Written Answers Nos. 141-163
141. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount expended on advertising and promotion in his Department and all agencies under the remit of his Department in 2022 and in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8683/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of costs incurred by my Department on advertising and promotion in 2022 and in January 2023 are set out below. This includes expenditure on a number of awareness raising campaigns around Remote Working, the National Minimum Wage and the Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process (SCARP).
|
Year |
Spend on Advertising and Promotion |
|
2022 |
€280,799 |
|
2023 |
€11,860 |
With regard to the spend by the state agencies under the remit of my Department, this is an operational matters for those agencies and I do not have any direct function in these matters. However, I have asked those state agencies to provide the requested information to me and I will forward this to the Deputy once received.
142. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of communications staff currently employed in his Department; the cost of these staff for 2022; the expected cost for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8701/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Communications Unit is led by a Head of Communications at Principal Officer level. There are five press office staff, including one vacancy, five staff working on campaigns and digital communications, and four staff who work on internal communications.
A breakdown by grade, number in the grade, the start and end points of the appropriate pay-scales at October 2022, March 2023 and the percentage increased annualised basic salaries for public servants on 1 October 2023, are set out in the table below:
|
Grade |
Number |
Pay Scale at 1 October 2022 (*) € |
Pay Scale at 1 March 2023 (**) € |
Increase in annualised basic salary on 1 October 2023 (***) |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
€94,357- €116,712 |
€97,207- €120,237 |
1.5% or €750, whichever is greater |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
3 |
€72,511 - €90,366 |
€74,407 - €93,095 |
1.5% or €750, whichever is greater |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
€52,373 - €65,959 |
€53,955 - €67,951 |
1.5% or €750, whichever is greater |
|
Executive Officer (****) |
8 |
€32,649 - €54,481 |
€33,817 - €56,127 |
1.5% or €750, whichever is greater |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
€500.17pw - €819.26pw |
€519.96pw - €845.43pw |
1.5% or €750, whichever is greater |
(*) Circular 19-22: Application of pay adjustments due on 2 February and 1 October 2022: www.gov.ie/en/circular/0d4cf-192022-february-2nd-and-october-1st-2022/
(**) Circular 02-23: Application of March Pay Adjustment www.gov.ie/en/circular/64f5a-circular-02-2023-application-of-1-march-pay-adjustment/
(***) Press Release indicating endorsement by public service unions of extension to Building Momentum pay Agreement: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/557c4-minister-mcgrath-welcomes-strong-endorsement-by-public-service-unions-of-extension-to-building-momentum-pay-agreement/
(****) The Executive Officer cohort of staff includes a member of staff in the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland and also a member of staff in the Workplace Relations Commission who is responsible for communications related activities on a part-time basis.
143. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland client companies that have been dissolved, entered receivership or been liquidated in the past five years and the total amount of losses accrued by Enterprise Ireland on its investments broken down by company. [8753/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere Enterprise Ireland's assessment of the value of investments is nil, due to insolvency or otherwise, those investments are written off. Over the last five years Enterprise Ireland has had to write off €47,013,327.16 of equity investments in 257 of their clients due to those businesses being dissolved, entering receivership or being liquidated.
The following Table provides the relevant data sought but under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it is not considered possible to provide individual company names.
|
Year |
No of Companies |
Amount of write off € |
|
2018 |
79 |
14,109,577.18 |
|
2019 |
54 |
10,553,581.77 |
|
2020 |
59 |
9,164,910.04 |
|
2021 |
42 |
10,054,308.60 |
|
2022 |
23 |
3,130,949.57 |
|
TOTAL |
257 |
€47,013,327.16 |
144. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on any engagements or correspondence his Department has had with the owners or management of a hotel (details supplied) since January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to reports that employees at a hotel (details supplied) have remained unpaid for significant periods in 2022 and 2023; if his Department will intervene to ensure that all employees are paid salaries and entitlements owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8785/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
I have not had any engagement or received any correspondence on this matter, but I appreciate that this is a difficult situation for those workers affected.
Statutory and contractual employment terms apply in relation to the payment of wages. Failure to pay all or part of the wages due to an employee is considered an unlawful deduction and a complaint can be made under the Payment of Wages Act, 1991.
If an employee believes that their employer has made an unlawful deduction from their pay, then they may refer a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission.
146. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the supports that his Department has provided for Ukraine and for Ukrainian people since February 2022, whether in Ukraine or within the State; the number of people supported, where relevant; the estimated cost and value of the support where available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8864/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland remains fully committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. The EU is united in condemning in the strongest possible terms Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. Ireland has consistently supported imposing stronger sanctions on Russia, maintaining a maximalist position since the start of the conflict.
My Department, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Central Bank of Ireland are the three National Competent Authorities for EU sanctions. We have worked very closely with the other Competent Authorities, Government Departments and State bodies, since February last to ensure that there is comprehensive and effective implementation of the sanctions in Ireland.
With regard to employment rights, Ukrainian citizens can work legally in Ireland, without having to access the employment permits system, once they have received a letter confirming they have been granted Temporary Protection under the EU directive. They are then entitled to the full range of statutory employment rights and protections in the same manner as Irish workers. The Workplace Relations Commission, the State body responsible for employment rights, has published comprehensive information on employment rights in the Ukrainian language.
The National SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan noted that we need to do more to attract a broader range of people to be entrepreneurs in Ireland. One of the best ways Government can make entrepreneurship more inclusive is through entrepreneurship training and, following a review by the OECD, my Department is currently implementing a number of actions to make our programmes more inclusive. A good example of this type of initiative is the recent collaboration between Fingal Local Enterprise Office and the Irish Red Cross on the “U-Start” start-your-own business programme. At a cost of approximately €13,000 the initiative was designed to provide basic information to Ukrainian refugees who would not be familiar with the enterprise support infrastructure in Ireland and would not know how to go about setting up a business here. Many had previously owned their own business in Ukraine, and some wanted to commence trading in Ireland. The Irish Red Cross was able to reach out and recruit participants from across the country including Sligo, Galway and Wexford and over 40 people have now completed the inaugural programme. Funding for this initiative is being provided through Fingal County Council.
Since last autumn, my Department and our agencies have been engaging with the OPW and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as to the feasibility of part of our office accommodation being re-purposed in support of Ireland’s humanitarian response to international protection applicants. We continue to work with the OPW on this process.
My Department also seconded five staff members to work in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in 2022, to assist with managing the response to the crisis.
147. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of discrimination cases taken and won against his Department over the past ten years, under each of the grounds as applicable, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8895/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to records held by the Human Resources Unit in my Department, the information requested by the Deputy in relation to discrimination cases taken and won by staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is listed below in tabular form.
|
Year |
Number of discrimination cases taken and won |
|
2023 |
0 |
|
2022 |
0 |
|
2021 |
0 |
|
2020 |
0 |
|
2019 |
0 |
|
2018 |
1 |
|
2017 |
0 |
|
2016 |
1 |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
2014 |
0 |
148. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a response will issue to the concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of continually changing connection dates for high-speed broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8049/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the inland fisheries division within his Department contracted a private sector company (details supplied) to conduct appropriate assessment screenings under the EU Habitats Directive on the 2022 Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Regulations, given that Inland Fisheries Ireland is the responsible statutory body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Regulations referred to are drafted in the Department, supporting technical and scientific inputs are provided via Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) as statutory advisers to me as Minister and the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department.
It is established practice in respect of such regulations that part of this technical input is for IFI to procure an independent appropriate assessment screening. IFI, and not the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department, engaged the company referred to by the Deputy for this purpose.
150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and the inland fisheries division within his Department support the phased introduction of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) into an area (details supplied) to create an unique angling tourism product in the west of Ireland, such as happened in Spain on the Ebro river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8230/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis) are a non-native / non naturalised species in Ireland and potentially invasive as is the experience throughout their range internationally.
Their introduction would represent a potential threat to native and naturalised biodiversity.
151. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of roach in Lettercraffroe Lough under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8231/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Bye-Law 806 of 2006 referred to in the Question relates to measures concerning the catching and retaining of non-salmonid species (including roach). The Bye-Law is in force since 2006 on a National basis.
Management of any fish species in a particular fishery is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie
152. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by his Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of his Department. [8238/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8283/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in this matter. The Department of Rural and Community Development operate the Local Improvement Grant Scheme for private roads.
154. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions his Department is taking to address the risk of lung cancer from radon gas which is estimated to be responsible for 350 cases of this cancer a year; if he has plans to implement radon testing of homes in high radon areas; if he has considered providing free radon testing for homes in those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8292/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans he has to provide grant aid to homeowners to install radon barriers in older housing stock in areas with high levels of radon gas; if plans have advanced under the National Radon Control Strategy; the specific actions that he has taken in the past 12 months on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8293/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.
Radon gas is recognised as a serious threat to public health and estimated to be responsible for approximately 350 cases of lung cancer annually in Ireland. The Government has established a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS). The strategy is now in its second phase covering the period 2019 – 2024. Implementation of the strategy is overseen by an interdepartmental and agency group chaired by my Department. A Mid-Term Report to Government on Phase Two of the NRCS will be published shortly. This report sets out progress made towards delivering on the strategy and its actions between May 2019 and June 2022. Previous reports are available at www.epa.ie/publications/.Progress made in the last 12 months and a key objective of the Strategy includes the launch of updated Radon Risk Maps for Ireland at the 16th National Radon Forum in May 2022. The new maps update the radon risk assessment for the country and predict that approximately 170,000 homes nationally are at risk from high levels of radon gas. For more information, please go to www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/radon/sixteenth-national-radon-forum.php.While there are currently no financial supports in place in respect of radon testing or remediation measures, work to develop such a scheme is one of the action points for the current phase of the NRCS, which will run until 2024. Further information in relation to radon can be found at Radon | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie).
156. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of times the interdepartmental and agency group responsible for the National Radon Control Strategy met since February 2022; to provide dates for those meetings and a copy of the minutes for each of those meetings; the membership of the group; the attendance at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8294/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe interdepartmental agency group responsible for the National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS) has not met since February 2022. The next meeting of the group is scheduled for 6 April 2023. The group is comprised of representatives from the following Departments and Agencies: - Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (Chair)- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment- Department of Health- Department of Education- Health Service Executive (HSE)- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- Health and Safety Authority (HSA) - Geological Survey Ireland (GSI)- Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)- County and City Managers' Association (CCMA)- Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)- TUSLAThere is also the National Radon Forum, which is normally held annually, and provides an opportunity for those with a role to play in reducing the risk from radon in Ireland to meet and discuss radon activities and concerns.? This includes measurement companies, remediation companies, scientists, government representatives, local authorities, representatives of national agencies with responsibility for building standards, health and safety experts and the public. The 16th forum was last held in May 2022. Further information can be found at - www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/radiation/national-radon-control-strategy/national-radon-forum/.
157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when seven new gas-fired generators will be available to supply power to Irish users ensuring further energy security to Ireland and its citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8330/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications where the natural gas will be sourced to supply the new gas-fired generators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8334/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) currently has a programme of actions underway – to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. This programme of actions contains a number of both demand and supply-side mitigation measures to address any potential shortfall. The actions include: procurement of new, enduring capacity through a number of capacity auctions; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generation capacity; and improved demand-side measures.
The Government's policy statement on security of electricity supply sets out that the development of new flexible gas-fired generation capacity is a national priority and should be permitted and supported in order to ensure security of electricity supply and support the growth of renewable electricity generation.
The policy statement supports the need to deliver at least 2 GW of new flexible gas-fired generation which is outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2023. As set out in EirGrid's Generation Capacity Statement 2022-2031, much of this new capacity is needed to replace older high-emitting power stations, such as those fuelled by oil and coal, which are due to close over the coming years.
New gas plants are sought via regular capacity market auctions for delivery over the coming years. The next capacity auction is set to be run in March of this year for delivery in 2026/27. It is important to note that the development of flexible gas-fired generation is to provide security of supply and support high levels of renewable electricity generation. The new capacity will only run when needed (when renewable sources are generating less) and therefore the level of associated emissions will be minimised.
Ireland sources roughly one-quarter of its gas from the Corrib gas field, and three-quarters via an interconnector from the UK, which has diverse sources of supply. Both the UK and Ireland have far less reliance on Russian gas than other European Countries. The UK’s gas supply comes from indigenous supplies, via pipelines from Norway, interconnectors with Belgium and the Netherlands and through imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). As production from the Corrib gas field declines, our import dependence on natural gas from the UK will increase in the near term.
It is essential that we cut our dependence on imported fossil fuels, and power comes from our own indigenous renewable resources including wind and solar. Climate Action Plan 2023 sets an ambitious target to increase the share of electricity demand generated from renewable sources to up to 80% by 2030 thereby lessening our reliance on imported gas.
159. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way he plans to collect the windfall tax from those supplying the gas by LNG importation into the EU; if his attention has been drawn to the impact such EU legislation is having on the supply of natural gas supply and thus to the Irish consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8335/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland does not have infrastructure for the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Natural gas demand in Ireland is currently met through domestic production from the Corrib Gas Field and importation through interconnectors from the United Kingdom.
Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices provides for a cap on market revenues of non-gas electricity generators and a temporary solidarity contribution on profits in the fossil fuel production and refining based sectors in Ireland.
Legislation will be required to implement the cap on market revenues and the temporary solidarity contribution. My Department is currently working on the development of this legislation.
160. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will engage with the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities to provide details on the closing of electricity generating power plants, both current and future, in Ireland (details supplied). [8368/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 93, 100, 107, and 108 of 15 December 2022 in relation to the regulation of district heating schemes and prices paid by residents, if the commercial tariff he mentioned is the reason that residents of DHS have faced such enormous rises in their energy bills; if this tariff is collected by the State, and if he can provide figures for the amounts collected by this tariff since 2019 to date; when the proposals to regulate the DHS sector will be enacted and if this will see controls on the prices of heat/energy for residents in such complexes; if such regulations are not imminent; if any action can be taken in relation to the commercial tariffs imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8389/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the passing of SI. 350/2022, and the new role the Commission of Regulation of Utilities in regulating district heating systems, will mean that the current commercial tariff levied on residents of such systems will be removed and a standard residential rate tariff applied instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8391/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the commercial tariff applied to district heating systems; and the current standard residential tariff that is applied to gas users. [8392/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 162 and 163 together.
Group heating schemes are apartment blocks or housing developments that are supplied with heat rather than fuel and, in such cases, it is the heat supplier that is the purchaser of the fuel used. Where gas is being used, the provider may not fall within a domestic supply category, and will be supplied under commercial terms and conditions.? I understand that such heating systems make up a very small proportion of household heating in Ireland. Previous references to a tariff in this context related to the price at which gas is purchased.
Group heating providers, as the holder of the contract with the gas supplier, may query the basis of their classification as a commercial customer by the supplier and ensure that they are being supplied on the most appropriate rate and terms.
While commercial prices have been lower than domestic gas prices, recent increases in energy prices have led to a sharp increase in commercial gas prices in particular. This has lead to increases in the cost of providing heat by energy service providers. While I understand that group heating schemes have, historically, benefitted from lower prices, gas prices are affected by international developments, and recent events have resulted in significant increases to gas prices. The costing and billing of heat is a matter for the energy service provider and its customers, and the State has no role in the collection of heating bills, or in the purchase of natural gas by commercial customers.
My Department is currently liaising with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to ensure the development of an appropriate regulatory framework for district heating, which the Government plans to facilitate at scale in Ireland, to include regulation of group heating schemes, and this will take time and careful consideration. The statutory functions of the CRU in relation to regulation of district heating are contained in SI 350 of 2022 and SI 630 of 2022.
There are Government supports and protections targeted at the end user customers. Throughout 2022, the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports to support households and businesses, and as part of Budget 2023, introduced a package of measures worth €2.5 billion. This included the €1.211 billion Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme, through which €600 (inclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments. The third €200 electricity credit is due to be applied in March/April. This was applied through the electricity system to ensure maximum reach to customers.
Furthermore, any individual that is in need of additional support to facilitate their continued energy supply should apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection. I am assured that every effort is being made to ensure that any individual that qualifies, receives an Additional Needs Payment on the same day, or as soon as possible where it relates to electricity and heating expenses.
On 13 December, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023. The fund will ensure that people in most need can access financial supports quickly and directly provide a further safeguard in addition to the supports from supplier hardship funds and the Additional Needs Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is also available to provide budgeting advice and advocacy support.
