Ged Nash
Question:141. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he hopes to publish the report of the Finance for Scaling Working Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5341/24]
View answerDepartmental Reports
Questions (141)
Written answers
Following consistent feedback from the market that scale ups are having difficulty accessing finance in Ireland, my Department established the Finance for Scale Ups (FSU) Working Group in 2022
This group consisted of representatives from my Department, the Department of Finance; Enterprise Ireland (EI); the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF); the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI); and the European Investment Bank/European Investment Fund (EIB / EIF).
The Group has now developed actionable recommendations to support high potential firms to access scaling finance and these will be set out in its Report, entitled “The Use of Finance as a Catalyst to Develop a Scaling Ecosystem”.
I intend to publish the report of the Finance for Scaling Working Group before the end of Q1 of this year.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (142)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:142. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5346/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department did not start spending on online advertising until 2018.
Details of advertising spend for both traditional and online advertising for the past ten years are set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Traditional Advertising Costs € |
Online Advertising Costs € |
Total € |
|
2014 |
80,287 |
|
80,287 |
|
2015 |
532,961 |
532,961 |
|
|
2016 |
113,035 |
113,035 |
|
|
2017 |
285,859 |
|
285,859 |
|
2018 |
60,380 |
|
60,380 |
|
2019 |
170,011 |
10,644 |
180,655 |
|
2020 |
38,889 |
19,963 |
58,852 |
|
2021 |
318,793 |
48,812 |
367,605 |
|
2022 |
74,630 |
148,325 |
222,955 |
|
2023 |
134,164.92 |
90,853.34 |
225,018 |
|
2024 |
0 |
1,475 |
1,475 |
Departmental Contracts
Questions (143)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5364/24]
View answerWritten answers
The public relations services providers engaged by my Department and Offices of my Department and the details of the services supplied and the expenditure on each from 2014 to 2018 are set out in the below table.
My Department has not spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental / Ministerial public relations from 2019 to date.
|
Year |
Name of Public Services Provider |
Details of Services Supplied |
Cost€ |
Total € |
|
2014 |
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content, and production of reports & brochures). |
3,136 |
3,136 |
|
2015 |
Barberry Ltd |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content, and production of reports & brochures). |
3,505 |
3,505 |
|
2016 |
Barberry Ltd Fuzion Communications |
To provide the Workplace Relations Commission with Communication Services (including PR; Media Monitoring advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures. Provision of Communications services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
4,981 686 |
5,667 |
|
2017 |
Drury Porter Novelli Fuzion Communications Fuzion Communications |
To provide PR and event support for information campaigns; encouraging and informing companies on how to prepare their business for Brexit Provision of a range of Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission Development of Communications Strategy for the Workplace Relations Commission to enhance activity impact and its roll out in 2017 |
15,238 6,7534,404 |
26,395 |
|
2018 |
Fuzion Communications |
Communications advice to the Workplace Relations Commission |
1,882 |
1,882 |
Departmental Legal Services
Questions (144)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5382/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department and its Offices spent a total of €11,156,299 on legal costs or legal services in the past 10 years and to January 2024 (see attached table).
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (145)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:145. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [5400/24]
View answerWritten answers
Office space for my Department and its Offices is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. Therefore, my Department does not own, purchase or rent office space. My Department works closely with OPW colleagues to ensure that the provision of such office space is appropriate, fit-for-purpose and every effort is made to optimise the physical space that is made available to us through the OPW.
The amount spent by my Department and Offices on the procurement of office furniture and ICT equipment, in each of the past ten years and to-date in 2024 stands at €9,098,188. Details of the annual expenditure since 2014 is included in tabular format below broken down separately between ICT and furniture.
In respect of ICT Office equipment, the amounts spent in each of the past ten years, and to-date in 2024, includes all ICT equipment purchased to provide ICT services to staff in the Department and its Offices including PC’s/laptops, printers, servers and network equipment.
|
Year |
ICT Equipment* |
Furniture* |
|
2014 |
€730,186 |
€52,210 |
|
2015 |
€510,777 |
€121,414 |
|
2016 |
€1,139,448 |
€281,926 |
|
2017 |
€1,077,213 |
€83,671 |
|
2018 |
€626,521 |
€67,255 |
|
2019 |
€805,424 |
€14,880 |
|
2020 |
€1,420,308 |
€38,814 |
|
2021 |
€456,155 |
€182,324 |
|
2022 |
€526,913 |
€180,451 |
|
2023 |
€693,174 |
€86,727 |
|
2024 to-date |
€1,820 |
€577 |
|
TOTAL |
7,987,939 |
1,110,249 |
* Please note that the Offices referred to are the Workplace Relations Commission, the Companies Registration Office, the Labour Court and the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland. The figures supplied for the years in question are also inclusive of data in respect of the former Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement up until the formal establishment of the Corporate Enforcement Authority on 7th July 2022.
Work Permits
Questions (146)
Patrick Costello
Question:146. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will include mechanics on the critical skills given the urgent need to help expedite the roll-out of BusConnects. [5425/24]
View answerWritten answers
I announced the report of the 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupation Lists in December last which delivered comprehensive changes to the employment permits system.
The report comprised the addition of 11 roles to the critical skills occupations list and the removal of 32 roles from the ineligible occupations list (with or without quota) thus becoming eligible for a general employment permit. A roadmap up to January 2026 for increasing salary thresholds for employment permits has also been introduced which commenced the first adjustments to the Minimum Annual Remuneration thresholds from 17th January.
The Department received 112 distinct submissions to the review from a range of stakeholders including small and medium sized entities, government departments and employment permit users. Within those submissions were requests to change the status of 356 separate roles across a wide range of sectors in the economy including the motor trade sector.
Submissions to the review were subject to consideration by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy. The IDG consists of cross-departmental membership including the Department of Transport which has policy responsibility for this sector.
Given the importance of the mechanic role in the context of the changing nature of retail, expansion of eCommerce, home delivery and the increased reliance on public transport in line with green policies it was determined that the role was eligible for removal from the Ineligible Occupation List subject to a quota restriction of 200 General Employment Permits.
Applications for a General Employment Permit as a vehicle mechanic may be submitted via the Department's online application system, subject to a range of relevant criteria including a labour market needs test and the revised remuneration for the permit type.
Business Supports
Questions (147)
Niamh Smyth
Question:147. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review correspondence as regards increases in costs for SMEs (details supplied); and if he will outline what supports are available from his Department to assist struggling SMEs. [5447/24]
View answerWritten answers
It is understandable that businesses are concerned about the impact of rising costs, and this Government is continuing to monitor the situation regarding the costs of doing business. It is also important to acknowledge that SMEs, and in particular the retail and hospitality sectors, are key employment generators for Ireland, particularly in more rural areas.
Significant support has been provided to enterprise throughout the period of increasing costs, and the Government has been proactive in this regard. However, it is not possible to insulate every business from the total impact of rising costs.
Over the two years prior to Budget 2024, a total of €12 billion was provided in cost of living and doing business supports, comprising a mix of permanent and one-off measures. The main programme introduced by Government to alleviate cost pressures for small business was the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS), with businesses receiving direct payments and tax liability offsets to the value of €150 million.
Budget 2024 also contained several measures to support businesses facing increased costs. For example:
• The 9% VAT reduction for gas and electricity was extended for an additional 12 months, until the 31st of October 2024;
• The temporary excise rate reductions applying to auto diesel, petrol and marked gas oil were extended, until the 31st of March 2024; and,
• There was an increase in VAT registration thresholds for SMEs to €40,000 for services and €80,000 for goods.
The Increased Cost of Business Grant was also announced and will be targeted at small and medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. This scheme is intended to aid firms who have been most affected by increases in business costs but is not intended to directly compensate for all increases in wages, or other costs, for every business. The total allocation for the ICOB grant is €257 million.
My Department is currently working with the Local Authorities on the administration of the ICOB grant, to ensure that support can be provided in early 2024. The Grant will be available to up to 143,000 businesses operating from a rateable premises, or 95% of all commercially trading business premises nationwide.
An important consideration facing many firms relates to those tax debts warehoused during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister for Finance has announced that Government will make changes to the Tax Debt Warehousing scheme including a reduction in the interest rate applying to warehoused tax debt to 0%.
Over the last number of years this Government has introduced or progressed several initiatives to improve working conditions in Ireland, including progress towards introducing a living wage, an auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme, the right to request remote work, sick pay legislation and improvements to parent’s leave and parent’s benefit. An assessment is currently being undertaken by my Department and the Department of Social Protection which will examine the cumulative impact on enterprise of these measures. This assessment has been informed by engagement between officials from my Department and both employer and employee representatives. This report is currently being finalised and will inform public policy in this area.
This Government has adopted an active approach in supporting Irish businesses across multiple crises over the last number of years, including the introduction of unemployment supports during the COVID -19 pandemic, the provision of financial supports to firms facing the implications of Brexit, and more recently, through the period of increasing overhead costs. My Department is fully committed to serving the SME sector and the measures included in Budget 2024 reflect this.
Joint Labour Committees
Questions (148)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:148. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given that employers, security officers and trade unions had up to 2 January 2024 to enter submissions and that almost one month has elapsed since; when he plans to sign the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee Employment Regulation Order draft proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5467/24]
View answerWritten answers
Joint 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, 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 another ERO.
White Papers
Questions (149)
Catherine Connolly
Question:149. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the implementation of the white paper on enterprise; the status of the second update report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5471/24]
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 enterprise strategy for the medium- to long-term, which will work to enable Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods.
In May of last year, my Department 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, identifying a portfolio of 40 key initiatives across the White Paper’s seven policy priorities, divided into 93 underlying activities and deliverables. The majority of these initiatives are led by my Department and the enterprise agencies, with further activities under the remit of other Departments across Government.
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, containing details of the progress made during the first six months of 2023. Key actions advanced include progress made towards 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.
The Update Report also contains details on progress made against the 15 key targets set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, where data are available. These updated targets indicate progress made across the enterprise sector, including on the regionalisation of enterprise and investment, growth in national and regional employment rates, an increase in the number of large Irish exporting companies, an increase in the number of high-potential start-ups created, as well as growth in the productivity rates of domestic enterprise.
The second update report, covering the second half of 2023, is currently being developed by officials in my Department, in keeping with its schedule of being developed in Q1 2024.
Departmental Reports
Questions (150)
Catherine Connolly
Question:150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the publication of his Department’s report into the impact of recent policy changes on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5472/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection, is assessing the cumulative impact of recent and forthcoming changes to working conditions, including the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme, Parent’s Leave and Benefit, Statutory Sick Pay, the Additional Public Holiday, the Living Wage, and Remote Working. This follows a recommendation by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council that a cumulative impact assessment be undertaken.
In preparing this report, officials from my Department met with representatives from a cross-section of enterprises who are among the most impacted by forthcoming changes to working conditions. My Department also hosted workshops with both employer representatives and trade union officials, providing stakeholders with an opportunity to articulate their views on forthcoming changes. As part of this engagement, My Department sought both quantitative and qualitative information, which provided valuable evidence of the impact that these measures are expected to have across a range of sectors.
This report is currently being finalised and will inform public policy in this area.
Work Permits
Questions (151)
Catherine Connolly
Question:151. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 22 November 2023, the status of the report by the Implementation Group to address the recommendations of the March 2022 Department of Justice Report on the Review of the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet; the timeline for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5473/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Implementation Group was established to oversee the recommendations contained in the Review of the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet Report. The Group includes representatives from sector agencies and three Government Departments with responsibility for one action falling under my own Department.
My Department has engaged with An Bord Iascaigh Mhara in a consultation exercise to conclude the transition from the atypical working scheme and to establish the conditions governing the fishing sector's access to the Employment Permits System in a structured and well managed manner.
The Department met with sector stakeholders’ bodies towards the end of last year to discuss additional conditions to the standard conditions applicable to the General Employment Permit in the provision of employment permits to this sector.
These are currently under consideration by the cross-departmental group and pending agreement, it is anticipated that eligibility for non-EEA fishers for General Employment Permits will be established and implemented through statutory instrument in the coming weeks.
State Bodies
Questions (152)
Paul Donnelly
Question:152. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the countries overseas where IDA Ireland has hired out a business development consultant to carry out work on its behalf in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [5521/24]
View answerWritten answers
An important element of the IDA’s strategy is to diversify its market reach by broadening the geographic profile of investment. To support this objective, a ‘Pioneering Markets’ team was established within the Growth Markets Division of IDA Ireland in 2019, tasked with extending IDA’s global footprint. This approach has been supported by the appointment of a number of in-market part-time business development consultants located across multiple geographies including South America, South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and during 2022, Israel.
These consultants identify target companies with potential for investing in Ireland, engage with senior decision-makers in these companies and promote Ireland as an inward investment location.
The following table summarises the locations of IDA Ireland’s business development consultants since 2022.
|
- |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
South America |
in place |
in place |
in place |
|
South Africa |
in place |
in place |
in place |
|
UAE |
in place |
in place |
in place |
|
Israel |
in place (contract commenced February 2022) |
None (contract ended January 2023) |
None |
State Bodies
Questions (153)
Paul Donnelly
Question:153. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the countries overseas where Enterprise Ireland has hired out business development consultants to carry out work on its behalf in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024 in tabular form. [5522/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government’s agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets.
With 39 offices worldwide, Enterprise Ireland’s team of international market advisers work with Irish companies to accelerate their exports across the globe. In addition to these market teams, and to best serve the wide range of Irish client company requests across the globe, Enterprise Ireland also engages external consultants/pathfinders to support their client needs. These external consultants/pathfinders supplement their direct overseas capability providing clients with valuable connections, market and regulatory insights as well as sectoral and functional expertise.
The following is a list of export markets where Enterprise Ireland engaged external consultants/pathfinders in 2022/2023/2024 to support the needs of Irish client companies.
|
Countries |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 YTD |
|
AFRICA OTHER |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
AUSTRALIA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
BELGIUM |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
BRAZIL |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
CANADA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
CHINA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
FRANCE |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
GERMANY |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
HUNGARY |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
INDIA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
INDONESIA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
ITALY |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
JAPAN |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
MEXICO/COLOMBIA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
NETHERLANDS |
Y |
N |
N |
|
POLAND |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
RUSSIA |
Y |
N |
N |
|
SAUDI ARABIA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
SINGAPORE |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
SOUTH AFRICA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
SOUTH KOREA |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
SPAIN |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
SWEDEN |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
UAE |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
UK |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
USA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Question No. 154 answered with Question No. 135.
Co-operative Sector
Questions (155)
John Lahart
Question:155. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the development of the co-operative sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5587/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Co-operative Societies Bill provides for the most far-reaching reform of the legislation regarding co-operative societies in over 130 years. The Bill provides for a specific legislative framework for co-operative societies for the first time, with societies registering under the legislation being required to adhere to the co-operative ethos. It consolidates and modernises existing provisions and introduces modern corporate governance, financial reporting and compliance requirements, thereby providing confidence to stakeholders and making co-operatives more attractive to investors.
Experience internationally suggests that the potential of co-operatives in Ireland has not been fully exploited and that there is scope for the co-operative model to play a greater role across a wider range of activities. The Bill introduces a modern legal framework which will place the co-operative model on a more favourable and clear legal basis. It will create a level playing field with the situation applying to companies and encourage the consideration of the co-operative model as an attractive formation option for entrepreneurs and also for social and community activities.
The Bill includes provisions to make it easier to set-up and operate a co-operative society – by reducing the minimum number of founding members (from seven to three); expanding the categories of founding members to include bodies corporate; providing for audit exemptions for smaller co-operatives; and providing for virtual and hybrid participation at general meetings. The legislation will also repeal the existing outdated provisions on raising funds which will make it easier to access various sources of finance.
In recognition of the significant diversity across the co-operative sector, the Bill seeks to provide as much flexibility as possible, thereby empowering co-operative societies to reflect in their rules what best suits their own particular circumstances.
Drafting of the Bill is ongoing by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in consultation with officials in my Department. Due to the length of the Bill and its complex nature, it is not envisaged that drafting will be finalised and the Bill brought to Government for publication until Quarter 2 of this year.
Industrial Development
Questions (156)
Pauline Tully
Question:156. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA backed companies currently located in counties Cavan and Monaghan, in tabular form; the number of IDA backed companies located in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; the number of site visits that were conducted by the IDA in each county in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; the amount of funding that was expended by the IDA in each county in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5601/24]
View answerWritten answers
There are 72 IDA Ireland supported companies in the border region (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan) that collectively employ 10,173 people, and 15 IDA supported companies in Cavan and Monaghan, collectively employing 1,104 people.
The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 21% within the Engineering & Industrial Technologies, Medical Technologies, Technology, International Financial Services and Life Sciences sectors.
Key to the border region’s success is strategic collaboration with national and local stakeholders on the enhancement of the regional value proposition for FDI. In this regard, IDA Ireland welcomes the significant funding that Cavan and Monaghan have received under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) to date which will add to the placemaking successes and the value proposition of both counties.
IDA is targeting 25 investments for the border region in the period 2021 to 2024 as part of its current strategy “Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 to 2024" and will continue to actively promote Cavan and Monaghan as part of the wider Border value proposition. The region has fostered strong collaboration, for example through Atlantic Technological University Sligo’s participation in NIBRT, the development of the BORMAC (Border Region Manufacturing Cluster) and Atlantic Technological University Donegal’s engagement with client companies on the formation of a North-West chapter of Cyber Ireland. The agency will build on the strengths and competencies of the region and take advantage of opportunities in emerging technologies and business models, including home and hub working.
Moreover, IDA Ireland has recently completed the construction of an Advance Building Solution in Monaghan as part of its Regional Property Programme which it is actively marketing to potential FDI clients. The agency also plans to deliver an Advanced Building Solution in Cavan which is currently at Phase 1 of a tendering process.
The most recent investment announcement was in March 2022, when California head-quartered Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. announced an Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre in Cavan, which will create approximately 100 jobs when fully operational.
IDA Ireland will continue to work closely with existing clients across the region to retain and strengthen their presence through transformation as well as pursuing new areas of opportunity and is working with Enterprise Ireland and its indigenous base of companies to identify synergies and collaborative opportunities, to build value chain linkages and to advance clustering.
Finally, the number of companies located in Cavan and Monaghan, the number of site visits that were conducted by the IDA in each county and the amount of funding that was expended by the IDA in each county in 2021, 2022, 2023, is set out in the table below.
|
- |
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Companies |
Cavan |
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
Monaghan |
8 |
8 |
6 |
|
Site Visits* |
Cavan |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Monaghan |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
Grant Payments |
Cavan |
€596,770 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
|
Monaghan |
€0 |
€150,000 |
€0 |
*2023 site visits is to Q3 2023.
Industrial Development
Questions (157)
Paul Murphy
Question:157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline what assurances were given to a company (details supplied) in relation to a plant prior to its construction and to publish any letters containing such assurances. [5633/24]
View answerWritten answers
It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any aspect of an appeal undertaken by a company in respect of an EPA decision. I note the Deputy is referring to matters dating back some 50 years ago and I am advised that IDA Ireland does not have records dating back to 1974.
Aughinish Alumina manufactures alumina, a feedstock for the production of aluminium metal, which is sold to smelters for down-stream processing. The economic benefits arising from Aughinish are significant especially to the region. It employs circa 780 people on the site in Askeaton, made up of 480 permanent direct employees along with an additional 300 permanent full-time contractors. The wage bill is c. €50 million per year and expenditure on goods and services is in excess of €44 million per year. In addition, it is the biggest user of the Port of Foynes, Askeaton, the largest ratepayer in Co. Limerick and is the county’s largest single-site user of energy which it generates from its own "CHP" (Combined Heat and Power) plants and the unused balance is sold to the Irish grid and powers c. 220,000 homes.
Similar to all IDA clients, IDA Ireland maintains a working relationship with the company. IDA Ireland can support clients on their journeys to decarbonisation.
National Minimum Wage
Questions (158)
Pearse Doherty
Question:158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated number of workers who benefitted from the increase in the minimum wage in 2024; the number of workers who will benefit from the second step in moving towards the living wage in 2025; and the number of workers who will benefit from the third step in moving towards the living wage in 2026. [5689/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, The National Minimum Wage increased to €12.70 per hour from 1 January 2024. This represents an €1.40 increase, or 12.4%, on the 2023 rate of €11.30 per hour and is considered the second year of a proposed four-year path towards reaching the living wage of 60% of the median wage by January 2026. The Low Pay Commission has estimated that the figure of €12.70 is 55.1% of the hourly median wage.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has informed me that in Q3 2023 there were 132,800 employees who reported that they earned the national minimum wage, with a further 38,900 reporting that they earned less than the national minimum wage of €11.30. The total number of employees in Q3 2023 was 2,287,000. A combined total of 173,000 employees reported that they earned the national minimum wage or less. This represents 7.8% of the total, excluding those recorded as ‘not stated’. Employees can earn less than the National Minimum Wage if they are among groups exempted by the National Minimum Wage Acts or if they are paid sub-minimum (youth) rates of the National Minimum Wage.
It is not possible to estimate the number of workers who will be in receipt of the minimum wage in future years as this is contingent on the future development of the labour market and any further changes in the National Minimum Wage.
Under the National Minimum Wages Acts the Low Pay Commission is required to make a recommendation on the National Minimum Wage by the third Tuesday of July each year.
The Low Pay Commission’s next recommendation on the minimum wage is due in July 2024 and will relate to the 2025 National Minimum Wage.
Under the National Minimum Wages Acts the Low Pay Commission is obliged to consider a range of criteria when making its recommendations on the minimum wage. These criteria include changes in earnings and income distribution, productivity, employment and competitiveness.
The Commission has the discretion to use adjustment mechanisms to recommend slowing down or speeding up progress towards the living wage, in response to any specific circumstances that have had a significant impact on economic conditions.
Government will make a decision on the appropriate rate of the 2025 National Minimum Wage following receipt of the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation in July.
Teacher Training
Questions (159)
Róisín Shortall
Question:159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education her plans to support and promote the provision of home economics teacher training courses in the greater Dublin area; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5264/24]
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My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers. For example, to meet longer-term teacher demand, higher education institutions have developed new 4 year initial teacher education programmes in a number of post-primary priority subject areas, including Home Economics.
There are currently a number of providers of home economics Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) programmes.
ATU St Angela’s Sligo, a provider of a home economics ITE programme reverted from five to four years from 2021. Additionally, ATU St Angela’s Sligo, has substantially increased its Home Economics student numbers and also deliver a Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) programme. Other ITE providers for Home Economics include Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Thurles campus) and University of Galway, while University College Cork are due to start the provision of postgraduate programmes in Home Economics in September 2024.
The Munster Technological University (MTU) has developed the Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) to upskill already registered post primary teachers to meet the Teaching Council’s requirements for registration as a teacher of home economics.
The development and expansion of existing programmes in Home Economics will increase the number of teachers available. My Department continues to engage closely with HEIs to ensure that there will be an adequate number of Home Economic programmes to meet future demand in this subject area.