Written Answers Nos. 71-90
73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions that the Government and his Department are taking to address the regional imbalance with FDI investment and employment. [62028/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department’s senior officials had discussions with the IDA regarding the lack of progress in counties Laois and Offaly in therms of the location of multinational companies in the region. [62029/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 91 together.
IDA Ireland reported strong employment growth among its client firms for 2022 on Monday 12th December. Based on a substantial increase in jobs from 2021, numbers in foreign firms in Ireland are now at the highest FDI employment level ever. Growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector to over 300,000.
These results illustrate the continued resilience of the FDI of companies in Ireland and Ireland's continued attractiveness as a competitive location for investment, despite a difficult global economic environment. Overall, 33,000 new jobs created in 2022. I am pleased that more than half of investments in 2021. and 2022 went to regional locations. As set out last week, under this Government's new Enterprise White Paper half of all inward investment projects through IDA to 2024 will be targeted to regional locations.
In 2021, Enterprise Ireland-backed companies employed over 200,000 individuals across Ireland and directly invested €9.79 billion in the Irish economy in the form of wages and salaries.
My Department working with the enterprise agencies continues to focus on promoting, encouraging and supporting investment from the FDI and indigenous sectors to support job creation. This Government and IDA Ireland recognise that competition for FDI is intensifying. Despite global challenges, inward investment is well placed to remain a vital contributor to Ireland’s prosperity and future success. Therefore, this Government and IDA Ireland will continue to strengthen Ireland’s value proposition to remain an attractive FDI destination. IDA Ireland continues to review its overall strategy, which has been very successful to date, and will continue to constantly self-evaluate to make sure Ireland remains competitive and an attractive place in which to invest and create jobs.
With regard to the indigenous sector, Enterprise Ireland launched its new three-year strategy, ‘Leading In A Changing World’ 2022-2024, in January this year. This Strategy fully aligns with the Government's ambition to bring job opportunities and growth to all parts of Ireland, with an ambitious target of creating 45,000 jobs over the next three years.
Enterprise Ireland supports companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate, and remain competitive on international markets, now and in the future. The contribution of Enterprise Ireland client companies to the Irish economy is very important, particularly from a regional and county perspective.
In 2021, County Laois had 38 Enterprise Ireland client companies, employing 1,886 and 5 IDA client companies employing 157 people, while County Offaly had 11 IDA supported companies employing 1,302 and 56 EI client companies, employing 4,249. A more detailed analytical report on employment figures for both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland for 2022 will be available in January 2023.
Officials in my Department liaise daily with our enterprise agencies who in turn foster relationships with their client companies. That engagement has intensified over recent months, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in that regard.
74. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he will publish the planned White Paper on industrial policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62091/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s enterprise and industrial policy has served us well – but the pace and fundamental nature of change now underway globally in multiple dimensions – economic, technical, geo-political and environmental– requires us to refresh our approach to account for the new risks and indeed opportunities that will arise.
We must never take our prosperity for granted. If lost, it will take a long time to regain.
So, over the last nine months we undertook a review of our enterprise policy – choosing to do so from a position of strength, not decline or crisis.
The White Paper, published last Wednesday, will build on the strong foundations already in place and ensure businesses in Ireland are well positioned to seize opportunities to grow and succeed.
Government will be there to help businesses reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and improve their energy efficiency in the coming years through a range of initiatives, including knowledge transfer, grants and loans. While weaning ourselves off coal, oil and gas will not be easy, it also presents incredible opportunities for Ireland, specifically in the area of renewable energy production.
Notwithstanding the recent retrenchment in the tech sector, the future is digital. There is going to be more data, more robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality and autonomous transport. There will be a huge expansion of the tech sector in the medium term and we will make sure that Ireland is at the forefront of that.
To achieve the White Paper vision, Government will focus on seven priority enterprise policy objectives:
1. Integrating decarbonisation and net zero commitments.
2. Placing digital transformation at the heart of enterprise policy
3. Strengthening the Irish-owned exporting sector
4. Enabling locally trading sectors to thrive
5. Advancing Ireland’s FDI and trade value proposition
6. Stepping up enterprise innovation
7. Building on strengths and opportunities
For each priority we have a number of metrics against which progress will be measured.
Implementation of the White Paper will be regularly reported on to Government through a monitoring and tracking of progress against identified targets.
75. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that he is taking to support existing levels of employment in regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58141/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivering balanced regional growth and sustainable local job creation is a core objective of this Government and is a key component in the recently published White Paper on Enterprise.
The White Paper emphasises the role my department and agencies continue to play in achieving this objective through direct assistance to businesses as well as promotion and enhancement of the regional enterprise ecosystem to encourage businesses to invest and create jobs.
Enterprise Ireland has a continued focus on supporting enterprise in all regions to adapt to a challenging market environment, and on maximising job retention and creation. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy has set targets of creating 45,000 new jobs by 2024 and that over two-thirds of new jobs will be created outside Dublin.
Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s strategy. The IDA is committed to more balanced, compact regional development and will target half of all investments from 2021- 2024 to regional locations.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are at the very heart of business development and entrepreneurship in towns and communities across the country and will continue to enhance their advisory services for locally trading firms.
The nine Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 focus on undertaking collaborative initiatives that can help strengthen the regional enterprise ecosystem thereby realising enterprise growth and job creation. Up to €145m has been secured to 2027 under the European Regional Development Fund to support projects coming from the Regional Enterprise Plans, with the first call expected early next year.
Government is very conscious of the increased cost of doing business for employers as a result increased energy costs in more recent times.
Recognising this significant challenge, and to protect levels of employment across the country, Government introduced a significant package in the Budget 2023 to help business in the current economic climate.
This includes the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme designed to support eligible businesses that have experienced a significant increase in their electricity and/or natural gas costs.
The reduced rate of VAT on gas and electricity from 13.5% to 9% has also been extended until the 28th February 2023.
A new €200 million Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme for manufacturing and internationally traded firms has been introduced along with a €1.2 billion State-backed Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme to assist the wider business sector with liquidity and to invest in energy efficiency.
Government will continue to focus on sustainable employment across the country and this commitment is reaffirmed in the White Paper which includes the target of unemployment not exceeding one percentage point of the national unemployment rate in any region.
76. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress of the programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62053/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving terms and conditions for workers must be one of the legacies of the pandemic. Across the country thousands of minimum wage workers, regardless of what job, sector or location they work in, will benefit from the move to a living wage. In addition, many more employees will feel the benefits of knock-on increases resulting from the changes.
It's an important step we're taking towards eradicating low-wage employment for all workers and it will be implemented gradually over a four-year period. Once it is successfully in place, the Low Pay Commission will investigate if we can increase the living wage further to reach 66% of hourly median earnings.
Extensive research and consultation took place - including with employer and worker representative groups, unions and the public - in order to ensure we introduce the living wage in a way which will benefit workers whilst also being manageable for businesses. It’s important to get the balance right.
In their recommendations, the Low Pay Commission proposed the adoption of a fixed threshold approach for the calculation of a living wage, as opposed to a Minimum Essential Standard of Living or “basket of goods” approach, and setting the fixed threshold at 60 per cent of the median wage in the economy.
It will be introduced over a four-year period and will be in place by 2026. The agreed hourly National Minimum Wage rate of €11.30 from 1 January 2023 is in line with this transition and can be considered the first year of a proposed four-year path towards reaching a living wage of 60 per cent of the median wage.
77. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will request that his Department place speech and language therapists and occupational therapists on the critical skills list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62098/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine roles that are either in critical short supply or are ineligible for an employment permit.
These lists undergo periodic evidence-based review guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation and the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments including the Department of Health.
In June this year I announced changes to help alleviate some of the ongoing skills shortages in the health sector by adding the occupations of Speech & Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist to the Critical Skills Occupations List.
These roles are now eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit which is the employment permit type used to attract highly skilled professionals into the State to reside and take up employment in key occupations.
Since then, 2 Critical Skills Employment Permits have been issued for Speech and Language Therapists and 12 Employment Permits have been issued for Occupational Therapists.
My Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.
78. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the midlands regional enterprise plan launched in March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62112/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegional enterprise development continues to be a key policy priority of mine and this Government.
In pursuit of this, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) launched nine new Regional Enterprise Plans earlier this year.
A key feature and strength of the Regional Enterprise Plans is that they are developed using a ‘bottom-up’ approach, developed by regional stakeholders who are keenly aware of the growth opportunities and vulnerabilities in their region, and of the benefits of working collaboratively. Each Regional Enterprise Plan is overseen and monitored by a Steering Committee made up of regional stakeholders and chaired by a senior level private sector businessperson.
The Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan covers Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly and was launched in Mullingar on the 1st of March. The Plan contains three strategic objectives (and related actions) to be delivered by end 2024.
They are:
- Climate Action – transition to a climate neutral economy.
- Capitalising on strengths of the Midlands through Smart Specialisation and Digitalisation
- Positioning the Midlands as the destination of choice to live, work, visit, invest and learn
The Midlands Steering Committee is chaired by Dr Anne Cusack. The Steering Committee members include representation from the Local Authorities, the Enterprise Agencies, LEOs, Regional Assemblies, Higher Education bodies and others, all of whom are focused on creating and sustaining employment opportunities for the region.
Since publication and launch, the Steering Committee and Working Groups have been meeting to drive implementation of the actions.
Indeed, I attended the last meeting of the Steering Committee on the 25 November in County Longford. At that meeting I was very impressed with the progress that has been made to date and am of the view that excellent work is being done in delivering the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that DETE has secured up to €145m in regional enterprise funding over the coming years from the European Regional Development Fund to drive implementation of the Regional Enterprise Plans. I am keen to get this funding out to the regions as soon as possible and I have asked my officials to work with Enterprise Ireland on launching the first call of funding under the ERDF early next year. Due to the excellent work of the Midlands Regional Steering Committee, I strongly believe that the region is well-placed to benefit from this funding.
79. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail the most recent data on the level of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs in counties Cavan and Monaghan in tabular form; the number of additional jobs created in each county since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62129/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Ireland surveys its portfolio of clients annually to collect employment data, this survey occurs over October/November each year. It is not possible to give employment gains from a specific date, in this instance March 2020, however it is possible to give employment gains from the year ended 2020 to the year ended 2021 and this data is supplied as follows:
|
Job Gains 2020 |
Total Jobs 2020 |
Job Gains 2021 |
Total Jobs 2021 |
|
|
Cavan |
280 |
6,045 |
338 |
6,506 |
|
Monaghan |
244 |
5,548 |
548 |
5,579 |
|
Total |
524 |
11,593 |
886 |
12,085 |
In January 2023 Enterprise Ireland will publish its latest employment survey results, the data from which is currently being validated in advance of publication. This data will outline jobs created in 2022 and total employment per county for the year ended 2022.
Government will continue to enhance regional level development as a major commitment of the recently published White Paper on Enterprise Policy to ensure that at least two-thirds of job creation takes place outside of Dublin.
80. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that he is taking to reduce approval times at the NSAI for new building technologies. [62086/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an independent agency, under the aegis of my Department.
As part of its remit, NSAI carries out a range of operational functions, some of which are in areas which fall within the lead policy responsibility of other Departments. In this context, NSAI carries out activities in relation to construction products, which is an area within the lead policy responsibility of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The times required for construction product certification by NSAI vary depending on the type of product, and the applicable regulatory context, for example, whether the product falls under the Construction Product Regulation (CPR).
Currently, CPR related products take 4 to 6 weeks to certify. However, if a product is new and innovative, and the manufacturer is seeking what is known as Agrément certification, then times for approval currently can be in excess of 6 months.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind in relation to new building technologies certification, I have been informed by NSAI that their officials would be happy to deal directly with the company to discuss the application.
81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on progress made on the action plan for insurance reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62113/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra101. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the action plan on insurance reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61855/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 101 together.
To increase the availability and affordability of insurance for consumers, business and community and voluntary groups, Government established a dedicated Cabinet Committee Subgroup on Insurance Reform in September 2020.
Through the Action Plan for Insurance Reform the Subgroup set out 66 actions to be delivered across Government to make Ireland’s insurance sector more competitive and consumer-friendly, supporting enterprise and job creation.
The most recent implementation report on the Plan published in November 2022 shows that approximately 90% of actions in the Plan have been completed or are ongoing, with the remaining initiated.
Principal actions completed to date include the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines, enactment of legislation to strengthen the laws on perjury, establishment of the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market and the Insurance Fraud Coordination Office. On December 6 the Oireachtas passed the Personal Injuries Resolution Bill which will transform PIAB into an enhanced personal injuries resolution board. Legislative changes to the law on occupiers liability are currently being considered by the houses.
Success of this Plan will not be measured by the number of completed actions but rather whether the reforms, implemented over the lifetime of this Government, result in reduced premiums and increased availability of insurance.
While we have seen some evidence of improvement of availability of insurance, we have only seen premiums decrease for motorists to date. I believe this ongoing improvement, at a time of overall price rises, indicates that these actions have laid a solid foundation for change, and are delivering positive outcomes for consumers. It is time for insurance companies to reflect these changes. Government expects that savings from the reform package will be passed on to customers, so that the full benefits of the Action Plan are realised.
The Subgroup on Insurance Reform will continue its work next year. It will actively review developments in the sector, monitor price changes and engage with stakeholders to continue to build on the reforms delivered to date.
82. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the implementation of the Duffy-Cahill report. [62085/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a robust suite of legislation to protect and support workers facing redundancies. The Cahill-Duffy report was in response to particular terms of reference which were quite narrow and specific and do not address the generality of redundancies that arise in insolvency situations.
Following constructive engagement with the Social Partners, the Department published a Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency in May 2021.
The Plan sets out several commitments to safeguard further the rights of workers in these circumstances including:
- To introduce amendments to employment law and company law dealing with matters related to collective redundancies following company insolvency,
- To develop a Guidance Document to provide clear and accessible information in relation to the rights and remedies available to employees in such circumstances,
- To establish a new Employment Law Review Group.
Progress has been made to date on the Plan:
- A Guidance Document was published in December 2021. This provides clear and accessible information to employees facing a collective redundancy situation following a company insolvency on their rights and the remedies available to them.
- Four company law actions have been implemented: three on the quality and circulation of information to workers as creditors through the Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Act 2021 and one action on imposing a statutory obligation on directors to consider the interests of creditors in the period leading up to insolvency through the European Communities (Preventive Restructuring) Regulations 2022.
Significant progress has been made on drafting Heads of Bill in respect of the remaining employment law actions that require legislative effect. It is expected these measures will cover amendments to the Protection of Employment Act 1977, which protects employees during collective redundancies.
In respect of company law, in December 2021 the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) submitted its report following its consideration of the issue of splitting of corporate operations from asset holding entities in group structures. The Group ultimately concluded that the incidence of abusive practices in corporate restructuring, while attracting significant attention, is in fact low. This conclusion was supported by the then Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement which noted that its reviews of liquidations indicated that in over 90% of all liquidations, company directors had acted honestly and responsibly.
Nonetheless, the CLRG made a number of recommendations which my Department has analysed and progress has been made in preparing amendments to the Companies Acts 2014 to further enhance the regulatory framework.
It is intended that the General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the amendments to company law and employment law under the Plan of Action will be proposed to Government in early 2023.
Finally, work has commenced on the establishment of the Employment Law Review Group. In advising the Minister, the Review Group will seek to ensure that the State’s suite of employment rights and redundancy legislation remains relevant and fit for purpose and is updated to reflect international developments. This work involves drafting Terms of Reference, organising suitable membership and agreeing a workplan. The Group will initially be established on a non-statutory basis in 2023. The appropriate legislation to have the Group placed on a statutory footing will be drafted as soon as possible thereafter.
83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 27 October 2022, if he will provide a status update on the work of the cross-departmental group to oversee the implementation of the transition from the atypical scheme for non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet to the employment permits scheme; the number of meetings that the group has held to date; the dates of same; the terms of reference of the group; the membership of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62036/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice recently published the Review of the Atypical Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet who had been catered for under the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) since 2015. The report and its recommendations followed an extensive consultation process with stakeholders involved in the scheme.
Two of the recommendations of the Review Group are that the employment of non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet should be provided for under the Employment Permit scheme and that a cross-departmental group comprising senior officials in relevant departments and agencies be established to oversee implementation of the transition.
This group will be co-chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with the overall time frame for implementation of the report’s recommendations is expected to be approximately 12 months.
The work of the Group will be initiated after receipt of an evidence-based submission to remove the occupation of fishers from the Ineligible Occupations List from the fishing sector as advised.
84. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the regional enterprise fund will open for applications; if he will provide details of the eligibility criteria for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62100/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBalanced regional development is a priority of mine and Government and is a key component of the White Paper on Enterprise 2022 – 2030.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has secured up to €145m over the coming years from the European Regional Development Fund to support projects coming from the Regional Enterprise Plans.
I am keen to get this funding out to the regions as soon as possible. My officials are working with Enterprise Ireland on developing the scheme and eligibility criteria with a view to launching the first call in early 2023.
85. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the European Council recently adopted a negotiating position on the corporate sustainability due diligence directive to allow member states to exclude banks and investment funds from the scope of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62114/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has been supportive of the objective of the proposed Directive which will play a significant role in promoting responsible business conduct. An EU-wide framework is best placed to both support the functioning of the single market and to influence respect for human rights and the environment beyond the EU.
This is a complex proposal with far-reaching implications for companies and stakeholders. Discussions on the proposed directive had intensified in recent weeks with a range of issues under active consideration. Ireland had been seeking to ensure that the proposal had ambition while striking the right balance of providing effective protections for stakeholders and ensuring that the measures to be implemented by companies are clear, proportionate, and enforceable.
I had greater ambition for the proposal in a number of areas and raised these at the Council meeting. However, these were not reflected in the agreed proposal. A particular issue arose in the final text of the proposal that came before Council as discretion was being provided to Member States regarding applicability to the financial sector.
Ireland considers that the proposal should apply to relevant companies across all sectors of the economy including regulated financial undertakings. Furthermore, Ireland supports a harmonised approach on this issue, which promotes policy coherence and avoids the risk of fragmentation within the single market. Accordingly, Ireland abstained on the adoption of a general approach on the proposal.
86. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to review any provisions of the Protection of Employment Acts 1977 to 2014 in respect of the requirement for employers to notify the Minister of proposed collective redundancies and the obligation on employers to engage in an information and consultation process with employees' representatives; if he will consider changes to the sanctions involved for any breaches of these provisions of the Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62089/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies. These obligations include the requirement to consult and provide information to employees and their representatives, and to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes place.
The Act also includes provisions which allow employees refer complaints to the Workplace Relations Commission if an employer has failed to comply with these obligations. Employers who fail to comply with these obligations may also be liable to fines ranging from €5,000, or up to a maximum of €250,000 where redundancies take effect prior to the expiry of the 30-day notification process.
Following constructive engagement with the Social Partners, the Department published a Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency in May 2021.
The Plan sets out several commitments to safeguard further the rights of workers in these circumstances including:
- To introduce amendments to employment law and company law dealing with matters related to collective redundancies following company insolvency, - To develop a Guidance Document to provide clear and accessible information in relation to the rights and remedies available to employees in such circumstances,
- To establish a new Employment Law Review Group.
Progress has been made to date on the Plan with some company law changes already made and a number of both employment rights and further company law changes being worked on by the Department.
A Guidance Document was published in December 2021. This provides clear and accessible information to employees facing a collective redundancy situation following a company insolvency on their rights and the remedies available to them.
One of the specific commitments included in the Plan of Action is to legislate to allow employees to seek redress from the WRC where their employer makes them redundant before the 30-day notification period finishes. This change will apply to all collective redundancies, not just those precipitated by insolvency.
Significant progress has been made on drafting Heads of Bill in respect of this and remaining employment law changes that require legislative effect. It is expected these measures will cover amendments to the Protection of Employment Act 1977, which protects employees during collective redundancies.
The timeframe for proposing the General Scheme of a Bill to Government covering these measures is early next year.
Work has commenced on the establishment of the Employment Law Review Group. In advising the Minister, the Review Group will seek to ensure that the State’s suite of employment rights and redundancy legislation remains relevant and fit for purpose and is updated to reflect international developments. This work involves drafting Terms of Reference, organising suitable membership and agreeing a workplan. The Group will initially be established on a non-statutory basis in 2023. The appropriate legislation to have the Group placed on a statutory footing will be drafted as soon as possible thereafter.
87. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the way that the Government is addressing and providing more employment opportunities to healthcare staff in both the home care sector and the broader health sector through the employment permit process to help deal with Ireland's current staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62067/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established by the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, in March 2022. My Department was represented on the Group which was charged with examining strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes and the Report of the Group was published on 15 October.
The Report includes 16 recommendations spanning the areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development and included the recommendation that home-support workers be made eligible for an employment permit.
My Department will make 1,000 employment-permits available for home-support workers from the start of the new year. In order to safeguard these workers, employers will be required to offer them a minimum two-year contract with a minimum salary of €27,000 based on a 39-hour week, with a minimum continuous shift-length per working day of 4 hours.
To this end, my officials and I are working with counterparts at the Department of Health on the regulations necessary to give effect to this recommendation as soon as is possible.
In addition, my Department has been actively responding over the last year to the concerns raised by the Department of Health with regard to the critical short supply of skills in a number of roles in this crucial sector for our country.
In June 2021 a number of roles were removed from the Ineligible Occupations List, including the health care assistant role, to allow applications for General Employment Permits to be made.
In June 2022 changes were made to provide access to the Critical Skills Employment Permit for non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in the State in the broader health sector including cardiac physiologist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist roles.
Including these roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List enabled the HSE to address the significant recruitment challenges for these healthcare professions, whilst working towards a resourcing strategy delivering sufficient domestic supply of health care staff, maximising self-sufficiency within the Irish state for the resourcing and delivery of publicly funded health services for the future.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment works with other Departments to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy.
The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.
88. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the engagement that he, along with his Department and the IDA, have had with the State’s tech sector in the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy main concern is for the staff and their families who will be affected by down-sizing in certain tech companies. We will assist any employees affected as they seek alternative employment or other opportunities.
As a country we are close to full employment, with high demand for tech, marketing and other skills across all sectors. There is a strong pipeline of new investments from overseas and within Ireland in a range of sectors, including tech, and we expect many positive announcements in the coming months.
IDA’s annual employment figures, announced yesterday, were exceptionally good – 24,000 net new jobs and over half of all new investment in regional locations. Still, in the face of such global uncertainty, we are likely to see companies adopt a cautious approach, so slower growth is likely in 2023.
When the uncertainty in the global tech sector began to emerge a few weeks ago, I convened a meeting with senior IDA and Enterprise Ireland staff along with Ministers of State Damien English and Dara Calleary. I issued a press release after that meeting on 7 November stating that we had asked for engagement with the major tech companies to be intensified, through the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.
Since then, I have engaged with the companies directly through my own office, through officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and its agencies. I wanted to convey at those meetings that I was available to help in any way that I or the Government could do so. I also wanted to receive assurances that the companies would adhere to their statutory obligations, and we have received those assurances.
As the Deputy will be aware, we published a new White Paper on Enterprise last week setting out ambitious targets for the indigenous and multinational sectors.
Notwithstanding the recent retrenchment in the tech sector, the future is digital. There is going to be more data, more robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality and autonomous transport. There will be a huge expansion of the tech sector in the medium term and we will make sure that Ireland is at the forefront of that.
89. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current schedule for trade missions for 2023; if any adjustments will occur given the ongoing fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62127/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland plans to have a trade mission to Poland during quarter 1 of 2023. [62189/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 154 together.
Each year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment, and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland.
In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represent the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.
My Department is currently working closely with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland with a view to developing a Ministerial-led trade mission programme for 2023. In framing the annual trade mission programme, my Department and its agencies are conscious of the importance of organising missions that take place in a sustainable fashion.
Consideration of the programme is still ongoing, and no decisions have yet been made. However, there are currently no plans to have a trade mission to Poland during the first quarter of 2023. In the meantime, my Department will continue to work closely with its agencies to assess opportunities to help Irish companies to access new markets and to increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland.
90. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the new mandate for local enterprise offices will improve services to small business and enhance enterprise sustainability; and his estimate of the job potential of the initiative. [62030/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November the Government agreed to extend the mandate of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) to provide grant aid to firms in manufacturing and internationally traded services employing more than 10 but no more than 50 full time employees.
The extension of the mandate will ensure a continuation of support for enterprises that have grown to ten or more employees, as appropriate to their stage of development and international growth ambition. Working with the LEOs, Enterprise Ireland will ensure that companies of all sizes in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors are assisted on their development journey, maximising their growth and job creation potential.
The framework proposal has been developed by Enterprise Ireland, in consultation with the LEOs, and an additional capital allocation of €2million was secured in Budget 2023 to roll it out next year on a pilot basis.
The specific programmes that will be made available are
- Feasibility Grant
- Priming Grant
- Business Expansion Grant
- Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters Grant
- Green Start
- Lean Vouchers
- Digital Start Vouchers
The extension of the mandate will contribute to the Government’s target as set out in the recently published White Paper on Enterprise to add 2000 indigenous firms to the export base by 2030.
It is only in light of the evaluation of the pilot scheme that we can determine the impacts of the framework, including an estimation of the job creation potential of the initiative.
In terms of assessing economic impact, measures will include cost per sustained job; cost of new job; the ratio of increased export sales to LEO assistance; and productivity growth.
