Written Answers Nos. 486-505
486. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects to receive the new security workers ERO; when he expects to sign the order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35565/24]
View answerOn the 26th of June 2024, I signed the Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the Security Sector which came into force on 1st of July 2024. The ERO provided for a wage increase to €14.50 per hour from that date. The full details of the ERO are available here: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/si/319/made/en/
No further legislative changes to the rates of pay and work conditions for security officers in the security industry are under consideration.
Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are independent in their functions. Under legislation, the JLC may submit proposals to revoke or amend the ERO to the Labour Court once the Order has been in force for at least six months.
The Labour Court will then make a decision on the adoption of the proposals. If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, a copy will be presented to me and, if I consider it appropriate to do so, I will make an ERO giving effect to the proposals following due and timely consideration.
Until then I have no role in relation to a new ERO.
487. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the recent complaints regarding a company's use (details supplied) of 'in-demand' or 'dynamic' pricing for concert tickets, which has led to substantial and unexpected price increases; if he will investigate these practices to ensure they are fair and transparent to consumers; if he will take appropriate action to protect consumers from unfair and misleading pricing tactics; if he will provide guidance on any measures that can be implemented to enhance transparency and fairness in ticket pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35566/24]
View answerIreland has a strong track record when it comes to protecting consumers in the area of ticket sales. This government introduced legislation on ticket pricing in 2021 (the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021) which prohibits the sale or advertising for sale of tickets or ticket packages for a price exceeding their original sale price for events taking place in designated venues or for designated events. I remain firmly committed to ensuring consumers are provided with sufficient pricing information before they choose to purchase a product or service, including tickets.
Consumer law requires traders to provide certain information to consumers prior to purchase. This includes the total price, inclusive of taxes, allowing consumers to make the informed choice whether to purchase or not. Individual businesses can decide on the prices of the products they sell, and they are permitted to adjust their prices in response to demand or other factors, once an accurate price is displayed to the consumer in advance of the sale so that the consumer can decide if they want to proceed.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the independent statutory body that enforces competition and consumer law under the remit of this Department, continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the market, including ticket sales, and to investigate potential breaches, prohibited practices and offences.
Reflecting concerns with regard to concert ticket sales on 31 August, Minister Burke asked the CCPC to report to him on its review of pricing strategies employed on this occasion. In response, CCPC has advised that it believes there are legitimate concerns around the consumer experiences of buying concert tickets on 31 August and it has now opened an investigation into the matter. The CCPC will take appropriate action if consumer protection law was broken. Minister Burke and I will respect the independent nature of this investigation and await with interest its outcome. The outcome of the investigation will inform the consideration of any possible policy amendments.
Separately, I understand the EU Commission is also considering the use of dynamic pricing as part of a “fitness check” of EU consumer law on digital fairness. The Department will engage with the Commission on this matter.
488. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proportion of new jobs in Enterprise Ireland-supported firms from Q1 2021 to Q2 2024 that occurred in each of the five cities and outside the five cities; if the target he is setting for the regional spread of employment growth will change in light of the updated National Planning Framework’s projection that 50% of job growth will occur outside the five cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35601/24]
View answerThe Irish labour market remains exceptionally resilient as we move through 2024, with another successive quarter showing a new record for the highest number of people employed in our country. More than half of the jobs created in the past year were outside of Dublin, this is a testament to this Government’s commitment to achieving more balanced regional enterprise development.
The recently published Labour Force Survey (LFS) published by the Central Statistics Office show continued growth in Ireland’s labour market, with 70,800 jobs created in the year to Q2 2024. Employment now stands at 2.74 million, an increase of approximately 2.6% over Q2 2023.
This is reflective of the success of the Government’s focus on driving a labour market recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, as set out in the Economic Recovery Plan. This commitment to continued employment growth has been renewed in the government’s White Paper on Enterprise, published in December 2022, which sets out the strategic direction for job creation in the years ahead.
With regards to new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland-supported firms, Enterprise Ireland have advised that their 2024 Employment figures will not be available until later in the year, following the completion of the Annual Employment Survey (AES). The most recent figures available are for 2023.
In 2023, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 225,495, the highest ever recorded. In this year, the total number of jobs created was 15,530. When job losses were taken into account, there was a positive net jobs result of 5,011.
68% of new jobs created in 2023 in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland were located outside the Dublin region. Eight out of nine regions recorded net jobs growth, with the West region (+5%), the North-East region (+5%) and the North-West region (+4%) performing strongly.
With the exception of the Dublin Boroughs and Cork, Enterprise Ireland supported employment figures are not broken down beyond county level for confidentiality purposes. Figures are included below.
From an inward investment perspective, IDA’s strategy (2021-24) was designed to further consolidate and build on the positive impact of FDI for the Irish economy and employment opportunities throughout the country, targeting at least half of all investments - that is 400 of 800 - from 2021 to 2024 to regional locations.
IDA is now in the final year of its current strategy and recent performance of the FDI sector has exceeded expectations in an increasingly challenging global economic environment. The total number of regional jobs now stands at 163,471 of a total of 300,583 as at the end of 2023. 131 investments were won in the first half of 2024, 74 of which were secured across regional locations, representing 56% of all investments.
Advancing Ireland’s FDI and Trade Value Proposition is a key pillar of Ireland’s enterprise strategy as set out in the Government’s White paper on Enterprise 2022-2030. In this context, IDA is at an advanced stage of development of its successor strategy for the period ahead which will seek to protect and enhance Ireland’s international reputation to promote and facilitate FDI and continue attract jobs and investment throughout the country while ensuring FDI embeddedness in Ireland and continued agility in a changing world.
Breakdown of EI supported job gains for the Dublin Boroughs & Cork:
|
- |
Total Gains 2023 |
Total Gains 2022 |
Total Gains 2021 |
|
Dublin City |
2,520 |
3,122 |
2,947 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
550 |
853 |
719 |
|
Dublin South County |
800 |
1,017 |
1,064 |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown |
1,148 |
2,034 |
1,423 |
|
Total Dublin |
5,018 |
7,026 |
6,153 |
|
- |
Total Gains 2023 |
Total Gains 2022 |
Total Gains 2021 |
|
Cork City |
791 |
937 |
299 |
|
Cork County |
904 |
1,154 |
1,746 |
|
Total Cork |
1,695 |
2,091 |
2,045 |
Total EI supported employment gains in the 5 cities referred to in the National Planning Framework:
|
- |
Total Gains 2023 |
Total Gains 2022 |
Total Gains 2021 |
|
Co Cork |
1,695 |
1,695 |
2,045 |
|
Co Dublin |
5,018 |
7,026 |
6,153 |
|
Co Galway |
887 |
982 |
983 |
|
Co Limerick |
689 |
853 |
915 |
|
Co Waterford |
496 |
931 |
630 |
Total EI supported employment gains all Counties:
|
- |
Total Gains 2023 |
Total Gains 2022 |
Total Gains 2021 |
|
Carlow |
228 |
275 |
331 |
|
Cavan |
556 |
310 |
256 |
|
Clare |
331 |
594 |
417 |
|
Cork |
1,695 |
1,695 |
2,045 |
|
Donegal |
287 |
210 |
271 |
|
Dublin |
5,018 |
7,026 |
6,153 |
|
Galway |
887 |
982 |
983 |
|
Kerry |
335 |
466 |
406 |
|
Kildare |
555 |
597 |
449 |
|
Kilkenny |
452 |
560 |
549 |
|
Laois |
72 |
87 |
188 |
|
Leitrim |
57 |
30 |
86 |
|
Limerick |
689 |
853 |
915 |
|
Longford |
118 |
147 |
114 |
|
Louth |
504 |
613 |
710 |
|
Mayo |
619 |
481 |
446 |
|
Meath |
430 |
816 |
706 |
|
Monaghan |
616 |
435 |
498 |
|
Offaly |
137 |
264 |
287 |
|
Roscommon |
107 |
144 |
141 |
|
Sligo |
161 |
150 |
350 |
|
Tipperary |
497 |
464 |
518 |
|
Waterford |
496 |
931 |
630 |
|
Westmeath |
181 |
297 |
226 |
|
Wexford |
299 |
535 |
312 |
|
Wicklow |
203 |
302 |
257 |
|
Total |
15,530 |
19,660 |
18,146 |
489. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has identified any priority sectors when developing the National Clustering Programme due to be published in Q3 2024; the factors that contributed to the identification of particular sectors as ‘priority’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35602/24]
View answerThe White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 recognises clustering as a key tool for achieving enterprise policy objectives, including driving innovation, attracting and embedding FDI and developing linkages between multinationals and indigenous firms. It proposes the establishment of a National Clustering Programme (NCP), with a target to fund 5 national cluster organisations by 2025.
In March 2024 my Department engaged three international experts on clustering from TCI (The Competitiveness Institute) to undertake a Peer Review of the draft National Clustering Programme which had been drawn up based on the Grant Thornton evidence base report and consultations with stakeholders. This included a one day workshop, facilitated by the three international experts, in Trinity College Dublin which was attended by over 70 stakeholders from the Irish clustering ecosystem. The final report was delivered at the end of July. The TCI Peer Review report will shortly be published on the Department’s website once it has been approved by the Department’s Management Board.
It is now proposed to publish the National Clustering Programme in Q1 2025 and to launch the first competitive call under it by the end of Q1 2025. The proposed approach for the NCP is to adopt a layered programme, in line with the findings of the Grant Thornton report on an evidence base for the development of a national clustering policy. Clusters of national scale will receive the highest level of NCP funding, with provision being made to fund, on a lesser scale, emerging clusters and existing clusters demonstrating the ability to transition to a national level. The Call for Proposals will set out the criteria against which proposals will be assessed by a panel including enterprise agency representatives and international clustering experts. Currently it is intended that proposals from all sectors will be welcome and will be considered against the published criteria, thus giving the flexibility to identify sectors in which there are clustering strongholds or evidence to support the potential for same, whilst capturing emerging sectors.
490. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of increasing concern among international investors that the biggest barrier to the development of AI and other industries of the future is the inability of states to quickly build adequate digital infrastructure that is, data centres, grid expansion and electrification; if he is developing a plan to address these concerns; if his Department is exploring how the development of our digital infrastructure can help create the energy demand required to attract renewable energy investment to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35603/24]
View answerData Centres are necessary infrastructure for many of the services which we now take for granted, including technological advances such as cloud computing, quantum computing and AI, and the rapid growth of the use of Internet services by both enterprise and consumers alike.
Data Centres are a key part of Ireland’s value proposition for FDI investment and central to Ireland’s economic and digital future, and I understand investors are increasingly advising that the supply of significant power will be a key consideration to their decision-making about where to invest into the future.
The increased demand for Data Centres comes at a time when Ireland, in common with other states, faces the challenge of balancing supply and demand of energy with meeting climate targets. Like all Large Energy Users, future Data Centre developments will need to exist within the boundaries of our climate legislation and targets, as well as our energy security.
As set out in the revised Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy (published in 2022) it is expected that, the capacity of Ireland’s electricity grid, security of supply concerns, and our determination to decarbonise our electricity system, will mean that not all demand for Data Centre development can be accommodated sustainably in the shorter term.
My Department is currently engaged in a programme of work with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and other relevant stakeholders to clarify the position with regards energy connections for Data Centres over the near term (now to 2030) and the longer-term i.e. post 2030.
This will provide the sector with the certainty it requires to make decisions regarding future Data Centre investment in Ireland and support the continued growth of the digital economy while in parallel the sector transitions to net zero carbon operations.
The revised Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy also signals the Government’s clear preference for Data Centre developments that deliver renewable energy in Ireland.
The Strategy highlights a preference for Data Centre developments in locations where there is the potential to co-locate a renewable generation facility or advanced storage with the Data Centre, supported by a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA), private wire or other arrangement.
A CPPA is an arrangement whereby renewable electricity is procured through a direct contractual agreement with a renewable electricity generator. CPPAs will stimulate investment in renewable energy generation as the long-term stable income that comes with a CPPA gives generators the financial certainty they need to secure debt funding to build new projects.
A new Large Energy Users connection policy is being developed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in response to the Government publication of the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings and the revised Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy. The use of CPPAs is thus expected to form an integral part of the requirements for Data Centres that seek energy connections in the future.
My Department also published Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy (Powering Prosperity) in March 2024, which has the overarching objective to ensure that Ireland maximises the economic benefits associated with the Government target for offshore renewable energy, including those associated with future industrial demand and end uses.
This is the first iteration of this Strategy and it focuses on the next two years but with a view to 2030. Further measures will be developed over time aimed at achieving the overarching objective of maximising the economic development potential of offshore renewable energy, including establishing new industrial demand for green energy.
While we are currently in a transition period with regards to meeting the increasing demand for energy while also decarbonising our energy system, there is a wide range of activities ongoing across Government Departments that are focused on stimulating investment in renewable energy in Ireland and ensuring that Ireland develops the low-carbon energy infrastructure critical for underpinning Ireland’s digital economy into the future.
491. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the updated National Planning Framework’s projection that 50% of future job growth will occur outside the five cities and their suburbs; if his Department is exploring how international investment flows might be reoriented to better reflect this geographical shift; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35604/24]
View answerIn 2018, the National Planning Framework (NPF) replaced the National Spatial Strategy as the overall spatial planning and development strategy for Ireland. The NPF, together with the National Development Plan (NDP), combine to form Project Ireland 2040, the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland.
Government approved the process to commence the first revision of the NPF in June 2023 and then agreed in March 2024 to defer the approval until slightly later than originally planned. A public consultation on the draft revised NPF opened on 10 July 2024 and closes on 12 September 2024. After consideration of the inputs received through the consultation, a finalised revision of the NPF is expected to be approved.
The NPF in 2018 included National Policy Objective 2a, which sought to focus 50% of “future population and employment growth” in the existing five cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and their suburbs. This target reflected the overall ambition of the NPF to foster stronger regions with accessible centres of scale. The draft revision of the NPF preserves this target of 50% of future population and employment growth in the cities and their suburbs (National Policy Objective 4 in the draft revision).
From census 2016 to 2022, national population grew by 387,274 people with the five cities growing in total by 124,543 people, accounting for approximately 32% of national growth. It was a similar split for employment growth – nationally, the numbers at work grew by 313,656 people and the number of jobs in the five cities represented approximately 29% of the overall growth. The NPF target of 50% growth share for population and employment in the five cities seeks to align the growth target for both together in a sustainable manner in line with other principles in the NPF, such as compact growth.
The NPF is of strong relevance to the work of my Department and its agencies as it guides policy and strategic objectives, supports regionally balanced development and economic growth and provides the enterprise base with a coherent view of Ireland’s future development. As Ireland’s economy and population grow, it is critical that spatial planning is implemented effectively to support the creation and maintenance of sustainable jobs, attract talent and foster an attractive business environment.
IDA Ireland, for example, plays a key role supporting regional employment growth and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). IDA is now in the final year of its current strategy and recent performance of the FDI sector has exceeded expectations in an increasingly challenging global economic environment. The total number of regional jobs stands at 163,471 of a total of 300,583 as at the end of 2023. 131 investments were won in the first half of 2024, 74 of which were secured across regional locations, representing 56% of all investments.
Advancing Ireland’s FDI and trade value proposition is a key pillar of Ireland’s enterprise strategy as set out in the Government’s White Paper on Enterprise. In this context, IDA is at an advanced stage of development of its successor strategy for the period ahead, which will seek to protect and enhance Ireland’s international reputation to promote and facilitate FDI; the strategy will also support continued attraction of jobs and investment throughout the country while ensuring FDI embeddedness in Ireland and continued agility in a changing world.
492. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are regulations in Ireland governing the use of dynamic pricing of tickets; and if he has sought advice from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on its use in the recent sale of concert tickets (details supplied). [35609/24]
View answerIreland has a strong track record when it comes to protecting consumers in the area of ticket sales. This government introduced legislation on ticket pricing in 2021 (the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021) which prohibits the sale or advertising for sale of tickets or ticket packages for a price exceeding their original sale price for events taking place in designated venues or for designated events. I remain firmly committed to ensuring consumers are provided with sufficient pricing information before they choose to purchase a product or service, including tickets.
Consumer law requires traders to provide certain information to consumers prior to purchase. This includes the total price, inclusive of taxes, allowing consumers to make the informed choice whether to purchase or not. Individual businesses can decide on the prices of the products they sell, and they are permitted to adjust their prices in response to demand or other factors, once an accurate price is displayed to the consumer in advance of the sale so that the consumer can decide if they want to proceed.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the independent statutory body that enforces competition and consumer law under the remit of this Department, continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the market, including ticket sales, and to investigate potential breaches, prohibited practices and offences.
Reflecting concerns with regard to concert ticket sales on 31 August, Minister Burke asked the CCPC to report to him on its review of pricing strategies employed on this occasion. In response, CCPC has advised that it believes there are legitimate concerns around the consumer experiences of buying concert tickets on 31 August and it has now opened an investigation into the matter. The CCPC will take appropriate action if consumer protection law was broken. Minister Burke and I will respect the independent nature of this investigation and await with interest its outcome. The outcome of the investigation will inform the consideration of any possible policy amendments.
Separately, I understand the EU Commission is also considering the use of dynamic pricing as part of a “fitness check” of EU consumer law on digital fairness. The Department will engage with the Commission on this matter.
493. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are plans for a trade mission to Australia before the end of this year. [35680/24]
View answerEach year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland.
In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represent the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.
However, there are currently no plans to have a trade mission to Australia before the end of 2024. In the meantime, my Department will continue to work closely with its agencies to identify opportunities to help Irish companies access new markets and increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland.
494. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to ensure that key social enterprises in Ireland have equal access to enterprise support, such as funding and mentoring from Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), especially considering the reported difficulties these organisations are facing accessing LEO support due to their legal status or perceived lack of commercial viability. [35790/24]
View answerLocal Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country. They provide a signposting service for all government supports available to SMEs and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols.
Social Enterprises are eligible for LEO assistance provided they operate on a commercial basis and meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme for which they wish to apply.
The LEOs’ range of competitiveness and productivity supports are designed to help businesses address some of their most challenging issues – namely saving time, money and energy. LEOs have broadened their engagement with the small locally traded enterprise sector of the economy in response to Government policies to grow the overall productivity of the economy and meet the challenges of a digital, low carbon economy. Social enterprises may be eligible for supports such as the Grow Digital Voucher, the Energy Efficiency Grant, Green for Business, and the LEO suite of training and mentoring programmes.
There has been positive engagement between Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), and the Department of Rural and Community Development which has overall responsibility for social enterprise policy.
Enterprise Ireland and SERI have continued to engage over the summer, and I am informed that an information webinar will be arranged later this month, which will be attended by representatives from all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and SERI. The aim of the webinar is to provide clarity on the range of supports available to social enterprises through the LEOs and the eligibility criteria of these supports.
My colleague Minister Humphreys has recently launched Trading for Impact 2024-2027 - Ireland's National Social Enterprise Policy, to build on the achievements of Ireland's first social enterprise policy. This policy was developed following widespread consultation with stakeholders, including officials in my Department. This launch also included a €2m 'Growing Social Enterprise' fund, with grants ranging from €1,500 to €100,000 available.
The National Enterprise Hub provides a centralised signposting service for over 180 Government supports in areas such as decarbonisation, digitalisation, skills development and innovation. I would encourage social enterprises to also use this new service.
I launched the LEO Policy Statement in May this year, which outlines how LEOs will align their work with the priorities of the White Paper on Enterprise going forward, setting out the road-map and future direction of LEOs. The LEO Policy Statement also affirms the availability of LEO assistance for social enterprises in the commercial sector. It also acknowledges the continued engagement between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment also continues to engage with the Department of Rural and Community Development on their in-depth policy review on Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland, conducted by the OECD.
495. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review a business type (details supplied); and if he will outline any grants which are available to them. [35851/24]
View answerI encourage anyone who is setting up their own business, to first speak with a business advisor in their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEOs play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country and are best placed to provide advice on the supports available to small business owners.
LEOs act as a first stop shop for every business and provide a signposting service for all government supports available to the SMEs and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols. The Local Enterprise Office in Co. Cavan is located at Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre, Dublin Road, Cavan, County Cavan, H12 R6D6 and can be contacted by phone (049-4377200) or by email (localenterprise@cavancoco.ie).
LEOs also provide consultancy and grants to small businesses of all sectors, in the areas of Green, Digital and Lean. These grants are focused on providing capital to assist in implementation of recommendations to digitalise or decarbonise a business. These grants also enhance the productivity and improve the competitiveness of small businesses.
There is also a wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes, including mentoring and advice, that are tailored to meet specific business requirements available to business owners through their LEO. Whether it is a new start up or growing an existing business there are programmes that are suitable for anyone exploring self-employment as an option or for those who are currently operating a business and wish to learn more. In the case of the details provided in this instance I would strongly encourage them to enquire about the Start Your Own Business (SYOB) programme.
SYOB guides clients through the various aspects of business and business planning. It is important to plan in advance of setting up a new venture, preparation is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your fledging business gets off the ground and continues flying. The objective of the SYOB is to assist clients in honestly assessing their business idea, its viability and help them decide if they should proceed or take a step back.
LEOs can offer direct grant assistance to small businesses. However, it should be noted that grants that are specifically designed for growth or exporting and are aimed at those in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.
496. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the various levels of minimum wage which have been recommended to the Government to take effect from 1 January 2025; whether the Government has completed its assessment of the legal provisions necessary before they can be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35856/24]
View answerThe Low Pay Commission has a statutory obligation to make an annual recommendation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the appropriate rate of the National Minimum Wage.
I have received the Commission’s report and recommendations on the appropriate rate of the 2025 National Minimum Wage and these recommendations will be considered by Government in the context of Budget 2025, which is the normal and established process.
Earlier this year, the Low Pay Commission made separate recommendations to me on sub-minimum youth rates of the National Minimum Wage.
In its report on sub-minimum youth rates the Low Pay Commission highlighted that this is a complex issue and said Government will need to give their findings and recommendations detailed consideration and deliberation.
Terms of reference for an economic impact assessment of the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations are being finalised. Legal advice is likely to be required on the Low Pay Commissions recommendations.
Government will make a decision on sub-minimum youth rates of the National Minimum Wage when all this information is available to us.
497. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of sick days which the employer-funded sick pay scheme will cover during 2025; and the date on which any change will take effect. [35857/24]
View answerWhen the Sick Leave Act 2022 commenced on 1 January 2023, the initial statutory entitlement was up to 3 days’ sick leave, which increased to 5 days on 1 January 2024. This entitlement could potentially increase to 7 days up to a maximum of 10 days. Section 6(1) of the Act provides that the Minister can, in consultation with the Minister for Social Protection, vary the number of statutory sick leave days provided for by the Act.
When setting the number of days, regard must be given to the state of the economy generally, the business environment and national competitiveness; the state of society generally, the public interest and employee well-being; the potential impact of making an order to vary the number of days; data on earnings and labour costs as published by the CSO; the views of employee and employer representative bodies and any other matters considered relevant.
In line with the requirements of Section 6, to inform the Minister’s decision in respect of the next phase in the rollout of the statutory sick leave scheme, research is being conducted on the impact of statutory sick leave to date. The intention is that findings from this research will form part of the evidence base used to inform the Minister’s decision on whether to increase the sick leave entitlement for 2025. A Ministerial Order to increase statutory sick leave days cannot be made until 1 January 2025. As such, a decision on the next phase of the rollout of the statutory sick leave scheme will not be required until Q4 of this year.
498. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans to include the purchase of devices (details supplied) under the schoolbook scheme for junior cycle in post primary schools, in the cases where the post primary school uploads the books to the device, and schoolbooks are not required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33856/24]
View answerOn 5th of March, I announced details of a new ground-breaking scheme which provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Special schools who have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes will also receive this funding. More than 213,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools and over 65 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme from September 2024.
The investment of €68 million in 2024 significantly increases the funding that is currently provided to post-primary schools for schoolbooks. It reinforces the Government’s commitment to expand the free schoolbooks scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.
My Department has published guidance for post-primary schools around the operation of the Junior Cycle schoolbooks scheme, in continued engagement with all stakeholders. At a minimum the scheme will provide free schoolbooks and core classroom resources for all students in Junior Cycle in post-primary schools in the free education system. Schoolbooks can include eBooks where they are used alongside or in place of physical books. Parents/guardians of students in Junior Cycle years will not be asked to purchase schoolbooks or to make a financial contribution to the school towards the cost of schoolbooks.
Funding under the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme does not extend to including the purchase of digital devices by schools apart from in post-primary schools that use teacher generated content and resources in place of schoolbooks. However, schools may use the funding for digital media support, which relates to teaching and learning within curricular requirements.
Decisions regarding the use of digital technology, such as ebooks and ipads, in schools is a matter for the board of management/ETB of each school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents/guardians when planning for the introduction of digital technologies, with cost and other implications being fully considered.
The Digital Strategy for Schools 2027, which builds on the progress made under the previous Digital Strategy, will be underpinned by an investment of some €200m included in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2030 providing continuity of funding following the €210m that issued to schools to support the previous strategy. Funding of €100m has now issued from the €200m commitment under the NDP including €50m that issued in April 2024.
This funding issues to schools so they can continue to embed the use of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and represents the second tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.
In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide,
Funding under these two areas issued directly to schools as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way, within the criteria applying to this funding. This can include the purchase of ICT devices such as tablets, hybrid devices, or laptops and establishing schemes to loan devices to students.
499. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if there are hardship or support schemes in place for parents who cannot afford devices (details supplied) for their school-going children in cases where all schoolbooks/materials are uploaded on the devices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33857/24]
View answerIt is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources, if any, that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and my Department do not endorse or recommend particular materials. This includes text books, e-Books etc.
Since June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at supporting schools and parents to reduce costs. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme in 2023, which provides free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in primary schools and special schools. In 2024, the scheme was extended to provide schoolbooks and core classroom resources to all Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme from September 2024. This free schoolbooks scheme will eliminate the cost to all families for schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks at primary school and schoolbooks and core classroom resources at Junior Cycle in post-primary school.
Under the new Junior Cycle Scheme the term schoolbooks includes all relevant textbooks, including eBooks, so any cost associated with the purchase of the electronic version of the schoolbook is included in the scope of the scheme.
Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is a matter for the Board of Management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications been fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made.
Schools, in conjunction with parents, are responsible for decisions on the use of digital technology, including tablet devices, laptops, and learning platforms, and how best to manage their integration into classroom practice reflective of their own context and requirements.
Oide- Technology in Education (formally the PDST-TIE) offers advice and supports to schools on digital learning. Advice sheets are available on digital technology in education, including on the adoption of laptops and tablets in schools.
I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in relation to costs of digital technology, including tablets, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. In 2017 a circular letter issued to schools with measures to be adopted to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs including such ICT devices. See: assets.gov.ie/12695/2045e7ccec684f72b55d93930e45372c.pdf
This circular also instructed schools to consult with parents and their school community on the issue of ensuring costs are reasonable for parents, and how to avoid costs acting as a barrier. This circular specified that wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment etc.).
The Digital Strategy for Schools 2027, which builds on the progress made under the previous Digital Strategy, is underpinned by an investment of some €200m included in the National Development Plan 2021-2030 providing continuity of funding following the €210m that issued to schools to support the previous strategy. €100m of that funding has issued, of which €50m recently issued to school. This funding issues directly to schools as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way. This can include the purchase of ICT devices such as tablets, hybrid devices, or laptops, and can be used to establish loan schemes for learners to access such devices
In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide.
500. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if student cards will be issued to primary and secondary pupils (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33860/24]
View answerMy Department currently have no plans to introduce student card for primary and secondary pupils.
The Irish Second Level Student Union are launching a student card in partnership with International Student Identity Card. Further information can be found by contacting info@isic.ie or on (01) 561 4879.
501. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the amount of the remote area boarding grant for students from offshore islands that have to board on the mainland for their secondary education because there is no post primary school on their islands for each year since 2008; whether in view of the increase in the cost of full board accommodation since she intends increasing this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33861/24]
View answerThe purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged.
The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/service/remote-area-boarding-grant/
Under the terms of the scheme, a second-level school is a school which is recognised by the Department for the purpose of providing the prescribed certificate courses, which enters its students for the State examinations and is subject to inspection by the Department.
As per the circular above, the pupil “must be resident 4.8 km or more from a second-level school where suitable free second-level education is available and more than 3.2 km from a pick-up point on a transport service to such a school; and must be unable to obtain a place in a suitable second-level school within 25 km of his/her normal place of residence & should provide written confirmation of same”.
Pupils resident on off shore islands that do not have a school providing suitable free second level education may also qualify for assistance under the scheme.
For pupils requiring an Irish medium education the outlined criteria will be applied to the nearest second level school providing instruction through Irish.
The curriculum choices provided by a school (including the provision or otherwise of transition year) within 25 km of the applicant’s normal place of residence will not be a factor in the determination of eligibility for the award of a grant.
The maximum grant payable under the scheme may not exceed €4,947 per pupil per annum. The grant is payable after each school term to the school or parent/guardian, whichever is appropriate, subject to verification by the school that the pupil has been in full-time attendance for the period concerned and a statement of the annual maintenance charge for the boarding or lodging fees, whichever is applicable, is provided.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the amount of the remote area boarding grant that was paid in respect of students from offshore islands, that board on the mainland for their secondary education, for each year since 2008 is not readily available in my Department.
502. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will publish the total annual revenue received by Bus Éireann for school transport; the amounts paid by her to Bus Éireann and by the customers for the years 2010 to date, in tabular form; and if she will publish the Bus Éireann annual statement of account on her website for each of these years. [33864/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The details requested by the Deputy with regard to the amounts paid by the Department to Bus Éireann to operate the scheme on its behalf, and the amounts paid to Bus Éireann in parental contributions for the annual ticket charge, are set out at the link.
503. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a reconfiguration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33873/24]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the reconfiguration of part of the main building to provide 1 Technology room/ Prep Area & toilets.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects. The use of the Department’s Term Maintenance Framework also reduces the lead in periods for procurement of contractors. A detailed design pack has recently been submitted to the Department for the project in question, this is currently being reviewed.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working with the Project Manager to keep the school updated on overall project delivery and timelines. A communication will issue shortly to progress the project further into the delivery stage. The School Authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of this project
504. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education the reason that her Department has failed to make a decision on the opening of a multi-disability class at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33875/24]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
The NCSE has advised my department that an additional special class was sanctioned in the school on 20 August 2024.
Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year, bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,333. Of these 47 are in County Roscommon.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
505. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all steps will be taken to secure a secondary school place for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33878/24]
View answerMy Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school’s admission policy.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal where a board of management, or a person acting on behalf of the board of management (normally the school principal) refuses to admit a student to a school. Where the decision to refuse admission is due to the school being oversubscribed, a review of the decision by the board of management must be sought in the first instance. Following a review it is open to the parent to appeal to the independent appeals committee.
Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. TESS can be contacted at 01-7718500 (tessinfo@tusla.ie) for assistance. More information is available on their website on the following link: www.tusla.ie/tess/tess-ews/
