Written Answers Nos. 246-260
246. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when payments will be made to retired OPW workers in relation to backpay due to them, given that this money has already been paid to current OPW workers, but some retirees are awaiting payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21379/23]
View answerI am advised by the NSSO that it is currently awaiting OPW pay scales reflecting 1 March 2023 increases under Building Momentum directly from OPW. On receipt of these, the scales will be uploaded and increases will be applied to relevant pensions in accordance with the scales. In regard to pensions on off-points of scale, a project is currently being undertaken to review these for increases including moving them to actual points of scale where appropriate. It is expected that increases together with arrears will be paid to the pensioners concerned over the coming weeks where possible.
247. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the measures his Department is taking to prevent digital exclusion in the context of the delivery of public services; the steps his Department has taken to give effect to the recommendations in the Citizen Information Board’s report on digital exclusion and eGovernment in Ireland; if there are any grant schemes paid from public funds that are only accessible to online applicants; his views on any such schemes in the context of combatting digital exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21615/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for this timely question. Officials in my Department are currently finalising a roadmap for digital inclusion which Government plans to publish this summer.
Government is conscious that, in an increasingly digital society, those who are unable to avail of digital opportunities for whatever reason, risk being excluded from society. Accordingly, the roadmap will set out how Government will meet its commitment to leaving no one behind as set out in the Programme for Government and the national digital strategy.
While much work is already progressing across Government to achieve digital inclusion, the Office of Government Chief Information Officer in my Department is working with other key stakeholder departments on the roadmap which will bring this work together in a focussed manner. The report from the Citizens Information Board was one of a number of reports which have been very helpful in its development. In addition, my officials have engaged directly with a range of representative groups.
I look forward to discussing the roadmap when it is published.
248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which his Department intends to select the most vital issues for public expenditure in the current year, having particular regards to the need of housing and health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21779/23]
View answerCareful management of our economy and public finances over the past number of years has allowed Government to do the following:
• Firstly, provide increased resources for core public services, investing in quality of life in Ireland to support a strong, fair and equal society into the future,
• Secondly, deliver significant and essential infrastructural projects through our National Development Plan. These projects will support this country’s employment prospects, economic development and regional growth,
• Thirdly, we have put in place considerable supports to provide assistance to our people and businesses towards the external challenges we face, including Brexit, war in Ukraine, Cost of Living and Covid pandemic, and
• Finally, we have achieved all this whilst ensuring our public finances are in a sustainable position.
The Budget Package for 2023 represented an increase of €5.8 billion in core expenditure bringing the total level of core expenditure to €85.8 billion in 2023. The level of expenditure supports existing services, provides services to an increasing and aging population and provides for targeted increases in the provision of critical services and infrastructure including in the health and housing sectors.
Health
The overall 2023 revised allocation for the Department of Health (including the recently transferred disability services) was €23.4 billion – representing an additional €1.9 billion in core funding. This significant investment underscores the Government’s commitment to the delivery of Sláintecare. The progressive reform of the health system to implement universal healthcare and its three critical components : access, affordability and quality.
Funding of €800 million, in addition to the €1.3 billion in core funding, was provided for Covid related activities as we continue our response to the pandemic.
Housing
In terms of housing we are making record investment available again this year to give more people, and families, secure, and affordable homes, and to boost the construction of new homes at scale. Since 2012 the Government has allocated over €5 billion in additional funding to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Budget 2023 allocated €6.3 billion to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with €2.6 billion allocated to the housing capital programme. Alongside this allocated expenditure, an additional €4 billion in Exchequer investment to housing is available annually up to 2023 through the Housing Finance Agency and Land Development Agency investment.
On 25 April the Government announced additional measures under the Housing for All Plan to make it cheaper to build and refurbish homes, speed up home building and drive down building costs across the board. The new measures will build on the momentum that we’re already seeing this year with work starting on a record 7,349 homes in the first three months of 2023. The measures include:
• Reducing the cost of construction: by temporarily waiving the development levies and Uisce Eireann connection charges, saving up to the value of €12,650 per home on average. This will reduce the cost of building a home and incentivise faster delivery of new supply.
• Increasing the pace at which vacant and derelict properties are renovated for new housing: by increasing the level of the grants to reduce the cost of refurbishing empty homes and making more people and properties eligible to apply. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant will be increased from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties, extended to cover houses built up to 2007, and will be available for properties intended for rental as well as owner-occupied.
• Government subvention towards of the delivery of Cost Rental apartments: The Government has agreed to provide a capital subvention to support the delivery of Cost Rental apartments which will be available to the Land Development Agency and other providers to deliver between 4,000 to 6,000 affordable apartments. Subject to the development of the detailed scheme and the provision of detailed cost estimates, funding of between €500m- €750m may be made available for this initiative.
249. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an overview of flood remediation works and arterial drainage schemes for County Clare in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21864/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is undertaking five major flood relief schemes in County Clare, which are at various stages of design or construction. The Council is managing localised flood and coastal risks through the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The OPW also has arterial drainage responsibility in County Clare. The details are set out below.
Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme (Major Scheme)
The OPW, Shannon Group and Clare County Council are working together on the development of the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme with Clare County Council acting as the Contracting Authority for the project and funding provided by the OPW. Consultant engineers for the scheme are RPS.
The total project budget is €41m. Currently preliminary design options are being prepared and a final design option for this scheme is expected to be finalised in the coming months, with planning consent being sought in the second half of 2024.
Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme (Major Scheme)
The OPW and Clare County Council are working together on the development of the Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme with Clare County Council acting as the Contracting Authority for the project and funding provided by the OPW. Consultant engineers for the scheme are JBA Consulting/JB Barry and Partners Joint Venture (JV).
The total project budget is €6.6m and is expected to protect 194 residential properties.
The proposed Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme is currently at Stage I and a Public Participation Day was held in August 2022 inviting members of the public, local businesses, and other interested parties to attend to submit comments and make their views known on the scheme's emerging options. Information gathered through this public engagement was considered in the development of the final options for the scheme. A further Public Consultation Day was held in April 2023 where the Preferred Fluvial Scheme was presented to the public. It is expected to move to Stage 2 Planning in Q1 2024.
Springfield Flood Relief Scheme
The OPW and Clare County Council are working together on the development of the Springfield Flood Relief Scheme with Clare County Council acting as the Contracting Authority for the project and funding provided by the OPW. Consultant engineers for the scheme are Byrne Looby.
The Springfield Flood Relief Scheme is currently at Stage IV: Construction and includes the construction of an 850m flood protection embankment, land raising, penstock / sluice, pump station and associated works at the townland and surrounding areas of Springfield and Clonlara Co. Clare. The scheme will protect 18 properties once compete. The total project budget is approximately €4m.
The Springfield Flood Relief Scheme is programmed for completion in July of this year. Permanent pumps for the scheme will be installed at end of Q2 2023 when weather permits. Temporary pumps are currently in place to allow the scheme be operational and provide protection to the area.
Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme
The Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme is currently being progressed by Clare County Council who is preparing to tender for a consultant to carry out a feasibility study and to carry out site investigations before moving to the next stage of the project. The feasibility study will determine if a scheme can be identified that is technically and environmentally viable and constitutes value for money.
Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme
Clare County Council are currently preparing tender documents for procurement of technical consultancy services for the Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme. The scheme will protect 19 properties once complete.
Minor Works
In addition to the above flood relief schemes, the OPW has approved €3.8m under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management.
Arterial Drainage Maintenance
The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. Some 2,100km of channel and some 135km of embankments are maintained annually. The OPW Annual Maintenance Programme for 2023 includes maintenance in County Clare on the Creegh, Fergus and Owenogarney Arterial Drainage Schemes.
250. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on any remedial works his Department intends to undertake on OPW sites in County Clare in 2023. [21865/23]
View answerAdditional time is needed to collate the required information. The OPW will respond to the Deputy directly on the matter.
251. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if officials from his Department are using an application (details supplied) to conduct business; if his Department has had official meetings regarding the use of the application by officials; if his Department has assessed the risk of using the application by Department officials and the input of Government-related data into the application; if his Department is using or is considering using other forms of artificial intelligence; if his Department is considering banning the use of the application by Department officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21089/23]
View answerAn advice note recently issued to all staff in my Department concerning the use of the application in question. Staff members were advised to use caution when using this and similar services, and were instructed that they should not input any sensitive corporate data into such applications.
These technologies have significant implications for many aspects of my Department's remit. It is important that public servants gain an understanding of these technologies, and this is only possible if they have access to them. There are no plans to ban their use at this time. The staff of my Department have been advised that these services are still at a very early stage, and it is important that they exercise caution with regard to the their interaction with them.
My Department uses other machine learning technologies in a small number of cases, and in a manner which does not expose sensitive data.
252. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will list all reviews of Acts carried out by his Department in line with the provisions of the Act in question from 2000 to date; if a summary will be provided of any substantive amendments of the Act in question that occurred on foot of each review and the amending legislation, if any, in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21181/23]
View answerThe information requested is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.
253. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of prosecutions initiated, and the outcome of each, by the CCPC in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [21230/23]
View answerSection 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is independent in the performance of its functions. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has no direct function in the matter.
The table below details the relevant information regarding the CCPC’s enforcement activity 2018-2021 across competition and consumer protection law. The CCPC is currently finalising its enforcement information for 2022 and information for 2023 is not yet available. The CCPC’s powers in relation to prosecutions vary depending on the nature of the breach and the relevant legislation.
Table: Cases, CCPC Enforcements and Court Prosecutions for period 2018 to 2023
|
Year |
Cases |
CCPC Enforcements |
Court Prosecutions |
|
2018 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
|
2019 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
|
2020 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
|
2021 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
|
2022 |
6 |
Not available |
6 |
|
To-date 2023 |
Not available |
- |
- |
254. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the WTE staff vacancies, by job title, currently in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; the estimated full-year cost of filling each of the vacancies, in tabular form; and when these vacancies will be filled. [21291/23]
View answerPlease see below details of the current vacancies in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission:
|
- |
Role Title |
Grade Equivalent |
Annual Salary (Mid Point) |
Estimated Timeline to Fill |
|
1 |
Senior Legal Advisor |
AP |
€84,108 |
Sept 2023 |
|
2 |
Head of Mergers FTC |
AP |
€84,108 |
Q3 2023 |
|
3 |
Head of Unit Investigations |
AP |
€84,108 |
June 2023 |
|
4 |
Head of Unit - Investigations |
AP |
€84,108 |
Q4 2023 |
|
5 |
Strategic HR Business Partner |
AP |
€84,108 |
June 2023 |
|
6 |
Senior Legal Advisor |
AP |
€84,108 |
July 2023 |
|
7 |
Senior Legal Advisor |
AP |
€84,108 |
July 2023 |
|
8 |
Head of Unit (Customs) |
AP |
€84,108 |
Q3 2023 |
|
9 |
Head of Unit (Cartels) |
AP |
€84,108 |
Q4 2023 |
|
10 |
Special Advisor to the Chair |
AP |
€84,108 |
Q1 2024 |
|
11 |
Deputy Director Policy Research and International Division. |
AP1 |
€92,435 |
Q2 2023 |
|
12 |
Deputy Director - Cartels |
AP1 |
€92,435 |
June 2023 |
|
13 |
Deputy Director Product Safety Division |
AP1 |
€92,435 |
Q4 2023 |
|
14 |
Deputy Director – Competition and Enforcement Mergers Division |
AP1 |
€92,435 |
Q4 2023 |
|
15 |
Deputy Director – Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division |
AP1 |
€92,435 |
Q4 2023 |
|
16 |
Consumer Protection and Enforcement Executive |
EO |
€45,104 |
Q2 2023 |
|
17 |
Consumer Protection and Enforcement Executive |
EO |
€45,104 |
Q2 2023 |
|
18 |
Digital Investigations Executive |
EO |
€45,104 |
Q1 2024 |
|
19 |
Consumer Protection and Enforcement Executive |
EO |
€45,104 |
Q2 2023 |
|
20 |
Executive Assistant to the Commission |
EO |
€45,104 |
June 2023 |
|
21 |
Analyst Investigator |
EO |
€45,104 |
July 2023 |
|
22 |
Digital Communications Executive |
EO |
€45,104 |
Q3 2023 |
|
23 |
Product Safety Officer |
EO |
€45,104 |
Q2 2023 |
|
24 |
Product Safety Manager |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q2 2023 |
|
25 |
Senior Digital Investigations Analyst |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q1 2024 |
|
26 |
Senior Digital Investigations Analyst |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q1 2024 |
|
27 |
Legal Advisor |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q3 2023 |
|
28 |
Financial Education Programme Manager |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q2 2023 |
|
29 |
Senior Analyst |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Sept 2023 |
|
30 |
Senior Analyst |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Sept 2023 |
|
31 |
Senior Policy Analyst |
HEO |
€60,489 |
July 2023 |
|
32 |
Legal Advisor |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q3 2023 |
|
33 |
Communication Manager (Digital Content) |
HEO |
€60,489 |
Q2 2023 |
|
34 |
Director of HR Division |
PO |
€109,059 |
Q3 2023 |
|
35 |
Chair |
Deputy Secretary |
€199,040 |
Imminent – recruitment process ongoing |
255. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of WTE staff vacancies, by job title, in the growth markets division in IDA Ireland; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [21292/23]
View answerIDA Ireland reported record annual results for 2022, with a substantial increase in growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) employment on 2021. The numbers directly employed in IDA multinational clients in Ireland reach 301,475, the highest FDI employment level ever and a 9% increase on 2021. IDA client companies recorded 32,426 gross new job gains in 2022, with a 24,019 net jobs increase. IDA won 242 investments in 2022 for Ireland, 103 of which were new name investments. Importantly, 52% or 127 of the 242 investments won went to regional locations, with employment growth in every region of the country.
In that regard, the table below provides details of the current vacancies in the Growth Markets Division in IDA Ireland, their locations, and the date these are expected to be filled:
|
Job Title |
Contract Type |
Location |
WTE |
Expected to be filled |
|
Sales and Marketing Executive |
Local Hire |
Mumbai |
Full Time |
Currently advertised externally. Expected to be filled in June 2023 |
|
Sales and Marketing Executive |
Local Hire |
Japan |
Full Time |
Currently advertised externally. Expected to be filled in June 2023 |
|
Market Analyst |
Local Hire |
Shanghai |
Full Time |
Offer stage. Expected to be filled in late May 2023 |
|
Project Executive |
IDA Contract |
Dublin |
Full Time |
Advertised internally. Expected to be filled in July 2023 |
256. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement, if any, his Department has had with a company (details supplied) with a workforce in its manufacturing facility in Athlone, County Westmeath, and its operations in Dublin, to minimise job losses as the company announced plans to cut 6,000 jobs globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21398/23]
View answerFollowing consultation with the company, IDA Ireland have informed my Department that, at present, there are no indications of any potential job losses at the company's Athlone site.
KCI Ireland is 3M’s sole manufacturing site for vacuum assisted wound healing therapy units for global markets. The site also manages the V.A.C. global supply chain to oversee manufacturing for third party manufacturers, global purchasing and supplier agreements as well as the distribution of therapy units and other KCI product lines. KCI joined the 3M portfolio as part of their Acelity acquisition in 2019.
In October 2019, 3M established a Digital Health Science R&D Centre, known as the 3M Digital Sciences Community (DSC) in Dublin. The DSC is 3M’s first R&D technical centre devoted to optimising 3M’s global technical, data security, privacy operations and the acceleration of their deployment of cloud-based solutions. IDA is engaging with the Dublin site leadership regarding any potential reduction in the headcount at the Digital Sciences Community R&D operation. Any losses at the Dublin facility is anticipated to be in line with the global headcount reduction. The IDA is engaged with site leaders at both locations on an ongoing basis.
257. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) to ensure that a company is abiding by the Workplace Relations Commission guidelines regarding redundancies, particularly given, reports of staff concerns in respect of the company's compliance with such guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21643/23]
View answer258. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) to ensure that severance packages are similar to those given to other workers in the technology sector and that the company follow best practice in respect of offering a financial contribution for staff seeking independent legal advice to review such severance offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21644/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.
Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation to protect and support workers in collective redundancy situations. The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes several obligations on employers who are proposing collective redundancies, including an obligation on employers to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposed collective redundancy not less than 30 days before the first dismissals. I received a collective redundancy notification from the company referenced on 24 March 2023.
Companies are also obliged to engage in a 30-day information and consultation process with employees’ representatives. The 1977 Act details a number of conditions that these consultations must meet. Consultations must commence at least 30 days before the first notice of dismissal is given and should include the possibility of avoiding the proposed redundancies, reducing the number of employees effected or mitigating their consequences.
It is the employer’s legal responsibility to comply with these obligations. Employers who fail to comply are guilty of an offence and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the statutory agency responsible for bringing such prosecutions.
Employees also have the right to refer complaints to the Workplace Relations Commission on a wide range of employment law breaches for an adjudication and redress where appropriate, including the right to refer a complaint should an employer fail to consult or provide certain information to employees.
I appreciate the workers are disappointed with certain aspects of the consultation process and have stated their intention to refer a complaint to the WRC. However, the relevant bodies to support parties in resolving their differences in these situations are the independent offices of the WRC and Labour Court.
While I strongly encourage parties to engage in consultation in a constructive manner with a view to finding a mutually acceptable solution, this is not a matter in which I can intervene. It is important that the autonomy of both employee and employer bodies and their respective members in the matter of resolving differences is respected by the State.
In relation to the issues raised regarding the redundancy package on offer, the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 as amended requires that eligible employees are entitled to receive a minimum statutory payment in situations of redundancy. Negotiations on enhanced redundancy packages, over and above the statutory entitlement, are entirely a voluntary matter between employers and workers. The State has no role in this matter.
259. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts being made by his Department to encourage the take-up of paternity leave in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21729/23]
View answerThe Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides for statutory paternity leave and benefit, and is a policy matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Act provides a new parent with an entitlement to 2 weeks' leave within 26 weeks of their child's birth or, in the case of adoption, of their child's placement. The parent may also qualify for Paternity Benefit.
The Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced an individual leave and benefit entitlement for parents of a child in their earliest years. This entitlement has been increased in recent years and is now seven weeks for each parent to be taken within the first two years of the child's life.
This leave is in addition to Maternity Leave and Paternity Leave entitlements, which currently stand at 26 weeks and 2 weeks with the associated benefit. An additional 16 weeks of unpaid Maternity Leave can also be taken.
The payment of benefits and the level of the payment are a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are appropriate to the needs of working parents.
I strongly encourage new parents to take up these forms of leave, which were introduced to ensure new parents can spend time with their child in the crucial earliest period of their life.
The Workplace Relations Commission, under the auspices of my own Department, provides clear and accessible information on the entitlement to paternity leave and to other forms of leave for parents. Where there is any dispute in relation to any of those forms of leave, it may be referred to an adjudication officer of the WRC.
260. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current position in respect of the payment of instalments to builders who have contracts for the building of new schools, in view of the fact there appears to have been a delay over the past three months in the making of such payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21043/23]
View answerThere has been no delay in the making of payments to contractors in respect of contractual obligations for projects that are at construction. These payments continued as normal and within prompt payment guidelines.
As you are aware an agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to guarantee and support the rollout and continuation of my Department’s ambitious school building programme. The agreement reached on 5th April is facilitating the continued rollout of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings, including the 58 projects that were temporarily paused due to capital funding pressures.
Officials from my Department have updated each of the 58 schools in relation to the formal arrangements and next steps in respect of the delivery of their individual projects.
My Department has a proven track record of delivery, with over 180 projects completed last year within a challenging construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. This year alone, in excess of 300 school building projects are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools. The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
