Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:194. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance when the review of the R and D tax credit and evaluation of the knowledge development box will be published. [12123/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTax Credits
Ceisteanna (194)
Freagraí scríofa
The R&D tax credit and the Knowledge Development Box (KDB) were reviewed in 2022. The reviews were published on Budget day as part of the Budget 2023 Report on Tax Expenditures, see link below. A public consultation process was also held as part of that review. In total, twenty-one submissions were received, from a mixture of companies, representative bodies and advisory firms. All of the submissions addressed the R&D tax credit, and fifteen of the submissions also provided commentary on the KDB.
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=assets.gov.ie/243743/c7696ee4-d656-487b-ad53-a00ad4ea536a.pdf#page=null
Business Supports
Ceisteanna (195)
Niall Collins
Ceist:195. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance if advice will be provided to a company (details supplied); whether this company is eligible for TEBSS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12132/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) are set out in Finance Act 2022. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023.TBESS is administered by Revenue. Eligible businesses can register for and make claims using Revenue's Online Service (ROS). Revenue has published comprehensive guidelines on the operation of the scheme on the Revenue website, which includes information on eligibility for the scheme and how claims may be made.As the Deputy will be aware neither Revenue nor I can comment directly or indirectly on the arrangements of individual persons/businesses. The entity concerned should continue its engagement with Revenue directly on this matter.
Brexit Supports
Ceisteanna (196)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:196. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the allocations to date from the Brexit adjustment reserve; the Department to which funds were allocated; the purpose of the allocation; the funds remaining to be dispersed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12101/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The European Union’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), provides support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial and, environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. €5.47 billion euro was allocated to the fund and Ireland’s allocation is €1.165 billion. The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.
The BAR eligibility period for expenditure runs from the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2023.
The Government has made significant allocations across a range of sectors, both before and during the 4-year BAR period. The purpose of these allocations is to mitigate against the negative consequences of Brexit and to adapt to regulatory changes. Following the BAR Regulation coming into force in October 2021, specific funding was provided in Budgets 2022 and 2023, as set out in the Table below, and further funding can be considered for allocation over the remainder of 2023. This would also include consideration of funding in relation to permanent infrastructure at Rosslare port required for customs and SPS checks.
My Department has been engaging with Departments in respect of spending allocated to mitigate Brexit in advance of Budget 2022. A figure of €0.6 billion has been identified in this regard. Work is ongoing to verify for eligibility this significant funding allocated across 2020 and 2021 for inclusion in Ireland’s final BAR claim in September 2024.
Over the course of Budgets 2022 and 2023, some €389 million was allocated, as follows.
|
Department |
€m |
|
Agriculture |
271 |
|
Enterprise |
15 |
|
Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
37.3 |
|
Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform |
4.4 |
|
Foreign Affairs |
2.2 |
|
Tourism Culture Arts Gaeltacht Sports and Media |
7.75 |
|
Environment Climate and Communications |
24 |
|
Health |
5.5 |
|
Justice |
21.5 |
|
Transport |
0.1 |
|
Total |
389 |
The Deputy will also be aware that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has moved quickly to phase out EU dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal imports and accelerate the green transition. EU Member States are adding specific chapters to their national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) to finance key investments and reforms that will help achieve the REPowerEU objectives. These objectives include energy savings, the diversification of energy supplies and the accelerated roll-out of renewables. The EU has provided that member states may transfer a portion of their BAR funding to support these priorities. Given that the timeline under REPowerEU extends to 2026, Ireland has in recent days sent a request to the EU Commission setting out a transfer of €150 million of the BAR funding to support priorities under REPowerEU and is continuing to engage in this regard.
Public Sector Staff
Ceisteanna (197)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:197. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when public sector employees expect to receive the percentage of back pay to February 2022 under the National Wage Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12053/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The following pay adjustments were scheduled to apply during Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022:
- A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2021.
- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund on 1 February 2022.
- A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2022.
As the Deputy is aware, discussions took place last year between the parties to the Agreement following the triggering of the review clause in Building Momentum by public service unions and associations due to the increases in the cost of living. The outcome of these discussions was a set of proposals put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission to extend Building Momentum for a period of 12 months to the end of 2023.
Three additional pay adjustments totalling 6.5% are provided for under the Building Momentum extension over 2022 and 2023. These are:
- An increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 3% backdated to 2 February 2022.
- An increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 2% on 1 March 2023.
- An increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 1.5% or €750, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2023.
These proposals were accepted by the relevant unions and representative associations and were progressed by payroll operations in each sector.
I understand the 2022 adjustments have been implemented for the vast majority of staff. Work on implementing the 2% adjustment due on 1 March 2023 is underway. However, queries in relation to the implementation of pay increases in particular sectors, such as Health or Education, should be raised in the first instance with the relevant parent Department. Queries in relation to the pay of individuals should be directed to the relevant local Human Resources Units.
The current rates of pay for the civil service, for which I have responsibility, are set out in DPENDR Circular 02/2023 Application of 1 March Pay Adjustment, which can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/circular/64f5a-circular-02-2023-application-of-1-march-pay-adjustment/
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (198)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:198. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of vacant habitable dwelling units and vacant derelict residential dwelling units in the ownership of or part ownership of or under the control of both his Department and agencies under his remit; the county in which each unit is located; the length of time each unit has been vacant, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12166/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department (which includes the Office of Government Procurement) does not lease or own any properties that are currently unoccupied.
With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the case for each of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. I have been advised that the OPW are currently collating the information requested and it will be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Online Safety
Ceisteanna (199, 200, 202)
Ged Nash
Ceist:199. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Online Safety Commissioner will have any responsibility for ensuring social media companies do not allow the targeting of advertisements for conversion therapy at people. [12063/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Duncan Smith
Ceist:200. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Online Safety Commissioner will have any responsibility for ensuring social media companies do not allow the targeting of advertisements for conversion therapy at people. [12075/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:202. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Online Safety Commissioner will have any responsibility for ensuring social media companies do not allow the targeting of advertisements for conversion therapy at people. [12148/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 200 and 202 together.
In the first instance, it must be stated that so-called conversion therapy is an abhorrent practice which either seeks to deny the existence of sexual and gender identities as genuine identities or to reframe these benign aspects of the human experience as something needing correction. The Programme for Government commits to legislating to ban conversion therapy. My colleague Minister O’Gorman, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is leading on the development of this legislation. My officials are engaging with officials in Minister Gorman’s Department to ensure that the legislation brought forward will not only ban the practice but also the advertisement of the practice.The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act provides for Coimisiún na Meán, of which the Online Safety Commissioner is part, to make media service codes and online safety codes related to advertising. Therefore, provisions relating to the advertisement of conversion therapy that are brought forward by Minister O’Gorman will be reflected in such codes. A service provider which contravenes media service or online safety codes can be subjected to significant penalties, including financial sanctions of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover, whichever is higher.
Online Safety
Ceisteanna (201)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:201. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide the contact details for the newly established Online Safety Commissioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12143/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 17 January, I announced my intention to appoint Niamh Hodnett as Online Safety Commissioner of Coimisiún na Meán, following a recommendation from the Public Appointments Service. On 13 February, the Online Safety Commissioner took up post on an administrative basis and has, since that time, been temporarily based in the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), which will be dissolved into Coimisiún na Meán upon its establishment.
On 22 February, I signed two Ministerial orders - the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 71 of 2023) and the Broadcasting Act 2009 (Establishment Day) Order 2023 (S.I. 72 of 2022), which will formally dissolve the BAI and establish Coimisiún na Meán with effect from 15 March.
The BAI is currently the most appropriate contact point for the Online Safety Commissioner. The BAI can be contacted through its website (bai.ie), via email at info@bai.ie or by phone on (+353) 1 644 1200.
Following its establishment, Coimisiún na Meán will be contactable via email at info@cnam.ie or by phone on (+353) 1 644 1200.
Question No. 202 answered with Question No. 199.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (203)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:203. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of vacant habitable dwelling units and vacant derelict residential dwelling units in the ownership of or part ownership of or under the control of both her Department and agencies under her remit; the county in which each unit is located; the length of time each unit has been vacant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12163/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In general, matters relating to property for my Department are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works as my Department does not own any properties. I am advised that neither my Department or the agencies under its remit own or have control of any vacant habitable or derelict residential dwellings
Water Pollution
Ceisteanna (204)
Ged Nash
Ceist:204. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of actions Ireland is taking on foot of the State being referred to the European Court of Justice on the 26 January 2023 to the European Commission over its failure to address the problem of polluted natural waters; if he will indicate the steps he and agencies under his aegis are taking to address issues in relation to the pollution of water courses in this jurisdiction, potentially caused by defective slurry tanks north of the border; if he has engaged with the Northern Ireland authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12073/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 26 January 2023 my Department was notified of the decision of the European Commission to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to correctly transpose the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). This decision was linked to the Commission Infringement case 2007/2238 against Ireland.
The Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Act 2022 formed a large part of the response to the remaining issues in the Commission Infringement. The Act was signed into law by the President in December 2022, and provides for a registration and licensing regime for the control and prior authorisation of abstractions and their associated impoundments. My Department is currently developing regulations to commence and operationalise this Act.
In addition I have signed four sets of regulations addressing aspects of the infringement case, namely: the European Union (Water Policy) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, the European Union (Drinking Water) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, and the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) (Amendment) Regulations.
The Government is taking strong action on water quality including a record investment in Irish Water capital programmes, a new CAP Strategic Plan with measures to protect and improve water quality in agricultural areas, and a new stronger Nitrates Action Programme.
The Government will shortly launch a new and strengthened River Basin Management Plan. This plan will build on the work of the second-cycle, and will again describe the main pressures and activities affecting water status, set out the environmental objectives to be achieved up to 2027 and identify the measures needed to achieve these objectives.
My Department is working with colleagues in Northern Ireland on the production of a single “Shared Waters” plan to cover our International River Basin Districts, which will outline how we will coordinate protecting and enhancing the water bodies that are part of both jurisdictions. It will also include the ecological status for shared surface water bodies and overall status for shared groundwater bodies. The work to be undertaken to ensure the water bodies meet their environmental objectives to be achieved up to 2027 and identify the measures needed to achieve these objectives in our shared waterbodies will be further outlined in the River Basin Management Plans for Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The Local Authorities Water Programme Office (LAWPRO) has ongoing linkages with agencies in Northern Ireland as part of its role coordinating water quality activities.
Enterprise Policy
Ceisteanna (205)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:205. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any progression on a strategic development zone in County Clare to attract industry, investment and employment opportunities. [9257/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Chief Executive of Clare County Council and the President of the University of Limerick wrote to my Department on 24 of January 2022 seeking designation of lands as the South Clare / University of Limerick Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). My department subsequently met with representatives from the University of Limerick and Clare County Council to discuss the proposal.
The designation of a SDZ in accordance with the provisions of Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires a Government decision and Government, in making such a decision, must be satisfied that the development is of economic or social importance to the State.
The strategic importance of the University of Limerick as a key driver of innovation, economic development and the knowledge-based economy in the Mid-West is reflected in both the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region.
I acknowledge the significant work undertaken to date in advancing the proposal for the South Clare / University of Limerick Economic SDZ detailed in the submission received by my Department in January 2022. Notwithstanding this however, it is not considered at this stage that the proposals have been developed sufficiently to warrant a request to Government to designate the site as an SDZ.
My Department has advised the local authority that further information is required to demonstrate that the proposed SDZ would be of economic or social importance to the State, to address the proposal within the context of the broader Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan and to address matters relating to infrastructure delivery and other critical factors for the successful delivery of any future SDZ.