Written Answers Nos. 370-389
370. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has been instructed to identify a site for a Garda station in the Castletroy-Annacotty area of Limerick; what progress has been made and how much longer the process is likely to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48144/23]
View answerThe OPW will seek a suitable site for a new Garda Station in the Castletroy area when a Business Case is finalised by An Garda Síochána in relation to their long term requirements in the area.
371. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the OPW is aware of the need to alleviate flooding near a location (details supplied) by carrying out maintenance work on streams and culverts there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48285/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has a statutory remit for the maintenance of the Corrib-Mask-Robe Arterial Drainage Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. This channel will be programmed for maintenance in 2024.
The location concerned does not form part of the aforementioned Arterial Drainage Scheme.
Local flooding is in the first instance a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. The OPW will liaise with Mayo County Council in relation to the area concerned.
372. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48309/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department currently has no contracts in place with the company in question.
The Deputy may wish to note that this company is on a number of procurement frameworks established by the Office of Government Procurement, which is a Division of my Department.
373. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48310/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department currently has two contracts in place with the company in question.
|
Purpose of contract |
Value of the contract |
|
Contract 1: Consultancy Service to create end to end processes for key processes across the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) |
€57,810 (incl VAT) |
|
Contract 2: Economic Advices in Respect of Construction Contracts’ Price Variation Clauses for OGP |
€262,233 (incl VAT) |
The Deputy may wish to note that this company is also on a number of procurement frameworks established by the OGP, which is a Division in my Department.
374. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48311/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department currently has no contracts in place with the company in question.
The Deputy may wish to note that this company is on a number of procurement frameworks established by the Office of Government Procurement, which is a Division of my Department.
375. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48312/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department currently has no contracts in place with the company in question.
The Deputy may wish to note that this company is on a number of procurement frameworks established by the Office of Government Procurement, which is a Division of my Department.
376. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the capital budget allocation to the OPW in 2023; the amount of that funding that was spent in the first nine months of 2023; and the capital budget allocation scheduled for the OPW in 2024, in tabular form. [48339/23]
View answerThe gross 2023 capital allocation for Vote 13 - The Office of Public Works is €270m as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023. To end-September, the OPW has reported capital spending of €140.5m, 4.3% below the profiled position for this period. The OPW is due to be allocated €288m in capital resources in 2024 in line with the National Development Plan.
|
OPW Capital Allocation REV 2023 |
OPW Capital Spend end-September 2023 |
OPW Capital Budget 2024 |
|
€270m |
€140.5m |
€288m |
377. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how much of the EU Solidarity Fund is available to Ireland and how much has been drawn down to date by the State; how much has been distributed to victims of flooding to date; and how much of this fund has been drawn down in total by other countries [48451/23]
View answerThe EU Solidarity Fund was established by the European Union to respond to major natural disasters within the Union and to express Union solidarity with disaster-stricken regions within Europe. For the purposes of the Fund, a major natural disaster is defined as one that results in damage in a Member State estimated either at over €3bn or more than 0.6% of GNI.
For major natural disasters, a progressive system in two steps is applied whereby a country affected by a major disaster receives a lower rate of aid of 2.5 % of total direct damage for the part of damage below the threshold and a higher share of aid of 6 % for the part of the damage exceeding the threshold.
An application may also be when the damage is below this national threshold. For these circumstances to apply a region must have suffered a natural disaster. The relevant EU Regulation sets out that a ‘regional natural disaster’ means any natural disaster resulting, in a region at NUTS level 2 of an eligible State, in direct damage in excess of 1.5 % of that region’s gross domestic product (GDP). Assistance from the Fund in these cases is at the rate of 2.5% of total direct damage.
To date, Ireland has drawn down €56.8m from the EUSF, €43.8m in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and €13m in respect of damage from flooding in 2009.
A Member State has twelve weeks after the first damage caused by the disaster to submit an application for assistance from the Fund.
Any Government decision on this matter will be made following consideration of the effects of recent severe weather.
378. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how much of the Civil Protection Humanitarian Aid is available to Ireland and how much has been drawn down to date by the State; how much has been distributed to victims of flooding to date; and how much of this fund has been drawn down in total by other countries. [48452/23]
View answerAt an EU level, matters related to Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid are the responsibility of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) whose mandate is to provide emergency assistance and relief (in the form of goods and services) to victims of conflict and natural or man-made disasters outside the EU. Assistance is delivered in cooperation with and through a range of international organisations and NGO’s including in an Irish context: Concern Worldwide, Goal, Plan Ireland Charitable Assistance and Trocaire. The Department of Foreign Affairs also engages closely with the humanitarian directorate of the Commission in Brussels, which coordinates EU humanitarian aid operations, disaster risk management and civil protection response.
The civil protection mandate extends to disaster prevention and preparedness actions, response and post-crisis operations inside the EU and worldwide. When an emergency overwhelms the response capabilities of a country in Europe and beyond, it can request assistance through the Mechanism. The Commission plays a key role in coordinating the disaster response worldwide, contributing to at least 75% of the transport and/or operational costs of deployments. In 2022, the Mechanism was activated 106 times to respond to (i) war in Ukraine; (ii) wildfires in Europe; (iii) COVID-19 in Europe and worldwide; and (iv) floods in Pakistan.
The overall budget for this area is determined as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework and allocated as part of the annual EU Budget. While it is a spending line in the EU budget it is not an EU Fund, Member States do not receive any allocation nor do they have any involvement in the day to day management.
Separately, the EU Solidarity Fund was established by the European Union to respond to major natural disasters within the Union and to express Union solidarity with disaster-stricken regions within Europe. For the purposes of the Fund, a major natural disaster is defined as one that results in damage in a Member State estimated either at over €3bn or more than 0.6% of GNI.
For major natural disasters, a progressive system in two steps is applied whereby a country affected by a major disaster receives a lower rate of aid of 2.5 % of total direct damage for the part of damage below the threshold and a higher share of aid of 6 % for the part of the damage exceeding the threshold.
An application may also be when the damage is below this national threshold. For these circumstances to apply a region must have suffered a natural disaster. The relevant EU Regulation sets out that a ‘regional natural disaster’ means any natural disaster resulting, in a region at NUTS level 2 of an eligible State, in direct damage in excess of 1.5 % of that region’s gross domestic product (GDP). Assistance from the Fund in these cases is at the rate of 2.5% of total direct damage.
To date, Ireland has drawn down €56.8m from the EUSF, €43.8m in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and €13m in respect of damage from flooding in 2009.
A Member State has twelve weeks after the first damage caused by the disaster to submit an application for assistance from the Fund.
Any Government decision on this matter will be made following consideration of the effects of recent severe weather.
Further information on matters related to Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid is available from the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) at civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/index_en
379. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to list all of the flood relief schemes that have been identified as necessary by the OPW; to detail for each if they have had their design complete; if they have gone to planning; when planning will be submitted, those with planning refused, those with planning granted, those with a future construction start date (please include start date), those started and those nearing completion. [48453/23]
View answerThe Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030 (NDP).
This investment has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, and construction to some 100 schemes. To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.
Major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment and, therefore, require lengthy planning and decision lead-in times.
The process follows a number of stages from feasibility through design, planning, detailed design and construction. It is important that the work is done correctly and achieves its objectives. Extensive and detailed technical analysis is required to establish the most appropriate solution, technically and environmentally, from a range of possible mitigation options. The solution has also to be adaptable to the increased risk from climate change.
Extensive public consultation is required at various stages to ensure that those affected by a scheme have the opportunity to input into its design and implementation. Ecological and archaeological issues often require in-depth analysis in order to ensure that the technical solution selected will meet the requirements of existing EU and national environmental legislation.
Schemes currently being delivered have been prioritised as Tranche I schemes. Also included in these active schemes are four Tranche II Pilot projects. The pilot, which I announced in May 2023, is in response to engagement between OPW and local authorities to agree a planned national approach to future schemes that matches return on investment from the available capacity in the local authorities and OPW. Consequently, a new delivery model for flood relief schemes is being piloted which will better inform the future Tranche II schemes' delivery.
There are also some 30 Small Projects currently being implemented by their respective local authorities with funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. Of these, the scheme at Westport (Cois Abhainn & Ashwood) recently completed construction.
A breakdown of all active major flood relief schemes, and their respective delivery stages, is provided in Table 1.
There are 52 schemes at early stages of development, which are described as Business Case Stage and Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. Some significant flood relief schemes at Stage I include: Enniscorthy; Limerick City & Environs; Dundalk & Ardee; and Midleton. In relation to Enniscorthy, in March 2022, the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, made a decision to refuse the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme under Section 7E(1)(b) of the Arterial Drainage Acts. Since then, Wexford County Council, as contracting authority, has engaged consultants to review alternative options for a flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy.
There are three schemes at Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation. These schemes are Bride River (Blackpool); Lower Lee (Cork City); and Raphoe.
Once schemes receive planning permission, work can begin on the next stage, which is where the detailed design of flood relief schemes is undertaken. There are six flood relief schemes at Stage III: Detailed Design. These schemes are: Arklow (Avoca River); Crossmolina; Dublin City (River Wad); King’s Island; Morrison’s Island; and Poddle River. Pending successful construction procurement processes and planning consent, it is anticipated that a number of these schemes will commence construction in 2024.
At Stage IV: Implementation/Construction, there are currently seven major flood relief schemes, four of which are anticipated to be complete within the next 12 months. It is expected that the Dodder Phase 2 scheme will be completed before the end of 2023 and Athlone, Templemore and Springfield flood relief schemes are expected to complete in 2024.
In addition to the active flood relief schemes noted above, the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk.
Information on the status of flood relief schemes and data on Minor Works is available at www.floodinfo.ie.
Table 1. Major Flood Relief Schemes & their respective stages
|
Scheme |
County |
Status |
|
Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Westmeath |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
Dodder Phase 2C, 2D, 2E Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
Glashaboy (Glanmire / Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
Morell River Flood Management Scheme |
Kildare |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme |
Tipperary |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
Springfield Flood Relief Scheme |
Clare |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
|
Arklow (Avoca River) Flood Relief Scheme |
Wicklow |
Stage III: Detailed Design |
|
Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme |
Mayo |
Stage III: Detailed Design |
|
Dublin City (River Wad - Phase 1B) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage III: Detailed Design |
|
Kings Island Flood Relief Scheme |
Limerick |
Stage III: Detailed Design |
|
Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project, Cork |
Cork |
Stage III: Detailed Design |
|
Poddle River Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage III: Detailed Design |
|
Bride River (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation |
|
Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation |
|
Raphoe Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation |
|
Adare Flood Relief Scheme |
Limerick |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Athy Flood Relief Scheme |
Kildare |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Ballina Flood Relief Scheme |
Mayo |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Ballinasloe Flood Relief Scheme |
Galway |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Ballybofey - Stranorlar Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Ballymakeery/Ballyvourney Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Baltray Flood Relief Scheme |
Louth |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Bantry Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Buncrana - Luddan Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Burnfoot Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Camac River Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Carrick on Shannon Flood Relief Scheme |
Leitrim |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme |
Limerick |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Castlefinn Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme |
Cavan |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Dodder Phase 3 (Clonskeagh Road Bridge to Orwell Road Bridge) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Drogheda Flood Relief Scheme |
Louth, Meath |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Dundalk and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes |
Louth |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme |
Wexford |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Galway City Flood Relief Scheme |
Galway |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme |
Kilkenny |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Kenmare Flood Relief Scheme |
Kerry |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme |
Clare |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Lifford Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Limerick City & Environs Flood Relief Scheme |
Limerick |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Loughlinstown Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Marlfield Lake Flood Relief Scheme |
Tipperary |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Midleton Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme |
Laois |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Naas Flood Relief Scheme |
Kildare |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Portarlington Flood Relief Scheme |
Laois |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Ramelton Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Rosslare, Co, Wexford |
Wexford |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme |
Clare |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme |
Galway |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Tralee Flood Relief Scheme |
Kerry |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Wexford Flood Relief Scheme |
Wexford |
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design |
|
Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Business Case |
|
Carlingford & Greenore Flood Relief Scheme |
Louth |
Business Case |
|
Carrigaline Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Business Case |
|
Donegal Town Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Business Case |
|
Freshford Flood Relief Scheme |
Kilkenny |
Business Case |
|
Letterkenny Flood Relief Scheme |
Donegal |
Business Case |
|
Lough Funshinagh Flood Relief Scheme |
Roscommon |
Business Case |
|
Macroom Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Business Case |
|
Malahide Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Business Case |
|
Nenagh Flood Relief Scheme |
Tipperary |
Business Case |
|
Piltown Flood Relief Scheme |
Kilkenny |
Business Case |
|
Portmarnock (Strand Road) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Business Case |
|
Sandymount (Phase 1 & 2) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Business Case |
|
Sandymount (Phase 2) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Business Case |
|
Skerries (Mill Stream) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Business Case |
380. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his attention has been drawn to media reports regarding serious issues with respect to surveillance equipment being procured by his Department (details supplied); if he is satisfied that use of this technology has been subject to due consideration, with reference to the threats and human rights’ abuses which have been identified in said media reports; what steps he will take in light of previous concerns being brought to the OPW regarding the use of this technology in the Irish context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48636/23]
View answerThe CCTV cameras which are installed in OPW buildings form part of the security installations of these buildings. The OPW does not release any information regarding security installations.
381. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons in receipt of sub-minima rates of pay for those aged 17, 18, and 19 years, in tabular form. [47280/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, last year, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Leo Varadkar, requested the Low Pay Commission to again examine the issues relating to retaining or removing the sub-minimum or youth rates and to make recommendations on the subject. The Low Pay Commission takes an evidence-based approach to its work and asked the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, to conduct background research on the issue.
This “Sub-minimum wages in Ireland” report was published earlier this month.
As the report explains, the incidence of sub-minimum wage employment in Ireland is low. In 2022, just 1.4 per cent of all employees were sub-minimum wage employees. This is equivalent to approximately 30,000 individuals. In the same year, 5.6 per cent of employees were earning the full-rate minimum wage, equivalent to approximately 120,000 individuals.
According to employees’ self-reported status in the Irish Labour Force Survey, approximately half of all sub-minimum wage employees report earning a youth rate.
Just five per cent report being employed by a relative, while apprentices and ‘other reasons’ both account for 20 per cent of subminimum wage employment.
The overall incidence of youth-rate sub-minimum employment, therefore, is very low in Ireland. Just 0.7 per cent, or one in 140 employees, are on a sub-minimum youth rate. This is equivalent to approximately 15,000 individuals.
Further details of the incidence of the subminimum wages by employee characteristics is shown in the table below:
Incidence of sub-minimum wage employment by employee characteristic (Q3 2019–2022)
|
- |
15 & 16 year olds |
17 year olds |
18 year olds |
19 year olds |
|
Subminimum Wage |
52% |
39% |
21% |
11% |
The incidence of sub-minimum rate employment varies significantly by age. 52% of all 15 & 16 year olds are employed on sub-minimum rates. The percentage employed on subminimum rates drops to 39% amongst 17 year olds, 21% amongst 18 year olds and 11% amongst 19 year olds.
Further details on the numbers in receipt of sub-minima rates of pay by age will be included in the Low Pay Commission’s forthcoming report.
382. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of general employment permits (not critical skills employment permits) issued in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by four-digit SOC code of employment. [47302/23]
View answer383. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of general employment permits (not critical skills employment permits) currently held in the State, by four-digit SOC code of employment. [47303/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
The Employment Permits Section of the Department has provided the figures in the table below in respect of the number of general employment permits granted in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and up 24th October 2023 by four-digit SOC code as requested.
|
SOC Code |
Year issued |
Grand Total |
|||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
1115 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
|
1121 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
22 |
|
1122 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
|
|
1123 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
1131 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
||
|
1132 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
1133 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
28 |
|
1134 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
1135 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
36 |
|
1139 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
13 |
|
1161 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
1162 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
14 |
29 |
|
1181 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
|
|
1190 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
9 |
18 |
|
1211 |
10 |
21 |
98 |
84 |
213 |
|
1213 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
1221 |
21 |
8 |
29 |
||
|
1223 |
36 |
65 |
101 |
||
|
1224 |
3 |
3 |
|||
|
1241 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
14 |
|
1251 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
1259 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
11 |
|
2111 |
5 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
21 |
|
2112 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
9 |
39 |
|
2113 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
||
|
2114 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
12 |
|
2121 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
11 |
39 |
|
2122 |
12 |
6 |
19 |
20 |
57 |
|
2123 |
4 |
5 |
16 |
44 |
69 |
|
2124 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
23 |
|
2126 |
19 |
9 |
23 |
13 |
64 |
|
2127 |
10 |
9 |
39 |
42 |
100 |
|
2129 |
8 |
4 |
14 |
12 |
38 |
|
2133 |
14 |
12 |
16 |
12 |
54 |
|
2134 |
15 |
8 |
20 |
10 |
53 |
|
2135 |
85 |
49 |
77 |
53 |
264 |
|
2136 |
95 |
81 |
121 |
43 |
340 |
|
2137 |
17 |
12 |
18 |
14 |
61 |
|
2139 |
77 |
62 |
111 |
36 |
286 |
|
2141 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
2142 |
6 |
2 |
11 |
5 |
24 |
|
2150 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
|
2211 |
2521 |
2366 |
2176 |
1226 |
8289 |
|
2212 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
14 |
|
2213 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
|
|
2214 |
7 |
7 |
|||
|
2215 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
34 |
|
2216 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
21 |
|
2217 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
18 |
|
2219 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
12 |
|
|
2221 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
|
|
2222 |
4 |
4 |
|||
|
2229 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
16 |
|
2231 |
30 |
10 |
18 |
13 |
71 |
|
2311 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
15 |
34 |
|
2312 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
||
|
2314 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
2315 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
14 |
31 |
|
2316 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
17 |
30 |
|
2317 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
11 |
|
|
2318 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
2319 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
18 |
31 |
|
2413 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
2419 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
|
2421 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
8 |
36 |
|
2423 |
41 |
35 |
71 |
62 |
209 |
|
2424 |
27 |
27 |
53 |
50 |
157 |
|
2425 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
|
|
2426 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
2429 |
22 |
25 |
35 |
16 |
98 |
|
2431 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
18 |
|
2432 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
2433 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
|
2435 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
10 |
|
2436 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
|
2442 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
2444 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
2452 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
2461 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
14 |
41 |
|
2462 |
21 |
23 |
37 |
74 |
155 |
|
2463 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
|
|
2471 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
11 |
|
2472 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
20 |
|
2473 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
22 |
|
3111 |
2 |
9 |
12 |
23 |
|
|
3112 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
24 |
30 |
|
3113 |
7 |
12 |
12 |
20 |
51 |
|
3114 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
3115 |
8 |
14 |
37 |
26 |
85 |
|
3116 |
5 |
15 |
8 |
28 |
|
|
3119 |
3 |
6 |
15 |
12 |
36 |
|
3121 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
3122 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
9 |
27 |
|
3131 |
56 |
76 |
102 |
63 |
297 |
|
3132 |
55 |
50 |
105 |
95 |
305 |
|
3213 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
14 |
|
3218 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
18 |
|
3319 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
3411 |
38 |
12 |
31 |
14 |
95 |
|
3412 |
23 |
23 |
45 |
32 |
123 |
|
3413 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
3415 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
3416 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
30 |
|
3417 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
10 |
|
3421 |
24 |
14 |
17 |
19 |
74 |
|
3422 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
26 |
|
3442 |
2 |
1 |
18 |
1 |
22 |
|
3511 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
3512 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
||
|
3520 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
3531 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
3532 |
3 |
3 |
|||
|
3533 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
3534 |
20 |
7 |
48 |
37 |
112 |
|
3535 |
4 |
1 |
14 |
4 |
23 |
|
3536 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
||
|
3537 |
11 |
9 |
32 |
27 |
79 |
|
3538 |
8 |
3 |
16 |
7 |
34 |
|
3539 |
72 |
84 |
162 |
106 |
424 |
|
3541 |
18 |
16 |
59 |
46 |
139 |
|
3542 |
87 |
74 |
140 |
53 |
354 |
|
3543 |
77 |
74 |
139 |
78 |
368 |
|
3545 |
58 |
47 |
81 |
86 |
272 |
|
3546 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
3561 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
3562 |
23 |
27 |
81 |
60 |
191 |
|
3563 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
|
|
3567 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
|
4114 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
||
|
4121 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
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|
4122 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
23 |
|
4129 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
4134 |
15 |
41 |
98 |
88 |
242 |
|
4159 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
5111 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
5112 |
4 |
4 |
|||
|
5213 |
2 |
20 |
42 |
64 |
|
|
5215 |
47 |
89 |
329 |
382 |
847 |
|
5216 |
10 |
1 |
99 |
37 |
147 |
|
5221 |
12 |
43 |
71 |
62 |
188 |
|
5222 |
11 |
13 |
8 |
17 |
49 |
|
5223 |
13 |
8 |
34 |
103 |
158 |
|
5224 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
15 |
|
|
5225 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
16 |
23 |
|
5231 |
1 |
44 |
108 |
153 |
|
|
5235 |
27 |
30 |
13 |
80 |
150 |
|
5241 |
11 |
9 |
20 |
||
|
5242 |
2 |
4 |
12 |
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|
5245 |
1 |
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|
5249 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
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|
5311 |
1 |
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|
5312 |
7 |
21 |
90 |
55 |
173 |
|
5313 |
8 |
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19 |
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|
5314 |
43 |
25 |
68 |
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|
5315 |
131 |
117 |
181 |
182 |
611 |
|
5316 |
9 |
5 |
29 |
1 |
44 |
|
5319 |
1 |
1 |
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|
5321 |
26 |
79 |
124 |
31 |
260 |
|
5322 |
16 |
15 |
31 |
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|
5323 |
31 |
37 |
68 |
||
|
5330 |
7 |
15 |
17 |
39 |
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|
5413 |
1 |
1 |
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|
5431 |
129 |
76 |
557 |
128 |
890 |
|
5434 |
745 |
745 |
2490 |
1899 |
5879 |
|
5435 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
5436 |
6 |
8 |
14 |
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|
5449 |
1 |
1 |
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|
6123 |
13 |
30 |
43 |
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|
6139 |
48 |
52 |
100 |
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|
6141 |
53 |
2849 |
2313 |
5215 |
|
|
6142 |
1 |
1 |
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|
6145 |
12 |
7 |
16 |
296 |
331 |
|
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1 |
1 |
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|
6214 |
1 |
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|
6219 |
1 |
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|
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|
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|
7211 |
168 |
133 |
253 |
71 |
625 |
|
7219 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
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|
7220 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
8111 |
1558 |
560 |
2580 |
499 |
5197 |
|
8112 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
12 |
|
|
8113 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
8116 |
4 |
8 |
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|
8117 |
3 |
6 |
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|
8118 |
1 |
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|
8119 |
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|
8121 |
1 |
1 |
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|
8123 |
1 |
1 |
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|
8125 |
1 |
2 |
384. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail any ongoing or previous use of artificial intelligence within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47333/23]
View answerOne of my Department’s Offices, the Companies Registration Office (CRO), uses machine learning to scan digitised annual returns to check whether they are signed in the appropriate places. This technology has proven to be very effective in delivering processing efficiencies for the CRO. The CRO received over 240,000 Annual Returns in 2022, all of which were processed using this signature recognition facility. My Department and the CRO also collaborated on an artificial intelligence project to scan CRO annual returns and derive semantic meaning from the data. Work on data analysis from this project is ongoing.
385. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on Ireland's response, if any, to the EU Council Spanish Presidency’s call for feedback on the Artificial Intelligence Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47375/23]
View answerThe EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) is a groundbreaking regulation which is currently being negotiated between the EU Council, EU Parliament and European Commission. When agreed, it will apply to all AI developed and used in the EU. It is being developed to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and user safety, as well as to build trust in the development and uptake of AI. It is intended to address the risks generated by specific uses of AI through a set of complementary, proportionate, and flexible rules, while also setting out the governance structure for compliance to reduce risk and to ensure transparency, accountability, and robustness of the systems. The AIA will not regulate the technology but rather the use of the technology, so new and evolving AI technologies will fall within its scope, particularly where the health, safety and/or fundamental rights of the individual may be negatively impacted.
The EU Council agreed its position on the Act in December 2022, and the European Parliament agreed its approach by plenary vote on 14th June 2023. Spain, as the current EU Council Presidency, has prioritised negotiations on this file, and my officials are working with all parties to ensure that agreement is reached as quickly as possible, while working to ensure that the regulation is flexible and fit for purpose and that the fundamental rights and safety of the individual are central.
An informal meeting of EU Telecoms Ministers took place on 23–24 October in León, Spain, which included a discussion to continue progress on the AI Act negotiations to ensure that Member States could develop shared positions on aspects of the key points of discussion, including on the definition of high-risk cases and AI governance.
Ireland has been an active participant in the negotiations at all levels, in particular in the preparations for the four trilogue meetings which have been held to date. A fifth trilogue meeting is expected to take place in December 2023. The Spanish Presidency are very keen to close this file by the end of 2023 and Ireland is working to support that intention. Ireland’s negotiating position has been developed based on the principles outlined in our national AI strategy, AI – Here for Good, and taking account of the range of stakeholder views expressed throughout the course of the negotiations.
Ireland welcomes the development of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) and the progress that to date on this complex regulation, which is expected to be agreed by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
386. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied with the manner in which a company (details supplied) managed its recent redundancy process, particularly in light of reports suggesting that affected employees were requested to sign for tax treatments on their pensions before receiving the relevant figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47382/23]
View answerIreland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation to protect and support workers in collective redundancy situations. The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies. These obligations include engaging in an information and consultation process of at least 30 days with employees’ representatives, and to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes place. A collective redundancy notification was received from the company on 17 August 2023.
The consultation with employees’ representatives should include the possibility of avoiding the proposed redundancies, reducing the number of employees effected or mitigating their consequences.
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 employees, employers and their representatives in the matter of resolving differences is respected by the State.
It is the employer’s legal responsibility to comply with their obligations under the Protection of Employment Act 1977. 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 WRC 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’ representatives during a collective redundancy process. The WRC is independent in the performance of its functions, and it is important that I respect that independence.
387. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will extend the critical skills permit to include non-EU healthcare workers whose salary does not meet the income threshold to apply for a family visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47522/23]
View answerThe conditions governing the eligibility requirements for family reunification and spouses and/or dependents of employment permit holders are a matter for the Minister for Justice. The Department of Justice policy requires that the sponsor permit holder demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland. The policy sets out the rationale for applying resource requirements as part of the overall assessment of whether to approve an application for family reunification and the conditions attaching to permissions issued to family members.
I have been informed that the Department of Justice policy in regard to family reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is currently under review.
Economic migration policy seeks to serve the skills needs of the economy without impacting the wider labour market. Remuneration for employment permit purposes is a labour market policy instrument in which the setting of minimum remuneration thresholds is a delicate balancing act. When the role of Healthcare Assistant (HCA) was made eligible for the General Employment Permit the minimum remuneration threshold was set in the context of a range of existing remuneration levels offered by employers in the sector. The framework was agreed following constructive engagement with the Department of Health, to provide a salary of at least €27,000 for the HCA role. This policy recognised the need to be able to attract workers while also ensuring that there is no disruption to the domestic labour market. Once granted the employment permits system allows for adjustments to certain employment conditions such as increases in salary arrangements made between the employer and the employee.
The role of Healthcare Assistant is currently eligible for the General Employment Permit. The Critical Skills Employment Permit is designed to attract highly skilled people into the labour market with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence in the State. Eligible occupations under this type of permit are deemed to be critically important to growing Ireland’s economy, are highly demanded and highly skilled, and in significant shortage of supply in our labour market. This permit type is targeted at highly skilled occupations included on the Critical Skills Occupations List in sectors such as IT, finance, and highly skilled medical roles.
My Department is engaging with officials in the Department of Health with regard the framework of healthcare occupations to include consideration of future minimum wage thresholds and impacts on the labour market. This engagement seeks to review the impact of the removal of this role from the Ineligible Occupations List.
388. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies registered in Ireland in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47527/23]
View answerThe Companies Registration Office (CRO) is the statutory authority for the registration of new companies in Ireland and is the central repository of public statutory information on Irish companies.
Statistics on the incorporation of companies are published in the CRO Annual Reports, which are available on its website, www.cro.ie.
Details of the number of companies registered in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Number of Companies Registered |
|
2021 |
25,468 |
|
2022 |
21,434 |
|
2023 (up to 31/10/23) |
18,979 |
389. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is possible for a golf club to submit a simplified set of accounts as part of its annual returns to the Company Registration Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47619/23]
View answerThe Companies Act 2014 sets out the requirements for companies of all sizes in relation to the preparation and filing of financial statements that are filed as part of the annual return with the Companies Registration Office. These are derived from the harmonised EU rules for accounting in the Accounting Directive 2013/34/EU and are proportionate in line with better regulation principles.
A company that is registered under the Companies Act 2014 that qualifies as a small company or group or micro company may benefit from certain exemptions and simplifications in the preparation of annual financial statements compared to a medium or large company. A company qualifies as small company or group if it satisfies two of the following three conditions: a balance sheet total not exceeding €6m; turnover not exceeding €12m; Employees 50. A company qualifies as a micro company if it satisfies two of the following three conditions: a balance sheet total not exceeding €350,000; turnover not exceeding €700,000; Employees 10.
Whether a company registered under the Companies Act 2014 can avail of these reduced reporting requirements will depend, in the first instance, on its size in accordance with the thresholds.
I trust this answers the Deputies question and further detailed information is available on the Companies Registration Office website.
