Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 440-459

European Council

Questions (440)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

440. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the next EU Council of Trade Ministers meeting is scheduled to take place. [1358/24]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade Formation) will take place in Brussels on 22 and 23 January 2024. I will attend this meeting as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The event is hosted by the Belgian Presidency who will be represented by Ms. Hadja Lahbib, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions. The European Commission will be represented by Executive Vice President and Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis. 

The programme begins on the evening of Monday, 22 January with a Ministerial reception in the presence of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation. 

There are two working sessions scheduled for Tuesday, 23 January.

Firstly, Ministers in attendance will discuss preparations for the forthcoming 13th WTO Ministerial Conference which will take place on 26 to 29 February in Abu Dhabu, UAE. 

The second session will see a discussion on the EU's policy of Open Strategic Autonomy.

Over lunch Ministers will discuss the latest developments in EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Mr. Bernd Lange, chair of the EU Parliament's Trade committee.

I am looking forward to attending this Council and engaging with my Ministerial counterparts on what is an important agenda in the lead up to the WTO Ministerial in February. 

Legislative Measures

Questions (441)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

441. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 in relation to fertility treatment and miscarriage leave. [1462/24]

Written answers

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

The Organisation of Working Time Act (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 is a Private Members' Bill that proposes a period of paid leave following a miscarriage or for the purposes of availing of reproductive healthcare. Final Statements on the Bill were made in the Seanad on 29 November 2023 (Fifth Stage) and the Bill is scheduled to go before the Dáil on 18 January 2024 (Second Stage).

The suite of family leave, including proposals related to pregnancy loss, is under the remit of Minister O’Gorman in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and his Department commissioned a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss.  

The study examined whether policy interventions are required at a national level to better to support these bereaved parents in the workplace. The study focuses on people who experience pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks gestation, as people who have a pregnancy loss after 24 weeks gestation can avail of full maternity leave and paternity leave entitlements.

On 28 November 2023, researchers from University College Cork, who carried out the commissioned study, briefed members of the Oireachtas on the findings of the study on behalf of the research team.

The study report makes a series of recommendations regarding support for employees who have experienced a miscarriage. These recommendations are now being considered in the development of Government policy in this area, including any legislative implications. 

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (442)

Michael Ring

Question:

442. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to a parliamentary question (details supplied), to issue a letter on the relevant Department headed notepaper to a person in County Mayo, confirming payment under a scheme, as this person requires this letter urgently for the bank. [1505/24]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Section 4A of the Credit Guarantee Act 2012, provides me with the power to give guarantees in accordance with the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme.  As guarantor of the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee scheme (CCGS) my Department bears 80% of the risk should a loan under this scheme default; with the financial provider bearing the remaining 20%.  I have signed legal guarantee agreements to this effect with each of the financial institutions that have been approved to provide lending facilities to their clients.   

Where a participating enterprise is unable to pay back the loan for more than 90 days, the loan enters a default stage and the finance provider can call on the guarantee for 80% of the outstanding balance.  Each call on the guarantee is reviewed and considered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) as Operator of the Scheme and recommended for payment where it meets the terms of the Scheme and the guarantee agreement.

I cannot accede to this request to provide details of any payments under guarantee in respect of individual loan defaults as the legal guarantee agreements are between myself as guarantor and the individual financial institutions and not with individual clients of these financial institutions.

Further information is that PQ 39599/23 was withdrawn by Deputy Ring.

Artificial Intelligence

Questions (443)

David Stanton

Question:

443. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the work of the AI advisory council; to outline the scope of the council’s mandate; the membership of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/24]

Written answers

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

To support the implementation of the National AI Strategy, an AI Advisory Council will be appointed.

The Council’s role will be to provide independent expert advice to Government on artificial intelligence policy, with a specific focus on building public trust and promoting the development of trustworthy, person-centred AI.

Its first role will be providing expert guidance, insights, and recommendations in response to specific requests from government. Its second role will be developing and delivering its own workplan of advice to Government on issues in artificial intelligence policy, providing insights on trends, opportunities, and challenges. Its third role will be engaging in public communications aimed at demystifying and promoting trustworthy, ethical and person-centred AI.

The AI Advisory Council will be a mechanism for expert advice and not a consultative or a representative forum. Therefore, its members will represent themselves as individuals with relevant experience and expertise and not their employers or organisations of which they may be members.

An announcement of the membership will be made following the first meeting of the AI Advisory Council in the coming days. 

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (444, 445)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

444. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount in unpaid wages that has been returned to workers following workplace investigations by the Workplace Relations Commission, by sector and value of wages, in 2023, in tabular form. [1787/24]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

445. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2023, by NACE sector; the number of breaches detected; the types of breaches detected; and the counties in which the breaches were detected, in tabular form. [1788/24]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 445 together.

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.

Table 1 sets out the amount in unpaid wages that has been returned to workers following  workplace investigations by the Workplace Relations Commission Inspectorate by sector, and value of wages, in 2023.

Table 2 sets out the number of inspections carried out by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2023, by NACE sector; the number of breaches detected, the type of breaches detected; and the counties in which the breaches were detected.

Table 1 - The amount of unpaid wages recovered by the WRC inspectorate in 2023

Sector	Cases Closed	No in Breach	Incidence of Breach %	Employees	Unpaid Wages
Accounting & Financial Services	18	5	28%	324	€0
Activities of Households as Employers	5	1	20%	9	€0
Administration & Support	20	4	20%	2,420	€397
Advertising & Marketing	6	1	17%	36	€0
Agriculture	39	22	56%	3,237	€35,584
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	59	23	39%	2,058	€46,423
Beverage Service Activities	222	119	54%	2,769	€159,077
Construction	223	55	25%	5,560	€109,893
Contract Cleaning	19	6	32%	11,497	€57,050
Education	21	12	57%	334	€20,231
Electrical Contracting	7	3	43%	439	€4,213
Employment Placement Agencies	20	8	40%	1,997	€61,822
Equine Activities	11	8	73%	30	€2,474
Fishing	76	25	33%	159	€25,394
Food Service Activities	1,558	910	58%	18,269	€565,409
Hair & Beauty	376	218	58%	1,567	€69,995
Hotels	123	70	57%	8,246	€105,343
Human Health & Social Work	111	25	23%	4,467	€2,984
Information & Communications	33	10	30%	3,812	€5,301
Legal Services	3	2	67%	9	€840
Manufacturing	42	18	43%	5,195	€12,111
Meat Processing	6	5	83%	495	€0
Mechanical Eng. Building Services	9	7	78%	177	€0
Mining & Quarrying	1	1	100%	12	€0
Other Accommodation	10	5	50%	137	€7,415
Other Service Activities	182	73	40%	21,894	€82,952
Postal & Courier Services	4	3	75%	115	€2,776
Professional Services	45	18	40%	5,463	€172,495
Public Administration	8	1	13%	632	€0
Real Estate Activities	2	0	0%	3	€0
Security	16	3	19%	203	€802
Transport	48	20	42%	1,570	€9,603
Travel & Tour Operators	2	1	50%	14	€1,200
Veterinary & Animal Health Services	9	5	56%	206	€3,619
Warehousing & Support Activities	1	1	100%	21	€0
Water Supply, Sewerage & Waste Remediation	4	4	100%	1,235	€0
Wholesale & Retail Trade	1,388	529	38%	28,508	€385,200
TOTAL	4,727	2,221	47%	133,119	€1,950,601

Table 2 - the number of inspections carried out by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2023, by NACE sector; the number of breaches detected, (See table 1 above); the type of breaches detected; and the counties in which the breaches were detected, in tabular form

County	Employment Agency	Employment Permits	Industrial Relations	National Minimum Wage	Organisation of Working Time	Paternity Leave and Benefit	Payment of Wages	Protection of Young Persons	Sick Leave	Workplace Relations	Terms of Employment	Other	Total
Antrim		1	1				3				1		6
Carlow		3		1	13		5	2		1	6		31
Cavan		18		16	132		23	15	2		58		264
Clare		3		3	53		25	10	2		41		137
Cork		17	2	13	204		73	33	6	10	160		518
Donegal	1	14		27	116	1	40	30	1	6	118	2	356
Down					1								1
Dublin	1	111		49	1131		247	94	16	3	447		2099
Galway		12		9	166		103	47	1	8	114	1	461
Kerry		4		4	94		41	28	6	4	84		265
Kildare		2	1	11	162		47	23	3	1	80		330
Kilkenny		3		4	54		18	5		1	30		115
Laois		1		7	19		12	1		2	13		55
Leitrim		3		11	35		14	17		3	37		120
Limerick		18		4	99		35	3	1	5	43		208
Longford		1	2	9	41		16	15		1	42		127
Louth	1	15		13	138		40	9	2	3	71		292
Mayo		1	1	17	98		41	26		3	99		286
Meath		9		5	173		35	13	4		83		322
Monaghan		4	1	2	57		9	13	2	1	32		121
Offaly		4		5	70		28	1		4	39		151
Roscommon				7	44		12	6			30		99
Sligo		7		16	69		26	32	2	7	54		213
Tipperary		1		5	100		20	17	2	3	51		199
Waterford		13	1	13	129		32	25		13	61		287
Westmeath		7		9	78		23	11			60		188
Wexford		13		14	220		78	24	2	5	101	4	461
Wicklow		8		4	67		19	8		7	37		150
Total	3	293	9	278	3563	1	1065	508	52	91	1992	7	7862

Question No. 445 answered with Question No. 444.

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (446)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

446. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of cases settled in favour of workers in 2023; and the total amount of compensation awarded by the WRC to these workers. [1789/24]

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.

In 2023 the WRC heard 785 pre-adjudication mediations and the conciliation service dealt with 606 conciliation conferences. Added, the WRC's adjudication services held 4,564 hearings to end November 2023.  In addition the WRC inspectorate completed  4727 inspections of businesses to ensure compliance with employment rights legislation.

The WRC does not have data in relation to the number of cases settled in favour of workers during 2023 nor amounts given to these workers.  The WRC is not privy to settlement terms between the parties and cases settled at mediation are confidential between the parties.

Insofar as the WRC inspectorate is concerned, it  secured repayment to employees of €1,950,601 in unpaid wages and entitlements across all legislation in 2023.

Export Controls

Questions (447)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

447. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has investigated whether dual-use items being traded with Israel are currently being used against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Israel-Hamas war; and what actions his Department will be taking under the Control of Exports Act 2023 to end this trade if these items are being used to target civilians and civilian infrastructure. [1793/24]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

I, like all my colleagues in the government are extremely concerned with the destruction evident in the Israel-Hamas conflict.  Ireland has a robust export control system in place. An authorisation is required to export dual use items to a third country and for transfers of military equipment within the EU, as a well as for export to a third country.  Exports of dual use and military goods to all third countries, including Israel, are currently, and will continue to be, automatically subject to control and licensing requirements.

When assessing an application for an export authorisation my Department has regard to a range of factors, including the nature of the item to be exported and its design purpose; the intended end-use and the intended end-user and the political and human rights situation in the ultimate destination.

The Control of Exports Act was signed into law by the President on 26 October 2023 and is expected to commence in Q2 2024 upon completion of a range of implementation workstreams.  It repeals and replaces the Control of Exports Act 2008 and provides for control of the export of items that can be used for civil or military purposes and for control of the provision of brokering services of technical assistance in respect of, or control of transit of, those items.  The Act will give full effect to Council Regulation (EU) No. 2021/821 of 20 May 2021 (recast), setting up a Union regime for the control of exports.

The Department as the competent authority for regulating export controls is committed to compliance.  In enforcing legislation for export controls Authorised Officers take an approach that is risk-based, and outcomes focused. Under the new Act Authorised Officers will continue to focus action on education and encouragement in the first instance, proportionate action will be taken to address non-compliance on a case-by-case basis.

Article 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that the Union shall have exclusive competence in the Common Commercial Policy.  Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that trade with third countries falls within the Common Commercial Policy of the EU. Therefore, this is an area where the EU has exclusive competence.

Economic Sanctions

Questions (448)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

448. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what powers his Department has to enact trade sanctions against Israel as a mechanism to stop the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Israel-Hamas war; what powers rest at EU level; if he will give a breakdown of the powers that he has and the powers the EU has; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1794/24]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for implementing trade related restrictive measures or “sanctions”. Trade sanctions are increasingly used by the international community as a means of exerting influence on various issues of international concern. Ireland fully subscribes to its international obligations in this regard.

Ireland does not impose any unilateral sanctions regimes but implements UN and EU sanctions. The Council of the European Union adopts EU sanctions through Council decisions, which must be agreed unanimously. The Department of Foreign Affairs negotiates for Ireland at the EU level on proposed sanctions packages. EU sanctions seek to bring about a change in the policy and/or behaviour of the target of the restrictive measures. They are used as part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to the pursuit of EU foreign policy objectives, along with political dialogue and other complementary efforts and instruments. Currently, there are over 40 EU sanctions regimes in effect. Sanctions can be used to tackle violations of international law or human rights and to promote peace, democracy and the rule of law. EU sanctions are often introduced to implement a resolution of the United Nations Security Council. Sanctions regimes will generally include trade measures such as restrictions or embargoes on exports of certain items to specific countries or end-users. For example, the export of military equipment or equipment that could be used for internal repression may be prohibited.

Work Permits

Questions (449)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

449. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued by his Department in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1807/24]

Written answers

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

The Employment Permits Section of the Department has provided the requested information in the table below which set out the number of employment permits issued in 2022 and 2023.

Year	2022	2023
Number of Employment Permits issued	39,922	30,981

Work Permits

Questions (450)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

450. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to work permits for the home care sector, the number of work permit applications received since the scheme opened in January 2023; the number of work permits issued; the number of applications returned at initial applications pre-check stage; the number of other applications rejected and the number of applications currently in processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1833/24]

Written answers

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

Changes to the employment permits system for workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to address skills shortages in Ireland’s care workers and home carer sector were announced by my Department on 16 December 2022. A quota of 1000 permits was made available for this sector.

Since the scheme opened in January 2023 up to and including 12th January 2024, 476 employment permits have been issued in respect of home carers and the total number of permits refused in respect of home carers up to the same date is 22.

Applications are only returned at pre-check stage if incomplete documentation is submitted. Where this occurs, the application is returned together with the fee, and the applicant is advised to submit a new, complete application. It is not possible to give precise figures for the number of applications  returned at pre-check stages. This is because an application is only assigned a SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code identifier at the processing stage. However, an estimate based on a keyword search of applications returned at pre-check stage up to 12th January 2024 is 93.

There are currently no applications awaiting processing and none have been rejected. Applications are only rejected if the quota assigned to the occupation concerned has been reached.

Departmental Data

Questions (451)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

451. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported jobs in each county at the end of 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1868/24]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA Ireland's 2023 results announced on 15th December last, showed 248 investments were won, with just under 19,000 associated jobs. 83 of these were new name investments from companies investing in Ireland for the very first time and 67 were expansions by companies already established here.

Total employment in IDA clients in 2023 remains over the 300,000 mark, although the 2023 figure of 300,583 is down by some 1,014 or 0.3%, when compared against the record highs of 2022. There were 132 regional investments with an associated jobs figure of 10,601, which is 53% of all projects and 56% of all jobs approved.  IDA clients now employ 163,471 people regionally, which represents 54% of client employment.  

In percentage terms, the strongest regional performance among IDA clients in 2023 has been in the Midlands Region, which is up by 6.5%, followed by the Border Region which is up by 3.8%.  While in terms of actual job numbers, the strongest performance was found in the Southwest, with over 1,000 net jobs gained.  Dublin experienced a reduction of 1,046 and the Mid-West Region is down 982 – with both regions having a concentration of companies in the tech sector.

Employment in FDI companies now accounts for some 11.3 % of the workforce. Additionally, my Department estimates that for every 10 jobs generated by FDI directly, another eight are created in the wider economy.  This translates to over 540,000 direct and indirect jobs supported by FDI at the end of 2023, almost 1/5th of the workforce.

The 2023 results reinforce the scale of the contribution of FDI to Ireland and the role that inward investment continues to play in providing jobs and opportunity for people right across the country, augmenting the indigenous enterprise sector. While the results are reassuring in the context of an increasingly challenging and competitive global environment for enterprise and for FDI, Government is not complacent.  Ireland must stay agile and ambitious to win FDI and to these ends, we are committed to delivering the policies set out in the White Paper on Enterprise.

Finally, the number of IDA supported jobs by county, for 2023, is set out in the table below. 

County	Total IDA Supported Jobs 2023
Cavan	821
Donegal	5,036
Leitrim	1,104
Monaghan	283
Sligo	2,929
Dublin	137,112
Kildare	11,909
Louth	3,674
Meath	2,173
Wicklow	2,673
Clare	5,919
Limerick	16,018
Tipperary	5,320
Laois	155
Longford	1,801
Offaly	1,385
Westmeath	4,582
Carlow	1,440
Kilkenny	1,037
Waterford	9,078
Wexford	3,746
Cork	49,253
Kerry	2,043
Galway	24,080
Mayo	5,434
Roscommon	1,578

Departmental Data

Questions (452)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

452. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-]supported jobs in each county at the end of 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1869/24]

Written answers

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

It is positive to see Enterprise Ireland supported companies recording jobs growth for the third year in a row and that employment in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland is now at its highest ever level at over 225,000 people. The latest job figures show employment increased across all economic sectors for Enterprise Ireland supported companies. In total, 15,530 new jobs were created in 2023 by companies assisted by EI.

Balanced regional development is being achieved in terms of both new jobs created and total employment: 68% of new jobs created in 2023 in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland were located outside the Dublin region. It is also welcome to note the particularly strong performance of regions outside of Dublin such as the West region (+5%), the North-East region (+5%) and the North-West region (+4%).

Enterprise Ireland surveys its’ portfolio of clients annually to collect employment data and this data is supplied in the table below.

County	No of Companies	2023 Total Employment
Carlow	68	3,916
Cavan	70	6,942
Clare	100	5,184
Cork	467	25,769
Donegal	98	3,479
Dublin	1744	74,681
Galway	234	9,104
Kerry	90	4,973
Kildare	158	9,436
Kilkenny	82	5,630
Laois	39	1,867
Leitrim	16	880
Limerick	178	8,924
Longford	27	2,392
Louth	130	6,744
Mayo	103	6,004
Meath	150	7,898
Monaghan	81	6,709
Offaly	52	4,091
Roscommon	30	1,671
Sligo	51	2,308
Tipperary	99	6,742
Waterford	98	7,580
Westmeath	73	3,178
Wexford	85	5,710
Wicklow	128	3,683
Grand Total	4451	225,495

Question No. 453 answered with Question No. 422.

Question No. 454 answered with Question No. 436.

Business Supports

Questions (455)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

455. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the provision of State supports for businesses damaged and affected due to the riots in Dublin on 23 November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1950/24]

Written answers

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

Following the appalling events of Thursday, 23 November, in Dublin City Centre, I, along with Ministers Coveney and Calleary met with business and retail representative bodies, alongside Dublin City Council, on Tuesday 28 November 2023, to discuss how to best support the continued operation of businesses in the city centre.

Also at the Retail Forum meeting in December 2023, concerns around workplace safety and retail crime were discussed. I met with my colleague the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D., to share these concerns and to discuss available options. Minister McEntee and I will continue to work to keep retailers, customers and crucially, workers safe.

This Government has responded to the needs of retailers when it came to helping them and their workers get through difficult periods. Budget 2024 contained measures which will support businesses, including the Increased Cost of Business Grant which is targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises, with a total allocation of €250m, and an extension of the 9% VAT reduction for gas and electricity until 31st October 2024, is among other measures.

My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, T.D., has provided funding of €1.5 million for Dublin City. The funding is partly in respect of clean-up and repair costs incurred by Dublin City Council, and the remainder is to be used towards staffing the dedicated City Sustainable Team, which was set up in response to the events of 23rd November last, and any other initiatives that will support and promote the city centre for retail, hospitality and tourism. This funding, which will be allocated shortly, is in recognition of the devastating impact of recent events and the vital role played by Dublin City Council in coordinating the response to repair the reputational and physical damage to our capital city.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities in Dublin – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that.

We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.

I would also urge workers who have specific concerns about their own workplace to bring those concerns directly to the Health and Safety Authority at [e-mail] or by LO-Call at 0818 289 389.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (456)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

456. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the calendar of events proposed for the duration of Ireland's chairmanship of the D9+ Group and the plans to involve Ireland's telecommunications, data and data centre sector in the running of events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1997/24]

Written answers

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

Ireland holds the chairmanship of the D9+ from January to June of this year. I will host the flagship event the D9+ Ministerial Meeting, which will take place in Dublin Castle on 19 April. The meeting will bring together Digital Ministers from the twelve D9+ countries and will be an opportunity to discuss priority digital policy issues at EU level and to exchange best practice on national approaches to digitalisation.

As is the case with previous meetings, the B9+, made up of IBEC and the equivalent business representative organisations from those Member States, will as part of the programme, have the opportunity to exchange with Ministers. The day before, 18 April, the Digital Ireland Conference will be held in the same venue. Although not formally a D9+ event, it will complement our D9+ objectives by bringing together industry representatives, academia, and political figures, to showcase Ireland’s digital ambitions, and influence EU digital policy discussions. A number of other smaller events are being considered, including those organised by Ireland’s network of embassies.

The D9+ is an informal alliance of 12 digital frontrunner EU Member States.  It comprises top-ranked European countries in the European Commission annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), plus a small number of other countries who share similar ambitions for the Digital Single Market.  The Ministers generally meet twice a year to build on their collective strengths in advanced digital policy and to confront the challenges associated with and to influence EU digital policy.  Ireland holds the Chairmanship from January to June 2024.  The other D9+ countries are Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Small and Medium Enterprises

Questions (457)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

457. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the key supports his Department is providing for the SME sector. [2096/24]

Written answers

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

This Government and my Department are fully committed in advancing the interests of SMEs in Ireland. The White Paper on Enterprise sets out an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, to protect Ireland’s strong economic position, and respond to challenges and opportunities that have emerged because of the pandemic, wider economic and geo-political developments, digitalisation, and an increased urgency to decarbonise industry. More recently, there were a number of initiatives introduced in Budget 2024 that will help support businesses in the challenges they face. 

Enterprise Ireland supports Irish SMEs in the development of global markets through a comprehensive range of supports. The support offered by EI vary from direct financial assistance through grants, loans, and equity investments, to Market Research and export development assistance, from funding and mentoring for Innovation and Research through to international Trade missions and Market Access opportunities.

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ providing a signposting service for all Government supports available to SMEs and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols e.g. Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland.

The LEOs can provide financial assistance to small businesses operating within the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. LEOs grant assistance is available the within four main categories, following the LEO Lifecycle of Pre-Start, Start, Grow and Exporting: Feasibility Grants, Priming Grants, Business Expansions Grants, Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (TAME).

The LEOs also offer a wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes that are tailored to meet specific business requirements. Whether it is a new start up or growing an existing business there are programmes that are suitable for SMEs.

LEOs can also assist businesses owners with applications to Micro-finance Ireland (MFI), which is a not-for-profit lender that offers small business loans of between €2,000 and €25,000 (unsecured). Loans for commercially viable proposals can be used to help fund start-up costs, working capital or business expansion and by applying through their LEO, clients can avail of a 1% reduction in the interest rate charged.

Along with financial, training and mentoring supports the LEOs also run a range of initiatives across the year to increase awareness of their supports and to foster entrepreneurship nationwide.  These include Local Enterprise Week, The National Enterprise Awards, National Women’s Enterprise Day, The Student Enterprise Programme, Local Enterprise Showcase @ Showcase in the RDS, The Local Enterprise Village @ the Ploughing Championships.

My Department has secured €250m for the Increased Cost of Business Scheme in Budget 2024 which will be available to SMEs who pay commercial rates to their Local Authorities, and will provide targeted refunds to around 130,000 micro and small businesses, accounting for 87% of rated businesses.

Other measures such as the new targeted Angel Investment Scheme will introduce a reduced Capital Gains Tax Rate to 16%, promoting innovation for angel investors investing in ‘innovative’ SMEs.  The increase in the Research and Development tax credit to 30% and the increase in the payment threshold to €50,000, aiming to encourage investment in R&D by both large and small companies.

Finally, the new National Enterprise Hub which will include a dedicated website and phone line to Hub Advisors, developed by Enterprise Ireland, this will help businesses to navigate the comprehensive suite of supports that are being offered to business throughout Ireland. Work is currently underway on the development of this Hub.

School Transport

Questions (458)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

458. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the school transport review publication date; her views on the expansion of the criteria for access to transport in order to allay the significant transport costs borne by parents (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56282/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/23 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.

Under the current terms of the scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Any children who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

Undoubtedly, the School Transport Scheme is of huge importance to families, the review has been conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately. Considering how to best maximise the benefits now and into the future has been a significant factor in the ongoing review of the Scheme which commenced in February 2021.

Following phase 1 of the review, Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) were introduced at post-primary level and are being continued for the current school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.

The school transport scheme has been in operation for over 55 years, since its establishment in 1967, and this review is one of the most extensive investigations that has been carried out into the Scheme since then.

There has been an extensive stakeholder engagement process, including consultation with parents, students, providers, and other key stakeholders, as part of this engagement we consulted with families who use the scheme, who would like to use the scheme and also with young people with special educational needs and mainstream students. The results from the stakeholder engagement with parents and children illustrated the importance of school transport to families with most indicating it is a safe and reliable service which helps families to live and work in rural Ireland. Another important finding of the stakeholder engagement process was that the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme supports many children in attending specialist school placements which they may otherwise may not be able to attend.

An analysis of school transport schemes in other jurisdictions was also conducted as part of this stakeholder engagement and review process including the EU, the UK, the United States and Australia. This research and analysis outlined the evidence in terms of the need for a school transport service in an Irish context compared to some comparative countries as well as an analysis of the costs to users of school transport services in some other jurisdictions.

The Technical Working Group and the Steering Group have recently completed their work on the final report of the review. This final report includes recommendations on the future operation of the scheme. The report is being submitted by the Steering Group for my consideration.

I am aware that this review is much-awaited, it is recognised that there are improvements which need to be made to the scheme and I know the importance of doing so. I expect to be in a position shortly to bring the review to government, and further to government approval, the review will be published.

School Staff

Questions (459)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

459. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers waiting for payment for the July home provision scheme; the reason there is such a delay in processing payments; the steps that will be taken to address this problem to ensure no such delays will take place in 2024; her views on whether the delays in processing payments are leading to teachers withdrawing from the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56285/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Details of 2023 Summer Programme were announced by the Department on 9 February 2023. Again, all schools were given an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.

The main priority in 2023 has been that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.

The aim of the Department is to meet the needs of families and to ensure every eligible child is provided with a summer programme. The preferred approach is that the Summer Programme is provided for children in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, adapted fun based activity programmes, special needs assistants and interaction with student peers. The school-based programmes provide a more holistic experience for students and help retain the important connection with school and peers. However, the Department does recognise that not all schools would have been in a position to provide a school-based programme. In such instances, a home-based Programme is available for students with complex special educational needs where the school-based programme is unavailable.

It is important that the home-based element of the Summer Programme provides support for the education and/or care needs of students with complex special educational needs during the summer break period.

I can confirm that all teachers and SNAs, who participated in the school-based programme and for whom claims have been submitted, have been paid.

To facilitate processing of payments for the 2023 home-based Summer Programme, it was recommended that claims for payment should be submitted as soon as possible after the programme of tuition/care support had concluded and no later than the deadline date of 8th September 2023. Payments for correctly completed claims then commenced issuing on 28th September 2023.  This was in line with 2022 Summer Programme schedule. 

Of the over 12,700 claims received in respect of the 2023 home-based Summer Programme, 99% have now been paid. Claims not paid to date include those claims where the claim form was incomplete (e.g. a portion of the form not completed/returned) or the information contained therein require further verification.  Once those issues have been resolved, payment is expected to be issued as soon as possible.  Whilst there may be a delay in processing these types of claims, it is because our priority was to ensure that all other fully completed claims, which were not subject to verification, were paid as quickly as possible. Any delay is regretted. 

The Department wishes to sincerely thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the Summer Programmes in 2023.