Sorca Clarke
Question:61. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the publication of remote working code of practice. [51133/23]
View answerFlexible Work Practices
Questions (61)
Written answers
The right to request remote working has been integrated into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, which was led by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY), and was enacted on the 4th of April 2023. The provisions of the Act pertaining to the right to request remote working are contained in Part 3 of the Act and have not yet been commenced.All employees will have a right to request remote working under the Act. The right to request the other elements of a flexible working arrangement, such as adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, will remain limited to parents and carers as defined in the Work Life Balance Act, though there is provision in the Act for this to be reviewed after two years.One Code of Practice is being developed which will provide practical guidance to employers and employees on dealing with requests under the new law.Employers will be obliged to have regard to the Statutory Code of Practice when considering applications for flexible and remote working arrangements. Employees will be able to refer a dispute to the WRC where an employer fails to have regard to the Code of Practice and their obligations under the Act. Work on the development of the Code of Practice is ongoing in the Workplace Relations Commission. Since a public consultation closed in June of this year, the WRC have reviewed the 51 submissions received, as well as other relevant policy documentation, research, and best practice as part of finalising a working draft Code.A Working Group has been established and is attended by representatives from ICTU and Ibec. To date, four meetings have taken place at the WRC on the Code. This Working Group is meeting regularly in order to have a robust Code of Practice published as soon as possible. The WRC is independent in carrying out its functions and consults with the Social Partners in the preparation of such codes. While no date has been set, I would hope that the Code could be completed by the end of January 2024. The legislation will come into force as soon as practicable following the completion of this Code.
Job Losses
Questions (62)
Matt Carthy
Question:62. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he has engaged with the management of a company (detail supplied) in respect of their announced intention to close facilities at Monaghan and Lough Egish; and whether he has made any efforts to protect these sites from closure. [51441/23]
View answerWritten answers
It is a difficult and uncertain time for the workers and families that are impacted by the announcement that Lakeland Dairies will close a number of its facilities.
Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Lakeland Dairies over many years to assist it in its growth and development plans, and have assured me that they will engage closely with the company, seeking to ensure that the proposed closure of the factories at Coolshanagh and Lough Egish will result in a minimal impact in terms of job losses.
The Department of Social Protection leads the regional response to announcements that involve major job losses, and Enterprise Ireland's North East regional term will engage with the Department of Social Protection in this case.
In cases of redundancy announcements, there is a statutory one month period for the company to advise staff on their entitlements, potential job opportunities, and to engage in one-to-one discussions with staff. Following this process, the Department of Social Protection and the Cavan/Monaghan Education and Training Board (ETB) will engage with impacted workers on a skills profiling exercise, assistance with social welfare registration and advice on employment opportunities. Enterprise Ireland, the ETB and the Local Enterprise Office will also meet with staff to set out the range of supports and services that they can provide.
The agri-food sector remains one of our most important indigenous manufacturing sectors and we want to ensure that it continues to contribute to our vibrant rural and coastal communities and to the national economy. My Department, through Enterprise Ireland, is working directly with companies in the sector, providing funding, advisory and capability building assistance to deliver innovation and to assist in their long-term development and growth and to strengthen their competitiveness and productivity across all regions. Enterprise Ireland is not aware of any further proposed job losses in the agri-food sector in Monaghan at this time.
Question No. 63 answered with Question No. 41.
Regional Development
Questions (64)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:64. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on progress in the south-east regional enterprise plan; the funding for the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51223/23]
View answerWritten answers
Balanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key policy for me and this Government and is reaffirmed in the White Paper on Enterprise.
My Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans.
The South-East Regional Enterprise Plan is overseen and monitored at a regional level by a Steering Committee made up of stakeholders from Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.
There is a lot of activity in the region in support of the Plan.
Rosslare Europort and Waterford Port are progressing their ambitious plans to develop a €200m Offshore Renewable Energy Hub and a stakeholder group is forming to focus on the additional skills, regional supply chain, marketing, and industry requirements and opportunities arising from this.
Elsewhere, funding has been secured through the Regional Enterprise Innovation Scoping Scheme, or REISS, to advance a Financial Services Centre of Excellence in the South-East and a Project Manager has been appointed.
Funding was also secured through the REISS and the REDF/BEDF Addendum Fund to further advance the life sciences innovation, research and development eco-system in the South-East.
My Department oversees implementation of the Plans at the national level and I, together with Ministers of State Calleary and Richmond, attended the Regional Enterprise Plans National Oversight Group meeting on 26 October.
Regional Enterprise Plan Chairs were in attendance, together with representatives from the enterprise agencies, the County and City Management Association, the Head of the LEO network, and other organisations with a focus on regional enterprise development.
A topic for discussion at that meeting was the provision of funding to implement new enterprise projects aligned to the Regional Enterprise Plans.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has secured up to €145 million in funding to support projects aligned to those Plans. This builds on the €126 million my Department has already allocated in regional enterprise funding.
The first call of €35 million under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, which is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund, is now open on the Enterprise Ireland website and will close on 31 March 2024. I expect that there will be up to four calls under this fund over the coming years. I encourage innovative projects in the South-East to apply.
Regional Development
Questions (65)
Michael Moynihan
Question:65. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the recently announced smart regions enterprise innovation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51360/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy is aware that I recently announced that my Department has secured €145 million in funding for the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund.
The overall objective of this scheme is to drive job creation and enterprise development in each region throughout Ireland as well as supporting projects aligned to the nine Regional Enterprise Plans. There is €35 million available under the first call call, which will support local infrastructure projects, innovative clusters and consortia, services to SMEs to drive innovative solutions and feasibility and priming grants for early-stage project development.
Enterprise Ireland, which administers the scheme on behalf of my Department, has detailed information on its website. In addition, Enterprise Ireland is holding a series of webinars on the content of the scheme, which will give prospective applicants more detailed information on each of the scheme's four streams. Over two hundred people registered for the first webinar held on 14 November. A further webinar was held on 21 November with the next webinar to be held on 28 November.
The first call is open until 31 March 2024 and there will be further calls in the coming years. As well as the full information available on its website, Enterprise Ireland's regional staff are available to talk potential applicants through the detail of the scheme.
Question No. 66 answered with Question No. 7
Trade Missions
Questions (67)
Bríd Smith
Question:67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to his recent trip to Korea and proposals for further data centres in this State, if he or his Department officials discussed the State’s energy crisis with his Korean counterparts; if the drain on the State’s energy system from the current number of data centres here was outlined or discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51601/23]
View answerWritten answers
As part of Team Ireland Trade Mission Week to South Korea program , I attended the signing of a MOU between Lumcloon Energy, an Enterprise Ireland client and SK Ecoplant, a subsidiary of the SK Group (2nd largest conglomerate after Samsung) , for a joint data centre project running on fuel cell technology, which would be the very first in Europe. A fuel cell uses the chemical energy, which is generally hydrogen, to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity with water and heat as the only products.
As part of Enterprise Ireland’s Leading in a Changing World strategy, the government’s trade agency is supporting and encouraging companies to lead globally on sustainability and achieving climate action targets. The transition to a low carbon and circular economy and achievement of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 across all sectors of the economy represents a whole of society challenge.
Enterprise, along with all sectors, must fundamentally change, to adapt to this challenge and realise the many opportunities this transformation represents. The Lumcloon/SK Ecoplant project is an excellent example of a strategic international collaboration to collectively find solutions, improve lives and enhance efficiency and sustainability.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (68)
James Lawless
Question:68. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he proposes to ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a way that is ethical and person-centred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51222/23]
View answerWritten answers
I published a progress report on our National AI Strategy - "AI - Here for Good" on 9 August 2023, the overarching aim of which is to drive the development and deployment of human centred, ethical, trustworthy AI tools.
The Progress Report highlighted many of the achievements so far. These include the appointment of an AI Ambassador, Dr. Patricia Scanlon and the completion of her first year in the role, establishing an Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, publishing the NSAI’s AI Standards and Assurance Roadmap, and establishing Ireland’s European Digital Innovation Hub for AI – CeADAR.
Priorities for the year ahead include supporting businesses, enterprise, and workers on AI adoption as well as upskilling, reskilling and adapting, including through this AI Innovation Hub. My Department will work closely with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on principles and guidelines for the use of AI in the public sector. Regulation is an enormous part of our approach and influencing the regulation of AI in Ireland and internationally, in particular, the development of the EU AI Act is another of my priorities.
The Act sets out harmonised rules for the development, placement on the market and use of AI systems in the Union. The proposed regulation aims to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and user safety, as well as trust in the development and uptake of AI, thereby enhancing EU investment and innovation.
My officials are also actively involved in negotiations on the Council of Europe legal convention on AI. Together, these guardrails will ensure trust in AI and in turn support ongoing, responsible innovation in this area.
Industrial Development
Questions (69)
Brendan Griffin
Question:69. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the performance of the IDA advance facility at Kerry Technology Park (details supplied); if he will consider the job opportunities hitherto foregone; if best practice was followed throughout the entire process of attracting and agreeing the tenancy; if adequate safeguards were put in place as part of the process; if he will engage with the IDA with a view to optimising employment opportunities at this site in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51505/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am informed that IDA Ireland continues to engage with Central Pharma in respect of the pace of progress with its project at the Advanced Technology Building in Tralee, as the Deputy will be aware. The most recent information provided by the company, in October 2023, is that it is actively recruiting for 2 open vacancies. Furthermore, Central Pharma has also invested in fitting out the building to support its proposed activities as permitted in the lease they have with IDA Ireland and are currently meeting their financial obligations under the lease agreement. Moreover, the company has stated that they have been pursuing opportunities to grow market presence together with renewing focused marketing activity for the site. IDA will remain in close contact with the company on its future development plans.
More generally, the number of people employed in IDA Ireland client companies in Kerry continues to grow. Over the past 9 years there has been a 21% growth in the number of people employed by IDA client companies in the county. In September 2023, Astellas Pharma Inc announced its intention to build a state-of-the-art facility at an approximate cost of €330 million on IDA’s newly acquired lands in Kerry Technology Park, bringing highly specialised engineering, science and technology roles to the region. The new facility, which is subject to planning, will consist of a 3-story building, total floor area of 17,000 square metres on a 44-acre site on the Kerry Technology Park, Tralee. This will be Astellas Pharma’s second manufacturing site in Kerry with the company’s existing manufacturing plant in Killorglin.
IDA Ireland continues to maintain a focus on land banks and strategic sites to future proof its property portfolio in regional locations to support the project pipeline, including in County Kerry. I can assure the Deputy that IDA Ireland will also continue to promote Ireland and Kerry as a location for their business and will continue to position Kerry for virtual and in-person site visits to prospective companies in 2023 and beyond.
Question No. 70 answered with Question No. 41.
Regional Development
Questions (71)
Denis Naughten
Question:71. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to support job creation in regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51519/23]
View answerWritten answers
Delivering balanced regional enterprise growth and supporting sustainable local job creation is a core objective of this Government and is a key component of the White Paper on Enterprise.
My Department contributes to 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, a core objective for Enterprise Ireland is to grow enterprise across the country and to support sustainable job creation. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy has set targets of creating 45,000 new jobs by 2024 with over two-thirds of new jobs to be created outside Dublin.
IDA Ireland is also committed to more balanced regional development and has a target of half of all investments from 2021-2024 to regional locations.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) promote entrepreneurship within their locality and help in the creation of new sustainable jobs in innovative businesses that contribute to economic development in their regions.
Complementing the work of the enterprise agencies and LEOs are nine Regional Enterprise Plans. These plans are driven by regional enterprise stakeholders and focus on undertaking collaborative projects that help strengthen the regional enterprise ecosystem.
I recently announced that my Department has secured €145 million in funding for the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, which is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. The overall objective of this scheme is to drive job creation and enterprise development in each region as well as supporting projects aligned to the Regional Enterprise Plans. The first call of €35 million is now open and there will be further calls in the coming years. Full information is available on Enterprise Ireland’s website.
The Deputy will also be familiar with the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) from the Department of Rural and Community Development, which complement the work of my Department in terms of wider regional development in towns and more rural locations.
My Department has been holding nine ‘Building Better Business’ conferences around the country throughout 2023. These are free events for business which primarily focus on themes of digitalisation and decarbonisation and how companies around the country can scale and internationalise. In addition, experts from government agencies and offices are on hand to showcase the many supports available to small and medium enterprises.
The final event is being held in Dublin on Thursday 7 December in the Convention Centre.
Industrial Development
Questions (72)
Cathal Crowe
Question:72. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a report on the IDA and Enterprise Ireland’s latest efforts to bring business to County Clare. [51126/23]
View answerWritten answers
IDA’s strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024, identifies the opportunities for sustainable growth among IDA’s established base of clients and new investments - both from existing and new clients - through a focus on transformative investments to increase the productivity of Irish operations and their workforce through RD&I, digitalisation, training, and actions on sustainability. The strategy is delivered through a focus on five pillars: Growth, Transformation, Regions, Sustainability, and Impact.
Despite the difficult global economic environment, over 24,000 net new jobs were created in IDA supported client companies in 2022, bringing the numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland to over 300,000 for the first time ever. Furthermore, regional employment stands at 163,653 an increase of 7% on 2021 with employment in IDA client companies growing in every region of the country, with the Mid-West region showing growth of 3.6% over the previous year.
Accordingly, regional development remains a top priority for my Department and for IDA Ireland, and as part of IDA Ireland’s strategy, half of all investments to the end of 2024 are to go to regional locations outside Dublin. In this regard, IDA Ireland won 242 investments in 2022 of which 52%, or 127 projects, went to regional locations. This strong growth in regional investment is supported by IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme.
The Mid-West Region comprises Limerick and Tipperary as well as Clare and there are 154 IDA client companies in the Region, employing 26,004 people. The FDI performance has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 22%. Counties in the Mid-West also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located in other bordering regions. The Mid-West has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies.
Clare has seen investment announcements from IDA client companies like Beckman Coulter, Edwards Lifesciences, Element Six, Extreme Networks, IQEQ, Jaguar Land Rover, Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon, MeiraGTx and OLED Material Manufacturing PPG in recent years.
IDA Ireland also actively engages with Clare County Council, Shannon Commercial Properties and other property owners and stakeholders on their development plans, and markets sites and property solutions across the Mid-West region through its extensive overseas network to both existing and new investors. In this regard, the region is well positioned to continue to retain and attract new FDI investment and grow employment in existing companies and IDA Ireland will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders and parties in the region to achieve this objective under the Regional Enterprise Plan.
Insofar as Enterprise Ireland client companies are concerned, employment increased by 6% in 2022. Enterprise Ireland has approximately 100 client companies in County Clare, employing 5,266 people across a broad number of sectors. Some recent job announcements for Co Clare include:
• Vitalograph, an Enterprise Ireland client, which produces respiratory diagnostic devices, which announced significant investments for Clare and Limerick. It will see the company expand by opening a new site in Limerick city centre and at Clare Technology Park, which will see it take on an extra 200 employees;
• EI Electronics also based in the Shannon Industrial Estate announced 200 jobs would be created by 2024, and
• Shannon Technical Services announced 80 jobs to be created by the end of 2023.
Enterprise Ireland start-up supports include the New Frontiers Programmes delivered in TUS Mid-West in Limerick and the Atlantic Technological University in Galway, where entrepreneurs are supported to develop a minimally viable product, unique selling points; and route to market; along with the development of a business plan to source possible funding opportunities.
Enterprise Ireland also works closely with Clare LEO to build a pipeline of companies in the Manufacturing and Internationally Traded Services sectors who have ambition to scale and grow their export markets. Enterprise Ireland has supported two strategic projects in Clare through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund over recent years – the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) based in Shannon and development of the Clare Maritime Economic Zone (Clare MEZ) on the marina in Kilrush. A total of €8.4m has been approved for these projects which seek to stimulate the creation of two new sectors and attract new and emerging businesses to Clare.
The Smart Region (€145m) fund, which was launched as part of the 2024 Budget, is an ERDF co-financed scheme and will be administered by Enterprise Ireland. ERDF is a partnership model between the European Commission, Irish Government, and the Regional Assemblies. This partnership model has required consultation and engagement with many stakeholders over the past two years, resulting in a scheme that is evidence-based and linked to both EU and national policy instruments. The overall objective of this scheme is to drive job creation/retention and enterprise development in each region throughout Ireland, including Co. Clare. In addition, Smart Regions funding is targeted at strategic regional locations where an identifiable deficit exists in key infrastructure, which is necessary to support the micro and SME client base.
This scheme will be impactful for both regional and local entrepreneurial ecosystems. This investment in the ecosystem can only positively contribute towards making Ireland a world leading location to start and scale a business. It will have 4 distinct streams, which shall support the following activities/projects: Local infrastructure projects; Innovation clusters; Services to SMEs to drive innovation solutions, and Feasibility and Priming Grants.
Business Supports
Questions (73)
Michael Moynihan
Question:73. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he is helping businesses in rural Ireland establish a digital presence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51362/23]
View answerWritten answers
Digitalisation is critical to the Government's policy priority of regional enterprise development. Digitalisation can deliver a multitude of benefits including reduced costs and increased productivity, better products and services, market expansion and diversification, and can also support business as they work to reduce their climate impact.
The adoption of digital technologies by all businesses, in particular SMEs, is vital to sustain Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for leading digital enterprises; and maximise the benefits of the digital transition for the wider ecosystem, across productivity, innovation and competitiveness, as well as regional development.
The Government is determined to tackle the two-speed digital economy by supporting more business owners to enhance their online capabilities and presence to exploit opportunities in existing and new markets. To bridge the gap between the levels of digitalisation in the indigenous, locally traded sector and the larger MNCs, work is underway between my Department, Enterprise Ireland, and the LEO Centre of Excellence to examine how to broaden eligibility for digital funding schemes to increase access for businesses which are currently not eligible.
Under the National Digital Strategy, 'Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework', the Government has committed to driving a step change in the digitalisation of enterprise across Ireland. Growing the use of digital technologies by businesses will help us to build the resilience of our enterprise base in all parts of the country, particularly as we look to future-proof our economy for the years ahead.
The National Digital Strategy sets out specific targets for the digitalisation of enterprise, including achieving 75% enterprise take-up of cloud, big data and AI by 2030; ensuring that 90% of our SMEs have reached at least a basic level of digital intensity by 2030; and ensuring that at least 35% of State funding for start-up and early-stage businesses is invested in innovative digital businesses from 2022 onwards. It also sets a target of at least 720 businesses supported under the Digital Transition Fund by 2026.
To help businesses work towards digitalisation, my Department launched the Digital Transition Fund in 2022 as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Fund has been allocated €85 million over the period to 2026. Administered by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta through a variety of schemes, this fund is helping companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey, particularly SMEs.
My Department has nine new Regional Enterprise Plans in place, which will encourage collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the regional offering for enterprise and therefore create an environment for successful economic development, sustainable employment and growth across the country.
Ireland’s network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), funded by the Digital Europe Programme and the Recovery and Resilience Fund, provide support to SMEs to adopt the latest advances in three key digital technologies: Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and High-Performance Computing. The four EDIHs in Ireland are CeADAR, FactoryxChange (FxC), DATA2SUSTAIN, and ENTIRE, and have a presence across all regions.
The network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices also offers a range of digitalisation supports to eligible businesses, including through the Trading Online Voucher scheme, which is in place to help businesses develop their online trading capability, and Digital Start, which is designed to help businesses prepare and implement a plan for the Digital Start can be used to obtain digital strategic, technical and/or advisory services from approved providers.
For retail businesses, the Online Retail Scheme was introduced by my Department in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland as part of the ongoing work of the Retail Forum. The Online Retail Scheme was developed in response to an identified need to drive a step change in online capability in the retail sector. Since 2018 more than 850 projects from retailers based in Ireland have been approved for €30m in funding through seven rounds of competitive calls. This Scheme aims to develop the resilience of the domestic retail enterprise sector through enhancing online sales capabilities to drive productivity and increase competitiveness and subsequently scale businesses in international markets.
Work is also under way on a Digital Portal to demystify digital and support businesses on the digital adoption journey. This portal will help businesses to self-assess their digital needs, as well as signposting to training, resources, and funding options that will help them to digitalise, and will be available to all businesses.
Business Supports
Questions (74)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Question:74. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the take-up of the climate planning fund for business and the enterprise emissions reduction investment fund, the two streams of the green transition fund run by Enterprise Ireland; whether there will be an evaluation of progress in the effectiveness of the fund on decarbonisation at an interim point in the five years of the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51402/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Green Transition Fund is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The total budget of €55m for the fund is split into two streams, the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund (€30m) and the Climate Planning Fund for Business (€25m) which will both run from 2022 through to 2026.
The Fund contains a range of supports to help businesses make the green transition including: vouchers to help companies prepare a plan for the low carbon and resource efficient economy of the future; capital support for companies to invest in decarbonising their manufacturing processes; and grants to explore the development of new or improved products, services or processes in the areas of sustainability and decarbonisation.
The Climate Planning Fund for Business (CPFB) has seen 185 approved projects with an associated value of €1.4 million, up to the end of September this year.
This compliments the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund (EERIF) which has 33 approved projects to date, with an associated value of €5.5 million. Consequently, there has been a total approval value of roughly €7 million across both streams of the Fund, up to the end of September 2023.
It takes a while for businesses to assess what interventions they need to make, so we see a significant lead-in time between companies developing an plan, and later seeking support for specific investments. There has been substantial growth in project approvals under the fund in 2023 so far compared to 2022 when the Fund was launched. I expect that demand will grow considerably in 2024 as awareness and appetite among industry continues to accelerate.
The performance of the Green Transition Fund is monitored by the European Commission in line with milestones and targets agreed for Fund in the Operating Arrangement between Ireland and the European Commission, which defines targets for each project under the whole of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. These targets are binding and failure to meet these targets and milestones will result in financial penalties for Ireland.
The enterprise development agencies are proactively promoting the Fund to client companies in order to ensure the relevant targets are achieved. Officials in my Department monitor the performance and take-up of the Fund on an ongoing basis, receiving updates on the pipeline of projects, profile of spending, and projected carbon abetment.
In addition to the Green Transition Fund, both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are supporting the green transition of enterprise and the decarbonisation of manufacturing through other schemes such as Environmental Aid and the Sustainable Recovery Scheme.
Intellectual Property
Questions (75)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:75. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the work for a referendum on Unified Patent Court. [51440/23]
View answerWritten answers
In June 2022, the Government reaffirmed its intention to participate in the Unitary Patent System and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and to hold a related referendum. An amendment to the Constitution is required before Ireland can ratify the Agreement on the UPC (UPCA), as the Agreement entails a transfer of jurisdiction from the Irish courts to an international court.
The timing of the Referendum is a matter for Government to decide and I anticipate a decision will arise in the coming months. My Department’s officials are currently advancing referendum preparations. The work underway includes the drafting of a Constitutional Amendment Bill with assistance from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. An Interdepartmental Group was convened in September to assist in advancing potential post-referendum preparations.
The Government proposes to establish a local division of the UPC subject to the outcome of a Constitutional Referendum.
Question No. 76 answered with Question No. 53.
White Papers
Questions (77)
Catherine Connolly
Question:77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 12 October 2023, for an update on the implementation of the white paper on enterprise; the details of the first update report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51390/23]
View answerWritten answers
Launched in December 2022, the White Paper on Enterprise sets out the Government’s approach to enterprise policy for the period to 2030. The White Paper sets out Ireland`s industrial policy for the medium- to long-term, building on Ireland`s economic strengths of an open economy with strong trade and foreign direct investment, a vibrant innovation hub, and a resilient labour market.
In May of this year, I published the first in a series of consecutive two-year Implementation Plans of cross-government activity to implement the policy direction set out in the White Paper.
This first implementation plan covers the period 2023-24 and identifies a portfolio of 40 key initiatives across all seven policy priorities that were identified within the White Paper on Enterprise. Whilst my Department and the enterprise agencies are leading on the bulk of these initiatives, additional activities are under the remit of other Departments across Government. My Department continues to both collaborate and monitor progress across Government in this regard.
Update reports on the progress on the Implementation Plan are developed every six months, and implementation is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment. The first Update Report was developed during Q3 2023 and details the progress made during the first six months of 2023. Detailed information is provided on progress across the 40 key initiatives that were identified and agreed as part of the 2023-2024 Implementation Plan.
Key updates detailed within the report include progress made on the National Strategy for Offshore Wind, the commencement of our four new European Digital Innovation Hubs as well as the launch of a pilot LEO framework to address previous gaps in support for Irish enterprise with export potential that have between 10 and 50 full time employees.
The Update Report also contains updates on the 15 key targets set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, where updated data are available.
The Update Report will be brought to Government next week, where it is expected to be published thereafter. Preparations are now underway by officials in my Department for the development of the next update report in Q1 2024, which will cover the second six months of 2023.
Small and Medium Enterprises
Questions (78)
Denis Naughten
Question:78. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to make grants available to SMEs to ensure that their websites are accessible for those with disabilities; if it will become a requirement of the trading online voucher scheme that websites are accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51523/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department through the enterprise development agencies provides a range of tailored supports for enterprises of all sizes in Ireland. These supports include access to finance, management development, mentoring supports, business development programmes, market supports and trade promotion.
Through Enterprise Ireland my Department ensures the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Enterprise Ireland work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate, and win export sales in global markets.
The Local Enterprise Offices aim to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups, and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation and to provide accessible high-quality supports for business ideas.
The Trading Online Voucher scheme, available through the Local Enterprise Offices, is designed to encourage microenterprises (10 or less employees), with little or no online presence, to trade more online, boost sales and reach new markets. The scheme offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 with co-funding of 50% from the business along with training and advice to help them trade online. The Trading Online Voucher scheme cuts the cost of developing an online trading capacity and makes this investment very affordable for many small businesses.
All assistance available through the Local Enterprise Offices is awarded based on an identified business need.
The promotion of accessibility in all facets of life, including websites, is an essential precondition for ensuring that people with disabilities can fully participate in our society.
Under the European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020, all public sector bodies are required to make their websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities. These Regulations do not apply to the private sector.
To support the promotion of web accessibility, guidelines and technical standards have been developed at international and european levels. At national level, the National Disability Authority (NDA) has produced extensive guidance and codes of practice around accessibility. The NDA will provide guidance to any provider. A Centre of Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) has also been established in NDA to promote the principles of accessibility and universal design, including in relation to ICT.
Questions Nos. 79 and 80 answered orally.