Thursday, 11 May 2023

Written Answers Nos. 157-166

Departmental Bodies

Questions (157)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

157. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of re-establishing the workers' co-operative development unit within his Department. [22200/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The general scheme of the Co-operative Societies Bill 2022 sets out a modern legal framework which will place the co-operative model on a more favourable and clear legal basis. This will encourage the consideration of the co-operative model as an attractive formation option for entrepreneurs and also for social and community activities. A modern legislative basis, including strong corporate governance requirements, will also provide confidence to stakeholders and help to encourage investment in co-operatives.

The general scheme has been informed by extensive consultation and engagement with key stakeholders. My Department will continue to engage widely with key stakeholders to raise awareness of the proposed legislation and the potential for those who wish to follow the co-operative ethos to grow and prosper under the modernised co-operative regime. This will include liaison with the co-operative sector and their representative bodies; the enterprise development agencies; other relevant Government Departments; professional advisers and direct communication by the Registrar of Friendly Societies with individual societies.

It is considered that the most appropriate way to raise awareness of the potential benefits of the co-operative model is through existing channels and structures. However, my Department will keep matters under review in the context of preparations for the forthcoming legislation.

It should be noted that the co-operative model is one of a number of corporate options available to those considering establishing themselves in business. However, the choice of corporate model is a matter for the founders of any business and my Department does not promote any particular corporate structure over any other.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (158)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

158. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current budget for the Companies Registration Office; and the estimated cost of increasing its budget by 5%, 10%, and 20%. [22201/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Companies Registration Office (CRO) is funded under the Regulation programme of my Department's Vote. The CRO does not receive any capital funding but it does receive current funding to support its operations. A total of €8.424m has been provided to support the CRO in 2023. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 5%, 10% and 20%.

	REVAllocation 2023(€,000)	5%Increase(€,000)	10%Increase(€,000)	20%Increase(€,000)
Companies Registration Office	8,424	421	842	1,684

Departmental Bodies

Questions (159)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

159. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a list of the agencies under his Department that had an underspend in 2022. [22202/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The table below sets out the list of underspends incurred by the Agencies under the auspices of my Department at the end of 2022

Agency name	REV Allocation 2022	Underspend 2022
	€,000	€,000
InterTrade Ireland	11,586	1
IDA Ireland	229,538	3,128
National Standards Authority of Ireland	9,270	1,255
Enterprise Ireland*	323,582	21,128
Local Enterprise Office	43,781	4,699
Health and Safety Authority	26,471	1,800
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission	18,323	165
Personal Injuries Assessment Board	2,610	84
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority	1,679	447
Total		32,707

*Enterprise Ireland is funded under two separate subheads on the DETE Vote (Subheads A7 and B4)

The figures in the above table reflect the allocations confirmed to the Agencies following the approval of my Department's Supplementary Estimate by the Dáil last December. The figures also include the deferred surrender capital funding provided to the Agencies as per the requisite order under section 9 of the Finance Act. The underspends recorded in the table reflect the outturns as recorded in the Departments draft 2022 Appropriation Account.

Departmental Programmes

Questions (160)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

160. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a list of the programmes or schemes under his Department for which there was an underspend in 2022. [22203/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The table below sets out the list of Subheads within my Department's Vote for which there was an underspend in 2022.

Subhead	REV Allocation 2022	Underspend 2022
	€,000	€,000
A.3 Agency Legacy Pension	40,292	9
A.4 InterTrade Ireland	11,586	1
A.5 IDA Ireland	229,538	3,128
A.6 National Standards Authority of Ireland	9,270	1,255
A.7 Enterprise Ireland*	323,582	21,128
A.8 Local Enterprise Office	43,781	4,699
A.9 Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme	35,548	30,850
A.10 Matching Funding for Interreg	4,500	1,860
A.12 Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries	201	200
A.13 Legal Costs and Other Services	130	54
A.14 SBCI Loan Schemes	55,710	1
A.15 Humanitarian Relief Scheme	551	446
A.16 Micro Finance Ireland	1	1
A.17 National Design Centre	1	1
A.18 Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme	650,000	644,494
B.7 Legal Costs and Other Services	130	130
B.8 Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund	67,000	38,250
C.3 Workplace Relations Programme	20,116	379
C.4 Grants for Trade Union Education	900	47
C.5 Health and Safety Authority	26,471	1,800
C.6 Trade Union Amalgamations	60	60
C.7 Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement	7,750	2,575
C.8 Competition and Consumer Protection Commission	18,323	165
C.9 Personal Injuries Assessment Board	2,610	84
C.10 Consumer Support	70	6
C.11 Companies Registration Office	8,016	816
C.12 Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority	1,679	447
C.13 Subscriptions to International Organisations	1,324	6
C.14 Commissions,Committees and Special Inquiries	361	141
C.15 Legal Costs and Other Services	870	599
C.16 Low Pay Commission	490	194

*Enterprise Ireland is funded under two separate subheads on the DETE Vote (Subheads A7 and B4)

The figures in the above table reflect the allocations confirmed to my Department's Vote following the approval of the Department's Supplementary Estimate by the Dáil last December. The figures also include the deferred surrender capital funding provided to various subheads as per the requisite order under section 9 of the Finance Act. The underspends recorded in the table reflect the outturns as recorded in the Departments draft 2022 Appropriation Account.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (161)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

161. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of hiring an additional ten health and safety (HSA) inspectors, in terms of first-year cost and full-year cost, in tabular form. [22204/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The staff of the Health and Safety Authority is made up of those in administration and inspector grades. The inspector grades comprise of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors. Inspectors operate across all our mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals, accreditation, and market surveillance of products.

The majority of the Health and Safety Authority’s inspectors are at Grade III level which is the grade for new entrants. The cost of employing ten additional inspectors at Grade III, including employer PRSI, recruitment and onboarding costs is approximately €542,500 in their first year.

The costs for employing a Health and Safety Inspector is dependent on the grade, outlined below are the relevant costs for each inspector grade.

Grade	Salary	Employer PRSI	Onboarding Costs
Inspector Grade I	€78,656	€8,691	€15,000
Inspector Grade II	€68,491	€7,568	€15,000
Inspector Grade III	€35,336	€3,905	€15,000

Assumptions;

1. Figures based on starting point of the relevant grade for all positions

2. Provision included for Employer PRSI calculated at 11.05%

3. Recruitment and onboarding cost of €15k for Inspector positions based on batch recruitment.

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (162)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of hiring an additional ten Workplace Relations Commission inspectors, in terms of first-year cost and full-year cost, in tabular form. [22205/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. WRC inspectors carry out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights legislation.

Currently the WRC inspectorate has 65 Inspectors serving (57 EO Inspectors + 8 HEO Inspectors), with a sanctioned complement of 70 inspectors. The complement of 70 inspectors represents an increase of 10 inspector posts since 2021 and my Department will keep staffing levels under ongoing review. The inspectorate operates as a decentralised service with inspection teams and support staff located in Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Sligo and Ennis.

The yearly cost of recruiting an executive officer inspector for the WRC would be approximately €68,667 PPC. This is based on the calculation of staff costs as set out in the Public Spending Code. The code sets out that the cost should be based on the midpoint of the salary scale and include employer’s salary related PRSI, imputed pension costs and overheads e.g., ICT equipment, legal costs, travel and subsistence. WRC inspectors also qualify for an allowance of €9,315 PPC, bringing the cost of recruiting one inspector to approximately €77,982 per annum. Using the same methodology, the cost of ten additional inspectors would be approximately €779,820 full year cost.

My Department works closely with the WRC monitoring and reviewing its resource requirements. In 2023, the WRC is allocated funding from my Department of €16,833 million for pay and non-pay.

Regional Development

Questions (163)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which cognisance is taken of the necessity to ensure that the regions are beneficiaries of sufficient developments in order that the economy might be carefully balanced throughout the country, as opposed to concentration in one region. [13903/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Delivering balanced regional growth and sustainable local job creation is a core objective of this Government and is a key component in the recently published White Paper on Enterprise.

The White Paper emphasises the role my department and agencies continue to play in achieving this objective through direct assistance to businesses as well as promotion and enhancement of the regional enterprise ecosystem to encourage businesses to invest and create jobs across all regions.

Enterprise Ireland has a continued focus on supporting enterprise in all regions to adapt to a challenging market environment, and on maximising job retention and creation. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy has set targets of creating 45,000 new jobs by 2024 and that over two-thirds of new jobs will be created outside Dublin. Enterprise Ireland client companies now employ almost 220,000 people with 68 per cent of those jobs outside of Dublin.

Regional development is also at the centre of IDA’s strategy. The IDA is committed to more balanced, compact regional development and will target half of all investments from 2021- 2024 to regional locations. The IDA has made great strides in boosting investment in regional locations. Growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to over 300,000 with regional employment now at over 163,000.

The Local Enterprise Offices are at the very heart of business development and entrepreneurship in towns and communities across the country and will continue to enhance their advisory services for locally trading firms.

My Department’s nine Regional Enterprise Plans focus on undertaking collaborative initiatives that can help strengthen the regional enterprise ecosystem thereby realising enterprise growth and job creation.

My Department has secured up to €145m in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support projects aligned to the Regional Enterprise Plans. My officials are working with Enterprise Ireland on finalising the first call under the ERDF which I hope to announce in the coming months. This funding will support innovative enterprise focused projects across all regions.

The Deputy may wish to note that of the €126 million in funding already allocated under my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Border Enterprise Development Fund, €114 million has been allocated to projects outside of the Dublin region.

The Department of Rural and Community Development’s ‘Rural Regeneration Development Fund’ (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of projects in towns and villages across all regions of the country. Projects supported by the RRDF assist in the regeneration of rural towns and villages by addressing vacancy and dereliction and positioning them for further growth through regeneration and town centre renewal.

The Town Centre First Policy which was launched in February 2022 provides a coordinated, whole-of-government policy framework to proactively address the decline in the health of towns across Ireland and support measures to regenerate and revitalise them. In December 2021, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced €2.6 million in funding to deliver the first ever Town Centre First Plans. Twenty-six towns were selected. Towns for this first phase were selected based on submissions received from the Local Authorities and further phases will be announced in due course. The first round of plans are due for completion shortly.

Business Supports

Questions (164)

Frankie Feighan

Question:

164. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being taken to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to start their own business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22246/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone, including people with disabilities, intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of Social Protection, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Revenue Commissioners, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.

The Local Enterprise Office grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs provided their business meets the eligibility criteria of the support they are applying for. Direct financial grant aid such as the Priming Grant and the Business Expansion Grant are intended for businesses in the manufacturing and internationally traded services that can demonstrate growth potential and include salary costs for additional staff as an eligible expense.

In addition, all entrepreneurs can avail of Local Enterprise Office training, mentoring and management development programmes. Furthermore, Local Enterprise Offices can provide additional support to entrepreneurs such as one to one mentoring or accommodations to assist with the completion of grant application forms or to complete training courses such as Start Your Own Business.

Enterprise Ireland is focused on ensuring that supports for entrepreneurs and enterprise are accessible to all, including people with disabilities. Enterprise Ireland continues to invest in additional content, available on the eiLearn platform and are working in conjunction with stakeholders in the LEOs and third level colleges to develop new programmes and initiatives. TU Dublin has introduced a new course to assist people with disabilities in starting their own businesses and developing their business skills and each participant receives a business mentor through the LEO network.

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (165)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

165. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the balance between the funds spent on foreign direct investment, relative to expenditure given to indigenous industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22026/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Foreign Direct Investment - or FDI - plays a significant role in Ireland's growth model and economic strategy. Despite the challenges of the last few years, the performance of our FDI sector has been exceptional with record corporation tax figures for 2022 announced last month. The numbers directly employed in IDA multinational clients in Ireland in 2022 reached 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.

Enterprise Ireland client companies created 19,660 new jobs in 2022 – translating into a net increase of 10,841 jobs created. EI Client companies now employ 218,178 people, an increase of 5% on the 2021 outturn and 68% of these jobs are outside Dublin. Employment increased across Enterprise Ireland’s three core economic sectors: Technology & Services (+8%), Industrial and Life Sciences (+5%) and Food and Sustainability (+3%). In this regard, indigenous enterprise is central to our objective of diversified, sustainable growth and programmes are targeted at firms in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, with a particular focus on driving international trade. Government has focused its efforts on developing an integrated system wide approach to accelerate start-up growth and scaling, that includes access to funding both public and private; investments in R&D and innovation; investment in balanced regional enterprise development; management development and training. Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) network provide an integrated support system for Irish firms at all stages of development. Increasingly, the LEOs have also been engaging with the locally traded sectors to support them in the transition to a digital, low carbon economy.

Other Government Departments and agencies, such as Revenue, Microfinance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, the LEADER programme, Skillnet and Education and Training Boards also provide direct assistance to indigenous firms.

Our economy is performing well, and we have a strong foundation from which to build future progress. The Government’s White Paper on Enterprise, published late last year, sets out Ireland’s enterprise policy for the next decade reaffirming our commitment to FDI as a core pillar of our enterprise policy with an emphasis on digital and green, with sustainability, innovation and productivity at its heart. In implementing the White Paper we will build on the strong foundations already in place and ensure businesses in Ireland are well positioned to seize opportunities to grow and succeed.

We know that sustainability is a key consideration now for companies seeking to locate new facilities. The enterprise agencies are working closely with my Department to ensure that we leverage the green transition and showcase Ireland as a climate-friendly and sustainable business environment. We are committed to ensuring that we leverage the competitive advantage of Ireland’s renewable energy opportunities, including offshore wind and hydrogen production potential.

We are also focused on strengthening linkages between our foreign and Irish-owned firms, developing stronger ecosystems and to encourage collaboration and collective action through clustering and help to embed Irish firms in the value chains of FDI-intensive sectors and to benefit from positive spillovers.

In terms of funding provided through my Department's enterprise development agencies, the following are the figures requested by the Deputy:

- Enterprise Ireland’s capital expenditure increased from €148m in 2018 in €228m in 2022.

- IDA Ireland’s capital expenditure increased from €113m in 2018 in €167.5m in 2022.

- Capital expenditure by the LEOs increased from €23m to €28m over the same period.

- 2023 Capital allocations for Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the LEOS are: €357.8m; €207.8m; and €35.8 m respectively.

Work Permits

Questions (166, 167, 168, 169)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which applications for work permits continue to be dealt with expeditiously in all cases within a reasonable time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22323/23]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to be in a position to facilitate employers who have to endure long waiting times in respect of applications for work permits in vital areas of employment; if it might be possible to accelerate the manner in which such applications are dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22324/23]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for work permits currently awaiting decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22325/23]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which applications for work permits can be expedited where the information has been provided previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22326/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167, 168 and 169 together.

I will reply to all four questions submitted by the Deputy together.

There are currently 1,629 employment permit applications in the processing queue.

As of the 8th May 2023 the processing dates in respect of Employment Permit applications are as follows:

- Standard new applications 12 business days.

- Standard Renewal applications 14 business days.

- Standard Critical Skills applications 12 business days.

- Trusted Partner new applications 11 business days.

- Trusted Partner Renewal applications 10 business days.

- Trusted Partner Critical Skills applications 10 business days.

Waiting time information is also available on the Employment Permits website and is updated on a weekly basis.

Following the implementation of an internal plan of action which increased resources and implemented efficiency measures the Employment Permits Unit has reduced the number of applications awaiting processing from about 11,000 in January 2022 to 1,903 today (this figure includes those awaiting information and those that are currently ready to issue). The Department plans to maintain processing times for all applications at approximately this level, or better, on the assumption that demand remains at current levels.

Due to the significant improvement in the processing times in respect of Employment Permits, an application to have an application expedited will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis.