Wednesday, 22 Jan 2025

Written Answers Nos. 1-21

Departmental Staff

Questions (1, 2, 3)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; and the number of civil servants in his Department and in agencies under the aegis of his Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, in tabular form. [46199/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

2. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, in 2023 and 2024. [46217/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

3. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, that they have been placed on a redeployment panel; and to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, that consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis. [46235/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The Department of the Taoiseach’s purpose is to help the Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, and to build a better future for Ireland and all her citizens. The Department achieves this by building and sustaining a dynamic, agile and responsive workforce that supports the Taoiseach and the Government. The resourcing of business units within the Department evolves on an ongoing basis to reflect strategic priorities and commitments contained in the Programme for Government.

The information relating to career breaks requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below. The Department engages with all staff approaching the end of their career break with a view to facilitating their return to work. All career breaks that were extended were done so at the request of the staff member. The National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - did not have any staff on career break during the period in question.

Staff on career break at:	Staff, by grade, on career break longer than 5 years	Total staff, by grade, on career break
31st December 2023	Total: 1 1. Executive Officer (11 years)	Total: 10 1. Clerical Officer (4 years) 2. Executive Officer (11 years) 3. Executive Officer (< 1 year) 4. Administrative Officer (< 1 year) 5. Administrative Officer (<1 year) 6. Administrative Officer (2 years)* 7. Administrative Officer (2 years) 8. Administrative Officer (3 years) 9. Assistant Principal (4 years) 10. Principal Officer (< 1 year)
31st December 2024	Total: 2 1. Executive Officer (12 years) 2. Assistant Principal (5 years)	Total: 6 1. Executive Officer (12 years) 2. Administrative Officer (1 year) 3. Administrative Officer (3 years) 4. Administrative Officer (1 year) 5. Administrative Officer (4 years) 6. Assistant Principal (5 years)

*Officer was omitted in error from table provided for written PQ44311/24.

Question No. 2 answered with Question No. 1.

Question No. 3 answered with Question No. 1.

Departmental Reports

Questions (4, 5)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

4. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Taoiseach if he will publish the report of the interdepartmental group established to examine the Dublin City Taskforce’s recommendations. [46610/24]

Marie Sherlock

Question:

5. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Taoiseach to set out the date of the first meeting of the interdepartmental group established to examine the Dublin City Taskforce’s recommendations; the number of meetings the group has conducted; and the details of its membership. [46611/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.

The Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on the Dublin City Taskforce Report first met on 23 October 2024. The IDG has met four times with a wide range of bilateral discussions and engagements taking place to support its work. IDG membership is comprised of senior officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Department of Health, the Department of Transport, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Department of Justice, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, OPW, DCC, the HSE and An Garda Síochána. The Group will submit its report to Government in due course.

Question No. 5 answered with Question No. 4.

Departmental Data

Questions (6)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

6. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Taoiseach the number of Irish citizens who have emigrated from Ireland in 2023 and 2024. [46727/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)

The CSO publishes annual estimates of migration in its Population and Migration Estimates publication. The latest figures are for April 2024 and the following table shows the number of emigrants estimated to be Irish citizens in the 12-month period to April 2023 and April 2024.

-	Estimated Emigration by Citizenship in the 12 months to April
	2023	2024
	(thousand)	(thousand)
Irish Citizens	30.5	34.7
All Citizens	64.0	69.9

Ministerial Appointments

Questions (7)

Paul Murphy

Question:

7. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach his views on the need to appoint a standalone Minister of State for older people. [46905/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The appointment of Ministers of State is a matter for Government which will be announced in due course.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (8)

Alan Kelly

Question:

8. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State- or semi-State boards under his remit since 1 November 2024. [46936/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Taoiseach makes appointments to the National Economic and Social Council and the National Statistics Board. No appointments have been made in the period specified.

Departmental Projects

Questions (9)

Carol Nolan

Question:

9. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach to provide details of all projects, including research projects, funded to date by his Department’s shared island initiative. [1529/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

Since the launch of the Shared Island Initiative in 2020, over €500m has been allocated by Government to a range of major cross-border projects and programmes, delivered in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government and with Local Authority, Education and Civil Society partners across the island. A full list of Shared Island Fund allocations made by Government to date is provided in tabular form.

The Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach is coordinating a wide-ranging policy research programme. The most recent Shared Island research by the Economic and Social Research Institute was published on 16 January on Child Poverty on the island of Ireland. A list of research projects commissioned by the Shared Island Unit and published to date is provided in tabular form and all reports are published and available at: www.gov.ie/sharedisland/research.

Table 1:

Shared Island Fund allocations as of January 2025

Development of two new all-island bioeconomy demonstrator facilities - €7m Taken forward by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Pilot cooperation programme on educational attainment - €24m Taken forward by the Minister for Education in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Shared Island Enterprise scheme - €30m Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Shared Island dimension to Community Climate Action Programme - €3m Taken forward by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications

Shared Island Civic Society Fund - €2m (total €3m fund including D/FA contribution) Taken forward by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

North South Research Programme contribution (rounds 1 and 2, 2022-2027) - €50m Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science [Information on research funded to date through the Higher Education Authority North South Research Programme is at hea.ie/policy/research-policy/north-south-research-programme ].

Ulster University - new teaching and student services building in Derry - €44.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive counterpart and Ulster University

All-Island Co-Centres for Research and Innovation contribution - €20m Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive and UK Government counterparts

Construction of respite and therapeutic centre for children diagnosed with cancer from across the island - €2.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Health

Construction of the Narrow Water Bridge - €107m plus VAT. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Phases 2 and 3 Ulster Canal restoration contribution - €47m Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Cross-border innovation hub - €12m - Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Local Authority partners

All-island peatlands and biosecurity projects - €11m Taken forward by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive and Scottish Government counterparts

Shared Island Local Authority development funding scheme - €5m Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site - €10m Taken forward by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works

Casement Park redevelopment contribution - €50m Taken forward by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Shared Island dimension to Creative Ireland and cultural heritage projects - €8m Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Tourism brand collaboration project - €7.6m Taken forward by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in cooperation with Executive counterpart

All-Island arts capital investment projects - €7.4m Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Electric Vehicle charging point scheme for Sports Clubs across the island - €15m Taken forward by the Minister for Transport

Introduction of an hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast - €12.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Transport

Completion of the cross-border Carlingford Lough Greenway - €1.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Transport in cooperation with Executive counterpart

Table 2:

Research commissioned by Shared Island Unit, Department of the Taoiseach

Economic and Social Research Institute joint research programme on Shared Island: · Synthesis report on learnings from ESRI joint research programme (in progress). · Economic overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland (in progress). · Child Poverty on the island of Ireland (January 2025). · Drivers of Income Inequality in Ireland and Northern Ireland (October 2024). · Gender and Labour Market Inclusion on the Island of Ireland (April 2024). · Contrasting Housing Supply in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom (January 2024). · Changing Social and Political Attitudes in Ireland and Northern Ireland (November 2023). · Student Mobility in Ireland and Northern Ireland (September 2023). · Migrant Integration in Ireland, North and South (March 2023). · Children’s Care and Early Education in Ireland, North and South (January 2023). · Calculating the Benefit of All-Island Coordination of Energy Infrastructure and Renewable Energy Supports (December 2022). · Modelling Productivity Levels in Ireland and Northern Ireland (November 2022). · A North-South Comparison of Education and Training Systems: lessons for policy (April 2022). · An Analysis of the Primary Care Systems of Ireland and Northern Ireland (March 2022). · Enhancing the Attractiveness of the island of Ireland to High-value Foreign Direct Investment (December 2021). · Cross-border Trade in Services (December 2021).

National Economic and Social Council: · Comprehensive Report: Shared Island; Shared Opportunity (April 2022). · Shared Island Collaboration on Climate and Biodiversity (October 2021).

Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS): · EDUCATE: Educating about Difference Uniting Classrooms and Teacher Education (November 2024). · CRiTERiA: Cultural Responsivity in Teacher Education: Research in Action (October 2024). · SRASI: Shared Responsibility Across a Shared Island (October 2023). · SHARED: Student Hopes: Achievement, Research, Equity and Diversity (October 2022). · BUDDIES: BUilding BriDges, Diminishing Educational DiSadvantage (October 2022).

Irish Research Council New Foundations programme (Shared Island strand): 2022 funding call: · Public Policy Agendas on a Shared Island. · Strengthening the regional impact of higher education: a comparative scoping study of regional higher education strategies, policies and provision in the NorthWest of the island of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. · Doing Feminist Legal Work. · An All-Island consortium to foster Educational Neuroscience research and practice. · Towards an Intersectoral All-Island Network for Circular Bioeconomy Entrepreneurship (AINCBE). · Addressing Biodiversity Loss with Sustainable Finance: An All-Island Research Initiative. · Audience Data for Cultural Policy: A Shared Island Approach to the Creative Industries. · All Ireland Rare Disease Inter-Disciplinary Research Network (RAiN). 2021 funding call: · Towards A Fair and Prosperous Island: An All-Island Network to Combat Hate. · Assisting the Irish churches and religious communities to develop values-based common positions on current European issues and to engage with European counterparts. · Appraise Curriculum Content for Entrepreneurship in Secondary Schools. · Negotiating difference on a shared island: agonism, commonality, or critical constitutionalism. · Brexit at the Border: Intergroup Relations on the Shared Island. · Providing a multidisciplinary expert network to promote and support implementation of a circular economy on the island of Ireland, AICEG (All-Island Circular Economy Group). · North South Legal Mapping Project. · Reading Rooms: Fostering Constructive & Inclusive Dialogue Between Communities. · Éire strategy for QUantum Information and TechnologY. · Building Capacity for the Cultural Industries: Towards a Shared-Island Approach. · Exploring the Economic, Political, Societal and Health Benefits of an All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI): Strengthening Collaboration in Cancer Research Throughout the Island of Ireland.

Other commissioned research: · A study into the current conditions of the island of Ireland labour market, and challenges and opportunities for effective operation for workers and businesses across the island – commissioned by the Labour Employment Economic Forum Shared Island Working Group (November 2024). · Collaborating on Healthcare on an All-Island Basis – Professor Deirdre Heenan, commissioned as discussion paper contribution for the Shared Island Dialogue on Health (July 2021).

Research co-funded by the Shared Island Unit with the Office of Emergency Planning: · Advancing a Focused Cross-Border Approach to Public Service Messaging in Emergency Management (June 2024). · Communicating for Impact: Public Safety Messaging for Border Communities (in progress). · Advancing a Focused All-Island and Cross-Border Approach to Planning for Recovery in Strategic Emergency Management (in progress).

Artificial Intelligence

Questions (10)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

10. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1589/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The National Cyber Security Centre and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform have published guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public service which has been made available to all staff in the Department of the Taoiseach. Staff of the Department are engaging in conferences/webinars/masterclasses, etc. to explore and better understand the potential for, and impact of, AI.

The Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach - do not use AI software in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments.

Departmental Properties

Questions (11)

James Geoghegan

Question:

11. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach the full address and Eircode of each property that is directly occupied by his Department where that address is located in Dublin, in tabular form. [1772/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The address of the Department of the Taoiseach is Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, D02 R583. The Department also occupies a small number of offices in Dublin Castle, Castle Street, D02 R866.

Official Travel

Questions (12)

Aidan Farrelly

Question:

12. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Taoiseach to provide a schedule of all foreign travel undertaken by him and his accompanying officials in 2023 and 2024, including flight, hotel, transfers and other miscellaneous costs. [1869/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

Foreign travel reports for the Department of the Taoiseach, including details for the Taoiseach, advisers and senior officials, are published on a monthly basis on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach under the heading Foreign Travel Reports at this link.

Details of expenditure on trips are published once invoices are received and processed for payment. Not all invoices have yet been received for December 2024.

At all times, the Department seeks to ensure best value for money is sought in respect of each official trip undertaken, consistent with the requirements of official business.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (13)

Holly Cairns

Question:

13. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach to provide details of any public contracts in his Department provided to companies or individuals who do not pay tax in Ireland, including the names of the contractor, value of the contract and purpose of the contract, in tabular form. [2043/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach does not hold tax payment information for companies or individuals.

Procurement within the Department of the Taoiseach is guided by the Office of Government Procurement and EU Directive – 2014/24 on public procurement. As part of all procurement processes carried out by this Department, contractors must comply with all EU and domestic tax laws.

Prior to completion of any procurement process with the Department of the Taoiseach, all contractors must supply Tax Clearance reference details to facilitate on-line verification through the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. This ensures that all payments made by the Department of the Taoiseach are tax compliant, but does not provide the Department of the Taoiseach with information as to the tax residency of contractors.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (14)

Holly Cairns

Question:

14. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach to provide details of any public contracts issued to a company (details supplied) over the last 10 years, including the value of the contract and the purpose of the contract, in tabular form. [2061/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach has not awarded any contracts to the companies in question in the past ten years.

Departmental Staff

Questions (15, 17)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

15. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of civil servants in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; the number of civil servants in his/her Department and in agencies under the aegis of his Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46191/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

17. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, that they have been placed on a redeployment panel; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, that consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46227/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 17 together.

I am fully satisfied that the provisions of Circular 4/2013 (Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service) are being properly implemented by my Department.

Civil servants on career break are required to comply with the provisions of the circular and once a notification of a return from career break is received by my Department, the officer’s assignment is then confirmed.

I am not aware of any recent case where an officer has had a career break extended unnecessarily.  When civil servants notify the Department of their intention to return from career break, an offer of a position at their respective grade is made by the Department within the guidelines set out in Circular 4/2013.  In exceptional circumstances an officer may be granted an additional career break without the required period of service between career breaks, in line with the procedures outlined in the circular.

The tables below indicate the number of officers of career break across 2023 and 2024, and the duration of these career breaks.

Officers on Career Break

Departmental Staff

Questions (16)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

16. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Over the past five years, the Department of Foreign Affairs has grown as Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded and as our Passport Service continues to successfully meet high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target.

As of end-December 2024, the Department employs 2,271 civil servants, which is 629 more than at the end of 2019. In that context, we currently have a small number of vacancies to be filled from panels established in recent or planned competitions.

The table below outlines the vacancies in the Department, by month, across 2023 and 2024.

Vacancies in Dept 2023 and 2024

Question No. 17 answered with Question No. 15.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (18)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

18. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of contracts to provide services and or consultancy to his Department that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and the nature of the works involved; and the qualifying criteria that were applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2024. [46305/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs).   

The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure in order to achieve best value for money. Procurement takes place in the context of Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).  

It is important to note that consultancy and service contracts awarded without a competitive process are not necessarily non-compliant with public procurement regulations. Examples of the exceptions provided for include sole supplier scenarios, proprietary services, where specialist knowledge resource changes cannot be made for economic or technical reasons or where genuine urgency or staff safety is a factor.  

The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) focusing especially on achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of different categories of supplies and services. 

The information requested for 2024 is not yet available. 

Official Engagements

Questions (19, 43)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

19. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken to US Vice President Elect JD Vance since his election. [46376/24]

Conor Sheehan

Question:

43. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken with the incoming United States vice president; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1221/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 43 together.

I have not yet spoken to Vice President elect J.D. Vance. However, I look forward to working constructively with the new US administration on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and priority. 

Maintaining and growing our close and mutually beneficial relationship with the US is among Ireland's highest foreign policy priorities, including through frequent high-level political engagement with American interlocutors. This has been a priority for successive Irish Governments. It will continue to be an important part of Ireland's foreign policy going forward, as reflected in the draft Programme for Government.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (20)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

20. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the staffing budget allocation to each Irish embassy and consulate general office in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [46377/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland’s overseas missions are staffed by posted Irish civil servants and locally recruited staff.  The payroll costs for mission staff (2023 and 2024) is detailed in the table below. Please note that the 2024 costs are draft and subject to audit. The 2025 staff budget figures are not yet available.

Staffing costs for overseas missions

Consular Services

Questions (21)

Alan Kelly

Question:

21. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to open a new Irish consulate general office in Luxor city, Egypt, during 2025. [46393/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland and Egypt have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1975. Egypt is an important bilateral partner for Ireland and there is a long-established Egyptian Embassy in Dublin, and Irish Embassy in Cairo. President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, visited Ireland in December 2024.

There are no current plans to open a Consulate General in Luxor. Any decision on the opening of a new embassy or consulate is considered by reference to Ireland’s national, political and economic priorities. Against these and other factors, the Government keeps the matter of opening further embassies or consulates under active review.