Tuesday, 31 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 142-162

Seanad Reform

Questions (142)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

142. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will bring forward proposals to reform Seanad Éireann. [3980/23]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The current 26th Seanad has made good progress on Seanad reform. A number of measures have been put in place to give effect to the non-electoral recommendations arising from the Manning and McDowell reports on Seanad reform. These include the establishment last year of the Seanad Select Committee on the Scrutiny of Draft EU Statutory Instruments.

The Seanad has also put in place procedures to develop and strengthen the vocational nature of the Seanad. It has improved the way in which reports of Oireachtas Committees are dealt with, and it has also increased engagement with Ireland’s MEPs.

As the Seanad continues to advance the implementation of reforms and to play a valuable role in the legislative process, the Government currently has no immediate plans to bring forward further proposals in this regard.

Departmental Staff

Questions (143)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

143. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Taoiseach the names of any advisers who have taken up employment in his Department since the Government rotation in December 2022; and the annual salary they are being paid. [4132/23]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The persons currently employed in the Department of the Taoiseach as Special Advisers are detailed in the table following.

The appointment of special advisors are made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and subject to Government approval. The relevant contracts will be laid before the House of the Oireachtas in due course.

Office Holder	Special Adviser Name	Salary Scale
Taoiseach	Brian Murphy	Deputy Secretary
	Philip O'Callaghan	Assistant Secretary
	Clare Mungovan	Principal Officer
	Bríd Murphy	Principal Officer
	Matthew Lynch	Principal Officer
	Sarah O'Neill	Principal Officer
	Cliona Doyle	Principal Officer
Tánaiste	Deirdre Gillane	Deputy Secretary
	Pat McParland	Assistant Secretary
	Alan Ahearne	Assistant Secretary equivalent (part-time)
	Diarmuid Lynch	Principal Officer
Leader of the Green Party	Anna Conlan	Assistant Secretary
	Donall Geoghegan	Assistant Secretary
	Eamonn Fahey	Principal Officer
	David Healy	Principal Officer (part-time)
	Niamh Allen	Principal Officer (part-time)
Chief Whip	Paul Melia	Principal Officer
	Denise Duffy	Principal Officer

Official Travel

Questions (144)

Carol Nolan

Question:

144. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide data associated with his Department’s air travel and air travel associated with agencies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied) from 1 January 2020 to date [4256/23]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

Circular 01/2020 requires all Government Departments, Offices and agencies to record, monitor and value the emissions associated with official air travel. The procedures to be followed in calculating the offsets for both commercial and Ministerial Air Transport travel are also set out in the Circular.

In accordance with the Circular, payments, as set out in the table below, related to these emissions have been made by the Department of the Taoiseach to the statutory Climate Action Fund in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The data in respect of air travel in 2022 is currently being collated in advance of the deadline of 28 February 2023 for payment to the Climate Action Fund.

Year	Kilometres travelled	Emissions tonnes	Emissions value
2020	150,628	31.35	€818.20
2021	186,028	53.47	€1,622.87

The National Economic and Social Development Office, the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, had no expenditure on air travel in this period.

International Bodies

Questions (145)

Michael McNamara

Question:

145. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount paid to the European Space Agency in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4115/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Neale Richmond)

Ireland has significantly grown its investment in the European Space Agency (ESA) in recent years in line with the National Strategy for Space Enterprise 2019 – 2025, which seeks to build an economically sustainable and expanding space-active industry, delivering quality jobs for the economy of tomorrow.

The overall amount paid to ESA by the State in 2022 was €30.17 million, an increase of almost 30% since the publication of the Strategy.  This increased level of funding in ESA is resulting in excellent growth in the Irish space sector with the number of Irish based companies engaged with the ESA increasing by 39% since 2019, growing from 70 to 97 in 2022.

We are committed to continuing to engage with industry and researchers to ensure that we have a strong expanding space-active enterprise base in Ireland.  The announcement last November of further funding for ESA of €125 million up to 2027 is an important signal to the sector that we intend to support and grow the enterprise and research base to ensure that Irish enterprises are equipped to seize new opportunities promised by the evolving global space market for business, research, society, the economy and the environment.

Departmental Staff

Questions (146)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

146. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the names of any advisers who have taken up employment in his Department since the Government rotation in December 2022; the annual salary they are being paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4121/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The salary of Special Advisers serving in my Department are paid in accordance with the relevant public service pay agreements, currently 'Building Momentum, and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approved pay scales.

In relation to the Deputy's question, two Special Advisers were appointed in my Department since the Government rotation in December 2022.   The table following sets out the names of the Special Advisers, the date of their appointment and their annual salary scale.

Office of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.

Name	Date of Appointment	Annual Salary Scale
Laura McGonigle	17 December 2022	PO Payscale:   €93,301 - €117,879
Chris Donoghue	17 December 2022	PO Payscale:   €93,301 - €117,879

Trade Promotion

Questions (147)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

147. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Australian companies that IDA Ireland has engaged with in relation to setting up in the State in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [4207/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA Ireland engages with many companies and entities in Australia as part of its promotion and marketing of Ireland as a location to do business. My Department officials have confirmed with IDA that this information is confidential.

However, the number of Australian companies located in Ireland as per the Annual employment survey for the years 2020 and 2021 is 28 companies in both years and these companies currently employ in total 1,383.  Data relating to 2023 will be available at the end of the year.

In addition, in 2022 there were 2 announcements by Australian companies of their investment decisions in Ireland as follows:

1. International building services engineering consultancy, Norman Disney & Young  (NDY) [a Tetra Tech Company] announced in May 2022 plans to expand its newly established Irish operation with a commitment to build its technical and leadership team by adding up to 20 staff. 

2. International money transfer and foreign exchange services provider OFX announced in June 2022 the establishment of OFX Payments Ireland Limited as its European HQ in Dublin. OFX expects to create an additional 15 jobs at the Dublin base to manage its European operations.

Departmental Data

Questions (148)

Carol Nolan

Question:

148. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide data associated with his Department’s air travel and air travel associated with agencies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied) from 1 January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4245/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The table below shows data associated with my department's air travel and air travel associated with the agencies under the aegis of my department from 01st January 2020 to 31st December 2022.

2020

Agency	Kilometres	Tonnes of CO2 (Rounded)	Liability
IDA Ireland	1,445,764	91,682	€2,383.73
SFI	372,660	26,929	€700.15
NSAI	201,256	17,573	€456.90
Enterprise Ireland	5,056,686	354,399	€9,214.37
CCPC	99,444	7,502	€195.05
HSA	32,495	3,924	€102.03
IAASA	10,200	1,620	€42.15
Department	402,248	38,814	€1,009.16
Dept (DFA Seconded)	7,066	812	€21.59

 2021

Agency	Kilometres	Tonnes of CO2 (Rounded)	Liability
IDA Ireland	904,618	77,283	€2,589.09
NSAI	10,253	1,546	€51.79
Enterprise Ireland	1,914,424	138,800	€4,649.80
CCPC	3,284	626	€20.79
HSA	1,828	212	€7.10
IAASA	0	0	0
Department	122,336	18,491	€480.77
Dept (DFA Seconded)	27,309	3,270	€85.02

2022

Agency	Kilometres	Tonnes of CO2 (Rounded)	Liability
IDA Ireland	3,287,280	281,518	€9,856.47
NSAI	204,874	27,351	€1,121.39
Enterprise Ireland	12,746,850	1,774,677	€72,761.77
HSA	62,577	7,776	€318.82
IAASA	3,593	6,471	€265.31
Department	953,930	121,116	€4,965.76
Dept (DFA Seconded)	43,955	2,799	€229.52

The above tables detail the carbon emissions (in Tonnes) associated with flights taken by Department staff or staff of the Department’s agencies in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Liability for each year is calculated based on the prevailing rate of carbon tax and all liability must be paid to the Governments Climate Action Fund based on the impact of official travel in the previous year.

Departmental Data

Questions (149)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

149. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations for Programme B, Enterprise Innovation and Commercialisation, in the budget 2023 expenditure report will be provided, in tabular form. [4469/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The table following details the current and capital budget allocations to my Department across Programme B – Enterprise, Innovation and Commercialisation as published in the Revised Estimates Volume 2023.

Programme B – Enterprise, Innovation and Commercialisation

Subhead	Current	Capital	Total
	€,000	€,000	€,000
B.1 Administration - Pay	9,736		9,736
B.2 Administration - Non Pay	2,784		2,784
B.3 Intellectual Property Office of Ireland	3,589		3,589
B.4 Science and Technology Development Programme	6,026	152,083	158,109
B.5 Subscriptions to International Organisations etc.	435	22,916	23,351
B.6 Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries	1		1
B.7 Legal Costs and Other Services ….	130		130
B.8 Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund		61,000	61,000
Programme Total	22,701	235,999	258,700

The table reflects the allocation as published in the 2023 Revised Estimates Volume.  It does not include capital monies allocated from the €54.5 million in unspent capital appropriations which were carried over from 2022 for use in 2023 in accordance with the provisions of Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004.

A number of the Department’s Agencies also generate own Resource Income from activities that they undertake, which subject to the approval of the Minister for Public expenditure and Reform they may retain for use on programme activity.

Departmental Data

Questions (150)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

150. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations for Programme C, Regulation, in the budget 2023 expenditure report will be provided, in tabular form. [4470/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

There are no capital programmes funded under the Regulation Programme, Programme C, of my Department’s Vote. The table following sets out the current funding allocations to this Programme for this year as per the 2023 Revised Estimates published last December.

Programme C – Regulation  

Subhead	Current	Total
.	€,000	€,000
C.1 Administration - Pay	15,821	15,821
C.2 Administration - Non Pay	4,124	4,124
C.3 Workplace Relations Programme	21,447	21,447
C.4 Grants For Trade Union Education and Advisory Services	900	900
C.5 Health & Safety Authority - Grants for Admin	27,359	27,359
C.6 Trade Union Amalgamations …	60	60
C.7 Corporate Enforcement Authority	9,706	9,706
C.8 Competition and Consumer Protection	20,315	20,315
C.9 Personal Injuries Assessment Board	487	487
C.10 Consumer Support	120	120
C.11 CRO & RFS - Grant for Admin & Gen Exps	8,424	8,424
C.12 Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority	1,701	1,701
C.13 Subscriptions to International Organisations	1,569	1,569
C.14 Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries	320	320
C.15 Legal Costs and Other Services	928	928
C.16 Low Pay Commission	510	510
C.17 Digital Services Co-ordinator DSC	2,700	2,700

A discrete number of Agencies funded under the Department’s Regulation Programme also receive some funding for their activities from levies/fees imposed on entities that are subject to regulation by them.

Departmental Data

Questions (151)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of €14.8 million for IDA AMC, Regional Property Programme, National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4472/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Government in its 2023 Budget and Estimates decisions allocated an additional €13 million in current expenditure and an extra €23 million in capital expenditure to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment compared to the 2022 allocation.

The increased capital allocation will support the Department and its Agencies in building on the progress made in delivering supports to indigenous businesses, promoting regional development, attracting high quality FDI, and supporting innovation.  Full details on the allocation of the Vote’s 2023 resources across spending areas is set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV).

This 2023 allocation will allow the Department to continue to position Ireland as a competitive, innovation-driven location in which to do business, to promote entrepreneurship, to develop a strong indigenous enterprise base, to target future inward investment and to grow exports in existing and fast-growing markets and to promote the benefits of international trade.

€14.8 million capital funding was allocated to the IDA Regional Property Programme, the IDA Digital  Manufacturing Ireland (rebranded from Advanced Manufacturing Centre), and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, (NIBRT), as set out under Programme A in the budget 2023 Expenditure Report with breakdown as follows:

IDA Regional Property Programme	€4 m
DMI (rebranded from AMC)	€7.15 m
NIBRT	€2 m
Client Grants	€1.65 m
TOTAL	€14.8 m

Departmental Data

Questions (152)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

152. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of €10 million for EI Open Call for Brexit Impacts in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4473/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Neale Richmond)

I can confirm that the €10 million fund in respect of the open call for Brexit Impacts referred to in the Budget 2023 Expenditure Report is allocated solely to capital expenditure.

Departmental Data

Questions (153)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

153. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of €12 million for EI Green Transition and Digital Transitions Funds in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4474/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Neale Richmond)

I can confirm that the €12 million in respect of the EI Green Transition and Digital Transition Funds referred to in the Budget 2023 Expenditure Report is allocated solely to capital expenditure.  In that regard, each fund has been allocated €6 million.

Departmental Data

Questions (154)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

154. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of €4 million for local enterprise offices for the roll out of the plus-ten employees' framework and small firms' investment in energy efficiency scheme in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4475/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Neale Richmond)

The Budget 2023 allocation to the Local Enterprise Office network includes an additional €4 million in capital expenditure to pilot both the extension of the LEOs mandate to firms with over 10 employees and the introduction of the Small Firms' Investment in Energy Efficiency Scheme (SFIEES).  This additional allocation is broken down evenly across both supports with each measure receiving €2 million in 2023.

The pilot extension of the Local Enterprise Offices' mandate is intended to provide grant aid to firms with more than ten employees in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors thereby fulfilling a programme for Government commitment.  In so doing, it builds on the new Enterprise Ireland strategy which sets out a commitment to ensure companies of all sizes in those sectors will have access to assistance as appropriate to their stage of development and internationalisation ambition.

The Small Firms Investment in Energy Efficiency Scheme (SFIEES), also announced in Budget 2023, is intended to support capital investment by firms to undertake energy efficiency projects. The rationale of the scheme will be to support companies to reduce their carbon emissions and overall energy costs by accelerating the adoption of low carbon technologies or processes.

Taking into account national policy and in consultation with the LEO network, Enterprise Ireland is developing guidelines and eligibility criteria for the rollout of the new programme by each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices. A budget of €2m has been allocated nationally and it is planned to launch the scheme in Q1 2023.

Departmental Data

Questions (155)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of €5 million for the new credit guarantee scheme in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4476/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme will provide up to €1.2 billion in lending facilities to businesses impacted by increasing costs arising from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.  Primary and secondary legislation was delivered at a rapid pace to facilitate this important assistance to businesses at a time they have only just begun their path to recovery in the wake of Covid.

The scheme has been developed with the assistance of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, who will act as the operator. Loans under the scheme will be provided by individual financial institutions. Loans will be available, under the scheme, to SMEs, farmers, fishers and small mid-caps until the end of 2024. The loans will have reduced interest rates, have no security requirements for loans of up to €250,000 with a maximum loan amount of €1 million and a maximum term of 6 years. Bank of Ireland is due to launch its loans under the scheme on the 30th of January with more lenders to follow subsequent to the open call which closed on 27 January.  

€5 million has been allocated to the budget line entitled "Temporary Loan Guarantee Scheme" for 2023. This sum is a capital allocation. It includes the allocation for the Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme and the original Credit Guarantee Scheme. While the Ukraine scheme is the only scheme currently open to new loans, there are costs associated with each scheme. Claims in respect of loan defaults in 2023 will primarily be realised on the Covid-19 scheme, which saw €708 million in loans to over 9,850 businesses in just 21 months of operation.

Scheme	2023 Capital Allocation
Credit Guarantee Scheme	€212,000
Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme	€2,963,000
Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme	€1,825,000

 

Departmental Data

Questions (156)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of the €7 million for Science and Technology Programme, including European Digital Innovation Hubs, in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4477/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Science and Technology and Development programme provides funding for Enterprise Ireland's Ireland’s (EI) Research, Development and Innovation programmes.  These programmes support direct and indirect research, development and innovation supports for indigenous companies and supports the commercialisation of State funded research.

For 2023 the Science, Technology and Development programme has been allocated €158.1m in funding, just over €6m of this total is current funding for the central resource in EI to manage and facilitate its RD&I activities. 

Of the €158.1m in funding an additional €7million in capital funding was allocated in 2023 for the following schemes:

- €3m for the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) bringing the 2023 funding for EDIHs to €6m. The EDIHs will be “one-stop-shops”, with a research performing organisation  or higher education institution based lab at the core, to help companies (notably SMEs) and public sector organisations become more competitive in their business/production processes, products or services by providing access to research infrastructure, technical expertise and experimentation, so that these organisations can “test before invest”.

- €2.5m for High Potential Start Ups (HPSUs) and Enhanced Pre-seed support as well as covering the extension of the Technology Gateway Programme and the Knowledge Transfer Ireland Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative.

- €1.5m for the Construct Innovate Construction sector Technology Centre and for innovation & productivity support to the domestic construction residential sector.

Further additional capital funding was also allocated in 2023 to the programme for the following measures:

- €15.656m for the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Projects - KT (Knowledge Transfer) Boost Initiative, the new Technology Gateways Programme and the Needs Led Training Initiative. The three programmes will drive collaboration with our Higher Education Institutes, increase commercialisation and promote the formation of HPSUs.  

- An additional €0.5m was allocated from the Housing for All Fund on a once off basis to support the Construction Technology Centre.

Additional funding - Science, Technology & Development Programme 2023	Amount
ERDF Projects	€15.656m
EDIHs (additional funding)	€3m
HPSU / Enhanced Pre-seed Support / Tech Gateway & TTSI Extension	€2.5m
Construct Innovate Technology Centre and Innovation & productivity support to domestic construction residential sector	€1.5m
Construct Innovate Technology Centre once-off grants	€0.5m
Total	€23.156m

Departmental Data

Questions (157)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

157. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown for the current and capital budget allocations for each subhead of the Revised Estimates for 2023. [4478/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The tables following detail the breakdown for the current and capital budget allocations for each subhead of my Department as published in the Revised Estimate Volume 2023.

Programme A – Jobs and Enterprise Development

Subhead	Current	Capital	Total
	€,000	€,000	€,000
A.1 Administration - Pay	15,061		15,061
A.2 Administration - Non Pay	3,402		3,402
A.3 Agency Legacy Pensions	40,170		40,170
A.4 Intertrade Ireland	2,686	8,900	11,586
A.5 IDA Ireland	60,701	177,300	238,001
A.6 NSAI - G-I-A for Admin & Gen Exps	9,834	500	10,334
A.7 Enterprise Ireland	99,664	120,703	220,367
A.8 Local Enterprise Development	11,981	35,816	47,797
A.9 Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme		5,000	5,000
A.10 Matching Funding For Interreg		1,389	1,389
A.11 Subscriptions to International Organisations	3,650		3,650
A.12 Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries	201		201
A.13 Legal Costs and Other Services	130		130
A.14 SBCI Loan Schemes		1	1
A.15 Humanitarian Relief Scheme		1	1
A.16 Micro Finance Ireland		1	1
A.17 National Design Centre		1	1
A.18 Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme - TBESS	649,130		649,130
Programme Total	896,610	349,612	1,246,222

Programme B – Enterprise, Innovation and Commercialisation

Subhead	Current	Capital	Total
	€,000	€,000	€,000
B.1 Administration - Pay	9,736		9,736
B.2 Administration - Non Pay	2,784		2,784
B.3 Intellectual Property Office of Ireland	3,589		3,589
B.4 Science and Technology Development Programme	6,026	152,083	158,109
B.5 Subscriptions to International Organisations etc.	435	22,916	23,351
B.6 Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries	1		1
B.7 Legal Costs and Other Services ….	130		130
B.8 Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund		61,000	61,000
Programme Total	22,701	235,999	258,700

Programme C – Regulation

Subhead	Current	Total
	€,000	€,000
C.1 Administration - Pay	15,821	15,821
C.2 Administration - Non Pay	4,124	4,124
C.3 Workplace Relations Programme	21,447	21,447
C.4 Grants For Trade Union Education and Advisory Services	900	900
C.5 Health & Safety Authority - Grants for Admin	27,359	27,359
C.6 Trade Union Amalgamations …	60	60
C.7 Corporate Enforcement Authority	9,706	9,706
C.8 Competition and Consumer Protection	20,315	20,315
C.9 Personal Injuries Assessment Board	487	487
C.10 Consumer Support	120	120
C.11 CRO & RFS - Grant for Admin & Gen Exps	8,424	8,424
C.12 Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority	1,701	1,701
C.13 Subscriptions to International Organisations	1,569	1,569
C.14 Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries	320	320
C.15 Legal Costs and Other Services	928	928
C.16 Low Pay Commission	510	510
C.17 Digital Services Co-ordinator DSC	2,700	2,700
Programme Total	116,491	116,491

The tables reflect the allocations as published in the 2023 Revised Estimates Volume. They do not include capital monies allocated from the €54.5 million in unspent capital appropriations which were carried over from 2022 for use in 2023 in accordance with the provisions of Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004.

A number of Agencies of the Department also generate Own Resource Income from activities that they undertake, which subject to the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform they may retain for use on programme activity.

A discrete number of Agencies also receive funding for their activities from levies/fees imposed on entities that are subject to regulation by them.

Departmental Data

Questions (158)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

158. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total budget 2022 allocation for the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation 2022-2027; the percentage difference compared to the budget 2023 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4479/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Smart Specialisation is an innovation policy concept developed by the European Commission which aims to boost regional innovation, contributing to growth and prosperity by helping and enabling regions to focus on their strengths.

While Smart Specialisation involves radical innovation, it also involves innovating in traditional fields, through developing and applying new business or organisational models, and adapting or exploiting innovations deriving from tacit knowledge and experience in these areas. 

The preparation of Ireland’s National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation 2022-2027 (S3) was an essential prerequisite for Ireland to access European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) moneys under Policy Objective One: A Smarter Europe, through innovation, digitisation, economic transformation and support to small and medium-sized businesses.

Ireland’s total allocation under the 2021-2027 programming period of the ERDF is €396 million, of which more than €200 million will be allocated to programmes which support innovative and smart economic transformation under Policy Objective One. This will be supported by national co-financing, rendering the total amount available for Ireland under the ERDF at €853 million. This funding is new and additional to exchequer allocations for mainstream programmes.

My Department will deliver four programmes supported by ERDF under Policy Objective One: A Smarter Europe, that are aligned with S3. These are: Technology Gateways; Technology Transfer 'KT Boost'; Needs-led Innovation Training; and Smart Regional Enterprise Innovation. ERDF will also support Research, development, integration and innovation and Accelerating Research Commercialisation (ARC) labs through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and these are also of relevance to S3 delivery.

Ireland's ERDF regional programmes were adopted by the Commission in 18th November 2022, and the first annual budgetary allocations towards the relevant DETE Schemes were made in 2023. The total capital allocation for 2023 is €17.109 million, across the four programmes administered by Enterprise Ireland. The administration aspect of these schemes is managed by Enterprise Ireland's general current funding and is not accounted for separately.

The design of these four DETE programmes are informed by Ireland's S3 and will include programmes to: bridge the knowledge transfer gap between industry and academia; provide dedicated staff to the Technological Universities who work with industry to articulate company problems in a manner that can be addressed by the established expert base in each Technological University; build on existing international and national best practice in immersive-based, needs-led innovation training programmes connecting on multiple levels with the industry sector clusters in a particular region; and to address regional innovation ecosystem gaps, informed by the work of the Regional Enterprise Plans.

I am keen to get this funding under these Schemes out to the regions as soon as possible and my officials are working with Enterprise Ireland on their development and roll-out.

Finally, it should also be noted that Ireland's Smart Specialisation Strategy will also inform continued roll-out of a range of frameworks and programmes already in place in my Department.

Departmental Data

Questions (159)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

159. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total budget 2023 allocation for the National AI Strategy, AI - Here for Good; the capital, current and total budget 2022 allocation for the National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good; the percentage difference compared to the budget 2023 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4480/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Ireland's National AI Strategy, “AI - Here for Good”, provides a high-level direction to the design, development, deployment and governance of AI in Ireland. It presents an integrated framework to manage the expected beneficial socio-economic opportunities that AI presents.

Our vision is for Ireland to become a leading country in using AI to the benefit of our citizens, through a people centred and ethical approach to AI adoption and use. The Strategy helps define how Ireland can ensure a responsible and inclusive approach to developing, applying and adopting AI, and how to harness the potential benefits of AI for both businesses and society. 

While my Department leads on the implementation of the Strategy overall and is responsible in particular for driving the adoption of enterprise by businesses, this is a whole of Government Strategy and therefore is not solely focussed on enterprise aspects.  

Under both Budget 2022 and Budget 2023, the National AI Strategy was not directly allocated funding for its implementation. The Strategy is a whole of Government Strategy and therefore the funding of initiatives contained under the eight Strands fall under the relevant individual Departments and Agencies. 

For example, through the €85 million Digital Transition Fund, we will increase digitalisation of businesses across products, processes, supply chains and business models. This will bring about productivity gains, access to new markets, increased innovation and improved competitiveness - including through technology such as AI. 

In addition, the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is a €500 million challenge-based fund established under Project Ireland 2040. In Calls 1 to 3 for the Fund, there was an AI element in 31 of the 72 projects, with €103m awarded. 

Furthermore, CeADAR, the EI/IDA Technology Centre for Applied Data Analytics and Machine Intelligence, will become Ireland's National AI Hub as part of the European Digital Innovation Hub network with a funding allocation of €1.9 million per annum. CeADAR will focus on meeting industry needs in the areas of data analytics and AI. It will demystify these concepts and appeal to a non-technical audience along with explaining how AI can be applied in practice.  CeADAR is already experienced in assisting companies across a wide range of industry sectors in adding value through use of AI and has an existing established programme of formal training in AI.

Departmental Data

Questions (160)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

160. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total budget 2023 allocation for the National Digital Strategy; the capital, current and total budget 2022 allocation for the National Digital Strategy; the percentage difference compared to the budget 2023 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4481/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Harnessing Digital - the Digital Ireland Framework reflects Ireland’s ambition to continue to be a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments.  As the National Digital Strategy, it sets out a roadmap to drive and enable the digital transition across Enterprise; Infrastructure; Skills; and Public Services, in line with the EU’s Digital Decade. It complements work towards achieving Ireland’s climate targets.

Implementation of the Strategy is driven via cross-government coordination structures, reporting to the Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment. This includes regular engagement between the Senior Officials Group on Digital Issues and the Digital Regulators Group.

Government published a Progress Report in December 2022 which highlighted significant progress including a new Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, an €85 million Digital Transition Fund; a new Digital Strategy for Schools, and new Digital Connectivity Strategy to 2030; and the development of a new Digital Healthcare Framework 2023-2027.

Harnessing Digital also re-enforces our firm commitment to a modern, cohesive, well-resourced regulatory framework to effectively oversee and enforce digital regulations.

Recent progress in this regard includes the Government’s decision to designate the new Coimisiún na Meán (Media Commission) as Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, under the Digital Services Act. Work is ongoing to ensure the Media Commission (which will create a regulatory framework for online safety), and our Digital Services Coordinator are in place, and operating effectively as quickly as possible.

Harnessing Digital is a whole of Government Strategy and therefore there are initiatives underway across various Government Departments and Agencies. Under both Budget 2022 and Budget 2023, the National Digital Strategy was not directly allocated funding for its implementation.

Departmental Data

Questions (161)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

161. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total budget 2023 allocation for the National Remote Work Strategy; the capital, current and total budget 2022 allocation for the National Remote Work Strategy; the percentage difference compared to the budget 2023 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4482/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

My Department published the National Remote Work Strategy on 15 January 2021. The strategy identified 15 actions to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits.

My Department led the development and implementation of the Strategy’s actions during 2021 and 2022 through the Remote Work Interdepartmental Group (IDG) which includes representatives of thirty Government Departments, State Agencies and other relevant public bodies. The IDG will continue to meet in 2023 to drive and coordinate remote working policy across Government.

The delivery of specific actions and initiatives to facilitate remote working are led by individual Departments and Agencies and in this context, there is no single, dedicated budget allocation relating to the National Remote Work Strategy.

Budget 2023 set out allocations for 2023 for all Departments. The Revised Estimates Volumes published in December 2022 sets out further details on the specifics of these allocations. Any costs related to remote working policy would fall within these allocations. The management of resources in this regard is a matter for each individual Department and Minister.

I would however highlight the following examples of the significant investments made in facilitating remote working across the country by Departments represented on the Remote Work IDG:

- My Department has invested in the development of enterprise/co-working hubs in every region of the country through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF) with approximately 40 Enterprise Centres/hubs having secured funding through those funds.  These projects are at various stages of development.

Enterprise Centres and hubs are key infrastructure which provide affordable physical workspace for businesses across the country, spaces for start-ups, training and collaborative spaces as well as delivering training and soft supports to their tenants and other companies in their locality.  Many of these hubs also provide co-working / remote working space though that is not their only purpose.

In 2022, €5 million was allocated to the REDF and a further €12 million in funding was sanctioned to assist with the completion of projects under the REDF and BEDF, for projects that have been delayed or interrupted due to increased construction and construction-related costs in 2022 and 2023. 

- In May 2021, the National Hub Network and ConnectedHubs.ie platform were launched by the Western Development Commission.  As part of this, the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) provided approximately €14 million in funding through the Connected Hubs Calls (€8.9 million in 2021 and €5.1 million in 2022) to upgrade Ireland’s hub and remote working infrastructure.  The DRCD is currently awaiting the results of impact assessment which will inform future funding calls.

- To date, a total of approximately €100 million in funding has been provided through funding streams managed by the DRCD and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to develop Ireland’s hub and remote working infrastructure to ensure that communities across the country are able to benefit from the opportunities presented by increased remote working.

- The Deputy may wish to note that my Department and the DRCD will lead on the development of a National Hub Strategy which will bring together in a single strategy the various national policies and schemes into a coherent and over-arching development strategy and identify opportunities to further leverage the National Hub Network as an enabler of enterprise, regional job growth, sustainable and resilient communities and as a contributor to achieving to Ireland’s climate action goals

The Strategy, which will be published towards the end of 2023, will examine, amongst other things, the distribution, sustainability and impact of enterprise centres and hubs across all regions of the country.

- An important objective outlined in the National Remote Work Strategy has been to accelerate the delivery of the National Broadband Plan (NBP). While the Plan was negatively impacted by COVID-19, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is continuing to engage National Broadband Ireland, and the project has been building momentum and month on month, momentum which will continue into 2023. The cost of the NBP in 2022 was €177.3 million, and the budget allocation for 2023 is €212.2 million.

The cross-Government investments outlined above are making a very significant contribution to realising the objectives of the National Remote Work Strategy, particularly in terms of promoting balanced regional, rural and community development both now and into the future.

Departmental Data

Questions (162)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total budget 2023 allocation for the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025; the capital, current and total budget 2022 allocation for the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025; the percentage difference compared to the budget 2023 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4483/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Neale Richmond)

The National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019 – 2025 sets ambitious goals for how Ireland intends to develop an economically sustainable and expanding space-active industry, delivering quality jobs for the economy of tomorrow. Funding for the space sector in Ireland is not specifically allocated to the National Space Strategy rather, funding is allocated on the basis of our investment in the European Space Agency (ESA) programmes. It is noted however that the National Space Strategy contains a key action to increase public and private investment in ESA by 50% by 2025 - which we are on track to achieve. 

The funding allocated to the ESA in 2022 and 2023 as well as the percentage difference are outlined in the following table:

	2022	2023	% Difference
	€000s	€000s
REV Base Allocation	21.37	22.87	+7%
-Capital	21.37	22.87	+7%
-Current	-	-	-
Supplementary Estimate	5.8	-	-
EI Direct Contribution	3	-	-
Total	30.17	22.87	-24%

While the total level of investment from 2022 to 2023 appears to have fallen by 24% this is due to the significant once-off investment made at the end of last year of €5.8 million through the supplementary estimate and a €3 million investment made via the Science and Technology Development Programme operated by Enterprise Ireland.

In fact, we have increased the overall base allocation to ESA by 7% in 2023 and our continued commitment to invest in Irish space active companies was demonstrated by Ireland's confirmation at the ESA Ministerial Council meeting in November 2022 that we intend to invest €125 million in funding to ESA for the period up to 2027.

Through increased funding of ESA over recent years we have seen the number of Irish based companies engaged with the ESA increasing by 39% since the publication of the Strategy, growing from 70 in 2019 to 97 in 2022. In 2021 16 start-up companies secured ESA contracts and Industry co-investment also increased from €3.3 million in 2020 to over €4.6 million in 2021.