Matt Carthy
Ceist:150. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Taoiseach if he will propose legislation that will provide for the review and or appeal of decisions made by the Director of Public Prosecutions. [2897/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislative Measures
Ceisteanna (150)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of her functions in accordance with provisions of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. This independence is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. There are no plans at present to legislate in the terms proposed by the Deputy.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (151)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:151. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [3311/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Cabinet Committee on Health is currently scheduled to meet on 14 February.
Consumer Prices
Ceisteanna (152)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:152. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Taoiseach the way that the consumer price index has changed annually in Ireland from 2008 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The latest inflation figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 5.5% in the twelve months to December 2021. The annual average Consumer Price Index and the corresponding annual percentage change, for the years 2008 to 2021, are set out in the following table.
Consumer Price Index (base Dec 2016=100)
|
Year |
Annual Average Index |
Annual Average Percentage change (%) |
|
2008 |
101.2 |
4.1 |
|
2009 |
96.7 |
-4.5 |
|
2010 |
95.8 |
-1.0 |
|
2011 |
98.3 |
2.6 |
|
2012 |
99.9 |
1.7 |
|
2013 |
100.4 |
0.5 |
|
2014 |
100.6 |
0.2 |
|
2015 |
100.3 |
-0.3 |
|
2016 |
100.3 |
0.0 |
|
2017 |
100.7 |
0.4 |
|
2018 |
101.2 |
0.5 |
|
2019 |
102.1 |
0.9 |
|
2020 |
101.8 |
-0.3 |
|
2021 |
104.2 |
2.4 |
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (153)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:153. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Taoiseach the current rate of unemployment in County Clare; and the rate of unemployment in County Clare over the past ten years. [2727/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of unemployment estimates in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2021.
The quarterly LFS unemployment estimates are produced by NUTS3 Regions (NUTS3 is a geocode standard referencing the eight subdivisions of Ireland for statistical purposes ). Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates from the LFS.
The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
Due to changes made under the 2014 Local Government Act, the current NUTS3 region LFS series is available from Q1 2012, see link to an Information Note published by the CSO which details these changes.
www.cso.ie/en/methods/revnuts23/
The table below shows the unemployment rate for persons aged 15-74 years in the Mid-West NUTS3 Region in the third quarter 2012 to 2021. This information is also available online on the CSO Px Stat (Series code QLF08). See link to CSO website below.
data.cso.ie/product/LFS
Unemployment Rate for persons aged 15-74 years in the Mid-West NUTS3 Region 1 , Q3 2012 - 2021
%
|
Q3 2012 |
Q3 2013 |
Q3 2014 |
Q3 2015 |
Q3 2016 |
Q3 2017 |
Q3 2018 |
Q3 2019 |
Q3 2020 |
Q3 2021 |
|
|
Total persons |
20.5 |
16.4 |
13.4 |
12.3 |
9.3 |
8.2 |
7.2 |
4.8 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
Source: Labour Force Survey, CSO
1 Mid-West NUTS3 Region: County Clare, County Limerick and County Tipperary
Data may be subject to future revision.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Reference period: q3=July-September
Departmental Investigations
Ceisteanna (154)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:154. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach the status of the investigation into the leak of the report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation; the details of any report received from the Secretary General his Department to date; the terms of reference of the investigation; and when the report will be published. [3180/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following the disclosure in a newspaper report last year of certain information relating to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation on Mother and Baby Homes in advance of consideration of the report by the Government, I requested that an investigation be carried out.
A senior official in my Department is carrying out the investigation in the context of a broader examination of the overall arrangements for the management of documents for Government meetings and their confidentiality. That process is ongoing.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Ceisteanna (155)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:155. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach his Department’s total capital and current expenditure budget for 2021 and 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence with a breakdown for each related allocation for both years in tabular form. [3508/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
While my Department has no specific provision in its budget allocation for 2021 or 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality, which I chair, will be fully utilised to bring a dedicated focus to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, to ensure oversight of the issue from my Department
Census of Population
Ceisteanna (156)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the preparations made to date for Census 2022; the census date; and the date for publication of the preliminary report. [3606/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Preparations for Census 2022 are at an advanced stage. Recruitment for the three layers of field managers is complete and those staff have commenced their employment. CSO is currently in the process of recruiting over 5,000 enumerators and they are expected to begin their work with the delivery of the census forms to the public at the end of February. The delivery of the forms will be accompanied by a national publicity campaign to raise awareness of the census. All key IT systems for the census including the census processing system are either fully developed or are on track to be completed on time.
Census 2022 will take place on Sunday April 3rd 2022.
The Central Statistics Office expects to release the preliminary results from Census 2022 by the end of June 2022, with the publication of the official results to commence in the second quarter of 2023.
Enterprise Support Services
Ceisteanna (157)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:157. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports that are available for a person (details supplied) starting their own business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2941/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would encourage any person looking to start, expand or pivot their business to contact their Local Enterprise Office as they provide a ‘first stop shop’ for all available Government business supports.
In regard to a business operating in the construction sector, such as the one mentioned in the detail, it should be noted that the Local Enterprise Offices do not ordinarily provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.
However, the Local Enterprise Offices do provide a wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes that are tailored to meet specific business requirements. Whether it is starting a business or growing a business there is something suitable for anyone exploring self-employment as an option.
In particular, I would encourage the person to enquire about the Start Your Own Business Programme. The objective is to assist clients in assessing their business idea, its viability and helps them decide if they should proceed or take a step back. The programme covers topics such as Starting up / getting started, identifying, understanding, and researching your target market, developing your business plan amongst other vital areas of interest to a new business.
I would also suggest seeking the advice of a LEO Business Mentor; the Mentor programme is open to both new and existing businesses located within the Local Enterprise Office region and is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance. The mentor contributes independent, informed observation and advice to aid decision making.
Mentors can also advise on finance options available to entrepreneurs and can assist with applications and referrals to Micro-Finance Ireland, which provides vital support to eligible microenterprises by lending to businesses that cannot obtain loans from other commercial lenders and who do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by commercial lenders. It offers loan funding, including Start-up Loans, from €5,000 to €25,000. As of December 2021, Microfinance Ireland has approved 4,177 loans worth €70 million since establishments in 2012, with 9% of these loans approved to the construction sector.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (158)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:158. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a schedule of financial Covid-19 supports directed towards a hotel and hospitality group (details supplied) in County Kildare that originate from his Department. [3154/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There have been a wide range of measures taken by government to provide support for business during the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, through my Department and others.
Depending on the respective eligibility criteria for each relevant measure, a business may have qualified for various supports including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), the BRSS, and sector-specific measures such as business continuity grants and the lower VAT rate, which have all been critical in supporting businesses and jobs.
Details of the wide range of supports available are noted on my Department’s website at www.enterprise.gov.ie/en/Publications/Supports-for-businesses-COVID-19.html
Government continues to carefully consider any additional measures required to addresses key priorities for business survival and recovery such as continued business continuity and employee supports.
In relation to the receipt of hospitality sector specific supports my colleague, Minister Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media may be able to assist you further.
Employment Schemes
Ceisteanna (159)
Niall Collins
Ceist:159. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider amending the employment permit programme to include therapists for spa facilities given the inability of hotel owners to recruit within the EEA zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3155/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing enterprises to recruit nationals from outside the EEA, where such skills or expertise cannot be sourced from within the EEA at that time.
The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of skills that are in critical shortage in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a ready source of labour is available from within Ireland and the EEA.
Changes to the employment permit occupations lists are made where there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available, development opportunities are not undermined, genuine skills shortage exists rather than a recruitment or retention problem and Government education, training and economic development policies are supported.
The occupations lists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based review and take account of research undertaken by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SOLAS) and the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19.
The role of Spa Therapist is currently on the Ineligible Occupations List and is not eligible for an employment permit. Submissions from the sector were considered during the 2019 review, the findings of which were that no evidence of shortages existed and job churn was a factor at the time. The report also recommended the sector develop greater structured engagement with the Department of Social Protection Employer Engagement Services.
The next review of the Occupations Lists will open in the coming weeks by Public Consultation.
Employment Rights
Ceisteanna (160)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:160. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to an instance in which a hotel and hospitality group has failed to provide persons with a statutory redundancy in order to comply with their statutory obligation (details supplied). [3158/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Employers must comply with their legal obligation to make a statutory redundancy lump sum payment to eligible employees. I have no function in monitoring or enforcing those payments.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the organisation which is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. If an employer has failed to pay statutory redundancy entitlements, the employee has the right to make a complaint to the WRC for an adjudication and redress where appropriate.
In situations where an employer is genuinely unable to pay statutory redundancy entitlements due to financial difficulties or insolvency, the State may make the statutory redundancy payments on the employer’s behalf from the Social Insurance Fund. When such a redundancy payment is made from the Social Insurance Fund, a debt is raised against the employer and the Department of Social Protection will pursue recovery of the debt.
Trade Missions
Ceisteanna (161)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:161. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of virtual trade missions to Vietnam that were held in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Each year, Enterprise Ireland offers 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.
In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led Trade Missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represented the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These Trade Missions focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, trade missions took place virtually throughout 2020 and during Quarters 1 to 3 of 2021. Physical trade missions took place during Quarter 4 of 2021. In relation to Vietnam, there were no virtual trade missions held in 2020 or 2021.
My Department continues to work closely with its agencies to assess opportunities to help Irish companies to access new markets and to increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland, including in markets in the Asia-Pacific region such as Vietnam.
Fishing Industry
Ceisteanna (162)
Mick Barry
Ceist:162. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when legislation will be introduced on foot of the agreement reached between his Department and the Department of Transport to give the Workplace Relations Commission jurisdiction to hear complaints of breaches of the Working Time at Sea Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3446/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A Memorandum of Understanding on the monitoring and enforcement of the Atypical Worker Permission Scheme for non-EEA fishers employed on certain Irish-registered fishing vessels was signed by 11 Departments and Agencies in May 2016.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is one of a number of agencies which contributes to the enforcement of this scheme and has particular responsibility for checking compliance insofar as terms of employment, permission to work, payment of wages, annual leave, public holiday and National Minimum Wage entitlements are concerned.
Enforcing compliance with rest period and maximum working hours requirements in the fishing sector is the responsibility of authorised officers of the Department of Transport, i.e., Marine Surveyors.
However, as the Deputy rightly points out, a legislative amendment is required in order to provide the WRC with jurisdiction to hear complaints of breaches of the Working Time at Sea Directive.
My Department has engaged with the Department of Transport and agreement has been reached to submit a proposal to the Oireachtas to extend the WRC's jurisdiction in this matter. This proposal will be included as a miscellaneous amendment in a legislative instrument in the Spring.
Fishing Industry
Ceisteanna (163)
Mick Barry
Ceist:163. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections of fishing vessels that are eligible to employ non-EEA workers under the terms of the atypical work permit scheme that took place in 2021; the number of non-compliances that were detected; the category and penalties that resulted for the vessel owners in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3447/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) contributes to multi-agency efforts to enforce the Atypical Worker Permission Scheme for Non-EEA Workers engaged on Irish-registered whitefish fishing vessels over 15 metres in length.
The WRC carried out 51 inspections in 2021 of fishing vessels that come within the scope of the Scheme. This included inspections undertaken by the WRC in September last year under Operation Pallas, which is the eighth such operation undertaken by the Commission since 2016. This brings to 497 the number of fisheries inspections which have now been undertaken by WRC Inspectors since the introduction of the Atypical Scheme.
50 contraventions of employment rights or employment permits legislation, relating to 20 vessel owners, were detected by WRC Inspectors in 2021. This brings to 365 the number of contraventions detected by WRC Inspectors since the introduction of the Atypical Scheme.
The WRC objective is to work with employers, in this case vessel owners, to achieve compliance. Fishing vessel owners who do not comply on a voluntary basis, following the issue of a Contravention Notice, will, depending on the legislation involved, be issued with a Compliance Notice or Fixed Payment Notice or face prosecution. Current policy provides for the initiation of prosecution proceedings in relation to the offence of employing a non-EEA national without a valid permission to work.
The current position in relation to the contraventions detected in 2021 is set out in 'Table 1' attached.
Table 1: 50 contraventions detected in 2021
|
Status |
No. |
|
Open-Contravention Notice Issued |
11 |
|
Open-Final Notice Issued |
2 |
|
Open-Prosecution Underway |
1 |
|
Closed-Referred to another agency |
11 |
|
Closed-resolved by Contravention Notice |
25 |
|
Total: |
50 |
Unpaid wages of over €13,000 arising from unauthorised deductions from pay and failure to pay the National Minimum Wage rate or to grant public holiday and/or annual leave entitlements were secured in the case of 11 of the 50 contraventions.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (164)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:164. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the consideration that has been given to adding physiotherapists and occupational therapists to the critical skills occupations lists in order to ease demand in the healthcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing enterprises to recruit nationals from outside the EEA, where such skills or expertise cannot be sourced from within the EEA at that time.
The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of skills that are in critical shortage in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a ready source of labour is available from within Ireland and the EEA.
Changes to the employment permit occupations lists are made where there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available, development opportunities are not undermined, genuine skills shortage exists rather than a recruitment or retention problem and Government education, training and economic development policies are supported.
The occupations lists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based review and take account of research undertaken by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SOLAS) and the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19.
Changes which were announced in June 2021 removed a number of Health Care occupations from the Ineligible Occupations List including Chartered Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. This provides access to the General Employment Permit for non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in the State as a Chartered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.
In accordance with Employment Permit legislation, in order to ensure that job opportunities are made available to Irish and EEA nationals, employers must satisfy a Labour Market Needs Test before a General Employment Permit can be issued to a non-EEA national. This policy fulfils our obligations under the Community Preference principles of membership of the EU.
The next review of the Occupations Lists will open in the coming weeks by Public Consultation.
Labour Market
Ceisteanna (165)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:165. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts being made to expedite applications for a general employment permit in sectors in which labour demand is high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The employment permits regime is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages in the State, required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy. However, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
The employment permits system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit and these lists are subject to twice-yearly evidenced based review.
Since March 2020, my Department has implemented Covid-19 contingency arrangements moving employment permit operations seamlessly to a totally remote working environment. Feedback received from enterprise across the board has been universally positive. In fact, Ireland was one of the few countries that has managed to keep their employment permit system fully operational throughout the crisis.
From the outset of the crisis, in order to assist the HSE and all other medical providers in the State to respond to, and to assist with, the public health response to the threat of Covid-19, all medical employment permit applications are expedited with immediate effect.
My Department experienced a significant increase in applications for employment permits in the past year. Applications for Employment Permits increased significantly over the course of 2021, impacting on processing times. From the start of January to the end of December 2021, some 27,666 applications were received, representing a 69% increase over the same period in 2020 (16,293) and a 47% increase on 2019 (18,811), which itself represented an 11 year high in applications. My Department issued 16,275 employment permits in 2021, and processed a total of 17,968 applications which represents a significant volume of activity. The impact of this has resulted in a significant backlog, which has increased from 1,000 in April 2021 to approximately c. 10,500 by mid January 2022, but it is now stabilising.
In addition, the extension of categories of employment permits following the latest Review of the Occupational Lists has increased the availability of employment permits for these roles.
Processing times have been impacted by this increase in demand but also because of the HSE cyber-attack. As a result, employment permit applications associated with the July 2021 Doctors rotation (which occurs twice yearly in January and July) had to be submitted either manually or through other nonstandard methods. This resulted in a significant additional administrative burden in dealing with these applications, requiring staff to be temporarily reassigned to assist in the process and had a direct impact on wider processing times for other permit applications.
An Action Plan has been developed and is being implemented to tackle the backlog, with both human resource interventions and systemic changes. The staffing actions being taken include:
- Recruitment of additional permanent and temporary staff. This is an increase of 69% on our permanent capacity and 125% to include temporary staff to deal with the backlog in applications.
- Temporary reassignment of staff from other areas of the Department with relevant skills.
- Increased overtime arrangements.
As the Plan is implemented and begins to take effect, we expect to see improvements in the backlog from end-January, with the backlog considerably reduced by the end of Q1 and substantially reduced by the end of Q2 2022.
In addition, further systemic changes have also been introduced. My Department has worked with the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Justice to streamline and extend the time period for General Employment Permits (GEP) issued to doctors. A new two-year multi-site GEP for Medical Doctors in Public hospitals and Public health facilities was introduced in respect of the January 2022 Doctors rotation. This will result in significant benefits for applicants, as well as major efficiencies for the Employment Permits Section, by eliminating the necessity to apply for additional employment permits when moving to a different Public hospital or Public health facility within this two year period.
The Department provides regular updates on its website in relation to processing times and engages directly with key stakeholders including IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, AmCham, IBEC, representative groups and individual companies, as required, including regarding sectoral labour requirements.
The Management Board of my Department is overseeing the implementation of the Action Plan and its impact on the backlog and waiting times.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Ceisteanna (166)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:166. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his Department’s total capital and current expenditure budget for 2021 and 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence with a breakdown for each related allocation for both years in tabular form. [3497/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have any discrete funding in its budget to specifically address issues of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Insofar as the welfare of the Department’s staff is concerned, the Department ensures that the various civil service wide guidelines and circulars that look to protect the welfare of staff in areas such as harassment, anti-bullying etc. are applied in respect of the staff of the Department and its Offices. I would also advise the Deputy that the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) also provides assistance on a wide range of issues that support staff members on wellbeing matters.
Ministerial Staff
Ceisteanna (167)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:167. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of civilian and Garda Ministerial drivers in his current corps of drivers; the breakdown of the civilian versus Garda drivers; and the total costs including salaries, maintenance, fuel and so on incurred by the driver corps in 2020 and 2021. [3966/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to my current corps of drivers, this information resides with the Department of an Taoiseach and an Garda SÍochána.
North-South Interconnector
Ceisteanna (168)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:168. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a reply will issue regarding a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the north south interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3234/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island Integrated Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also facilitate the achievement of the goal to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland's economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers.
Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure which states: ‘The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies’. Planning conditions for particular projects are a matter for the relevant planning authority.
The motions passed by Monaghan County Council include several allegations that fall well outside my remit, are material to the national planning process and some appear to be material to the Council itself, as a relevant planning authority. A reply will issue to the formal correspondence from Monaghan County Council on matters for which my Department is responsible.
Energy Conservation
Ceisteanna (169)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:169. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment; Climate and Communications the efforts he is taking to address the long waiting list for the SEAI warmer homes grant; the extent to which Covid-19 has impacted on the waiting list for retrofitting of homes; if there are plans to reduce the 24-month waiting list for grant works to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2931/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades. The average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household in 2021 was €17,100, an increase of approximately €1,000 per home since 2020.
The average wait times were impacted by the extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in place for periods during 2020 and 2021 when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Wait times have also been impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead in time for materials. The SEAI has advised me that wait times may vary, based on the demand for the scheme at the time of application. For instance, once the survey is completed and works are allocated to a contractor, the time to complete works is dependent on a number of factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials, weather and in recent years COVID-19 public health restrictions.
There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme work programme, a reduction of approximately 300 since December 2020. This includes homes that are: currently undergoing works; have been allocated to contractors for works; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor or are awaiting the initial survey of their home.
SEAI data indicates that for homes completed to date in 2021, the average time from application to completion was approximately 26 months. For the same period, the average time for a surveyor to be allocated was approximately 18 months, a reduction of five months since December 2020.
Budget 2022 has allocated €202 million for residential and community retrofit this year. Over half of this (€109 million) will be used to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to households in the Warmer Homes Scheme. In addition, delivery capacity in the supply chain has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020. I have also secured additional resources to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme. SEAI received additional funding in Budget 2021 which delivered an increase of 30 staff across the organisation and Budget 2022 is providing funding for a further 30 staff this year. Every effort is being made to maximise output since construction activity in the residential sector recommenced in mid-April 2021.