Written Answers Nos. 178-192
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Written Answers Nos. 178-192
179. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding the Low Pay Commission received in 2020; and the amount it is expected to receive in 2021, in tabular form. [34144/21]
View answer180. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding for the Low Pay Commission by 5%, 10%, 20%, and 50%, in tabular form. [34145/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) received an allocation of €490,000 from my Department’s Vote in 2020.
In terms of 2021, a Further Revised Estimate (FRE) for the Department will be submitted shortly to the Dáil for approval. It is expected that the LPC’s gross allocation will be maintained at €490,000 in 2021
On the basis of the LPC’s expected allocation for 2021, the table below provides the estimated cost of increasing the Commission’s funding by 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%.
|
2021 REV allocation |
Increase 5% |
Increase 10% |
Increase 20% |
Increase 50% |
|
€490k |
€25k |
€49k |
€98k |
€245k |
181. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the staffing arrangements of the Low Pay Commission; the number of staff are dedicated to the Commission; and the cost of staffing arrangements. [34146/21]
View answerThe key responsibilities of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) are to make recommendations to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment designed to set a minimum wage that is fair and sustainable.
The operations of the LPC are supported by a team in the Enterprise, Strategy, Competitiveness and Evaluation Division of my Department. The team is led at Principal Officer level and the supporting staff complement is 2.6 (FTE) as set out in the table below. Costs are based on the average costs by grade. The Principal Officer is included in the table below for completeness however the incumbent has other duties for which they are also responsible within the Division.
|
Grade |
Number of full-time equivalents |
Average Cost |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
€100,436 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
0.6 |
€45,671 |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
€40,552 |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
€43,665 |
It should be noted by the Deputy that approval has recently been granted for an additional resource at Administrative Officer (AO) level to manage the commitments in the Programme for Government, specifically relating to research on the living wage and the universal basic income. This will increase the current supporting team by one to 3.6 (FTE).
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if and when a renewal work permit will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34224/21]
View answer183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if and when a renewal work permit will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34225/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.
Ireland operates a managed employment permits system which maximises the benefits of economic migration while minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of our economy, while simultaneously protecting the balance of the labour market. The system is, by design, vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market, expanding and contracting in tandem with its inherent fluctuations.
The State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, an employment permit may be sought by an employer to hire a non-EEA national.
In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and associated Regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to the application, grant and refusal of an employment permit.
The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that, a number of issues were identified with regard to the employment permit renewal applications for both these named individuals. My officials are engaging directly with the company to outline the issues in question and assist them in clarifying the options available to them under the employment permit system.
184. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will be able to avail of efibre broadband. [34003/21]
View answerThe premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. My Department has investigated the matter and has established that the premises should be able to access high speed broadband with download speeds of up to 1Gbps from existing providers. Complaints about service provision are a matter to be dealt with between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.
185. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a final design of a microgeneration support scheme has been approved; if the scheme will be implemented as planned for July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34035/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to expanding and incentivising micro-generation to help citizens, farms and businesses generate their own renewable electricity for their use and to sell excess electricity back to the grid. Under the Climate Action Plan, a Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is developing an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments.My Department outlined proposals for a new Micro-generation Support Scheme in a public consultation that closed on 18 February last. A summary report of the submissions received has now been published on my Department's website. Analysis of these submissions will help to inform the final scheme design, to be approved and announced in the coming months.While the primary aim of a micro-generation scheme is to enable a household to meet its own electricity needs, it is envisaged that a suitable payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all renewables self-consumers in the second half of 2021, subject to regulatory arrangements, in line with Articles 21 and 22 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. Work is ongoing with a view to achieving transposition of the Directive into Irish law as soon as possible.The Commission for Regulation of Utilities will publish a draft framework later this year which will outline the details, including eligibility criteria and timescales for introduction, of the Clean Export Guarantee payment for exported renewable electricity, to give effect to the above-mentioned articles and allow for the commencement of export payments to micro-generators.
186. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are regulations requiring the display of a notice in outlets handling WEEE products to the effect that arrangements are in place for products at the end of their useful life; the enforcement that is in place to ensure obligations in relation to same are respected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34066/21]
View answerThe regulations referred to can be found in S.I. No. 149 of 2014 - European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014. Schedule 6 of these Regulations outlines the requirements for distributors of electrical and electronic equipment to display a notice in accordance with the provisions of regulation 30(3), regarding end of life products.
The EPA leads national enforcement of the WEEE Regulations. Local authorities also take on local enforcement responsibilities in this area, particularly in relation to retailer obligations.
187. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a property (details supplied) cannot avail of high-speed broadband while the neighbouring property can; the way he plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34161/21]
View answer188. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a property (details supplied) cannot avail of high-speed broadband while the neighbouring property can; the way he plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34164/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. 187 and 188 together.
The premises referred to in the Questions are located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
Complaints about service provision are a matter to be dealt with between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.
Notwithstanding this, my Department has investigated the matters raised and I understand that the premises referred to in the Questions should be able to access high speed broadband through service providers operating in the area providing access to download speeds of at least 30Mbps and, in relation to one of the premises, well in excess of that.
189. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Transport the length of time the quiet carriage initiative operated by Irish Rail ran before it was phased out in 2018; the amount the initiative cost to run on an annual basis; and the reason Irish Rail decided to phase out the initiative. [34098/21]
View answerAs the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issues raised are an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
190. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driving test in the RSA Wexford driving test centre in each category (details supplied); the number of weeks candidates are on a waiting list for a test date broken into four weeks tranches in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34129/21]
View answerThe driving test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
The information requested is held by the RSA.
This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
191. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driver test in the RSA Gorey driving test centre in each test category (details supplied); the number of weeks candidates are on a waiting list for a test date by four four-week tranches in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34130/21]
View answerThe driving test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
The information requested is held by the RSA.
This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
192. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of full VAT reclamation on all Covid-19 related health and safety works carried out by SMEs and microbusinesses. [33978/21]
View answerI am informed by Revenue that the information provided on VAT returns does not require identification of sales or costs on individual activities or products. Therefore, the amount of VAT paid (or refunded) in relation to any specific activity, such as COVID-19 related health and safety works, is not separately available to estimate the cost requested by the Deputy.
