Written Answers Nos. 161-184
161. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that he is taking to provide target supports to self-employed disabled people and disabled entrepreneurs. [53271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone, including people with disabilities, intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of Social Protection, Revenue, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Office grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs provided their business meets the general eligibility criteria, such as operating in manufacturing or internationally traded services and with up to 10 employees.
In addition, all entrepreneurs can avail of Local Enterprise Office training, mentoring and management development programmes. Furthermore, Local Enterprise Offices can provide additional support to entrepreneurs with disabilities such as one to one mentoring or accommodations to assist with the completion of grant application forms or to complete training courses such as Start Your Own Business.
Enterprise Ireland is also focused on ensuring that supports for entrepreneurs and enterprise are accessible to all, including people with disabilities. Enterprise Ireland continues to invest in additional content, available on eiLearn (eilearn.ie/) and are working in conjunction with stakeholders in the LEOs and third level colleges to develop new programmes and initiatives.
The Department of Social Protection provides specific supports to help people with disabilities to find and keep employment, including self-employment. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme encourages people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. If a person takes part in the BTWEA scheme they can keep a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to 2 years.
162. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the expected impact of the Sick Leave Act 2022; the number of businesses that currently pay sick pay for a medically certified absence; the number of businesses that do not; the number of employees currently entitled and not entitled to sick pay for a medically-certified absence due to an illness; the employment sectors that are least likely to pay an employee who has a medically-certified certificate of illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployers are not required to report whether or not they have an employer paid sick leave scheme. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide definitive breakdowns of the proportion of employers who provide such leave. It is our understanding that sick leave is provided to about half of all employees through their terms and conditions. There is a big gap between public sector workers, almost all of whom get sick pay, and workers in the private sector where coverage is much less.
The Sick Leave Act will commence on 1 January 2023, and it will introduce a new statutory right to employer-paid sick leave. That will provide protection to employees who do not currently have employer-paid sick pay schemes, many of whom are low-paid and cannot afford to miss work. As a starting point, this scheme will cover the three waiting days before eligibility for Illness Benefit from the State. This is a progressive Act and will ensure, once commenced, that all employees will have financial protection from day one of a medically certified absence.
Sick pay will be paid by employers at a rate of 70% of an employee’s wage, subject to a daily threshold of €110. The rate of 70% is set to ensure excessive costs are not placed on employers, who in certain sectors also have to deal with the cost of replacing staff who are out sick. The scheme is being introduced on a phased basis in order to take account of the current economic climate and the existing financial pressures on businesses.
I would add that from 1 April 2023, eligibility for the GP access card will be further extended to people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less.
163. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action that his Department is taking to ensure that the security industry employment regulation order in relation to the minimum rate of pay for security workers will proceed despite a High Court injunction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53445/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the decision-making process in the lead up to the signature of the security industry employment regulation order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53446/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.
On 3 August 2022, I signalled my intention to issue an Order to give effect to a statutory recommendation of the Labour Court concerning minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions in the Security Sector.
The Order was to apply from 29 August 2022.
On 24 August 2022, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was informed that the High Court had granted an Injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry.
As a result of the Injunction, I cannot at this moment in time proceed with the Order. My officials are actively engaged with counsel in obtaining legal advice on the matter.
165. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline any engagement by his Department in a model of recruitment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53464/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not had any engagement with the company in question regarding its recruitment model.
The Employment Equality Acts, which fall under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, provide protection for employees in both the public and private sectors as well as applicants for employment and training.
The Acts outlaw discrimination in work-related areas such as pay, access to employment, work experience and promotion. The publication of discriminatory advertisements and discrimination by employers, vocational training bodies and employment agencies, e.g. trades unions and employer associations, is outlawed.
166. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to improve the intellectual property rights of performers and actors in this State to match the rights and royalties guaranteed for similar work north of the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53466/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main source of copyright legislation in Ireland is the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (as amended) (the ‘CRRA’). The legislation grants rights to the creators (“authors”) of works to use, distribute and reproduce their work. In addition, protection is afforded to performers, producers and broadcasters of works by what are known as ‘related rights’. The CRRA also ensures that rightholders have an effective means of enforcing their rights should they consider that they have been infringed.
The legislation is complimented by a number of Statutory Instruments, most recently by the EU (Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 567 of 2021) which transposes the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (EU) 2019/790. Considering the expansion of rights for rightholders provided by this transposition, whereby mandatory provisions of this significant EU Directive were implemented into Irish intellectual property law, I do not have plans to provide for further amendments at this time.
The transposition of EU Directive 2019/790 into national law strengthens the rights and protections of rightholders. The transposing Regulations contain provisions intended to address the “value gap”, in terms of the level of remuneration received by rightsholders relative to the usage of their works, and addresses the matter of fair remuneration.
Chapter 6 of S.I. 567 of 2021 addresses the principle of appropriate and proportionate remuneration for rightholders, it also outlines what factors should be taken into account when considering what is ‘appropriate’ and ‘proportionate’ remuneration in any given circumstance. Regulation 27 provides for a transparency obligation meaning that a rightholder shall receive, from the party to whom the rightholder has transferred his or her rights, detailed information on how the work has been exploited. This provision ensures that authors and performers have access to an increased level of information about the exploitation of their works and performances which is necessary to allow rightsholders to adequately and continuously assess their economic value.
Having obtained information, by way of the transparency obligations, Regulation 28 offers authors and performers a contract adjustment mechanism when “the remuneration originally agreed turns out to be disproportionately low” compared to the success of their work or performance and the resulting revenues generated. In addition, when a rightsholder transfers their rights there is an expectation that their work or performance will be exploited. In the event that this does not occur, Regulation 29 will allow for the revocation of rights thus allowing rightsholders to transfer or license their rights to another person.
167. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail the total training budget allocated in 2021 to the 31 local enterprise offices for their local training initiatives for businesses, including training such as digital marketing, lean, mentoring and starting one’s own business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53554/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are allocated a Training and Development budget to provide a wide range of high-quality entrepreneurial capability training and development programmes. Whether it is starting a business or growing a business, the LEOs tailor their offerings to meet the demand within their locality. The allocation is based on historical demand, as identified by each Local Enterprise Office.
The LEO Network has access to an excellent support network including qualified trainers and can quickly identify emerging trends and pivot their offering to meet the demand for services. Furthermore, where additional demand for training arises there is a mechanism to re-allocate funds throughout the network to meet the higher demand.
It should be noted that productivity measures such as LEAN4Micro, Green4Micro and the Digital Start initiative, which includes some digital marketing training, along with the LEO Mentoring supports are not funded through the Training and Development budget but through the capital allocation to each LEO.
Examples of the high-quality training and development programmes on offer through the LEOs include the following:
Start Your Own Business (SYOB) which aims to assist participants in assessing an idea, its viability and then making an informed decision on whether to proceed or take a step back. The programme is designed to guide participants through the various aspects of business and business planning and no prior business knowledge is necessary.
Accelerate Management Development which aims to provide a small business owner/manager with the management, leadership, business skills and knowledge to achieve sustainability and growth in their business.
Food Academy, which uses workshops and mentoring and also offers food producers the unique opportunity to pitch to one of Ireland’s leading retailers.
The LEOs also provide specific business capability training courses such as: the Access to Finance Workshop, which is designed to demystify the processes of raising finance for your business; Basic Bookkeeping for Small Business which is a practical workshop on developing the skills and know-how in basic bookkeeping; Business Finance & Bookkeeping, which makes small business owners aware of the basic requirements in relation to record keeping; and finally Digital and e-Business training offerings such as Search Engine Optimisation, Email Marketing, and Digital Marketing Strategy.
The Training and Development Budget allocation for each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in 2021 is set out in the following table.
|
LEO |
Training and Development Budget Allocation 2021 € |
|
Carlow |
466,736 |
|
Cavan |
220,000 |
|
Clare |
195,831 |
|
Cork City |
250,000 |
|
Cork North/West |
450,000 |
|
Cork South |
278,104 |
|
Donegal |
675,322 |
|
Dublin City |
819,308 |
|
Dublin South |
463,939 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown |
317,890 |
|
Fingal |
481,054 |
|
Galway |
443,396 |
|
Kerry |
325,457 |
|
Kildare |
470,575 |
|
Kilkenny |
310,842 |
|
Laois |
200,000 |
|
Leitrim |
200,000 |
|
Limerick |
400,000 |
|
Longford |
200,000 |
|
Louth |
415,257 |
|
Mayo |
261,940 |
|
Meath |
304,140 |
|
Monaghan |
224,145 |
|
Offaly |
195,000 |
|
Roscommon |
171,518 |
|
Sligo |
225,000 |
|
Tipperary |
472,898 |
|
Waterford |
360,000 |
|
Westmeath |
425,464 |
|
Wexford |
275,000 |
|
Wicklow |
328,689 |
|
TOTAL |
10,827,504 |
168. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail the total budget in 2021 allocated to the funding of staff roles, including part payments for incubation centre managers, programme managers and programme administrators, to manage and deliver Enterprise Ireland’s national entrepreneur development programme, New Frontiers at the 16 campus incubation centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53555/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail the total budget in 2021 allocated to the funding of participant training programmes, excluding the stipend paid to New Frontiers participants, on the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers delivered by the 16 campus incubation centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53556/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
The answer to this question is deferred to allow for clarification with agencies under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.
My Department will supply the information requested once it has been collated.
170. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail the total budget in 2021 allocated to the funding of staff roles, including part payments for centre managers, programme managers and programme administrators, to manage and deliver the NDRC national startup accelerator contract at the four NDRC consortium partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53557/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail the total budget in 2021 allocated to the funding of participant training programmes and relevant activities by the NDRC national start-up accelerator contract at the four NDRC consortium partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53558/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.
Following a public procurement process, a contract was signed with Dogpatch Labs Management DAC for the delivery of the NDRC services. The value of the contract is €3.5m per annum which covers annual investment in companies of €1.3m and the remaining €2.2m covers the cost of all activities required to deliver the services including the training programmes and staff costs.
172. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the European Commission’s definition of ‘high speed broadband’ increasing from 30 Mbps would lead directly to a larger intervention area for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52695/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncreasing the State Aid Guidelines definition of high speed broadband from 30 Mbps would not impact on the National Broadband Plan intervention, as the State Aid decision approving Ireland's NBP was underpinned by the mapping consultation that was finalised in advance of the NBP contract being signed in November 2019.
I do not believe it would be necessary for Ireland to undertake a further mapping exercise, as a combination of commercial investment and the State led intervention will ensure access to gigabit broadband in every part of the country and no premises will be left behind, no matter how remote. The network that is being deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is future proofed to deliver speeds of up to 10Gbps. The revised EU guidelines will aid Member States in meeting the EU's ambition of enabling Gigabit networks to all premises by 2030.
A number of commercial operators have announced investment plans in fixed high-speed broadband infrastructure in the areas that are not a part of the NBP intervention. Eir has announced that it is extending its fibre deployment to 1.9 million premises, SIRO is to pass more than 0.75 million premises with gigabit services and Virgin Media intends to provide gigabit broadband upgrades for 1 million premises over the next 3 years. Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks. These investments, together with the ongoing significant investments in mobile networks, including 5G, will ensure that Ireland has the necessary connectivity to support its wider digital ambitions.
As commercial operators continue to build new gigabit infrastructure and upgrade their existing networks, it is expected is that they will design these networks to ensure that no premises is stranded and therefore not able to connect to the network. Any future Universal Service Obligation will not compensate inefficient network designs which are to the detriment of end users and could potentially create a digital divide.
173. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some persons who are living in stone cottages and farmhouses have been refused works under the retrofit scheme on the grounds that the buildings cannot be sufficiently insulated to a high enough building energy rating given that a sizeable section of the rural population live in stone houses; and if he plans to ensure that they can avail of retrofits. [52732/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan and the National Retrofit Plan identify the important contribution the retrofit of buildings needs to make in delivering on our national and international climate goals. My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Grants for protected stone-build structures are available in certain circumstances subject to the scheme eligibility criteria and terms and conditions being met. Detailed information on the grants and eligibility criteria is available at www.seai.ie.
Older stone-build buildings (generally those built up until around the 1940s) usually fall into the category of traditionally built buildings. Suchstone-built structures were designed to be vapour permeable. It is important that the materials and techniques used in energy efficiency upgrades of such buildings are suitable for the buildings in question including for use with vapour permeable construction where applicable. For example, astonewall with lime-based mortar will need a lime-based plaster render to remain vapour permeable. Otherwise vapour becomes trapped leading to problems which can cause harm to the building and its occupants.
SEAI support the insulation of buildings using materials and products which are appropriate and have been determined fit for use in the Irish climate by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). SEAI has no role in the certification of products used in Ireland but is aware that very old homes which are constructed usingstoneand lime-based mortar are more complicated to insulate for the reasons outlined above.
To support the proper upgrade of traditional buildings a new technical Guidance Document - "Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings" is being developed led by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. My Department and the SEAI are participating in the steering group overseeing the project. The objective is to finalise the guidance having regard to submissions received in the pubic consultation with a view to publishing it this year. Once available this guidance will be an important resource to support contractors in the appropriate energy efficiency upgrade and renovation of older stone-build buildings while ensuring compliance with the appropriate building regulations.
174. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average annual cost of electricity and gas charged to households since 1990 to date; and the way that the cost relates to the average annual EU prices for same in tabular form. [52753/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra175. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has undertaken any research into the effects of the liberalisation on energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52754/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the Commission for Regulation of Utilities ceased to have any role in setting prices for household gas and household electricity prices; his views on whether this move was good policy; if he plans to introduce such a role for the Commission in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52755/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 176, inclusive, together.
Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets was assigned to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation. CRU ceased price setting for electricity in 2011 and gas in 2014. As part of its statutory role, the CRU also has consumer protection functions and monitors energy retail markets to ensure that competition continues to develop for the benefit of the consumer. In line with this CRU published the following review of competition: www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CER17019-Review-of-Competition-in-the-Electricity-and-Gas-Retail-Markets-1.pdf. CRU has followed up on this review with regular Market Monitoring Reports the most recent of which is available at: www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/211013-Energy-Water-Monitoring-Report-2020.pdf.
The CRU is accountable to the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. The CRU also has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members to contact them directly. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) collects data on retail electricity and gas prices. The historical data sought by the Deputy is available on www.seai.ie/publications/Domestic-Fuel-Cost-Archives-ckWh.pdf, while the latest publication by the SEAI is available on www.seai.ie/publications/Price-Directive-2nd-Semester-2020-(ver2).pdf.
177. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons working in his Department’s press office, communications team and social media team in tabular form. [52779/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communications and Media Relations Division (CMRD) support and promote the work of my Department by creating meaningful communications to engage with internal and external audiences on relevant subject matter relating to the Department’s Key Strategic Actions. This is an integrated team across all media including “press office, communications and social media”, with the appropriate team members managing various tasks, as required, and based upon priorities at a given time.
Grade Equivalent
1 x Principal Officer PO
2 x Assistant Principal AP
3 x Higher Executive Officer HEO
5 x Executive Officer EO
178. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement that has occurred between National Broadband Ireland and third-party broadband companies in relation to providing additional fibre broadband infrastructure to premises that do not have a fibre broadband connection in place and are situated in the amber area in which the private operators have capacity to provide a service. [52796/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational Broadband Ireland (NBI) have advised that they have run a tender process for the provision of alternative solutions that would complement the NBI build, while delivering the NBP specified Broadband Product and its associated SLA's. Five providers passed the Prequalification stage and were provided with the Tender documentation to respond. Three of the qualified bidders provided a response to the tender. One of the three subsequently withdrew from the process, leaving 2 providers to enter the Product Testing phase of the Tender process.
The Product Testing trials to validate that the proposed products meet the NBP specification are in progress at present. Subject to successful completion of the technical validation commercial evaluation of the proposals will begin.
179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the roll-out of broadband by National Broadband Ireland to over 670 schools across the country; if additional broadband hubs will be put in place in community facilities in rural areas in which broadband connectivity will not be in place in homes and businesses for at least another three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52797/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBroadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 758 BCP sites have been installed by NBI to date and the high-speed broadband service will be connected in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. My Department has prioritised primary schools with no high-speed broadband and continues to work with the Department of Education in this regard.
Government and NBI have agreed to accelerate the rollout of high-speed broadband to 679 schools across the State. This will ensure that by the middle of next year all schools across the State will have the necessary infrastructure to carry out their critical day to day educational activities unimpeded by poor broadband.
To date 479 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
The Department of Rural and Community Development have advised that in the coming months, in consultation with Public BCP stakeholders, officials will draft a development strategy for the Public BCP Network. This strategy will set out a number of ambitions and opportunities and will guide decisions on future supports, partnerships and the scope to improve and broaden services. Among the items for consideration will be the issue of inviting additional premises, that have access to high-speed broadband, into the Public BCP network.
The current focus of the Public BCP project is to complete the rollout of the sites which are already within the project plan. It is expected that all Public BCPs will be completed and live in Quarter 1 of 2023. When completed, the Public BCP network will have a presence in every county in the State and in some of our most rural and isolated communities, including many off-shore islands. As the site connection rate grows, the Department of Rural and Community Development will work with local authorities and the committees that manage the Public BCPs to improve services and drive demand for the use of these sites.
180. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a person (details supplied) will be provided with an Eircode for a new property before the next scheduled update of the system in November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52820/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from Department.
181. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a matter in relation to the installation of a photovoltaic system (details supplied) will be examined; if he will liaise with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52837/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Solar PV Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). As per the terms of the scheme, to which the applicant agrees when applying, the grant is offered subject to the final system Installation meeting the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Solar PV Scheme.
This Code of Practice includes minimum performance criteria for the technology used, which are clearly outlined in Sections 4.2 and 4.3 and all Registered solar Installation companies are aware of this. The minimum performance and certification criteria for components exists in the best interest of homeowners, ensuring they get the best possible product, which lasts its design lifetime, performs optimally and limits quality issues in the future.
Solar Installation Companies are also registered with SEAI to ensure tax and insurance compliance, and their commitment to installing the works in accordance with the SEAI Domestic Technical Standards and Specification (DTSS) and adherence to the Code of Practice and Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedures (QADP).
A homeowner is free to choose and engage in a contract with any of the companies registered for the scheme, which provides them with the opportunity to compare prices and system installations that best suit their needs.
Upon completion of an installation, the solar company signs a Declaration of Works (DOW) attesting that the system installed is in accordance with the code of Practice. Where SEAI identifies that this is not the case; then such companies are at risk of being deregistered from the scheme.
182. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of vacant properties that are owned by his Department; the estimated economic value of the vacant properties; and if he will provide a list of such properties. [52848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of properties that are being leased by his Department that are currently vacant; and if he will provide a list of such properties. [52866/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.
My Department does not own or lease any property. All premises occupied by my officials are either state owned or leased by the OPW on behalf of the Department.
184. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 4 October 2022, if there are any outstanding approvals of superannuation schemes for An Post; and if so, when they will be signed-off on. [52915/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Post has sought consent for Ministerial approval to implement revised purchase of notional service rates for the An Post Main Superannuation Scheme. Under Section 10 of the Scheme the approval of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is required to amend the purchase of notional service rates.The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently reviewing the An Post request, to which I have given my consent and that Department has advised that a Ministerial decision on the revision of notional service rates will issue shortly.
