Written Answers Nos. 167-183
167. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has been contacted or engaged by a person (details supplied) in respect of job losses at their corporation; if he will outline the nature of those discussions; and if he is satisfied the corporation has complied with communication protocols in respect of redundancies. [55924/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 9 November 2022, the Tánaiste has not received a collective redundancy notification in relation to potential redundancies at the company referred to.
All employers are expected to comply with their legal obligations under the Protection of Employment Act 1977, as amended.
This requires a 30-day consultation with employees and their representatives where collective redundancies are proposed. It also requires the company to inform the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment not less than 30 days before the first dismissals.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment understands that local management at the company in Ireland are engaging with staff and that the statutory 30-day consultation period will begin shortly.
168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has been contacted or engaged by a company (details supplied) in respect of job losses at the company; if he will outline the nature of those discussions; and if he is satisfied the company has complied with communication protocols in respect of redundancies. [55925/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 9 November 2022, the Tánaiste received a notification detailing proposed collective redundancies from the company referenced, in accordance with the Protection of Employment Act 1977, as amended.
The notification confirms that the company is undertaking the collective redundancy consultation process required under the Act with the representatives of employees whose roles are at risk of redundancy.
169. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider the temporary removal of 'early exit fees' for customers tied to contracts with energy providers in order that those faced with large unit price increases can look for alternative suppliers, taking into account the huge increased energy cost burden on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55946/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI know businesses around the country are very worried heading into the winter. The cost of energy and of doing business is rising, interest rates are going up and consumer confidence is waning. Irish businesses can rely on us to back them and to protect jobs to ensure a strong economy.
The Government announced a package of measures in the recent budget to respond. The TBESS will provide payments to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs, subject to a monthly cap of €10,000 per trade, increasing to a maximum of €30,000 in certain circumstances.
My Department has no function in relation to the regulation of the electricity market. This is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is the independent energy regulator and was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
170. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to amending the rule for employment permits, whereby after serving one year in employment with the original employer, the employee can then accept an offer from an alternative employer without notifying the original employer, given the original employer would receive notification of this change in view of the complications that may arise wherein the original employer will be unaware their employment permit is cancelled and the employee may still be working for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55957/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf the employment is the first for which an employment permit has been issued, the permit holder is expected to remain in that employment for a period of twelve months before applying for a new employment permit. In general, a new employment permit (for a different employer) cannot be considered if less than 12 months has elapsed since the permit holder first commenced employment in the State pursuant to an employment permit.
This stipulation strikes a reasonable balance between, on the one hand, the employer’s expectations that the foreign national remain in his or her employment for a reasonable period of time, given the costs involved in recruiting that foreign national from abroad, and, on the other hand, not unduly binding the foreign national to the employer.
Employment permit holders may change employer within 12 months in circumstances such as redundancy, or where the terms of employment have fundamentally changed or were unforeseen at time of application.
Under the current legislation an employment permit is voided as a result of the termination/cessation of an employment, for whatever reason, the employment permit shall be surrendered to the Minister, within 4 weeks from the date of termination or cessation – (a) by the holder – the original permit, and (b) by the employer – the copy of the permit.
However, during COVID a new electronic permit type was introduced to facilitate continued use of the Employment Permits System and so it became impossible to return a physical copy of the permit. The Employment Permits Unit are no longer requesting that the physical permit be returned. An employment permit will now be cancelled upon receipt of a request for a new permit with a new employer.
Currently, the first Employer is not notified unless it falls under the 12-month rule.
The Employment Permits Unit intends to put in place an automatic cancellation e-mail which will notify the current employer that the permit has been cancelled. This change is expected to be operational by end of November 2022.
171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions his Department has taken, or intends to take, in relation to the ERO for security workers and the legal action currently impeding its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56072/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 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. To this end, my officials are actively engaged with legal counsel.
172. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or his officials have met or intend to meet with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) or other firms involved in the current legal action impeding the implementation of a security sector ERO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56073/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that neither I nor officials in my Department have met with any of the firms involved in the current legal challenge to the proposed Security Sector Employment Regulation Order.
173. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the circumstance where those looking to switch broadband, landline or television provider end up paying for a couple of weeks to both providers in the crossover transition period, unlike when switching mobile, gas or electricity providers; if he will raise this with the Commission for Communications Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55944/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraProviding telecommunication services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent regulator. As Minister I have no role or statutory function in the matter raised in the Question.
ComReg has responsibility to ensure that customers are not being overcharged. In the event that an end-user is being incorrectly billed for the provision of two services simultaneously they should contact ComReg for assistance to resolve the issue. Further advice can be found on the ComReg website www.comreg.ie.
I understand that ComReg Consumer Care has assisted a number of consumers who have been incorrectly billed for the provision of two services simultaneously. The ComReg Consumer Care Quarterly Statistics Reports set out the nature and number of complaints in this respect (under the following categories):
- Been billed more than the agreed amount
- Switching/number portability – delay in switching
- Billed after cancellation
- Billed for a service not received
- Contract termination issues – cancellation procedures Further details of the latest report are available at www.comreg.ie/publication/comreg-consumer-care-statistics-report-q3-2022.
174. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has given consideration to the temporary removal of early exit fees for customers tied to contracts with energy providers in order that those faced with large unit price increases can look for alternative suppliers, taking into account the huge increased energy cost burden on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55945/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999. As part of its statutory role, the CRU also has consumer protection functions and sets out the obligations on suppliers in the Electricity and Gas Suppliers Handbooks (further detail is available at www.cru.ie/wpcontent/uploads/2021/09/CRU21111a-Electricity-and-Gas-Suppliers-Handbook-2021.pdf). The CRU is an independent statutory Regulator and is accountable for the performance of its functions to the Oireachtas, and not to me as Minister. The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members at oireachtas@cru.ie, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters to CRU for timely, direct, reply.
175. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure residents on halting sites, who are currently being treated as commercial electricity customers by local authorities, will receive the electricity credit. [55956/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps taken to ensure tenants who are renting a separate dwelling but who do not have their own MPRN number or electricity connection can avail of the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56025/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 178 together.
The Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion included in Budget 2023. The Budget package includes an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion. The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process. This mechanism allowed payments to be made automatically to 2,138,939 domestic electricity accounts, over 99.36% of eligible accounts, under the first scheme which operated between April and June of this year. While the majority of residential tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the credit directly, others could have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion could have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost. Where tenants have a dispute relating to tenancies including any terms relating to electricity payments, these can be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for dispute resolution. As there is not data set identifying this cohort, increasing awareness of entitlements of existing social protection measures, which include provision for help with household bills, is an important way of supporting people in this situation. Along with the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme Budget 2023 also introduced measures including: - €400 lump sum payment to Fuel Allowance recipients - €200 lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase - €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting Working Family Payment - double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children - €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's Support Grant will be paid in November - €500 lump sum cost of living disability support grant will be paid to all people receiving a long term disability payment With regard to the provision of funding for Traveller families that use Local Authority traveller accommodation, officials from my Department are progressing the matter with their colleagues in the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local and the City and County Management Association (CCMA).
176. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of money allocated in 2021 and to date in 2022 to NGOs by the Department for work on environmental and climate projects; the names of the NGOs involved; the purpose for which the money was allocated; the amount allocated in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55977/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational environmental NGOs are active on a broad range of environmental issues. The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) is an independent umbrella organisation for environmental NGOs with its own corporate governance structures. The distribution and allocation of funding to its members is decided by the IEN. The IEN requests member organisations to submit funding proposals, and member applications for core funding are then evaluated by an independent panel of adjudicators. Funding provided to the IEN is comprised of grant funding for the c.30 member organisations to which the IEN manages the allocation of funds.
ECO-UNESCO runs the annual Young Environmentalist Awards programme, recognising and rewarding the work of young people who act on environmental issues through local environmental action projects. My Department has been a core supporter of the programme since 2005 facilitating the participation of tens of thousands of young people across the island of Ireland, reaching thousands of young people directly and tens of thousands with projects in communities across Ireland.
The financial supports provided by my Department to these environmental NGOs in 2021 and 2022 are set out in the table below.
|
Name of NGO |
2021 |
2022 (allocated) |
|
Irish Environmental Network |
€1,764,000 |
€2,100,000 |
|
ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards |
€90,000 |
€120,000 |
177. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if homeowners and small business can avail of the solar installation grant up to the maximum of €2,400 if they install in excess of 4kWp domestically or 6kWp commercially, in view of the removal of planning restrictions on the installation of solar panels; his plans to remove this barrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55987/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGrants are currently available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic installations, regardless of the size of installation, up to a maximum of €2,400. Since the 22nd September, grants have been extended to the non-domestic sector, for installations up to and including 6 kW. These are also administered by the SEAI and are up to a maximum of €2,400. For larger new non-domestic installations greater than 6kW up to 50kW, these will be eligible for a Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff per kWh exported and will not receive grants. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is expected to consult shortly on an implementation plan for the CEP tariff, which will consist of a guaranteed export tariff that is fixed for 15 years. The Deputy may wish to contact CRU at their dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, oireachtas@cru.ie for full details on their CEP implementation plan. The recently signed Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022 and the supporting Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022 came into effect on 5 October 2022. These regulations remove the requirement for planning permission for the majority of buildings in the country when installing solar PV. This will act as a significant driver and enabler of the rollout of micro and small-scale solar PV generation. The revisions also extend the exemptions to new classes of buildings, meaning that apartments, community, religious and educational buildings, can now avail of planning exemptions for solar installations. These changes will have a positive impact and allow a greater number of citizens, farms, communities, businesses and others to take active steps in generating their own electricity through solar, and thereby reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint.
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which a warmer homes grant may be applied to a local authority-owned dwelling (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56030/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe administration and management of applications under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie The Deputy should note the key eligibility criteria for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme which is outlined below: 1. Must own and live in your own home 2. Home must have been built and occupied before 2006 3. Must be receipt of one of the following welfare payments: - Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme;
- Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age;
- Working Family Payment;
- One-Parent Family Payment;
- Domiciliary Care Allowance;
- Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for; or
- Disability Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age Further details with respect to the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme are available at www.seai.ie.
180. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the dates on which he or his officials met with EirGrid. [56085/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra181. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the dates on which he or his officials met with the CRU. [56086/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.
Since the beginning of the year I have met with both EirGrid and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) on a number of occasions. The dates of those meetings are set out in the table below. Details of meetings for previous years are published on: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/0f06eb-ministers-diaries/
|
EirGrid |
CRU |
EirGrid & CRU |
|
2 February 14 February 24 February 2 March 27 April 22 August |
2 March 25 March |
8 September |
Officials in my Department regularly engage with EirGrid and CRU. Frequent meetings are held on a range of matters including but not limited to energy security; grid access; renewable energy; and corporate governance. Dates of meetings at official level are not readily available and compilation of the information would take an inordinate amount of time.
182. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to increase passenger numbers on regional rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54971/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is strongly committed to improving public transport services in regional and rural areas.
As I advised in my earlier response on this matter, I have been informed by the NTA that passenger numbers have increased on all rail services, including regional, Intercity and commuter services.
In fact, demand on Intercity and regional routes is particularly impressive at 90%+ of pre-pandemic levels and, I’m glad to say, increasing consistently. A noticeable development has been the increased number of people using rail services at weekends and evenings to attend events, concerts and sporting fixtures.
I think it clear that part of this increased demand is being driven by the fare initiatives introduced this year and for which I have secured funding in the Budget to continue until the end of next year too.
In the short term this increased demand will be supported through the addition of 41 new Intercity railcars which have started to arrive in the country already and will enter service in 2023.
In terms of the medium to long-term future of regional rail, the Strategic Rail Review is reviewing the rail network with regard to the following ambitions:
- improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities (including the potential for high-/higher speed),
- enhancing regional accessibility,
- supporting balanced regional development and
- rail connectivity to our international gateways, with the latter considering the role of rail freight.
The Review will consider the potential scope for improved rail services and infrastructure along the various existing, or future potential, corridors of the network including regional lines. Disused and closed lines will also be considered in this context.
I firmly believe that our regional rail network has a bright future and the steps this Government is taking to support rail will help realise that future.
183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied customer complaints submitted by persons (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding transport issues, the student leap card and an associated refund are fully responded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56009/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The matter raised is an operational matter for the company. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
