Denise Mitchell
Question:1. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland plans to open an office in Rome, Italy. [41463/21]
View answerEnterprise Policy
Questions (1)
Written answers
Italy is currently the 5th largest export country in the Eurozone for Enterprise Ireland clients. The Milan office in Northern Italy which has a staff of six and is located in the industrial centre of Italy holds most opportunity within existing resources for Enterprise Ireland clients at the present time.
Therefore, there are currently no plans to open an office in Rome.
However, both my Department and Enterprise Ireland review resources and location of those resources on an ongoing basis to ensure that we are best positioned to support Irish enterprise abroad.
Health and Safety
Questions (2)
Martin Browne
Question:2. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA investigations carried out to date in 2021, by county. [41515/21]
View answerWritten answers
From 01 January 2021 to 27 August 2021, the Health and Safety Authority conducted 5,346 proactive inspections and 703 investigations. The HSA can launch an investigation on foot of a complaint received or as a result of a fatal or non-fatal incident. As requested, the number of investigations by county is presented in the table below:
Departmental Staff
Questions (3)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:3. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; the disability quota of his Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41591/21]
View answerWritten answers
The disability quota of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is set out below in tabular form. This data on the number and percentage of persons employed, both in the Department and in public bodies under its aegis, was compiled via an all-staff census as at 31st December 2020. This data is based on self-declaration of disability, by staff who disclosed having a disability.
|
Department |
Total Number of employees |
Number of employees with a disability |
% of employees with a disability |
|
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
923 |
43 |
4.66 |
|
Name of public body |
Total Number of employees |
Number of employees with a disability |
% of employees with a disability |
|
Competition & Consumer Protection Commission |
120 |
8 |
6.67 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
672 |
21 |
3.13 |
|
The Health and Safety Authority |
190 |
13 |
6.84 |
|
IDA Ireland |
359 |
21 |
5.85 |
|
InterTrade Ireland |
57 |
3 |
5.26 |
|
NSAI |
164 |
7 |
4.27 |
|
PIAB |
80 |
6 |
7.50 |
|
*Science Foundation Ireland |
89 |
3 |
3.37 |
*Science Foundation Ireland, while not one of the Department agencies since the change of Government in 2020 was included in 2020 return and is shown in the table.
IAASA, one of our 8 agencies is not subject to the provisions of the Disability Acts as it is not a ‘public body’ as defined in the 2005 Act.
My Department's current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities is based on implementing the goals of the national policy. The 3% target is set out in Section 47 of the Disability Act 2005. The commitment to increase this target to 6% by 2024 is set out in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future.
My Department as a public service employer has a legal obligation under the Disability Act 2005 to, insofar as practicable, take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities.
My Department has in place a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer who acts as a proactive contact for staff with disabilities, to assist and support them, and to assist in the implementation of best Human Resource practices in line with equality legislation. This role also includes the organisation of work placements in my Department for people with disabilities, specifically for the Willing and Mentoring (WAM) project. This project provides the opportunity for people with disabilities to gain experience in different workplaces through coaching and mentoring, as well as building the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the workplace. There are currently 4 graduates participating in work placements in my Department as part of the WAM Programme.
Also in place is a Disability Monitoring Committee, which serves to monitor the number of employees within my Department and Agencies who have declared a disability, ensure compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, and share best practice to support those with disabilities in our workplaces. Through this Committee we have recently established an annual online and confidential census to more accurately measure our progress against national targets.
Further to this, we established a Disability Consultative Committee in 2018. The purpose of the DCC is to provide a focus for disability inclusion in respect of the policy work, schemes and initiatives of the Department. Membership of the Group includes nominated representatives of disability groups along with Departmental officials and representatives from the Department’s Offices and Agencies. The DCC also reviews my Department’s actions under the 'Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with a Disability 2015-24'.
My Department also places a focus on learning and development opportunities that support people with disabilities in the workplace. This includes a recently launched Disability Awareness Training Programme, which seeks to increase the understanding of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. This training focuses on accommodating people with disabilities into the workforce and providing an understanding of inclusion in the workforce. Participants who successfully complete the course and obtain a pass mark obtain a 2-year certificate in Disability Awareness.
The Department has not advertised a competition in relation to the quota. My Department draws the majority of its required resources from the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The Public Appointments Service has a central role to play in recruiting diverse talent to take up public service employment opportunities. The PAS launched an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in 2021 PASEDIStrategyDocument.pdf (publicjobs.ie) and my Department welcomes and fully supports this initiative.
Weather Events
Questions (4)
Seán Sherlock
Question:4. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the compensatory measures that will be put in place for businesses (details supplied) following weather events in February 2021. [41610/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s Humanitarian Flooding Relief Scheme may be invoked, following a Government Decision, to provide funding on the basis of confirmation received from the local authority and the National Emergency Coordination Group that relevant damage has occurred.
My Department has been in discussion with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage concerning the circumstances surrounding the flooding of a small number of business premises following a weather event in February 2021. As this event was considered a minor flooding incident, it is envisaged that on the invocation of the next emergency flooding scheme my Department will put in place the appropriate measures under which these businesses may apply.
Work Permits
Questions (5)
Paul Kehoe
Question:5. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to reopen applications for work permits for dairy farm assistants in early 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41660/21]
View answerWritten answers
The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
The pilot quota-based scheme introduced in May 2018 following consideration of a detailed business case submitted by the sector, provided a quota of 150 general employment permits for the occupation of Dairy Farm Assistant. This pilot scheme has proved very successful for a range of employers in the sector and the quota of 150 employment permits is now exhausted.
In order to ensure that the employment permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The lists are subject to twice yearly reviews which are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.
A further review of the occupation lists is underway and the closing date for submissions from stakeholders was 12th August. Any submission by the sector to this review will be considered and it is envisaged that it will be finalised in the early Autumn.
Enterprise Policy
Questions (6)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:6. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding through technology gateways received by each EU NUTS 2 and 3 regions in the State per year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41688/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enterprise Ireland, an agency of my Department, funds and supports the Technology Gateway Programme. The Technology Gateway Programme seeks to harness the innovation and technological expertise in the Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities for the benefit of Irish based industry on a regional and national basis.
Enterprise Ireland’s Technology Gateway Programme has established a nationwide network of 16 industry-focused Gateways in the Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. Gateways act as open access points for companies delivering near to market solutions across industry sectors such as ICT & Software, Bio Lifesciences & Food, and Precision Engineering and Materials. The Gateways act as a portal to the wider research infrastructure of personnel and specialised equipment within the network of Gateways.
MET, PEM and DESIGN+ were added to the network in 2016. The Centre for Renewable Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology (CREDIT) is the newest Technology Gateway, launched in March 2021. The initial funding will allow CREDIT Technology Gateway to set up and staff the Gateway with a view to joining the other Gateways in re-applying for funding when a new programme is announced.
Technology Gateway funding is allocated over five-year programme streams and the total amount allocated to each Gateway, to date, is shown in the table below. Shannon ABC is a shared Gateway and is based in Munster Technological University (Tralee) and Limerick Institute of Technology. For the purpose of this analysis, Shannon ABC expenditure is recorded under the Mid-West region even though some expenditure relates to the South-West.
|
- |
Technology Gateway |
Funding 2013 – 2017 |
Funding 2018 - 2022 |
Total Funding 2013 - 2022 |
|
1 |
APT - Athlone |
€1,765, 451 |
€2,599,841 |
€4,365,292 |
|
2 |
CAPPA - Cork |
€1,419,494 |
€1,633,999 |
€3,053,493 |
|
3 |
COMMAND - Athlone |
€1,446,635 |
€1,748,500 |
€3,195,135 |
|
4 |
CREDIT - Dundalk |
|
€430,400 |
€439,400 |
|
5 |
CREST - Dublin |
€1,192,448 |
€1,826,500 |
€3,018,948 |
|
6 |
Design+ - Carlow |
€305,017 |
€1,313,000 |
€1,618,017 |
|
7 |
IMAR - Kerry |
€1,209,655 |
€1,436,002 |
€2,645,657 |
|
8 |
MET - Galway |
€318,127 |
€1,416,545 |
€1,734,672 |
|
9 |
MiCRA - Dublin |
€1,068,820 |
€1,300,000 |
€2,368,820 |
|
10 |
PEM - Sligo |
€362,059 |
€1,404,780 |
€1,766,839 |
|
11 |
PMBRC - Waterford |
€1,133,673 |
€1,365,000 |
€2,498,673 |
|
12 |
SEAM - Waterford |
€1,840,492 |
€2,620,786 |
€4,461,278 |
|
13 |
Shannon ABC– Kerry/Limerick |
€1,669,314 |
€1,752,784 |
€3,422,098 |
|
14 |
TEC - Cork |
€1,920,783 |
€1,647,598 |
€3,568,381 |
|
15 |
TSSG - Waterford |
€1,600,882 |
€1,820,000 |
€3,420,882 |
|
16 |
WiSAR - Letterkenny |
€1,261,185 |
€1,390,791 |
€2,651,976 |
|
- |
NUTS 2 funding (2013 – 2022)
|
|
Totals |
|
IE04 |
Northern and Western |
||
|
MET – Galway |
€1,734,672 |
||
|
PEM – Sligo |
€1,766,839 |
||
|
WiSAR – Letterkenny, Donegal |
€2,651,976 |
||
|
Total |
|
€6,153,487 |
|
|
IE05 |
Southern |
|
|
|
TSSG - Waterford |
€3,420,882 |
||
|
SEAM - Waterford |
€4,461,278 |
||
|
PMBRC - Waterford |
€2,498,673 |
||
|
Shannon ABC – Kerry/Limerick |
€3,422,098 |
||
|
Design+ - Carlow |
€1,618,017 |
||
|
IMAR - Kerry |
€2,645,657 |
||
|
TEC - Cork |
€3,568,381 |
||
|
CAPPA - Cork |
€3,053,493 |
||
|
Total |
|
€24,688,479 |
|
|
IE06 |
Eastern & Midland |
|
|
|
CREST - Dublin |
€3,018,948 |
||
|
MiCRA - Dublin |
€2,368,820 |
||
|
CREDIT - Dundalk |
€439,400 |
||
|
APT - Athlone |
€4,365,292 |
||
|
COMMAND - Athlone |
€3,195,135 |
||
|
Total |
|
€13,387,595 |
|
|
|
NUTS 2 Funding Total (2013 – 2022)
|
|
€44,229,561 |
|
NUTS 3 Funding (2013 – 2022)
|
|
||
|
IE041 |
Border |
|
|
|
WiSAR – Letterkenny, Donegal |
€2,651,976 |
||
|
PEM – Sligo |
€1,766,839 |
||
|
Total |
|
€4,418,815
|
|
|
IE042 |
West |
|
|
|
MET – Galway |
€1,734,672 |
€1,734,672 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
IE051 |
Mid-west |
|
|
|
Shannon ABC – Kerry/Limerick |
€3,422,098 |
€3,422,098 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
IE052 |
South-East |
|
|
|
TSSG - Waterford |
€3,420,882 |
||
|
SEAM - Waterford |
€4,461,278 |
||
|
PMBRC - Waterford |
€2,498,673 |
||
|
Design+ - Carlow |
€1,618,017 |
||
|
Total |
|
€11,998,850
|
|
|
IE053 |
South-West |
|
|
|
IMAR - Kerry |
€2,645,657 |
||
|
TEC - Cork |
€3,568,381 |
||
|
CAPPA - Cork |
€3,053,493 |
||
|
Total |
|
€9,267,531
|
|
|
IE061 |
Dublin |
|
|
|
CREST - Dublin |
€3,018,948 |
||
|
MiCRA - Dublin |
€2,368,820 |
||
|
Total |
|
€5,387,768
|
|
|
IE062 |
Mid-East |
|
|
|
CREDIT - Dundalk |
€439,400 |
€439,400 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
IE063 |
Midlands |
|
|
|
APT - Athlone |
€4,365,292 |
||
|
COMMAND - Athlone |
€3,195,135 |
||
|
Total |
|
€7,560,427 |
|
|
NUTS 3 Funding Total (2013 – 2022)
|
|
€44,229,561 |
Company Registration
Questions (7)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:7. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current length of time it is taking for documents to be scanned and uploaded on the CRO system; the reason for any delays; if further resources have been ringfenced for the CRO section in order to address any such delays in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41723/21]
View answerWritten answers
The majority of documents filed with the Companies Registration Office are uploaded online by presenters. In 2020, over 81% of all documents filed with CRO were filed online. Online filing has increased to 88% so far in 2021, largely due to the introduction of a new IT system in December 2020, which significantly increased the range of documents that can be filed electronically with the CRO. The new IT system is designed to provide improved and faster user experience for presenters and a fully paperless interaction with the CRO for certain transactions, including the most common ones carried out by companies such as the filing of annual returns and the changing of directors and their details. The introduction of a fully paperless system for these transactions provides certainty of delivery for companies and eliminates the need for CRO staff to scan and upload related paper documents.
The CRO receives, processes and registers over 170 form types, covering all aspects of the lifecycle of a company and provides regular updates of current processing times for the most frequently filed forms on the CRO website and via Twitter.
I understand that some forms and documents are still received by the CRO in paper format and that there are no particular delays in scanning or uploading this material. I have been informed that, in general, such documents are input into the system by the CRO within 72 hours of receipt.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (8)
Réada Cronin
Question:8. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or a State agency booked or paid for an event (details supplied); if so, the date the booking was made; the reason for the event and the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41735/21]
View answerWritten answers
Neither my Department or any agency within the remit of my Department were involved in arranging the event referred to.
Zero-hour Contracts
Questions (9)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:9. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action that can be taken in relation to carers on zero hour contracts (details supplied). [41736/21]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’s comprehensive body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis. Employment rights legislation was strengthened by the commencement, on 4th March 2019, of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018.
The Act delivered on the Programme for Government commitment to address the challenges of the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious employment.
The Act of 2018 provides that:
employers must give to employees their core terms of employment within five days of starting work;
zero hours contracts are restricted to situations where the work is of a genuinely casual, emergency or short-term relief nature;
there are minimum payments for people when they are called into work, but sent home without work;
a 'band of hours' system has been introduced whereby an employee can request to be placed on a contract that better reflects the hours they have worked over a 12 month reference period;
Section 18 of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (OWTA) was amended to prohibit zero hour contracts except in the following circumstances:
- Where the work is of a casual nature;
- Where the work is done in emergency circumstances; or
- Short-term relief work to cover routine absences for the employer.
There are strong anti-penalisation provisions, including recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission, for employees who invoke their rights under this legislation.
In relation to sick pay, the Government is committed to introducing legislation to cover all employees and work is well underway in this regard. The Sick Leave Bill 2021 will be designed to take an incremental approach with the number of sick days to be paid to workers increasing gradually over a number of years. This is to give employers, particularly businesses who may have had to close or been negatively impacted due to Covid-19 restrictions, an opportunity to adjust to costs and the administrative burden. In line with statutory sick pay schemes throughout the European Union, the intention is that employers will cover the cost of an initial period where one of their employees is unable to work due to illness or injury. It is intended that the legislation will be in place by 2022.
Departmental Meetings
Questions (10)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:10. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meetings held by his Departmental officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in relation to the issue of infant nutrition in Ireland from 2016 to date, including the issue of infant formula; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41842/21]
View answerWritten answers
No meetings were held by officials of the Department with representatives of the food industry in relation to the issue of infant nutrition in Ireland during the period in question.
Company Registration
Questions (11)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:11. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to defer the latest date for filing returns to the Companies Registration Office due to the difficulties businesses and accountants have had due to Covid-19 restrictions in which many of their staff are working remotely and also where response times from departments and State agencies are often delayed also affecting the ability of businesses and their accountants to access necessary information for returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function.
Under company law, companies have an annual return date 9 months after the end of their financial year. They then have a further 56 days in which to complete their filing with the Companies Registration Office. As a consequence, annual returns are filed on an ongoing basis throughout the year. However, a significant number of companies have a financial year end of 31st December, a resulting annual return date (ARD) of 30th September the following year and a deadline of 25th November by which the filing of the annual return must be completed with the CRO.
Since March 2020, the Registrar of Companies has taken a number of decisions in relation to the filing of annual returns, in recognition of the additional challenges facing some companies and their professional advisers in meeting filing obligations during the Covid-19 period. These exceptional arrangements are at an end and normal timeframes now apply in relation to filing.
The filing of annual returns has continued throughout the period of Covid-19 related disruption, with particularly heavy volumes in the run up to the filing deadlines last October and more recently at end May/early June. A new IT system was also introduced in December 2020, which includes a more streamlined online process for filing annual returns and eliminates the need to deliver hardcopy material to the CRO. I understand that over 155,000 annual returns have been filed with the CRO so far this year.
I understand that the Registrar of Companies is not planning any further extension of filing deadlines given the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the ongoing level of successful filing and the importance of having an up-to-date Register for those stakeholders who regularly access company filings.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (12)
Brendan Griffin
Question:12. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41878/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government have provided a comprehensive package to help businesses during the pandemic, details of the supports can be found here: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie). I would urge business owners to seek the supports outlined on my Department’s website if they have not already done so.
In this instance, I would also suggest contact is made with their Local Enterprise Office (LEO) who can signpost them and advise them of supports that may be available for their particular type of business. Contact details for each of the LEOs can be found here: Find your Local Enterprise Office
Rights of People with Disabilities
Questions (13)
Réada Cronin
Question:13. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will address the situation in relation to the removal of seating in shopping centres in the context of Covid-19 which is a serious barrier to persons with a disability who need to rest while they shop; if he will restore seating for this group as a matter of urgency who have suffered a disproportionate limit on their independence during the Covid-19 emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41907/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) guidance document ‘COVID-19 Shopping Centre Recovery and Protection Guide’ includes a provision for public seating for people with disabilities and the elderly under section 6.7.3, as follows;
re moving seating areas (with exception of those for people with mobility or disability requirements). Where seating is retained for persons with disabilities and older people, this seating should be clearly marked a designated for these people.
Where appropriate, retailers should provide single portable seating outside their shops that are sign posted for “disabled/age friendly designated seating.
The full guidelines can be found on www.nsai.ie.
Ministerial Appointments
Questions (14, 37)
Réada Cronin
Question:14. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the formal or informal roles held by a person (details supplied) with his Department or with any associated State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41909/21]
View answerRéada Cronin
Question:37. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of formal and informal roles held by a person (details supplied) in the name of his Department or associated agency in the lifetime of this Government; when they were appointed to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43035/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 37 together.
The person in question has not held any formal or informal roles with my Department or the agencies under its aegis.
Industrial Development
Questions (15)
Thomas Pringle
Question:15. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the new solar farm (details supplied in Cork accessed funding through the IDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41927/21]
View answerWritten answers
The solar farm at Dunderrow, Cork did not access funding through IDA Ireland for this initiative.
Work Permits
Questions (16, 18)
Paul Murphy
Question:16. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide information in relation to his Department’s recent decision to allow non-EEA care assistants to work in hospitals and nursing homes but not in private homes; the reason home carers remain on the ineligible occupations list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41940/21]
View answer
Neale Richmond
Question:18. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to issues in recruitment within the homecare sector which is believed to have been worsened by the decision to not allow providers to recruit staff from outside the EEA; if he has taken steps to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41967/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together.
The State operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and 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 managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for an employment permit where there is a surplus of those skills in the domestic and EEA labour market.
In order to maintain the relevance of these lists of occupations to the needs of the economy and to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo twice-yearly evidence-based reviews which are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU), SOLAS and involves public/stakeholder consultation. Account is taken of education outputs, sectoral upskilling and training initiatives and known contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID-19 and their impact on the labour market. Consideration is also taken of the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, chaired by the Department and of the relevant policy Departments, in this case the Department of Health.
Following completion of the most recent review, it was decided to remove the occupation of healthcare assistant (in hospital and residential care establishments) from the Ineligible Occupations List. The review did not recommend extending eligibility to care worker/home carers as the evidence suggests that other factors, such as the contracts of employment on offer and employment terms and conditions being offered are a factor in the recruitment challenges faced by the sector, rather than a demonstrable labour market shortage. The sector has also previously been advised that a more systematic and structured engagement with the Department of Social Protection needs to be demonstrated.
If a sector wishes to propose a change to the occupations lists, they need to submit a detailed evidence based business case to substantiate their request. A review is currently underway, with submissions received, including submissions from the Home Care sector, under consideration. It is expected that the review will be finalised by the end of September/early October.
Flexible Work Practices
Questions (17)
Carol Nolan
Question:17. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to wi-fi costs or phone-related expenses; the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41950/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is developing a central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service. This will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across the Civil Service. Once this framework is in place staff will be in a position to apply for blended working. From 20 September staff will return to the office on a phased basis. A formal blended working policy is anticipated to be in place Q1 2022.
Since the start of the pandemic, my Department has made significant efforts to facilitate remote working for the vast majority of staff (circa 950), and to invest in assisting staff to work safely and productively from home. The total cost of laptops and associated peripherals to facilitate this has amounted to €703,000.
These measures apply to staff in my Department and its Offices. Remote and Blended Working arrangements in the Agencies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the Agencies themselves.
Question No. 18 answered with Question No. 16.
Enterprise Policy
Questions (19)
Thomas Gould
Question:19. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available to disabled entrepreneurs. [42180/21]
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The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Offices operate on an equal opportunities basis and offer their services to any entrepreneur, regardless of their situation, in a fair and even-handed manner and in compliance with Government policy and all legal requirements. In this regard, Local Enterprise Office grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs provided they meet the general eligibility criteria such as operating in manufacturing or internationally traded services and with up to 10 employees..
All entrepreneurs can avail of Local Enterprise Office training, mentoring and management development programmes. Furthermore, Local Enterprise Offices can provide additional support to disabled entrepreneurs such as one to one mentoring or sign language to assist with the completion of grant application forms or to complete training courses such as Start Your Own Business. Full detail on available programmes can be found on the Local Enterprise Office website at www.localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports/.
This year Enterprise Ireland established a Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group to oversee the development of the agency’s Diversity and Inclusion vision and strategy. A critical component of this strategy is specific to supporting entrepreneurship and self employment for people with a disability. The aim is to complete the development of the strategy in the months ahead.
As part of Enterprise Ireland’s wider strategy development, a specific ‘Balance & Inclusive Enterprise Development’ working group has been established. This group will present recommended strategic options to the Enterprise Ireland Senior Leadership regarding strategic options for the delivery of Enterprise Ireland’s 2030 ambition on ‘Balanced and Inclusive Enterprise Development’, and as part of the next Enterprise Ireland strategy which is currently being developed.
The Local Enterprise Office Centre of Excellence will implement any appropriate elements and recommendations of the EI Disability Strategy. Furthermore, there is ongoing work by the IT Team in the Centre of Excellence to improve the LEO website from a disability accessibility perspective.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (20)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:20. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available to businesses that missed the deadline for the small business assistance scheme for COVID; and if he will consider allowing businesses to apply for this important grant after the closing date. [42191/21]
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The Government recognises the sacrifices business owners, employees and their families have made over the past 18 months in order to protect their community from COVID-19. As you are aware, the Government put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic. These business supports were unprecedented.
The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) has now closed and there are no plans for a further SBASC scheme as the economy reopens and restrictions are lifted. It is not possible at this stage to accept late applications.
However, the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) administered by the Revenue Commissioners is now accepting applications from eligible business. Applications under the scheme may be made between early September 2021 and 30 November 2021.
Further details of this scheme is available on www.revenue.ie.
The Governments comprehensive business support package includes low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. Details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
I would also encourage business owners to talk to their Local Enterprises Offices who offer advice and guidance in relation to the supports available to businesses.