Written Answers Nos. 146-162
147. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on Ireland’s progress in implementing gender quotas in corporate boardrooms as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. [60494/21]
View answerI launched Balance for Better Business in 2018 to ensure more women are represented on the boards and senior leadership teams of companies in Ireland. Since its establishment, considerable progress has been made. For all listed companies, as of 1 March 2021, 24% of directors are female, up from 14% in 2018. ISEQ20 companies had, by March 2021, exceeded the 2021 target of 27% by three percentage points - a sizable improvement from 18% in 2018. The gap between Ireland and the EU28 average for women on boards has also continued to narrow, from 8 percentage points in 2018 to 1.2 percentage points in 2020.
Outside of individual organisations and the Balance for Better Business initiative, much work has been done across the Government system to ensure women’s full and equal representation in Irish business leadership. This includes encouraging and enabling female participation including through promoting women and girls in STEM, new modes of working and providing Early Learning and Care that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.
Most recently, Enterprise Ireland launched The Level Project - a suite of actions to influence and support change in Irish enterprise. It aims to raise awareness of the business benefits of gender balance in senior teams and includes an online toolkit to provide companies with a resource that enables them to assess their current situation and put in place a strategy and Action Plan, with supports to implement these.
The Private Members’ Bill introduced by the Deputy, which reflects the recommendation from the Citizens’ Assembly, highlights an important goal - to increase the participation of women at the highest levels of the corporate world. This is something we are both striving to achieve.
The Fourth Annual Report of the Balance for Better Business Review Group will be published next week and will show further progress against the targets that have been set by the Group.
148. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there has been abuse of State Covid-19 supports by businesses. [60805/21]
View answerThe Government has worked to support businesses through these challenging times with a wide range of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, business continuity and trading online grants, Restart Grants, COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future Growth Loan Scheme, commercial rates waivers and warehousing of tax liabilities. Details of the supports can be found on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie). I also publish a update table on the uptake of the range of advisory and finance schemes on my Department's website.
On 3rd December the Government agreed some additional public health measures to help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 including extra economic supports approved for sectors impacted by public health measures.
We recognise that these decisions, coming in addition to those of 16th November, will have a particular impact on sectors such as hospitality, the night time economy, and the arts and entertainment sectors.
In addition to existing economy-wide schemes, including the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will remain in place at current rates of payment and qualification criteria, the Minister for Finance is introducing a new scheme for businesses in the hospitality sector that are subject to restrictions on operating.
This will adjust the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) to support businesses whose trade is significantly impacted and which are subject to regulatory restrictions on operating. This will involve a weekly payment of payment of 12% of turnover for qualifying businesses. Further details will be provided by the Department of Finance.
There will also be a further extension of the current targeted commercial rates waiver for the first quarter of 2022. This will be put in place at an additional cost of approximately €62.3 million.
The Government has also agreed to a limited reopening of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for workers who are temporarily laid off due to the impact of these public health restrictions. There will be a number of refinements to the scheme design to target it more effectively. Further details will be made available by the Department of Social Protection.
While we are responding to a very dynamic situation to address the challenge of getting the right assistance to firms and workers at the right time, all schemes of my Department and agencies include appropriate governance and oversight in the administration of advisory and funding schemes. My officials are currently in the process of preparing audits of the Restart and SBASC schemes.
I would urge businesses to ensure that they are aware of what is available to them and apply for the appropriate schemes. It is important to note that all business supports are being kept under review to ensure that they are timely and target those that need them the most.
149. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports his Department is providing for the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60823/21]
View answerThe retail sector is the largest private sector employer in the country, with over 280,000 workers employed across the country. The rapid digital transformation of consumer trends and shopping preferences combined with competition from sophisticated international business models in recent times presents both opportunities and threats to many businesses operating in the Irish retail sector.
The sector has also faced significant challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting period of closure of non-essential retail, and the ongoing public health regulations during the pandemic. Despite this, retailers in Ireland continue to play a critical role in the national response to COVID-19.
To date a range of business supports have been developed for businesses, including retail. These include the Small Business Assistance Scheme (SBASC), The Covid 19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), wage subsidies, a commercial rates holiday, low-cost loans, a Vat Reduction and the publication of a Code of Conduct between landlords and tenants on commercial rents.
As the Deputy is aware, COVID-19 has accelerated the transition to online retailing and the retail sector has responded to the challenge by coming up with new and innovative ways to trade safely, to protect its employees and customers. Two schemes offered by my Department can assist retailers in their digital transformation journey.
The COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme (ORS) was specifically introduced to support Irish-owned retail businesses to rapidly adapt and enhance their online business capability as they work within the COVID-19 public health measures. To date the COVID-19 ORS has provided funding of €18.2m to 503 retailers under three calls.
Prior to the COVID-19 competitive ORS, my Department initially launched a pilot ORS in 2018. The scheme was administered by Enterprise Ireland. The total approved under the combined Online Retail Schemes is over €19m.
The ORS scheme is complementary to the €2,500 Trading Online Voucher scheme, provided through the Local Enterprise Offices for companies with up to 10 employees. While this scheme is not solely for the retail sector it provides assistance to retailers to begin their online trading journey.
In 2020 the scheme attracted 17,315 applications and 12,984 approvals to a value of €30.6m. Between 1st January and 1st December 2021 there have been 4,306 approvals to a value of €9,323,886.
The full range of supports offered by my Department and across Government for businesses, including retailers, can be found on enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/
The Government will continue to address the needs of the sector and engage with retailers through the Retail Forum, which provides a platform for structured engagement between the retail sector, my Department and all relevant Departments and State Agencies.
150. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning or purification systems have been installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60862/21]
View answerAccommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies and/or the private sector.
The Department and its Offices are located in 11 locations across the country. As tenants the Department works closely with OPW colleagues, and where relevant, engages with the local landlords and with other tenants, to ensure the provision of appropriate, fit-for-purpose accommodation for our staff and any visitors to the buildings.
As part of our internal response to the COVID-19 pandemic my Department has implemented a suite of infection prevention control measures to reduce the risk of disease transmission and to assist in making the work environment as safe as possible.
As alluded to in the national Work Safely Protocol, ventilation is not a standalone measure in itself and it is key that staff, and visitors alike, continue to adhere to all aspects of the prevailing public health guidance such as social distancing, ensuring good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette such as facemask wearing in communal areas, proper cough etiquette and availing of vaccinations when offered same.
Given the nature of the buildings occupied by my Department and its Offices, the technical advice provided by the OPW to date is that there is no need for additional mechanical interventions to be made to our buildings to enhance ventilation at this time. This OPW advice comes with the caveat that the Department should, and is ensuring, that all reasonable arrangements are in place to maximise ventilation through a combination of actions tailored to their locations. This includes opening more windows and carefully managing the overall numbers daily in each location so as to ensure rooms do not become overcrowded. Such arrangements are overseen by a dedicated Health and Safety Unit working in conjunction with colleagues across the Department and its Offices.
To provide added assurance to staff and in supplementing our range of COVID-19 specific control measures, my Department has also installed approximately 20 air quality monitors in various locations across our buildings where these were deemed to be warranted. These are small mobile monitors which provide real-time information such as CO2 levels in rooms and will inform us if there are negative issues with ventilation. To date, the information gleaned from the monitors backs up the OPW technical advice in relation to ventilation in our occupied buildings.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, my Department will of course keep all health and safety related issues under review and will liaise closely with the OPW and with other external expertise as required.
151. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement he has had with businesses and their representative organisations with regard to supports for same in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. [60819/21]
View answerThe Government continues to support and engage with businesses through these challenging times and recognises the impact that the new measures will have on sectors, in particular the hospitality sector, the arts and entertainment and the night-time economy sectors.
My Department has maintained ongoing engagement with sectoral representatives throughout the pandemic to ascertain the level and types of support that is needed. I as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my ministerial colleagues and my Department continue to have regular engagement, both formal and informal, with many stakeholders and businesses to discuss a variety of matters.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister Michael McGrath, Minister Catherine Martin and I met with representatives of the hospitality and live entertainment sectors on Monday this week.
Engagement with Employee and Employer representative bodies will continue to take place via the high-level body, the Labour Employer Economic Forum.
Government policy remains that there will be no cliff edge to financial support. It is important to note that all business supports are being kept under review to ensure that they are timely and target those that need them the most.
152. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan. [60662/21]
View answerRegional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of mine and this Government.
My Department is currently overseeing the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024. These are ‘bottom-up’ plans, developed by regional stakeholders which identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and enable job creation across the regions through collaborative regional actions.
The new South-West Plan to 2024, which covers Counties Cork and Kerry, will build on the core activities of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the LEOs.
The South-West Regional Steering Committee is chaired by Patricia Quane, retired VP & General Manager of Astellas Ireland, and includes the Enterprise Agencies, LEOs, Local Authorities and Higher Education bodies, and others, all of whom are focused on creating and sustaining employment opportunities in the region.
Following a review of the outgoing Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 by the Steering Committee and consideration of future thematic areas of focus, stakeholders in the South-West region were invited to attend a virtual consultation event in June 2021 to contribute to the focus of the new Plan.
The new South-West REP to 2024 is currently being finalised and it is my Department’s intention to have the plan published and launched in early next year.
Finally, over €19.3m has been invested by the Government through Enterprise Ireland into 15 regional enterprise projects in the South-West under the three calls of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and the recent Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme. I was also pleased to see also that a further €124,000 was recently approved to four applicants in the South-West under my Department’s Feasibility Funding scheme.
154. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to include home care workers on the critical skills list in view of ongoing challenges in sourcing workers in this area and to facilitate non-EEA workers in obtaining permits to work in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60798/21]
View answerThe 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 my Department and of the relevant policy Departments, in this case the Department of Health.
The results of the most recently concluded review were announced on 28 October 2021. The review did not recommend removal of the occupation of care worker/home carers from the Ineligible Occupations List as the evidence suggested that the contracts of employment on offer and employment terms and conditions being offered are significant factors 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.
The next Occupational Lists Review will open in the coming months and submissions from sectors will be invited through a public consultation.
155. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the Covid credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60794/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme is the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State and makes up to €2 billion in lending available to SMEs. Since its launch in September 2020 it has enabled vital access to loans for the SME sector. As of the 25th November, eight thousand, five hundred and fifty-six loans with a value of over €598 million have been drawn or sanctioned to SME businesses in all parts of the country. Many of these loans have been delivered to those sectors most impacted by the pandemic such as the wholesale and retail sector, accommodation and food services, and construction. These three sectors alone, account for forty-seven percent of the value of loans drawn. Over fifty-seven thousand jobs have been maintained as a result of the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Loans of up to €1 million are available for up to 5.5 years. Loans under €250,000 do not require any personal guarantees or collateral. The Scheme has an 80 percent guarantee and is based on contingent liability. This means there is no cost to the State unless a participating enterprise is unable to pay back the loan for more than 90 days, whereupon the loan enters a default stage. The finance provider can then call on the guarantee for 80 percent of the outstanding balance.
The Scheme is currently available through three commercial banks, six non-bank lenders and nineteen credit unions thus providing competition in the market and a variety of loan products. This long-term policy goal of diversification adds competition in the market and ensures a wide range of loan products are available throughout the regions.
The Scheme is currently available until 31 December 2021 in line with European Commission’s State Aid Temporary Framework. The Commission recently announced the extension of the Temporary Framework until 30 June 2022 and a legislative amendment to extend the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme has been included in the Social Welfare Bill 2021, which is currently under scrutiny by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
156. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he will implement to provide support to businesses in County Donegal affected by public health measures announced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60675/21]
View answerThe Government will continue to support businesses through these challenging times. We recognise the impact that the new measures will have on businesses in Donegal and other counties, especially in sectors such as hospitality, the arts and entertainment and the night-time economy sectors.
With this in mind, on Friday the Government announced a package of financial interventions for the hospitality, events and entertainment sectors. The package includes:
- a change to the CRSS or EWSS, details of which will be confirmed very shortly by the Minister for Finance
- an extension of the targeted commercial rates waiver at least until the end of March
- an extra €25 million from the Covid contingency fund applied to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in particular to assist the live entertainment, arts and performance sectors.
As the Deputy will be aware, the PUP has also been reopened for workers who lose their jobs or have lost their jobs as a result of the newly announced restrictions.
Details of existing supports can be found on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
157. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will be providing new supports to businesses currently being impacted by public health restrictions. [60672/21]
View answerThe Government continues to support businesses through these challenging times and recognises the impact that the new measures will have on sectors such as hospitality, the arts and entertainment and the night-time economy sectors.
With this in mind, on Friday we announced a package of financial interventions for the hospitality, events and entertainment sectors. The package includes:
- a change to the CRSS or EWSS, details of which will be confirmed very shortly by the Minister for Finance
- an extension of the targeted commercial rates waiver at least until the end of March
- an extra €25 million from the Covid contingency fund applied to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in particular to assist the live entertainment, arts and performance sectors.
As the Deputy will be aware, the PUP has also been reopened for workers who lose their jobs or have lost their jobs as a result of the newly announced restrictions.
Details of existing supports can be found on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
158. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress of the Programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60756/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, earlier this year I asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government and to make recommendations on the best approach to achieving this commitment.
The Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) to conduct supporting research on the living wage. Terms of Reference for this research were noted by Cabinet earlier this year. The Commission expects to receive this research before year-end.
Informed by this supporting research, the Commission intends to provide a report to me on the issues surrounding the progression to a living wage early in 2022.
The report will consider the policy, social and economic implications of a move to a living wage and the process by which Ireland could progress towards it. It will do this by looking at international evidence on living wages, examining different calculation methods, examining the policy implications and outlining options for moving to a living wage in Ireland.
I look forward to receiving the Low Pay Commission’s report and I hope to then bring proposals to Cabinet in the New Year.
160. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to support existing levels of employment in regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60290/21]
View answerRegional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of mine and this Government.
Almost two thirds of new jobs created by Enterprise Ireland client companies in 2020 were in regions outside of Dublin. IDA will target half of all investments equivalent to 400 investments from 2021 to 2024 to regional locations and maintain the same high level of investment as targeted in IDA’s previous strategy for each region of the country. IDA client companies directly employed almost 145,000 people outside of Dublin in 2020. Combined with indirect employment of 116,000, an estimated 260,000 jobs in the regions were supported by FDI in 2020. The Local Enterprise Offices continue to provide a first stop shop to individuals who want to start or grow their micro enterprise in every county. There were 35,236 people employed in over 7,500 LEO client companies nationally in 2020.
The individual Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) play a central role in supporting the delivery of balanced regional enterprise development and ensuring that employment growth is spread across all regions. The Plans are complementary to and build on the core activities of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs and the wider range of State Bodies involved in regional enterprise development. The new Plans are expected to be published in early 2022.
The Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has provided funding to assist enterprise development and regional jobs growth across all regions. For example, my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Border Enterprise Development Fund, and recent Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme has approved over €126 million across 79 enterprise strengthening projects in every region over a series of competitive calls since 2017. These Funds enable significant collaborative and innovative regional projects to provide a timely impetus to job creation in regional locations.?
I realise the strain COVID-19 is placing on businesses and that is why we have put in place, a wide range of support measures for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, business continuity and trading online grants, COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future Growth Loan Scheme, commercial rates waivers and warehousing of tax liabilities. Details of the supports can be found on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
161. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans new initiatives to support businesses impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60790/21]
View answerThe Government continues to support businesses through these challenging times and recognises the impact that the new measures will have on sectors such as hospitality, the arts and entertainment and the night-time economy sectors.
With this in mind, on Friday we announced a package of financial interventions for the hospitality, events and entertainment sectors. The package includes:
- a change to the CRSS or EWSS, details of which will be confirmed very shortly by the Minister for Finance
- an extension of the targeted commercial rates waiver at least until the end of March
- an extra €25 million from the Covid contingency fund applied to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in particular to assist the live entertainment, arts and performance sectors.
As the Deputy will be aware, the PUP has also been reopened for workers who lose their jobs or have lost their jobs as a result of the newly announced restrictions.
Details of existing supports can be found on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
