Written Answers Nos. 81-101
81. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to provide funding to Irish businesses in the water industry struggling due to the delay and postponement of Irish Water projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21424/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Thursday 23 July we announced the July Stimulus Package, a substantial financial package to stimulate our economy worth more than €5 billion, with an additional €2 billion in loan guarantees.
The July Stimulus is bigger in scale than most budgets and is being deployed at speed.
The July Stimulus package is designed to help businesses to open, to help those that are already open to stay open, to get staff back to work and for those who cannot go back to their old jobs, there are new opportunities.
We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the new €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme.
I launched the new Credit Guarantee Scheme on Monday of this week, which is part of the Government’s suite of supports for businesses that have been negatively impacted as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme will facilitate up to €2 billion in lending to eligible businesses.
The Scheme offers a partial Government guarantee (80%) to participating finance providers against losses on qualifying finance agreements to eligible SMEs, small Mid-Caps and primary producers.
It is designed to incentivise participating finance providers to continue to play their role in supporting the availability of additional liquidity to Irish businesses.
Loans under the Scheme range from €10,000 to €1 million, for terms of up to five-and-a-half years. Financing will be offered through a range of products, including term loans, working capital loans and overdrafts. Loans of up to €250,000 under the Scheme are available unsecured (except where this is a requirement of the product feature, as in the case of asset finance, invoice discount facilities, etc).
The range of measures in place to assist businesses also include direct grants. To support viable businesses and jobs, including new hires, we have extended the wage subsidy scheme, which will run until the end of March 2021 and will be open to firms that do not currently participate and open to workers like seasonal workers who were not previously included. We are giving companies extra assistance through an enhanced Restart Plus grant of up to €25,000. From 1st September, the six-month reduction in the VAT came into effect, going down from 23% to 21%.
The issues in relation to roll-out of water investment projects are a matter for my colleague Minister Darragh O'Brien T.D., Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
82. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if issues raised in correspondence by persons (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21550/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Restart Grant Plus is aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. The scheme is designed to help with the cost of reopening or adapting business premises so that normal business can resume.
Tradespersons and service providers that operate on a mobile basis or that continue to work remotely have been better placed to continue to trade and many may not have incurred the same levels of losses, of ongoing overheads or reopening costs that a fixed premises business will have. It is in this context that the Restart Grant Plus is available to businesses operating commercially from a rateable premises within the Local Authorities rates system. All other businesses with the exception of non-rate paying B&Bs are excluded from the Restart Grant Plus scheme.
However, the Restart Grant Plus is just one part of the wider suite of schemes available to firms of all sizes, which includes low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.
My colleague Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands announced on 14 August 2020 that the Department’s Enterprise Support Grant is now available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID-19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.
Microfinance Ireland provides loans on favourable terms to micro-enterprises (employing less than 10) that cannot access finance from other finance providers. Loan terms typically up to 3 years, with no fees or charges and fixed repayments with no penalty for early repayment. The MFI COVID-19 loans offer loans from €5,000 to €25,000, with the equivalent of no interest for the first year and interest rates of 4.5% APR where the applicant is working with their Local Enterprise Office.
The new COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme offers an 80% Government guarantee to participating banks to provide up to €2 billion in low-interest loans to eligible SMEs for up to six years. Loans provided under the scheme range from €10,000 to €1 million. Interest rates will vary depending on the loan, however they will be lower than would otherwise be available in the market. To apply for the scheme, businesses can contact a participating finance provider directly.
All COVID-19 Business Schemes are under constant review in terms of the evolving situation and will be adapted as circumstances dictate. In that regard, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government and all stakeholders to examine how best to further assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 as part of the forthcoming National Economic Plan.
83. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address issues raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21551/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Restart Grant Plus is aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. The scheme is designed to help with the cost of reopening or adapting business premises so that normal business can resume.
Tradespersons and service providers that operate on a mobile basis or that continue to work remotely have been better placed to continue to trade and many may not have incurred the same levels of losses, of ongoing overheads or reopening costs that a fixed premises business will have. It is in this context that the Restart Grant Plus is available to businesses operating commercially from a rateable premises within the Local Authorities rates system. All other businesses with the exception of non-rate paying B&Bs are excluded from the Restart Grant Plus scheme.
However, the Restart Grant Plus is just one part of the wider suite of schemes available to firms of all sizes, which includes low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.
My colleague Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands announced on 14 August 2020 that the Department’s Enterprise Support Grant is now available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID-19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.
Microfinance Ireland provides loans on favourable terms to micro-enterprises (employing less than 10) that cannot access finance from other finance providers. Loan terms typically up to 3 years, with no fees or charges and fixed repayments with no penalty for early repayment. The MFI COVID-19 loans offer loans from €5,000 to €25,000, with the equivalent of no interest for the first year and interest rates of 4.5% APR where the applicant is working with their Local Enterprise Office.
The new COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme offers an 80% Government guarantee to participating banks to provide up to €2 billion in low-interest loans to eligible SMEs for up to six years. Loans provided under the scheme range from €10,000 to €1 million. Interest rates will vary depending on the loan, however they will be lower than would otherwise be available in the market. To apply for the scheme, businesses can contact a participating finance provider directly.
All COVID-19 Business Schemes are under constant review in terms of the evolving situation and will be adapted as circumstances dictate. In that regard, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government and all stakeholders to examine how best to further assist businesses impacted by Covid-19 as part of the forthcoming National Economic Plan.
84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to provide sufficient funding to the local enterprise offices and Údarás na Gaeltachta to fund all valid applications under the business continuity scheme; the estimated cost of doing so; the expenditure under the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21707/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Business Continuity Voucher scheme was launched on 26th March. The purpose of the scheme was to provide expert guidance and advice to SMEs employing up 50 people and enable business owners make informed decisions about what immediate measures and remedial actions could be taken at the outset of this crisis, to protect staff and sales and eventually help the business recover.
The scheme was operated by the Local Enterprise Offices in 31 locations nationwide and was a resounding success in terms of uptake due to it being an appropriate response and support to recognised business needs for that point in time.
It is in the context of the reopening of the economy with more and more businesses having transitioned from the planning to opening up of their business that the Business Continuity Voucher was phased out. The BCV was subsequently superseded by the Restart Grant which was introduced to assist micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures.
The LEOs continue to work with some existing applicants and recipients of Business Continuity Voucher vouchers and their subsequent business continuity plans.
My Department is providing funding of €27m for the LEOs to fund all valid applications approved under the business continuity scheme. The value of the Business Continuity Vouchers approved to the 26th August 2020 is €25,695,783. The value of Business Continuity Vouchers paid to the 26th August 2020 is €8,197,572.
Funding and schemes operated by Údaras na Gaeltachta are a matter for the Department for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.
85. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if regions with the status of assisted regions under the EU regional aid guidelines will continue to qualify post-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21729/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGS) provides for enhanced rates of State Aid in the least economically developed areas of each Member State.
The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines entered into force on 01 July 2014. Under the terms of the 2014 -2020 RAGS, regions covering 51.28% of Ireland’s population are designated as ‘assisted areas’.
As part of the State Aid Modernisation process, the Regional Aid Guidelines are due to expire at the end of 2020. However, in July of this year, in order to provide predictability and legal certainty, while preparing for a future update of the State aid rules, the Commission extended the period of application of certain guidelines, in consultation with Member States. This included the extension of the Regional Aid Guidelines until the end of 2021.
The extension of those guidelines will allow the Commission to finalise the evaluation of those rules together with other State aid rules adopted as part of the State Aid Modernisation initiative.
The regions designated as ‘assisted areas’ under the revised rules will be based on a Regional Aid Map, to be developed and notified by the Member State. The purpose of this Map is to support the economic development of disadvantaged regions in all Member States. The current Regional Aid Map has been extended for a year to the end of 2021 to allow for the adoption of updated Regional Aid Guidelines and the development of this new map.
The Commission is currently undertaking a public consultation on the Regional Aid Guidelines with a view to the adoption of updated guidelines in early 2021. While this is a public consultation, the State Aid Unit of my Department are coordinating inputs from other Government Departments and its Agencies and will present these as a consolidated position at the 1st Multilateral Meeting on Regional Aid Guidelines in early October 2020.
Following this, the detailed process of developing the new map will commence.
86. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will ensure greater flexibility for the Border region under the EU regional aid guidelines in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21730/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGS) provides for enhanced rates of State Aid in the least economically developed areas of each Member State.
The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines entered into force on 01 July 2014. Under the terms of the 2014 -2020 RAGS, regions covering 51.28% of Ireland’s population are designated as ‘assisted areas’, and this includes the Border Region.
As part of the State Aid Modernisation process, the Regional Aid Guidelines are due to expire at the end of 2020. However, in July of this year, in order to provide predictability and legal certainty while preparing for a future update of the State aid rules, the Commission agreed to extend the period of application of certain guidelines, including Regional Aid Guidelines until the end of 2021.
Ireland has therefore formally notified the Commission of its intention to extend its regional aid map for a further year to the end of 2021. As the Border Region is designated as an assisted area under the current Regional Aid Map it will continue to have available to it the opportunities under Regional Aid during this extended period.
In addition to the eligibility for enhanced rates of State Aid under the Regional Aid Guidelines, my Department has put a number of measures in place including the Brexit Loan Scheme and the recently enhanced Future Growth Loan Scheme. These Schemes provide finance for businesses to adapt to the impact of Brexit.
My Department maintains a comprehensive 'Getting Business Brexit Ready' guide to the Government supports that are available for businesses which can be accessed on the Department's website:
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/EU-Internal-Market/Brexit/Getting-Brexit-Ready/
88. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether businesses that were denied funding as part of the restart grant due to the fact it was oversubscribed prior to the deadline date should be able to avail of the original €2,000 in view of the fact that there has been additional funding made available in the form of the restart plus grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22040/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Restart grant scheme was launched on 22nd May and was live on all local authority websites from 29 May. It was advertised extensively both nationally and locally as well as across social media. By mid-June, almost 30,000 applications were received nationally. By the end of July, some 45,000 applications had been received.
The Scheme was initially intended to provide grants in tandem with the phased re-opening of the economy as per the Government’s Roadmap. As the Roadmap was accelerated, so too was the scheme made available to all eligible businesses and sectors.
The numbers of applications nationally had begun to taper off in recent weeks at the same time as the Government was considering introducing an expanded Restart Plus Scheme with higher grant levels and expanded criteria.
As the Government wished to introduce the higher grant levels, as quickly as possible, to the benefit of a much larger group of businesses, it was decided to end the original scheme to avoid overlap and administrative confusion.
However, business owners may now make their case in writing to their Local Authority if they feel that they are entitled to the original Restart Grant Scheme. The Local Authority will review each case, in conjunction with my Department.
89. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will convene a meeting of the Western Region Enterprise Committee further to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22082/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe nine Regional Enterprise Plans to 2020 were launched by my Department in early 2019 with the West Regional Enterprise Plan which covers Galway, Mayo and Roscommon being launched in February of that year.
The Plans are focused on supporting enterprise development in all regions. The principle behind the Regional Enterprise Plans is collaboration between regional stakeholders on ‘bottom-up’ initiatives that can help to realise the region’s enterprise development potential. Through the Plans, the aim is to ensure that quality jobs are created in all regions that are sustainable in the longer term, to secure Ireland’s economic success.
The Plans are also maintained as ‘live’ agendas which aim to be agile and responsive to both new opportunities and new challenges, for example: Brexit, Climate Action, Digital Economy, and most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic economic impacts.
The West Regional Enterprise Plan has 6 Strategic Objectives which focus on building greater capability within the life science sector; ensuring sustainable growth in the tourism sector; building on the West’s unique creative assets; enhancing the growth of Ag Tech in the West; aligning training to current and future skills needs; and enhancing the quality and availability of enterprise space in the West.
The West Regional Steering Committee met on 31 July last and considered the range of COVID-19 and wider economic challenges for the West region and indeed issues arising in relation to vulnerable jobs and sectors. They are presently developing options for additional measures that can be taken for the region. The enterprise agencies are represented on the Steering Committee and are doing their utmost to work with stakeholders to manage the impacts of potential job losses.
The West Regional Steering Committee are next scheduled to meet on 8 September next to finalise the options for additional measures that can be taken for the region to mitigate the COVID-19 and wider economic challenges in the region. The impact of job losses in the region will be discussed. The Regional Steering Committees cover a number of counties and with representatives from a range of stakeholders are not best positioned to discuss company specific issues.
My Department has agreed a Job Loss Response Protocol with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection lead on this. The protocol puts in place all the efforts to assist the workers. It includes welfare entitlements, job-search assistance and upskilling needs/opportunities.
In May 2017, my Department launched the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) with funding of up to €60m, designed to support the ambition, goals, and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs/Regional Enterprise Plans. The REDF has been rolled out by Enterprise Ireland. An additional tranche of €40m was provided in 2019.
The REDF is aimed at accelerating economic recovery in all regions of the country by delivering on the potential of local and regional enterprise strengths. The competitive Fund supports significant collaborative and innovative regional initiatives to build on specific industry sectorial strengths and improve enterprise capability, thereby driving job creation.
This is achieved by co-financing the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. The Fund helps to ensure the benefits of our growing economy are felt in all regions.
To date, the REDF has been delivered through three calls with 68 projects across all regions securing a total of almost €100 million in funding.
The West Region secured funding of over €16.7 million across nine projects.
This funding complements other funding such as funding provided under Project Ireland 2040 with funding provided under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund and the Climate Action Fund.
Finally, as regards job creation there are 32,900 more people in employment in the West from Q1 2015, when the first Regional Action Plan for Jobs commenced to Q2 2020. The West has a Q2 2020 unemployment rate of 5.5%, down from 12.6% in Q1 2015.
There have also been positive development in Agency job creation in 2019:
- The West has 115 IDA supported companies employing 27,300 people, up 5.1% from 2018;
- 15,256 people were employed in 429 Enterprise Ireland supported companies in the West, up almost 3% from 2018; and
- There were an additional 317 net jobs created in the West in LEO supported companies in 2019.
90. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the size of the MFI loan book; the number of current creditors it has based in County Kerry; and the number of these creditors that have contacted the organisation expressing an inability to meet payments in October 2020. [22273/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Microfinance [MFI] Ireland Covid-19 Loan Scheme assists businesses with fewer than ten employees, which have been impacted negatively by Covid-19. It provides much-needed funding to help microenterprises meet payments for stock, working capital requirements and other overhead expenses through the provision of low-cost lending facilities, which include a six-month repayment free moratorium and the equivalent of one-year interest free (subject to terms and conditions), with rates as low as 4.5% for the remaining period of the loan.
I recently introduced the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill to provide for the increased funding.
The Covid-19 Loan scheme has seen a very strong uptake in recent months, with €18.7 million sanctioned to 687 businesses up to 1st September 2020 from phase 1 of the scheme. This represents three years of normal lending volumes for MFI in a period of just over five months. Importantly, with 79% of MFI’s lending to businesses outside Dublin, MFI provides an essential support for businesses who are hoping to reboot their economic activity over the coming weeks and months in every county in Ireland. I was pleased to announce the opening of phase two of the Covid-19 Loan Scheme on the 31 August.
There are 57 live loans from Kerry. Of these, 28 are pre-COVID-19 loans and, of which 24 are on repayment holidays until October 2020. There are also 29 COVID-19 phase one loans. All of these loans are on repayment holidays until the October 2020 at the earliest, but some as far out as March 2021 (six months from date of drawdown).
In total, 53 of 57 MFI loans to businesses in Kerry are on repayment holidays. MFI has written to all customers due to commence repayments in October and will be following up with phone calls over the next few weeks, as part of the Credit Review process. None of the Kerry-based businesses with loans have so far indicated to MFI that they can or cannot commence repayments in October.
91. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if workplace outbreaks of Covid-19 will be made notifiable to the Health and Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22415/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCOVID-19 is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020. Any infectious disease pandemic is first and foremost a matter of public health for which a legal basis for reporting already exists under public health legislation. Notifiable infectious diseases are statutorily reportable under the above Regulations to the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health for investigation and control. A list of notifiable diseases can be found on the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre website -
https://www.hpsc.ie/notifiablediseases/listofnotifiablediseases/
Under occupational safety and health legislation, employers are required to report all workplace accidents that result in more than 3 days absence. Generally employers would not be able to attribute the diagnosis of an illness such as COVID-19 with any degree of reliability, to a particular workplace, since COVID-19 can be acquired in either a community or a workplace setting.
I understand that the Board of the Health and Safety Authority has requested a review of the reporting obligations concerning infectious diseases in the context of employer obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. It is expected that this review will be completed shortly, and I have asked that this review be submitted to my Department for consideration.
92. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a scandal (details supplied) in the UK and the recent measures put in place by UK energy regulator, OFGEM, to protect consumers from unfair business practices in the pre-paid energy sector; and if his attention has been further drawn to similar unfair business practices in operation here and the potential need to protect consumers. [22455/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the UK energy regulator, OFGEM, has recently published proposals to standardise and strengthen supports for customers who struggle to pay energy bills and customers who pay for energy on a pre-payment basis. Protections for Irish energy customers who pay for energy on a pre-payment basis are the responsibility of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities which comes under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Energy. Questions about protections and supports for these customers are a matter accordingly for the Minister for Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport.
93. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to his Department in Civil Service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22479/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccommodation 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. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private sector.
The Department and its Offices are located in 11 locations across the country, six of which are in Dublin and five regionally based in Carlow (113 posts), Cork (6 posts), Ennis (11 posts), Kilkenny (54 posts) and Sligo (10 posts).
The Department works closely with OPW colleagues to ensure the provision of appropriate, fit-for-purpose accommodation for our staff which must be tailored for any services being provided to the public.
The accommodation portfolio typically includes the provision of desk space, training rooms, meeting rooms, public hearing areas, public office areas, canteen facilities, secure onsite file storage, toilets and shower facilities amongst other things. The desk provision to staff must also take into account various working patterns in line with family friendly policies available across the Civil Service.
An important additional factor arising over recent months which impacts on the safe capacity levels of our workplaces in all locations are the social distancing requirements and various safety measures arising due to COVID-19.
Every effort is made to optimise the physical space that is made available to us through the OPW. This is kept under constant review. Given the current circumstances and existing layout of our regional offices there are currently no immediately available vacant desk spaces except for normal staffing turnover levels, which currently sees 6 staff vacancies (3%).
The Offices in Carlow and Kilkenny have the potential for the provision of additional desk capacity if some of the existing physical space in either locations were to be further re-purposed. However this is not a matter that can be done unilaterally by my Department and requires interaction with the OPW given other tenants and local leasehold arrangements. Currently, particularly with COVID-19, there are no plans to reconfigure the available accommodation space in either location for the provision of additional desks.
94. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proactive measures that are taking place to ensure IDA Ireland policy is prioritised in regions, and in particular the north-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22500/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and IDA Ireland have a number of proactive measures in place to encourage investment and job creation in the regions, including the North-West. The IDA is authorised by my Department to provide a range of financial supports in the form of employment, capital, research and development, environmental and training grants. In 2019, the Agency paid over €6.8m in grants to client companies based in the North-West region. These grants are an important means of encouraging companies to invest in Ireland, particularly in regional locations such as Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.
As part of its Regional Property Programme (RPP) the IDA are directly investing in a building programme to help ensure property solutions are in place for overseas companies considering investing or expanding in Ireland, thereby encouraging more foreign direct investment (FDI) in the regions.
The North-West has benefitted from the RPP. In 2017, the IDA successfully constructed an Advanced Technology Building (ATB) in County Sligo and secured Abbott as a tenant. Under the second phase of the RPP, construction has commenced on an Advanced Office Building (AOB) in Sligo with a further ATB planned for the county. Once the first and second phases of the RPP are completed there will be a total of three buildings constructed in the North-West and I am confident that these will stimulate further investment and job creation for the entire region.
The IDA also owns marketable serviced land across Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal and this puts the North-West in a competitive position to compete for mobile FDI. The Agency continues to draw the attention of existing and prospective investors to the region through its network of offices in Ireland and overseas.
More broadly, the level of FDI in the North-West has improved in recent years with over 270 net new jobs added by multinational companies in 2019. We are working hard, across Government, to further unlock the economic potential of our regions. The enterprise agencies remain pivotal to this and they continue to engage with their clients, and with one another, to create jobs and source new investment for the regions.
95. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a schedule of advisers, special advisers and seconded civil servants working in his Department appointed and or recruited and or in an acting capacity; the roles and responsibilities attributed to each; and the salary scale for each role in tabular form. [22527/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act, were approved by Government on 04 August 2020.
The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. It is expected that one special advisor will be appointed for Minister of State English. The number of special advisors for Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is still under consideration.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be notified of the rate of salary to be paid in all cases for Special Advisers. These rates will then be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
With regards to seconded civil servants working in the Ministers' offices in my Department, the table below sets out the position:
Minister of State Damien English:
|
Grade |
Duties |
Remuneration |
|
Executive Officer |
To provide administrative support in the Minister’s Constituency Office |
EO Standard payscale - €30,278 - €49,274 p.a. |
|
Seed Analyst (Staff Officer Equivalent) |
To provide clerical support in the Minister’s Constituency Office |
SO Standard payscale – €29,925 - €42,877 p.a. |
96. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider the issues pertaining to his Department raised by an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22618/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the continuing advice from NPHET that pubs that do not serve food should remain closed, the Government nevertheless accepts that there are ongoing costs that pubs face over and above those of other businesses. In that regard the Government introduced a range of measures to support pubs, bars and nightclubs that were announced on 28th August which amounts to a further €16 million support package, recognising the economic impact of Covid-19 on their businesses and to assist planning and adaptation for their re-opening.
This €16 million package is in addition to the range of measures announced for businesses, including pubs, in the July Stimulus Package, which is a substantial financial package to stimulate our economy worth more than €5 billion, with an additional €2 billion in loan guarantees.
Those pubs, bars and nightclubs that remain closed to help them to reopen will now receive 40% top-up to the Restart Grant Plus. Therefore, businesses remaining closed and planning their re-opening can now receive a minimum of €5,600 and a maximum of €35,000 under the Restart Grant Plus. This can be used to help additional expense and adaptations associated with re-opening when the time comes.
Further measures include:
Waiver of court fees and associated excise and stamp duties relating to the renewal of pub and other liquor licenses in 2020.
Waiver of excise duty on on-trade liquor licenses on renewal in 2020.
These measures are in addition to the existing Restart Grant Plus, Tourism Adaptation Fund, the wage subsidy scheme, commercial rates waiver, liquidity supports and tax measures (such as warehousing of tax debt and reduction in VAT).
As regards liquidity measures, such as the COVID-19 Loan Scheme by Microfinance Ireland, I am aware that many small businesses are reluctant to take on debt, but would nevertheless emphasise that the terms and conditions of these loans are significantly more favourable to small business borrowers than loans from commercial banks. The fact that the first of these loan schemes is now fully subscribed and a second loan scheme has been launched attests to the fact that many small business owners are aware of these favourable conditions.
I launched the new Credit Guarantee Scheme on Monday of this week, which is part of the Government’s suite of supports for businesses that have been negatively impacted as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme will facilitate up to €2 billion in lending to eligible businesses.
The Scheme offers a partial Government guarantee (80%) to participating finance providers against losses on qualifying finance agreements to eligible SMEs, small Mid-Caps and primary producers.
It is designed to incentivise participating finance providers to continue to play their role in supporting the availability of additional liquidity to Irish businesses.
Loans under the Scheme range from €10,000 to €1 million, for terms of up to five-and-a-half years. Financing will be offered through a range of products, including term loans, working capital loans and overdrafts. Loans of up to €250,000 under the Scheme are available unsecured (except where this is a requirement of the product feature, as in the case of asset finance, invoice discount facilities, etc).
The Government will continue to work with representative organisations and sectorial interests on finding solutions which conform with public health guidelines.
97. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of special advisers that will be hired by his Department. [22780/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile appointments are subject to formal Government approval, the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines which set out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. These guidelines were approved by Government on 04 August 2020.
It is expected that a special advisor will be appointed for Minister of State English. The special advisors for Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is still under consideration.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be notified of the rate of salary to be paid in all cases for Special Advisers. These rates will then be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
98. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the process for granting foreshore fishing licences on the river Blackwater; the number of licences sought; the number of licences granted; the entitlements accompanying a licence and the permissions granted or not granted in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21235/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of Blackwater Rivers and I assume the Deputy is referring to the Munster Blackwater. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State Agency responsible for issuing licences for recreational salmon and sea trout angling.
State angling licences are issued only where a sustainable surplus, sufficiently above the individual river’s conservation limit, has been confirmed conveying a status on the river of open for exploitation or where the river has attained catch and release status. The status of a river is determined via the annual scientific assessments carried out by the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) and the management advice of IFI. No licences are issued in respect of years where the river is classified as closed to all angling.
Angling licences are normally valid for all rivers on a national basis or in the case of district licences relate to all of the rivers in any one of the 17 Fishery Districts rather than confined to a single river.
The conditions of a valid licence are set out in the annual Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations. These regulations set out the general rules pertaining to the use of the licence, the status of each river (open, closed or catch and release), the surplus available on each river open to harvest; the tagging requirements and distribution of various tags, and the completion of angler’s logbooks Local regulations or bye-laws may also apply.
An additional permit may be required in association with a State licence for certain waters. While there is no specific “foreshore fishing licence” among the categories of angling licence, what is commonly termed “foreshore fishing” would, by its nature, take place below the tidal limit of the Munster Blackwater. As those waters are in private rather than public ownership, anglers must acquire a valid permit from the fishery owner to fish on any of the privately owned (several) fisheries on the river in addition to a valid State Licence from IFI.
99. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the position regarding eel fishing here compared to other EU countries and the UK; the reason for divergences from EU common policy; if a review will be conducted on the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21236/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 1100/2007 requires each member state to submit an Eel Management Plan (EMP) containing measures for national implementation. Following a comprehensive public consultation process, Ireland introduced its EMP, which was approved by the European Commission in 2009. In setting out its EMP, Ireland followed the objective of the Regulation to ensure that escapement of eels to the sea should be at 40% relative to “pristine conditions” (those pertaining in the early 1980s). The measures in the EMP include closure of the eel fishery and the internal market. In accordance with the EU Regulation, the plan and its measures were comprehensively reviewed in 2012, 2015 and 2018 when further public consultation was undertaken. All three reports are available on the website of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) www.fisheriesireland.ie. Further reviews will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Regulation.
100. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks his plans to extend grants similar to the SEAI BEV and PHEV grants to electric bikes, scooters and mopeds in view of the fact the SEAI is offering grants of up to €5,000 for a BEV or a PHEV purchased and registered here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out that in order to achieve our ambitious emission reduction targets, Ireland needs to significantly decarbonise our transport fleet, with a particular focus on cars and light goods vehicles, and, to that end, commits to using a range of policy approaches to incentivise use of electric vehicles and encourage a shift away from petrol/diesel vehicles. As part of the July Jobs Stimulus Plan, the Minister for Finance announced an amendment to the ‘Cycle to Work Scheme’ to increase the allowable expenditure from €1,000 to €1,500 in respect of e-bikes and from €1,000 to €1,250 in respect of bicycles. This amendment has recently been given effect through the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020.
The Cycle to Work Scheme has been very effective in encouraging cycling by means of a generous tax subsidy for the purchase, by an employer, of a bicycle or e-bike and associated safety equipment, the cost of which may be spread over up to 12 months. This approach is seen as more beneficial in expanding access to cycling and e-bikes than alternative measures.
At present, a legislative amendment would be required to allow certain e-scooters and other powered person transporters to be used on Irish roads and, as such, would be required in advance of any extension of the Cycle to Work Scheme to cover such vehicles. My Department (the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport) is currently examining the legislative provisions regarding the use of e-scooters on Irish roads.’
101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the steps he is taking to ensure sufficient broadband access is provided in rural areas to facilitate online learning. [21735/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational Broadband Ireland (NBI) has commenced delivering the network required to deploy a high speed broadband service within the intervention area targeted by the National Broadband Plan earlier this year. The Covid 19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for this vital infrastructure which will provide connectivity to those learning and working from home in rural areas. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
All premises within the intervention area will be surveyed as part of the national fibre network rollout. These surveys are required to produce a detailed network design for high speed fibre broadband network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose, and is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area.
83,000 premises have now been surveyed throughout 19 counties in Ireland and detailed designs for laying fibre are also in process for areas throughout the country. NBI provides a facility for any premises within the AMBER area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website (https://nbi.ie/map/).
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP, providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of fast Fibre to the Home. Over 100 BCP sites have been connected by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through 'service provider' contracts managed by the Department of Rural & Community Development for publically available sites and by the Department of Education & Skills (DES) for schools. Approximately 300 sites in rural areas are targeted for completion by the end of 2020 including 75 schools. The Department will work with DES to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP.
The Department of Education & Skills confirm that this investment will underpin the Digital Learning Framework for Schools and Digital Technology advisors in the Professional Development Service for Teachers will be involved with the BCP programme to see how the connected schools can engage their high speed connectivity in their Digital Learning Planning.
