate Investment Trust regime.
Finance Act 2013 introduced the regime for the operation of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in Ireland, based on an established international standard. The purpose of the REIT regime is to allow for a collective investment vehicle which provides a comparable after-tax return to investors to direct investment in rental property, by eliminating the double layer of taxation at corporate and shareholder level which would otherwise apply. REITs are required to distribute 85% of all property income profits annually to investors. Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) at a rate of 25% must be applied to a REIT’s distributions, other than those distributed to certain limited classes of investors such as pension funds and charities as they are more generally exempt from tax.
While not referred to specifically in the Deputies question, the Irish Real Estate Fund (IREF) regime is also of relevance in relation to the Irish property market. Finance Act 2016 introduced the IREF regime to address the use of certain fund vehicles to invest in Irish property by non-resident investors, thereby avoiding a charge to tax on profits arising from Irish real estate. The regime provides that the profits arising to an Irish fund from Irish property remain within the charge to Irish tax. Generally IREFs must deduct a 20% withholding tax on distributions to non-resident investors. Certain categories of investors such as pension funds, life assurance companies and other collective investment undertakings are generally exempt from having IREF withholding tax applied provided the appropriate declarations are in place - again these are generally gross roll-up regimes where tax is accounted for on distribution, for example the taxation of pensions paid out to pensioners.
In 2019, officials in my Department produced a report on REITs and IREFs as respects their investment in the Irish property market. The report was presented to the Tax Strategy Group and published in July 2019. It provided a basis for policy discussions and the amendments which were introduced in Finance Act 2019.
In relation to REITs, Finance Act 2019 extended the obligation to deduct DWT to include distributions of the proceeds of capital disposals. In addition, the deemed disposal provisions upon cessation of REIT status were restricted to REITs that have been in operation for at least 15 years, in line with the regime's stated objective of encouraging long-term, stable investment in rental property. In relation to IREFs, amendments were made in Finance Act 2019 to prevent the use of excessive debt and other payments to reduce distributable profits, and to prevent the avoidance of tax on gains on the redemption of IREF units. These amendments were made to ensure appropriate levels of tax are paid by investors in Irish property.
Institutional investment in commercial and residential property is critically important to generating additional supply of property in Ireland through forward-funding of development projects, particularly in the area of high-density urban developments such as apartment buildings. Rebuilding Ireland identified the encouragement of the build-to-rent sector as a key factor in improving the rental sector and acknowledged that institutional investors have the potential to provide significant investment in such projects.
However I would note that I do not support the bulk purchase of completed homes by institutional investors, and I am currently working together with the Minister for Housing to develop targeted measures to address this issue, and to direct institutional funding towards developments generating real additional supply for Irish households.
291. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered VAT exemption for counsellors and psychotherapists that is available for other allied health professionals. [25619/21]
View answerThe VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under domestic legislation, professional medical care services recognised as such by the Department of Health and Children are exempt from VAT. Professional medical care services recognised by the Department of Health and Children are generally those medical care services supplied by health professionals who are enrolled, registered, regulated, or designated on the appropriate statutory register provided for under the relevant legislation in force in the State or equivalent legislation applicable in other countries. This includes health professionals registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Nurses Act 1985 and those engaged in a regulated profession designated under Section 4 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Statutory Instrument No. 170 of 2018 (Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Regulations 2018) of 2 July 2018 designates psychotherapists and counsellors as a regulated profession and establishes the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board. Professional counselling and psychotherapy services provided by persons registered by this Board are exempt from VAT from the date of their registration.
As the Deputy may be aware, the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, appointed the thirteen members of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board with effect from 25 February 2019.
The Board has begun the substantial body of work which must be undertaken before it is in a position to open its registers. Questions on the establishment of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board and their progress in opening their register are a matter for the Minister for Health.
292. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if there has been further engagement on tax implications for those in receipt of the €250 SUSI credit. [25634/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the position remains as set out in my reply to his question of 10 February last.
No further engagement in relation to the issue has arisen.
293. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has contracted accountancy firms or accountancy consultants with respect to the legislative reform of the way investment funds operate within the State particularly with respect to the purchase of housing or residential dwellings from 1 April 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25694/21]
View answerThe Department of Finance has not contracted the services of accountancy firms or accountancy consultants with respect to the legislative reform of the way investment funds operate within the State with respect to the purchase of housing or residential dwellings, as described by the Deputy.
Institutional investment in the residential property market is critically important to ensure the on-going supply of housing. However, it represents just one part of a multi-pronged approach to addressing our housing issues. Rebuilding Ireland identified the encouragement of the build-to-rent sector as a key priority in improving the supply of accommodation in urban areas along with the professionalization of our rental sector. The forward investment provided by institutional investors provides essential capital for this sector.
This is particularly the case in relation to apartments, where the volume of investment by institutional investors has coincided with a significant increase in output. Apartments accounted for 19 per cent of all completions last year, an increase from 12 per cent in 2016. According to CBRE, the level of forward commit investment by institutional investors (i.e. the provision capital to fund the construction of new dwellings) totalled €2.07bn in 2019 and 2020 (just over 50 per cent of their total investment in the market).
In the aftermath of the property crash, institutional investors facilitated the completion of many residential and commercial developments. In more recent years, institutional investors have provided essential forward-funding for the development of apartment buildings.
However, the bulk purchase of completed homes by institutional investors is a matter of concern, and it is not intended that such investors should be in competition with individual buyers for completed homes. The government is working to develop targeted measures to address this issue, and to ensure institutional funding is directed towards generating real additional supply for Irish households.
Furthermore, while it is important to facilitate institutional investment through appropriate regimes it is equally important to ensure that, where such investment brings a profit, a fair share of tax is paid.
In recent Finance Bills, I have made significant changes to the taxation of funds investing in Irish property, in particular Irish Real Estate Funds, to ensure that appropriate tax is collected. As with investment funds generally, tax occurs primarily at the level of the investor rather than within the fund, but there is a withholding tax on distributions to investors to ensure collection of tax revenues. The increase in tax receipts since these changes were introduced shows the effectiveness of these measures.
294. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of Ireland's annual contribution to the European Union. [25699/21]
View answerIreland's contribution to the EU Budget is an obligation of EU membership and is a charge on the Central Fund under national legislation. The contribution formula for the EU Budget is comprised of Traditional Own Resources (customs duties), a VAT-based payment and a residual balancing component paid in accordance with each Member State's share of EU Gross National Income (GNI).
These contributions are known as Own Resources and include:
Traditional Own Resources
Ireland’s custom duties are paid to the EU two months in arrears in accordance with EU rules. Customs paid to the EU Budget amounted to c. €235 million in 2020.
VAT related Payments
Ireland's VAT-based resource payments amounted to c. €292 million in 2020.
GNI related Payments
Ireland’s GNI payments amounted to c. €2,043 million in 2020.
Total contributions to the EU budget in 2020 amounted to €2,569,193,606.66.
My Department currently estimates that Ireland’s contributions to the EU Budget are expected to rise further during the period of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, from approximately €3.25 billion in 2021, to approximately €3.95 billion in 2027, an average of €3.6 billion per annum.
Ireland’s contributions to the EU Budget are published annually as part of my Department's Budgetary Statistics.
295. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of EU schemes and projects Ireland contributes to; the list of EU schemes and projects Ireland contributes to; the amount contributed to EU schemes and projects in each of the years 2015 to 2020 by Ireland; and the projected contribution to EU schemes and projects in each year between 2021 and 2026 by Ireland. [25700/21]
View answerThe Department of Finance is responsible for making Ireland’s contributions to the EU Budget, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is a seven year framework regulating the EU's annual budget. It consists of approximately 45 individual programmes, not including administrative expenditure for the European Parliament, Commission, Council and other EU agencies. The MFF is broken down into seven Headings of expenditure - Single Market, Innovation and Digital; Cohesion, Resilience and Values; Natural Resources and Environment; Migration and Border Management; Security and Defence; Neighbourhood and the World; and European Administration. Any bilateral contributions to other EU programmes, outside of the EU Budget/MFF made by a Government Department are the responsibility of that Department.
Contributions to the EU budget are general and are not assigned to specific programmes. Ireland’s contributions to the EU Budget for the years 2015 – 2020 are as follows:
|
Year |
Contribution €m |
|
2015 |
1,952 |
|
2016 |
2,023 |
|
2017 |
2,016 |
|
2018 |
2,519 |
|
2019 |
2,432 |
|
2020 |
2,569 |
Ireland’s contributions to the 2021-2027 MFF are expected to rise over the coming period, from approximately €3.25 billion in 2021, to approximately €3.95 billion in 2027, an average of €3.6 billion per annum.
On 21 July 2020, Heads of State and Government reached agreement on the €1.074 trillion Post-2020 MFF and the supplementary €750 billion recovery plan “Next Generation EU” (NGEU), totalling €1.82 trillion. At this time of crisis, the Covid recovery funds are needed now, and will be received by Member States up to 2026, but will be paid back over 30+ years. Repayments to the NGEU, will be made alongside the MFF, but are not expected to begin for a number of years yet. The contribution Ireland will make has yet to be determined and will depend on our share of the overall EU budget over the course of those repayments. They will also depend on what new Own Resources, if any, are agreed at EU level. It is not possible to give an accurate overall figure at this time.
296. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland provides funding to EU defence initiatives and schemes; if so, the amount in total Ireland has contributed to these schemes; and when these contributions began. [25701/21]
View answerThe Department of Finance is responsible for making Ireland’s contributions to the EU Budget, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The European Defence Fund (EDF) supports competitive collaborative defence projects through research and development. The overall value of the EDF under the MFF for 2021-2027 is €7bn.
Contributions to the EU budget are general and are not assigned to specific programmes. Therefore it is not possible to say how much Ireland contributes to particular programmes under the MFF that have defence aspects.
Any bilateral contributions to other EU programmes outside of the MFF, including defence-related programmes, made by a Government Department, such as the Department of Defence or the Department of Foreign Affairs, are the responsibility of those Departments. The Department of Finance does not have details of those contributions.
297. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25748/21]
View answer298. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25766/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, in September 2015, 193 UN Member Countries including Ireland adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which consist of 169 targets around 17 high level goals. The SDGs are a global blueprint for collective progress to a more prosperous and sustainable world by 2030. The SDGs are applicable to all countries, developed and developing, and action is required for their implementation both domestically and internationally.
Political oversight for national SDG implementation is provided through the Cabinet, with each Minister having specific responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their Ministerial functions. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has responsibility for promoting the SDGs, and for overseeing their coherent implementation across Government.
The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, sets out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. The Goals are mainstreamed in domestic policy and the governance structure reflects a whole-of-Government approach and ensures coordination and coherence, in particular where goals cover areas of shared responsibility.
Nineteen actions were included in the first National Implementation Plan. Action 4 of the Plan set out a commitment to include reference to SDG targets in all new Statements of Strategy.
My Department published its Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 in January 2021, it can be found at the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/122270/1d8bd1ca-295f-42b2-9998-1c83ae04e716.pdf .
The Statement of Strategy is informed and guided by the Department’s commitment to Ireland’s National Implementation Plan which implements the UN SDGs and specific reference is made to the SDGs. The Statement plays an important role in the delivery of policy objectives insofar as it provides a framework to translate such objectives into policies and operational business plans designed to achieve implementation. My Department's obligations in respect of the achievement of SDGs have therefore been embedded within the fabric of how it does its business. It is my hope that these steps towards enhanced policy coherence, alignment and mainstreaming of SDGs into policy areas will contribute to an accelerated progression towards SDG implementation.
An important element of this Plan is the SDG Policy Map and Matrix, which identified the lead and stakeholder Departments for each of the Goals and targets and also mapped national sectoral policies against the 17 SDGs and all 169 related targets, in order to identify which policies were most relevant to which SDGs and their associated targets.
The SDG Policy Map and Matrix enhances the ability of stakeholders to track Ireland’s implementation of specific SDGs and associated targets, and to assess Ireland’s response to the SDGs for potential policy gaps. It also supports and enhances cross-Government engagement in implementing each of the Goals and Targets. This policy map has recently been updated and is available online at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/ff4201-17-sustainable-development-goals/#sdg-policy-map
As the Deputy will note, the targets assigned to the Department of Finance as either lead or stakeholder extend across a wide range of its business and activities ranging from promoting inclusive economic growth to building partnerships for sustainable development. My Department has published these obligations online. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/032fa-sustainable-development-goals/ . In relation to the update on implementation progress the Deputy has sought, I have appended a summary in tabular form.
Moving forward, I can assure the Deputy of my Department’s continued focus and commitment to the whole of Government approach in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
299. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if he has engaged a third-party company to date in 2021 to conduct online and or social media monitoring and or provide reports on social media coverage of his Department; if so, the cost of same; and the name of the social media platforms being monitored. [25784/21]
View answer300. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if officials in his Department are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of his Department and his Ministerial activities; if so, the number of staff involved; the respective grades of each; the estimated working hours committed to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25802/21]
View answer317. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts and platforms that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; the percentage of posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts and platforms that featured bilingual translations in Irish and English between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26580/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 300 and 317 together.
My Department has a contract with Ruepoint Media Ltd. to supply daily media monitoring services covering print, broadcast and online media but not social media. Monitoring of social media is covered by staff in my Department’s Press Office as part of their regular duties. The Press Office is currently staffed by 1 Assistant Principal, 1 Higher Executive Officer, 1 Executive Officer and 1 Clerical Officer.
My Department committed in its Irish Language Scheme 2018-2021 to increase the level of press releases issued through the Irish language to 35%. In 2019, my Department exceeded this and in 2020, due to a range of pressures including the impact of Covid19 and the move to remote working, my Department did not meet this target. In its most recent Irish Language Scheme, my Department has committed to increase the level of press releases issued through the Irish language to 40%.
In the current scheme, my Department did not specify a percentage of social media posts in Irish. It is however proposed under an upcoming contract for a translation service to include provision for short turnaround time for social media posts, which will allow my Department to significantly increase the output through the Irish language on social media.
