Written Answers Nos. 241-250
241. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the 'right to repair' measures as set out in the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan; if his Department will implement any of the proposals contained within; what is the progress to establish right to repair measures in Ireland; what preparations his Department is making; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3843/24]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamonn Ryan, has responsibility for the Circular Economy Strategy. The European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan includes as one of its actions - legislative and non-legislative measures establishing a new “right to repair”. My Department is currently engaged in the negotiations on the proposal for a Directive on common rules promoting the repair of goods. On 22 March 2023 a proposal for a Directive was published by the EU Commission on the common rules promoting the repair of goods, amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 (cooperation between national authorities on enforcement of consumer protection laws), Directives (EU) 2019/771(Sale of Goods) and (EU) 2020/1828 (Representative Actions). This proposal was one of a package of initiatives set out in the New Consumer Agenda and the Circular Economy Action Plan and follows up on the European Green Deal. The proposal aims to promote sustainable consumption via an increase in the repair and reuse of defective goods purchased by consumers within and beyond the legal guarantee of conformity. The proposal aims to make it easier and more cost-effective for consumers to repair as opposed to replace goods. It is expected that this will result in savings for consumers and support some of the objectives of the European Green Deal, such as reducing waste and carbon emissions. More demand for repairs should translate into a boost to the repair sector. The Department carried out a public consultation on the proposal in July 2023 and 18 responses were received, all of which are published on the website at enterprise.gov.ie/en/consultations. The proposal is currently at Trialogue stage and has yet to be agreed. Once the proposal is adopted as a Directive and published, Ireland, like other Member States, will be required to transpose the mandatory provisions contained within it.
242. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will identify the locations and completion date for each Advanced Building Solutions delivered under the IDA regional building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3919/24]
View answer243. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will identify each location for outstanding Advanced Building Solutions and current project lifecycle phase, ii.e., site selection, design, planning process, etc., in tabular form, for each of the outstanding Advanced Building Solutions under the IDA regional building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3920/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together.
As the deputy is aware, Government policy and the IDA strategy both recognise that the timely provision of appropriate, innovative, and cost-effective property solutions that meet the needs of multinational companies at the forefront of a modern economy remains essential to winning FDI. A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects.
The IDA Regional Property Programme ensures the supply of land, buildings and essential infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of IDA as well as those of Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. Under its current strategy, ‘Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021–2024’, IDA is progressing delivery of 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) in regional locations.
Delivery of the IDA Regional Property Programme is dependent on a wide range of external stakeholders and FDI client timelines. Many factors impact on timelines, and capital-intensive property investment projects by their very nature run over multiple years. Against the backdrop of the difficulties experienced in the construction sector globally and despite the impact of Covid and construction price inflation on both works & budgets, IDA has maintained momentum on the delivery of its Regional Property Programme.
Eight properties have been completed since the start of the current strategy. The locations and completion date for each of these is set out in Table 1 below:
Table 1
|
Building Name |
Location |
Completion Period |
|
Dundalk AOB |
Finnabair Business Park, Dundalk, Co Louth |
Q3 2022 |
|
Sligo AOB |
Sligo Business & Technology Park, Finisklin |
Q4 2021 |
|
Monaghan ABS |
Monaghan Business & Technology Park |
Q3 2021 |
|
Limerick ABS |
Raheen Business Park, Limerick |
Q4 2022 |
|
Limerick AMC |
National Technology Park, Limerick |
Q4 2021 |
|
Waterford ABS |
Waterford Business & Technology Park, Butlerstown, Waterford |
Q1 2023 |
|
Carlow ABS |
IDA Business & Technology Park, Dublin Road, Carlow |
Q4 2023 |
|
Athlone ABS |
Athlone Business & Technology Park, Westmeath |
Q4 2023 |
Additionally, there are 11 further buildings being progressed under the IDA Building Programme which are listed in Table 2 below:
Table 2
|
Building Name |
Location |
Completion Stage |
|
Sligo ABS |
Oakfield Business Park, Sligo |
Under Construction |
|
Galway ABS 2 |
Parkmore, Galway |
Under Construction |
|
Athlone AF4 |
Garrycastle, Athlone |
Under Construction |
|
Mullingar ABS |
Mullingar, Co Westmeath |
Contract Procurement Stage |
|
Cavan ABS |
Cavan |
Contract Procurement Stage |
|
Letterkenny ABS |
Letterkenny, Co Donegal |
Planning Stage |
|
Drogheda ABS |
Drogheda, Co Louth |
Planning Stage |
|
Tralee |
Tralee, Co Kerry |
Design Stage & Planning |
|
Longford ABS |
Longford |
Site Identification |
|
Oranmore |
Galway |
Site Identification |
|
Castlebar |
Castlebar, Co Mayo |
Site Identification |
Many factors impact on timelines for the delivery of construction projects including, site identification, willing vendors, planning, procurement & a variety of macro-economic factors.
In that regard, the construction industry continues to be impacted by global supply chain and cost inflation challenges. IDA Property Division continues to monitor these challenges and the impact of same on the delivery of the regional property programme. IDA will use its best endeavours to deliver all buildings in a timely manner.
244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to clarify when he expects to sign the next Joint Labour Committee Employment Regulation Order, JLC ERO, into law; if he will report on his meeting with the JLC ERO body on 26 January 2024 to go through submission in the WRC; and if he accepts that six months have now elapsed since the signing of the last JLC ERO on 4 September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/24]
View answerJoint Labour Committees (JLCs) are independent in their functions. If a JLC adopts proposals for an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for a sector, it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. The Labour Court will then make a decision on the adoption of the proposals. If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, a copy is presented to me and, if I consider it appropriate to do so, I will make an ERO giving effect to the proposals.
The most recent ERO, which was for the Security Sector, came into force on 4th September 2023. I have not to date received a proposal from the Labour Court in relation to any other ERO.
I have not attended a meeting with a JLC and do not plan to do so in the future.
245. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how much money Enterprise Ireland has written off in investments it has made in companies for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4149/24]
View answerOver the last six years Enterprise Ireland has had to write off €54.2 million of equity investments.Enterprise Ireland have confirmed that the amounts recommended for write-off have been identified as uncollectable following Enterprise Ireland’s due diligence procedure. Traditionally, uncollectable amounts stem from company liquidation or dissolution. A subset arises from settled agreements or uncollectable amounts per legal advice.
|
Year |
Total Equity (inc dividends) Written Off |
|
2018 |
€14.1 million |
|
2019 |
€10.6 million |
|
2020 |
€8.8 million |
|
2021 |
€10.4 million |
|
2022 |
€3.1 million |
|
2023 |
€7.2 million |
|
Total 2018-2023 |
€54.2 million |
246. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the discussions that have taken place with member states in respect of the EU steel safeguarding tariff; whether the measures are set to continue in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4165/24]
View answerThis matter relates to the safeguard measures imposed by the EU relating to certain steel products which were initiated in July 2018 in response to the US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium.The US measures applied a 25% tariff on steel imports originating from third countries, including the EU. This action by the US resulted in steel originally destined for the US being diverted to the EU, with a consequence of inundating the EU market with steel products to the possible detriment of Union industry and producers.
In response, the Commission established safeguard measures to manage the volume of steel entering the Single Market from third countries. The measures currently in place allow for the importation of steel from third countries - by way of quotas - in line with traditional volumes of trade in steel. Steel imports outside of the quotas are subject to a 25% tariff on landing in the EU. The current measures are due to expire at the end of June 2024. World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules allow for the application of safeguard measures for up to 8 years. Any extension will require a vote by EU Member States, which will operate on a Qualified Majority Vote (QMV) basis.
247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued in Ireland from 1 January to 31 December 2023; the breakdown by nationality that each of the work permits was issued to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4193/24]
View answer248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued in Ireland from 1 January to 31 December 2022; the breakdown by nationality that each of the work permits was issued to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4194/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.
I will answer PQ's 4193/24 and 4194/24 together.
The Employment Permits Section of the Department has provided the figures below showing the number of employment permits granted in 2022 and 2023 by nationality. This information is also available on the Department's website through the following link: Statistics - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie)
249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a schedule of the number of civilian drivers and Garda drivers attached to him and to Ministers of State of his Department; to provide the official work pattern for each driver and the total annual hours worked by each driver; and to indicate the number of drivers assigned to each Minister and Minister of State. [4217/24]
View answerThere are two civilian drivers employed in each of the two Ministers of State Offices in my Department. These appointments were made In line with the “Instructions to HR Managers on Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil” and the “Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministerial Offices for the 33rd Dáil’’.
The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the civilian drivers:
Office of the Minister for Trade Promotion, Mr. Dara Calleary, T.D
|
Number of Drivers |
Official work pattern |
Hours of attendance |
|
2 |
Seven days on and seven days off on a week-on week-off basis. |
Not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per working week. |
Office of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Retail, Mr. Neil Redmond, T.D.
|
Number of Drivers |
Official work pattern |
Hours of attendance |
|
2 |
Seven days on and seven days off on a week-on week-off basis. |
Not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per working week. |
In relation to Garda Drivers, I have to two Garda drivers who are assigned to me by an Garda Síochána to provide these services. Their terms and conditions, including their official work patterns and the number of hours worked are a matter for an Garda Síochana.
250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education given the shortage of teaching staff, if her department is willing to allow those who have a level 8 qualification in early years education to teach in primary schools up to level of 2nd class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3622/24]
View answerEnsuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.
Department of Education regulations allow for the appointment of an unregistered person by a school in limited exceptions where a school has been unable to appoint a registered teacher in accordance with the normal appointment procedures.
An unregistered person must hold at least a level 7 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications (within the meaning of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012).
While my Department continues to engage closely with the school management bodies, teacher unions and other education stakeholders on developing measures aimed to improve the availability of teachers, and to identify additional measures which can be taken, it is not currently intended to amend the regulations covering the appointment of an unregistered person.
