Written Answers Nos. 181-200
181. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is considering making more third-level education places available to accommodate the increasing numbers of Ukrainians entering Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24953/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is steadfast in its condemnation of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.
As Minister, I am determined those fleeing the war will receive comprehensive and compassionate support to allow them to continue their education here in Ireland and my officials have been working proactively with the higher education sector to facilitate this. I must acknowledge the generosity of those working in the sector, who are assisting my Department to identify and respond to the needs of displaced students and staff.
While I am very aware that our higher education institutions are receiving queries from displaced students, the establishment of the National Student and Researcher Helpdesk is key to establishing the number involved and the type of provision being sought by displaced Ukrainian students.
Already there have been almost 250 calls and emails to the national helpdesk from students and researchers looking for our assistance, and advisors will be in touch with them in due course. Once the required data is available, I am committed to putting appropriate measures in place to facilitate their continued education.
182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for the development of an educational setting (details supplied) in Cavan town as a hub for further education and training. [25106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a call for proposals under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, I understand that a Strategic Assessment Report in relation to the Cavan Institute proposal has now been submitted by Cavan Monaghan ETB to SOLAS. The Deputy will be aware that it was agreed that the Cavan Institute project, previously part of the Department of Education school building programme, would be advanced as part of the new FET capital funding programme.
The outcome of the initial strategic assessment is expected to be communicated to CMETB in July. As the Deputy is aware, I have already committed that funding will be made available to deliver this project, subject to compliance with Public Spending Code requirements.
I have also granted approval for the purchase of a new modular unit for CMETB.
This is a strategic opportunity to address short and medium term accommodation needs for FET services in Cavan Town. The modular unit, c 1,700 sq.m., will be located at the FET campus at the former Dún Uí Neill Army barracks and will be operational by September. This modular accommodation is to address immediate accommodation needs. This development would enable the delivery of a range of PLC programmes, including but not limited to: music production, science, beauty, sports, animal care, sports therapy and general skills programmes. It will also provide canteen and sports facilities and office space.
183. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he is taking to ensure a sufficient number of trained construction workers through apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25205/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently working with Solas on examining the demand for construction workers between now and 2030. I expect to be in a position to bring that report to Cabinet shortly. However, it does set out the need for a significant increase in the number of people needed to help us build 33,000 homes every year. Apprenticeship is a key way to do that but it is not the only way.
On apprenticeship, a key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.
There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes, 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016. Construction related programmes include electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, plastering, painting and decorating and the recently launched scaffolding apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are also in development in roofing and cladding (L5) and advanced quantity surveyor (L9).
In recent years, annual intake in construction related apprenticeships has steadily been increasing. In 2020, there was a total of 3,370 construction apprenticeship registrations. This rose by 60% to 5,400 construction apprenticeship registrations in 2021. To date in 2022, there have been 1,083 construction registrations for the months of January, February and March (the latest figures available).
The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, which was in place from July 2020- December 2021, aimed to ensure that apprenticeship plays a key part in supporting economic recovery following Covid-19, is partly attributable for this success. This year, a new Employer Grant Scheme is providing a grant of €2,000 for employers of apprentices on consortia-led programmes. On 14th April, the Department announced a new gender-based bursary worth €2.666 for apprenticeship employers.
In addition, myself and Minister Humphreys recently launched the FutureBuilding Initiative, which aims to spearhead activation and recruitment for the construction sector along with supporting the industry by significantly scaling-up in education and training opportunities, including apprenticeships and delivery of new courses.
184. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the future plans his Department has to improve the access to third level education for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24889/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department. My ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of persons on low income and those with special and additional needs.
A range of supports and measures are in place for students attending higher education including for learners with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted while others are available to the general student population.
It is important to state the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 (NAP), which expired in 2021, set targets to increase participation in higher education by people with disabilities. Specific targets have been set to increase participation in higher education by students with physical or sensory disabilities. The original (8%) and revised target (12%) under the National Access Plan of new entrants to higher education with disabilities has now been exceeded, with 12.2% of new entrants to higher education in 2019/20 declaring a disability.
However, we acknowledge more needs to be done. I am happy to give an update on the new National Access Plan - the new plan will succeed the third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education. Work on finalising the next Plan is almost complete. My Department and the HEA has led a public consultation process and has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the preparation of this Plan.
The New Plan seeks to target underrepresented students, vulnerable students or students who have experienced disadvantage and therefore face challenges in accessing higher education and experiencing belonging in higher education. Students with disabilities will continue to be a priority group in the new plan. I also intend to include a particular focus on students with an intellectual disability, and I look forward in the coming weeks to bringing my plans in this area to Cabinet.
A Memo for Government on the new NAP will be brought to cabinet shortly and it is my intention to publish the new Plan in the coming months. I am looking forward to publishing this new and exciting Plan this year. We hope to have a more student centred plan that drives our strategic goal of inclusion which is a cornerstone of my Department priorities. My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review. We want to develop a better understanding of what works best within the different models, and to look at how we can assist people to access and progress through higher and further education and training.
I will be bringing proposals to Government shortly regarding my intention to establish a new funding programme in 2022 to provide greater supports and opportunities to autistic students and students with an intellectual disability in higher education.
185. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will detail progress on Budget 2022 apprenticeship commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25274/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners, to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025. Expansion to date has widened the impact of apprenticeship to areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics and fintech.
We are building on this existing progress to advance towards the overall goal, as set out in the Action Plan of creating a single unified apprenticeship system that presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike.
Development of new apprenticeship programmes has continued despite the pandemic challenges, There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021; Arboriculture, Equipment Systems Engineer, Healthcare Assistant, Principal Engineer – Professional Doctorate, Recruitment Executive, Sales, Scaffolding , Supply Chain Associate.
A Bar Manager Apprenticeship was launched at the beginning of March 2022 along with a Wind Turbine Maintenance apprenticeship. Most recently, an apprenticeship in Transport Operations & Commercial Driving has been launched. Programme development has been approved for progression for a further range of programmes in areas such as farming, horticulture, finance, manufacturing, construction, cybersecurity and ICT, and a number of others at the initial proposal stage.
A total of €34 million was provided in Budget 2022 to expand apprenticeship, including the development of new programmes noted above. The funding was also allocated to address the Covid-related backlogs on off-the-job training placements for craft apprentices, to establish the National Apprenticeship Office which will operationalise the new system.
The new National Apprenticeship Office will deliver additional practical supports and information for employers and apprentices seeking to engage with apprenticeship and its first Director has been appointed. The staffing structure of the office and budget for 2022 have been agreed and early achievements include overseeing the introduction the new €2000 employer grant, the expansion of the gender based bursary and the establishment of the National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA).
The introduction of an annual employer grant is a significant deliverable under the Action Plan. This new measure is funded in Budget 2022 and will see annual payments to employers of €2,000 per apprentice per annum for those apprenticeships that are not eligible for the payment of off-the-job training allowances. Its introduction means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices will now have access to some level of financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the employer grant. The grant came into effect from January 2022 with operational arrangements for the payment of the grant in 2022 planned for June and December each year.
On 14th April the Minister announced a new gender-based bursary for apprenticeship employers as part of the national Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. The bursary, which is worth €2,666, is available to employers who employ apprentices in the minority gender on any national apprenticeship programme with greater than 80% representation of a single gender.
The National Apprenticeship Alliance held its first meeting in March 2022. The NAA will take on and build from the previous role of the Apprenticeship Council. This will help ensure for the future that the apprenticeship system is responsive to developments, can evolve, and all the while maintains the quality of apprenticeship training.
The 23 member Alliance is representative of apprenticeship stakeholders and brings together a wealth of knowledge and first-hand, practical experience from the worlds of education providers, learners, industry partners and trade unions.
A Working Group representing Government Departments and key agencies and public service bodies is advancing a commitment to have 750 public service-wide apprentice registrations per annum by 2025. The Group will develop a plan on public service recruitment by summer 2022, based on completed surveying of organisations in relation to their skills needs.
These actions and achievements to date provide a very strong foundation for continued progress this year towards the successful implementation of the Action Plan.
189. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps which his Department is taking to address labour shortages within sectors of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25658/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe period from early 2020 was a difficult one for many businesses, and some sectors were more severely impacted by public health restrictions and for a more prolonged period. Throughout this period my Department and its enterprise agencies engaged with and supported businesses, and as we have emerged from the pandemic there has been a recovery in employment across the economy.
In its ongoing engagement with enterprise, my Department and its agencies have nevertheless been made aware of labour shortages in certain sectors. My Department has worked to signpost businesses towards the training and labour market activation programmes and supports, available through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, its agencies, and the Department of Social Protection, in order to address their staffing needs.
Some of these shortfalls are due to pre-existing structural shifts, which have been accelerated by the impact of the pandemic. The digital and green transitions, and their associated behavioural changes, are altering the economy and leading to permanent changes in our labour market and business models. Not all jobs will return as we recover from the pandemic, while embracing these transitions will open up substantial new employment opportunities, as well as potential skills mismatches as these opportunities initially emerge.
The Government’s Economic Recovery Plan commits to supporting the transition of Ireland’s economy and workforce to the new digital and green economies. This goal will be realised through ongoing support for people in securing and remaining in sustainable and quality employment, in areas of identified skills needs for business. This will be achieved in particular through the combination of 50,000 upskilling and reskilling opportunities set out in the Recovery Plan and increased labour market activation interventions through the Government’s Pathways to Work 2021-2025 strategy.
This jobs led recovery will be supported through creating the right environment for employment creation, through measures to boost the resilience, agility, competitiveness and innovation of enterprises across the economy. In order to support these objectives, Ireland’s economic migration policy also continues to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps in the short to medium term.
190. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on progress from his interactions with a company (details supplied) in relation to workers’ rights; if he supports a minimum payment per delivery for the drivers of €5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25670/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the LEEF subgroup meeting on December 13th, I proposed setting up a Working Group to closely examine the issue of determination of employment status. This follows on from my engagement with delivery riders and other stakeholders. The Working Group will identify the problem, get reliable data and put all options on the table in an effort to bring the matter forward. There was a good and open discussion at the first meeting of the Determination of Employment Status Working Group on Wednesday 13th of April.
The terms of a contract, including any changes to those terms, are a matter for agreement between the parties to the contract. As such it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any proposed changes to the terms.
More generally, in Ireland, a mechanism exists for the determination of the employment status of individuals or groups. Where an issue arises in relation to the employment status of an individual, cases are forwarded to the Revenue Commissioners and/or the Scope Section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation either solely by the recipient, or jointly with the Labour Inspectorate of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
In most cases it will be clear whether an individual is employed or self-employed. Where there is doubt in relation to the employment status of an individual the relevant Departments and Agencies will have regard to the Code of Practice for Determining Employment or Self-Employment Status of Individuals.
A revised Code of Practice on determining employment status, was published in July 2021 by the Minister for Social Protection. The Code is the key guidance document for employers and workers and others in relation to deciding the employment status of a worker. It was revised to take account of newer labour market developments, including platform work. Steps are underway to place the Code on a statutory footing.
In addition, the EU Commission published proposals for a range of measures on December 8th, 2021, including for a directive aiming to improve the working conditions of platform workers by preventing and addressing misclassification of their employment status. Working party discussions are continuing on this draft text.
191. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way that central Government will deliver economic growth to ensure regional balanced development. [22006/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBalanced regional development is a key policy priority of mine and this Government. My Department contributes to this agenda in a number of ways, including through the work of the enterprise agencies and through our national enterprise policy, ‘Enterprise 2025 renewed’. A forthcoming White Paper on enterprise policy, will further this commitment to balanced economic development.
The Enterprise agencies have a strong role to play in this agenda through direct assistance to businesses as well as promotion and enhancement of regional locations as places for businesses to invest and create jobs.
Enterprise Ireland’s strategy fully aligns with Government's ambition to bring job opportunities and growth to all parts of Ireland increasing total employment to a record high of 2.5 million by 2024 with an ambitious target of creating 45,000 jobs over the next three years and increasing exports by Enterprise Ireland client companies to €30 billion.
The IDA has made progress in boosting investment in regional locations. Of the 246 investments won in 2020, more than half went to regional locations. In 2021, of the 249 investments secured by the IDA, over half were for locations outside Dublin.
The Local Enterprise Offices have just come out of an 8th consecutive year of growth with 7,400 new jobs created by LEO clients in 2021. The LEOs now support over 7,100 companies financially within their portfolio with almost 36,000 associated jobs.
My Department has published nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024.
These plans are unique to each region focusing on identified growth opportunities while also addressing areas of vulnerability. The plans encourage collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the regional offering for enterprise and therefore create an environment for successful economic development and growth across the country.
The Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has provided over €126 million in funding through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Border Enterprise Development Fund, and Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme to assist enterprise development and regional jobs growth across all regions. These Funds enable significant collaborative and innovative regional projects to provide a timely impetus to job creation in regional locations.
Up to €180 million is being made available over the coming months and years for the nine Regional Enterprise Plans to develop and implement collaborative and innovative enterprise projects – projects that will not just sustain but add to employment at county, regional and national level.
The ‘Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns’ which was jointly developed by Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Rural and Community Development and informed by the work of a Town Centre First Interdepartmental Group, was published in February 2022, focuses on the regeneration of rural towns and villages.
Led by the Department of Rural and Community Development, ‘Our Rural Future’ is a whole-of-government rural development policy which sets out a range of measures to strengthen the resilience of our rural communities and economies, including addressing the impacts of the challenges experienced by people living and working in rural Ireland and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
Over the lifetime of the National Development Plan, the Department of Rural and Community Development will continue to invest in rural Ireland and communities across the country, supported through the various scheme such as the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme and the town and village renewal scheme, to name a few.
The Covid-19 pandemic imposed remote working on a lot of people. I want workers to be able to work remotely, whether from home or nearby hub if they chose to do so. Details of new legislation has been published which will give employees the right to request remote working, to allow people to live and work in their local regions. With more people working in their local towns and villages this will contribute to supporting our climate change targets, reduce traffic congestion and commuting times to an individual’s place of work.
192. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has considered the provision of funding for chambers across Ireland to hire administrative staff to help local businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25531/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has set out in its statement of strategy its intention to make Ireland the best place to succeed in business across all regions of our country, with vibrant enterprises, more high-quality employment, growing trade, fair workplaces, and higher productivity.
We are supporting our local business communities through the ongoing work of our enterprise agencies, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, and the Local Enterprise Offices, to develop policies to create jobs, increase productivity, encourage strong management and leadership, and drive transformation in employment intensive and locally traded sectors, with a focus on climate, digitalisation and skills.
There are over 210,000 people in Ireland working directly in IDA Ireland client companies. Around these companies more enterprises and more jobs are created. Supported by the increased economic activity, Ireland’s indigenous entrepreneurs see and seize the opportunity to create new businesses and provide new employment opportunities.
Enterprise Ireland works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets, in this way supporting sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment. Enterprise Ireland provides hands-on support to companies, promotes awareness of the benefits of innovation and provides important funding support in the form of both grants and equity and promotes awareness of incentives such as tax credits.
Located within each of the 31 Local Authorities and funded by my Department, the Local Enterprise Offices provide a ‘first stop shop’ for all available Government business supports and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols e.g. Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland. Any local business looking for assistance should contact their LEO.
The LEOs offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. They also provide an extensive range of management training and development programmes, which are available to anyone looking to start, grow or pivot their own business.
In partnership with their colleagues within the Local Authorities the Local Enterprise Offices are actively engaged in the economic development of their communities and many were directly involved in applying to Enterprise Ireland for funding for projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and the Border Enterprise Development Fund.
193. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to create additional working hubs for further employment in rural areas; if he will consider the creation of employment in the Youghal area in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Centres and working hubs provide affordable physical workspace for businesses across the country and deliver training and soft supports to their tenants and other companies in their locality and regional area while providing facilities for remote working, helping start-ups to scale internationally and attracting small scale FDI.
To date, my Department has provided funding of €250 million administered by Enterprise Ireland to assist the establishment of some 270 Enterprise Centres throughout Ireland.
In 2022, an additional €5 million in funding will be available to Community Enterprise Centres though the Regional Enterprise Innovation and Scoping Scheme. This Scheme builds on existing regional initiatives and aims to target grant aid at projects which will improve the resilience and international competitiveness of enterprises across all regions.
Substantial funding will also be made available up to 2027 for regional enterprise projects under funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Shared Island fund.
In addition, a further €12 million in funding administered through Enterprise Ireland has been sanctioned to assist with the completion of projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Border Enterprise Development Fund grant Schemes that have been delayed or interrupted due to increased construction and construction-related costs.
Nationwide there is a broad range of other hub-type facilities, both publicly and privately funded, including Community Enterprise Centres and incubator/accelerators that are being considered by the National Hub Network Working Group in their mapping of a national network of remote working facilities. The Department of Rural and Community Development, which leads on this mapping initiative, has also invested significantly in remote working infrastructure & connectivity through the Broadband Connection Point Network initiative including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Leader Programme.
In addition, the first allocation of €3 million in Budget 2022 was announced for the European Digital Innovation Hubs as part of the EU Digital Europe Programme which will provide over time a total of €13.4 million in funding to Ireland focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, SMEs, citizens and the public sector.
The creation of employment in all regional locations, including East Cork and the Youghal area, is a priority for my Department and this Government. Enterprise Ireland job figures for 2021 show that over 200,000 people now work in Enterprise Ireland client companies with a net increase in employment of almost 12,000 jobs. I am particularly pleased that jobs growth occurred in all regions with almost 70% of new jobs growth occurring outside of Dublin.
194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline Ireland's strategic plans to develop the fintech and agritech sectors respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25556/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is one of a very few locations with a proven record of accomplishment in the financial services and technology arena and is viewed as a strategic hub for innovation in fintech. Many of the world’s leading companies have a significant presence in Ireland, with activity spread right across the sector including Online Payments & Processing, Digital Banking, Cross Border Payments, Payment Gateways, Insurtech, Regtech and Blockchain. Notwithstanding the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the digital transformation of the financial services sector continues to develop.
Ireland for Finance, the whole-of-Government strategy for the development of Ireland’s international financial services sector was launched in 2019. Fintech is a priority in the Ireland for Finance Action Plan 2022 and a mid-term review of the strategy is currently being undertaken by the Department of Finance.
My Department works closely with Enterprise Ireland to assist companies in the fintech and financial services sectors at all stages of development – from early-stage start-ups to large companies – based on their identified need for growth. These are companies that have an ambition to scale internationally and are looking to enter new markets or build market share in existing markets. My Department together with Enterprise Ireland provide a comprehensive and systematic range of financial and non-financial assistance across fundamental business requirements like strategy; innovation; operations; sales and marketing; people; and finance.
Transforming the sustainability performance of Irish enterprise and assisting companies to capitalise on the growth opportunities presented by the low carbon transition, are key areas of focus for my Department. Together with Enterprise Ireland a Climate, Sustainability & Agritech Unit has been established to strengthen the capability and growth potential of agri-tech companies, with a particular focus on the development of sustainable solutions for the agri-food sector in Ireland and overseas.
My Department through Enterprise Ireland is working directly with companies in the sector, providing funding, advisory and capability building assistance to deliver innovation and to assist in their long-term development and growth, strengthening their competitiveness and productivity across all regions.
195. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the annual cost of cleaning and sanitising roofs of buildings under his Department’s control for the past five years to date in 2022. [25585/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and its Offices are tenants in eleven buildings provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) given their responsibility for management of the property portfolio for central Government. The buildings are either State owned or leased by the OPW. Typically the Department is a tenant in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private sector. The maintenance of the fabric of each of the buildings, including roofs, falls to the OPW to oversee. The data being sought by the Deputy is therefore a matter for the OPW.
196. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of unannounced Health and Safety Authority inspections in approved meat processing plants in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25612/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from the Department.
197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of unannounced Health and Safety Authority inspections in approved meat processing plants in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25612/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) recorded inspections according to the NACE sector in which they took place. The relevant NACE sub sectors in this case are those relating to the “processing and preserving of meat and production of meat products”. The number of inspections for 2017 – May 2020 are as follows:
|
- |
Processing and preserving of meat and production of meat products |
|
2017 |
23 |
|
2018 |
26 |
|
2019 |
14 |
|
01 Jan 2020 – 19 May 2020 |
3 |
Following the introduction of the Return to Work Safely Protocol in May 2020 and subsequent updates to that Protocol throughout 2020 and 2021, the number of inspections that were undertaken by the HSA in approved Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Meat Processing Plants (MPP) are set out below;
|
- |
Approved DAFM MPP Inspections |
Announced Inspections |
Unannounced Inspections |
|
20 May 2020 - 31 Dec 2020 |
187 |
31 |
156 |
|
01 Jan 2021 - 31st Dec 2021 |
262 |
3 |
259 |
|
01 Jan 2022 – 17 May 2022 |
59 |
0 |
59 |
Health and Safety Authority inspections are predominantly made without prior notification. However, in some exceptional circumstances prior notification may be appropriate, for example, in support of Public Health management of an COVID-19 outbreak, advanced notification may be required for operational reasons.
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which working from home and from the workplace arrangements have been sufficiently co-ordinated, in order to ensure the availability of the necessary opportunities for employees, as well as filling the employment places now readily available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15th, 2021. The Strategy identified 15 actions to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits.
The potential benefits of increased remote working include improved work-life balance and fewer emissions from commuting. Remote work has the potential to increase labour market participation by women, people with disabilities, people with caring responsibilities and older people. Remote working will result in more balanced regional development and new job opportunities for those living in rural Ireland. Employers that embrace remote and flexible working arrangements will be rewarded with greater access to talent.
Female labour market participation in Ireland, for example, is currently at record levels. In Q4 2021, the female labour force participation rate stood at 60.0 percent- an increase from 54.4 percent in Q4 2020, a development at least in part facilitated by the wider adoption of remote working arrangements.
Remote working will be a key mechanism for achieving our employment targets, helping those most distant from the labour force into work, and further contributing to achieving our ambitious climate targets.
My Department co-ordinated the implementation of the Strategy’s actions through an Interdepartmental Group. There has been significant progress in implementing these actions which will facilitate remote working opportunities for both employees and employers both now and into the future. I would highlight the following actions taken under the Strategy towards achieving this:
- On 25th January, the Government approved the priority drafting of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2022. The new law will set out a clear legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing such a request can be based. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment commenced on 9th of February, with three meetings having been held to date. Officials in my Department attended a further meeting on 18th May. The intention remains that the Bill will be progressed through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. Following publication of the Joint Oireachtas Committee’s Report on pre-legislative scrutiny, any recommendations made will be reviewed and considered. I want to emphasise that I am happy to listen to proposed amendments to the Bill.
- The publication of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect in April 2021 by the Workplace Relations Commission.
- In Budget 2022, an enhanced income tax deduction for people working from home was announced. It amounts to 30 percent of the cost of vouched expenses for heat, electricity and broadband.
- The Government is investing heavily in remote work infrastructure throughout the country to ensure that communities across Ireland are in a position to benefit from the opportunities presented by increased remote working.
- ConnectedHubs.ie- Ireland’s first national digital hub network- was launched by the Department of Rural and Community Development in May 2021. ConnectedHubs.ie will ultimately link over 400 hubs throughout our country.
- The Connected Hubs Fund awarded funding of €8.9m to 117 remote working hub projects and Broadband Connection Pointsin July 2021 to upgrade Ireland’s remote work infrastructure. An additional €5m has been made available under the 2022 Connected Hubs Call. €18.5m in funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme was also announced recently, with successful projects including 28 remote working proposals.
- To date, a total of approximately €100m has been provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development through its various funding streams to support the development of remote working infrastructure across the country. This includes €76 million in funding for projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), many of which involved the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as enterprise centres and co-working hubs.
- In October 2021, over €9.3 million in funding was awarded to projects around the country through Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme, with successful applicants including hubs and enterprise centres throughout the country.
- My Department recently published new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 in which there is a focus on promoting remote working opportunities and investing in infrastructures across the nine regions. The plans were launched at regional locations during February and March 2022.
- While National Broadband Plan has been impacted negatively by COVID-19, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is continuing to engage with National Broadband Ireland to address the delays that have arisen to ensure that the programme gets back on track and is building momentum month on month.
- The Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework was published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on March 31st, 2022, which will help deliver the Programme for Government commitment to move to 20% remote/home working across the sector.
- Ongoing remote work promotion and guidance including advice for employers and employees on best practice, health and safety, equality and skills by a range of agencies including the Health and Safety Authority, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Western Development Commission, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Skillnet Ireland and local Education and Training Boards.
- My Department is continuing to develop and promote its Guidance for Working Remotely webpage. This webpage acts as a central access point for employers and employees and brings together the existing State guidance, legislation and advice on remote work into one place. The webpage is a live resource and is updated regularly. The webpage includes an Employer Checklist to provide employers with a quick way to successfully navigate the adoption of remote working arrangements.
- On May 18th, an Irish Government Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGGES) research paper was published which found that remote working is likely to have a positive impact on the Irish economy and society. The paper, “An Evaluation of the Impacts of Remote Working” examines the impact of remote working on several key policy areas, finding positive effects on productivity, the environment, regional development, private finances, and labour market participation.
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which plans are afoot to meet the challenges and needs of industry, with particular reference to ensuring that the economy recovers quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25619/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s Economic Recovery Plan (ERP), published on 1 June 2021, set out renewed supports, investments and policies to underpin economic recovery and transition, to support the full resumption of economic activity, and get people back to work as quickly as possible. The Plan includes the overarching ambition of having 2.5 million people in work by 2024, a target which has already been exceeded according to the Q4 2021 figures released through the CSO’s Labour Force Survey in February this year.
The ERP outlined supports to help businesses deal with the direct impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as setting out the Government’s medium-term approach to creating the right environment for a jobs-led recovery and, crucially, to ensure that these jobs are more productive, innovative, resilient and in new areas of opportunity.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Government has invested heavily to help the sectors and workers most impacted by the pandemic and to stabilise the labour market. Schemes such as the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) were introduced to support the changing needs of industry through the various stages of the public health crisis, as well as to support industry through the transition back to the full reopening of the economy. Since its introduction, the EWSS, an economy-wide support for enterprise, has made €6.7billion in payments to support over 50,000 employers and nearly three quarters of a million employees. Under the CRSS €727million was paid to 25,700 businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. As of the beginning of February 2022, over €9.1billion had been paid out through the PUP.
"Pillar 3" of the ERP outlines how the Government intends to rebuild sustainable enterprises as the economy recovers. The Plan adopts a two-pronged recovery approach to rebuilding sustainable enterprises - supporting the domestic SME sector, which is critical to broad-based jobs-led economic growth, whilst leveraging the enormous strength of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) sector. It aims to create an environment for a jobs-led recovery through a focus on expanding sectors and by helping business become more resilient and agile.
Progress on the wide range of deliverables and workstreams across the four pillars of the ERP, towards the plan’s overall ambition is being overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment and related sub-groups and Senior Officials Groups and a high-level progress report is due to be published in early June.
In addition to the work already underway, the Government is also looking to prepare for the economy of the future. On 1 March 2022, Government agreed to the development of a White Paper on Enterprise Policy in 2022, led by my Department. The White Paper will set out set out an ambitious medium- to long-term direction for enterprise policy in response to challenges, opportunities and new drivers of growth catalysed by the Covid-19 pandemic, new economic and geopolitical realities, and an increased urgency to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry. In so doing, the White Paper will articulate what needs to be done differently to realise this vision and to set out clearly the risks to be faced - such as energy, skills availability, technological change, etc. - and the policy choices and trade-offs that will arise in order to maintain high-quality jobs, to protect the elements which make Ireland’s economy globally attractive for investment and to ensure a competitive Irish economy into the future.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which the needs of employers and employees are being met in an organised way to maximise opportunities arising from the post-pandemic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25620/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and I are aware that it is essential that Irish enterprise has access to high quality, adaptable and flexible talent, and that workers have the opportunity to upskill or reskill in areas of identified skills needs for the Irish economy.
This is critical at a time when the digital and green transitions, and their associated behavioural changes, are altering the economy and leading to permanent changes in our labour market and business models. Not all jobs will return as we recover from the pandemic, while embracing these transitions will open up substantial new employment opportunities, as well as potential skills mismatches as these opportunities emerge.
This is the basis of the approach set out in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, which is supporting the transition of Ireland’s economy and workforce to the new digital and green economies. This goal is being realised through ongoing support for people in securing and remaining in sustainable and quality employment, in areas of identified skills needs for business. This is being achieved in particular through the combination of 50,000 upskilling and reskilling opportunities set out in the Recovery Plan, as well as increased labour market activation interventions through the Government’s Pathways to Work 2021-2025 strategy.
This targeted approach to upskilling and reskilling is building upon the longstanding collaboration between my Department, as well as its enterprise agencies, with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the wider education and training system, with a view to building and retaining a highly skilled indigenous workforce to serve the needs of the economy.
Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland engage on an ongoing basis with education and training providers on behalf of their client companies, and have worked to develop bespoke provision to meet emerging skills needs, in particular through new Apprenticeship and Skillnet Ireland programmes.
My Department and its enterprise agencies actively participate in Ireland’s responsive National Skills Architecture, which aims to ensure that education and training provision is optimally aligned with identified skills needs across the enterprise base. This architecture is overseen by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
My Department hosts the Secretariat to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the independent group which advises the Government on the current and future skills needs of Ireland’s economy, and whose members include relevant Government Departments, the enterprise development agencies, Ireland’s agencies for Higher Education and Further Education and Training, and representation from the trade union and business communities. The EGFSN forms a key part of this responsive skills architecture.
Through its horizon scanning and thematic studies at sectoral and occupational level, the development of which involves comprehensive engagement with stakeholders across the public sector, enterprise and the education and training system, the work of the EGFSN- together with the labour market intelligence of the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS- helps inform the work of the National Skills Council, which is comprised of the chief skills policy stakeholders from across the public and private sectors.
The membership of this Council, which is serviced by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, includes the Secretary General of my Department, as well as the Chief Executives of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. The Council advises on the allocation of resources to address identified and emerging skills needs across the economy, in particular through the National Training Fund, while also working to maximise the responses to these needs by education and training providers.
The Fund, which has budgeted for expenditure of €752m in 2022, supports competitive funding based programmes such as Springboard+, the Human Capital Initiative, Skillnet Ireland, cross sectoral apprenticeships, and SOLAS’ Skills to Compete and Skills to Advance programmes. This funding supports either fully free or heavily subsidised opportunities in areas of identified skills needs, which serves to incentivise and maximise engagement by employers and workers.
The work of the Council is also informed by the activities of the network of nine Regional Skills Fora, which work to address the skills needs of regional enterprise by enhancing linkages and engagement between local education and training providers and employers, and by helping employers better understand and access the full range of services available across the education and training system. Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the relevant Local Enterprise Offices are represented on each of the nine Fora.
The Fora in particular have facilitated Enterprise Ireland’s Spotlight on Skills workshops, a partnership with the Irish Management Institute, which continue to support employers in understanding and planning for the skills needs of their enterprises, and through subsequent engagement with the Regional Skills Manager, address these needs through local education and training providers.
