Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:133. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding will be made available from Budget 2024 for a doubling of the innovation voucher. [45601/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2024
Ceisteanna (133)
Freagraí scríofa
The Innovation Voucher Programme is funded by my Department under the Science and Technology Programme, though Enterprise Ireland.
The Innovation Voucher Programme is designed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (higher education institutions and research performing bodies) and small businesses and help to create a cultural shift in the small business community's approach to innovation. The current €5,000 vouchers encourage companies and public knowledge providers to work together on specific innovation questions and projects related to a company’s needs and is available to the broadest number of companies. The nature of these projects will be such that they transfer knowledge that is new, thereby enabling a company to use this newly acquired knowledge to innovate a product, production process or service.
Following the announcement of Budget 2024 and the allocation to my Department, my officials, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, are formulating the requirements of each scheme under the Science and Technology Programme in order to maximise the impact of the funding for 2024. The 2024 funding allocation will facilitate a doubling of the value of the Innovation vouchers up to €10,000. Details of the revised scheme are currently being finalised and will be announced for implementation in early 2024.
Enterprise Support Services
Ceisteanna (134)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:134. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a breakdown of the Science and Technology Programme funding allocated for EI's Modern Methods of Construction Demonstration Park and Innovation Investment in the Construct to Innovate Technology Centre in Budget 2024. [45602/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As part of the allocation to my Department under Budget 2024, I have provided an additional €3.35m in funding to underpin its continued investment in key initiatives to deliver on the Government’s Housing for All Strategy. This is broken down into the following:
€2m in additional funding in 2024 will be allocated to fund my Department's contribution to the development of the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction in Mount Lucas in Offaly. This is a joint initiative with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It will showcase the latest construction industry innovations and support innovation adoption by the construction sector.
In addition to this a further €1.35m in funding will also be allocated to the recently established Construct Innovate Technology Centre. This funding will support the delivery of new industry-focused research to be undertaken in 2024 which is key part of boosting construction sector productivity and of relevance to tackling the challenges associated with housing delivery.
Budget 2024
Ceisteanna (135)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:135. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a breakdown of the of the €750 thousand allocation in Budget 2024 to contribution to support nine Regional Enterprise Plan Programme Managers. [45603/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Regional enterprise development is an established core element of the enterprise policy landscape, and the Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) are among the primary tools to progress this policy priority. The REP Programme Managers (PMs) are critical to the successful implementation of the REPs.
To date, the REP PMs have been employed on short-term contracts jointly funded by the relevant region’s Local Authorities (and the Western Development Commission in the case of the West). Given the nature of the contracts it has been difficult to retain suitable PMs.
In order to ensure the successful implementation of the current REPs and the longer-term future of regional enterprise development it was necessary to establish the PM roles on a more permanent basis. Therefore, my officials have been engaging with the County and City Management Association (CCMA) since the end of 2022 to seek a common position as to the future of the roles. This involved discussions as to the future funding of the roles.
The announcement made on Budget Day of a €750k contribution to support the funding of nine REP PMs demonstrates the commitment of my Department and this Government to regional enterprise development.
My officials will now engage further with the CCMA and other stakeholders to ensure that the PM roles, with new funding arrangements in place, attract and retain suitably qualified individuals to drive implementation of the REPs on the ground.
National Minimum Wage
Ceisteanna (136)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:136. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on concerns raised by a small company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45604/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Low Pay Commission was established in 2015 as an independent body. It consists of an equal number of representatives with employee interests, employer interests, and independent members. The Commission makes recommendations on the National Minimum Wage to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The National Minimum Wage seeks to find a balance between a fair and sustainable rate for low paid workers and one that will not have significant negative consequences for employers and competitiveness. As it is legally enforceable, it provides protection for workers.
The Low Pay Commission has an evidence-based approach to arriving at its recommendations. In making its recommendations, the Low Pay Commission is obliged to consider, among other factors, changes in earnings during the relevant period, changes in income distribution, and whether employment and unemployment have been increasing or decreasing.
The Commission is also obliged to consider the likely effect that any proposed order will have on levels of employment and unemployment, the cost of living, and national competitiveness.
In November 2022, the Government agreed to introduce a National Living Wage, set at 60% of hourly median wages, by January 2026. The €1.40 per hour increase in the National Minimum Wage, announced as part of Budget 2024, can be considered the second year of a proposed four-year path towards reaching the living wage of 60% of the median wage which is in line with the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission.
It is preferable to move towards a living wage gradually, using a procedure that takes account of prevailing economic conditions and that ensures that the minimum wage will continue to increase in future as economic conditions improve. The Government is supportive of the Low Pay Commission and the work it has carried out since its foundation and respects the independence of the Low Pay Commission.
As part of Budget 2024, the Government also introduced the Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) which will benefit up to 130,000 small and medium enterprises by providing financial support to those firms which have been most impacted by additional business costs.
Business Supports
Ceisteanna (137)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:137. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason businesses with penal rates of €63,700 and €55,200 are excluded from the SME support scheme; how the Government intends to support major employment contributors, such as those in the hospitality sector, particularly in the face of the current cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45650/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Increased Cost of Business Grant (ICOB) was a measure announced as part of Budget 2024. The grant will be paid to Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. It is intended to be paid at a rate of up to half the enterprise’s commercial rates bill, subject to a prescribed limit. The grant is intended to aid firms but is not intended to directly compensate for all increases in wages, or other costs, for every business.
The technical details underpinning the scheme and the mechanism for delivering the payment are currently being developed. My officials will work together with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will work together with the Local Authorities to finalise the details of the grant in the coming weeks.
It is important that I clarify that the scheme is a once-off grant provision and is not a form of commercial rates waiver, such as that present during the years 2020 to Q1 2022. In essence, the ICOB will have no bearing on the commercial rates paid by firms. It is also not intended to benefit multinational or larger firm. The grant will be paid through local authorities and will be paid in the first quarter of next year.
In establishing the conditions for providing supports to business, it is important to recognise that there are limited resources available to provide such supports. If the scheme were extended to larger ratepayers, provided on the same proportional basis to all firms, it would sharply reduce the benefit available to all ratepayers and would sharply reduce the benefit of this scheme to qualifying ratepayers.
Furthermore, it is important that this measure should not be looked at in isolation and should be considered in light of the range of supports that have been made available to business in recent years, with shocks ranging from Brexit to COVID-19, to supply change disruption and to rising energy costs associated with the crisis in Ukraine. These include the Covid-era Commercial Rates grant and waiver schemes, the Restart Grant, and Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC); the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS); and the Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme. In addition, the Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene (BUSSK), launched in September 2023, provides assistance to businesses impacted by significant increases in the cost of kerosene heating oil.
Business Supports
Ceisteanna (138)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:138. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on concerns raised by a start-up company (details supplied) in view of the Budget announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45654/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Housing for All plan, my Department is working to promote innovation and increased productivity in the residential construction sector, including the more widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
To promote research and development and disseminate the best and most relevant innovations to the players in the construction value-chain in Ireland, my Department with Enterprise Ireland has established a new Construction Technology Centre, Construct Innovate, with initial funding of €5m over 5 years. The Centre is a consortium hosted by University of Galway that also includes Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork and the Irish Green Building Council.
Through the Built to Innovate programme, Enterprise Ireland is focused on driving productivity and innovation in house building, including increased use of MMC, and has opened up lean and digital grants and funding for research and innovation projects to the domestic residential construction sector.
Enterprise Ireland engages with the property technology sub-sector, with a number of proptech companies on its books, as well as ‘construction services’ companies, many of whom are start-ups. Enterprise Ireland offers a wide range of financial supports for start-ups, such as equity investment, development grants and non-financial supports such as capability building, engaging with clients in-market via its overseas offices, connecting founding teams with potential investors and with strategic partners, and identifying business opportunities for clients.
Regarding early-stage funding streams, there are several funds in existence that may be accessed by property technology companies subject to eligibility. These include:
• The Pre-Seed Start Fund aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage start-up companies that have the capacity and ambition to succeed in global markets. Applicants can apply for €50,000 or €100,000 investment. Successful applicants will be supported by an Enterprise Ireland Development Advisor and can avail of a range of start-up supports from Enterprise Ireland such as a mentor from the Enterprise Ireland panel of mentors, access to Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Centre and other services.
• High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Funding is aimed at start-up businesses with the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale on international markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within 3 years of starting up. Funding supports from Enterprise Ireland are closely aligned to a company’s stage of development. Broadly, HPSU companies are viewed as being at feasibility stage, investor-ready stage, or growth stage.
• The Irish Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has made €175m available as part of the Seed and Venture Capital Scheme (2019-2024) that supports the funding requirements of early-stage innovative Irish companies with global ambition.
• The Irish Innovation Seed Fund (IISF) is a €90 million fund-of-funds, made up of a €30m investment from DETE, through Enterprise Ireland, which is matched by a €30m investment from the EIF, and a €30m co-investment from ISIF. As a fund-of-funds, the programme invests in other specialist fund managers who target high growth innovative companies based on disruptive intellectual property, who are at the early stages of external funding.
• The Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) is the all-island umbrella group for business angel networks. It is focused on creating investor groups/ syndicates across the island. This helps companies source monies from private investors.
• The Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) invests in funds, companies and projects which generate commercial returns and supports economic impact and employment in Ireland. Key areas of focus for ISIF are; Housing and enabling investments, Climate, Food and Agri, and Indigenous Companies. ISIF supports indigenous Irish companies with strong growth potential through its investments. ISIF has supported several domestic venture capital funds who invest in a broad spectrum of early-stage companies, including those within the prop-tech segment.
With respect to the specific details outlined in the email, Enterprise Ireland has engaged with the company that has raised this issue.
Business Supports
Ceisteanna (139)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:139. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many applications were received for the temporary business energy support scheme from its inception to its closure on 30 September 2023; and the sum total granted to applicants from the fund. [45710/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As you are aware, the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was a government grant designed to help businesses with increasing energy costs. The Scheme was designed by the Department of Finance and was administered by the Revenue Commissioners. However, funding for the Scheme was allocated to the Vote of my Department.
As of 5th October (the latest stats available from the Revenue Commissioners), 31,309 businesses had registered for the scheme, 62,478 claims have been approved and the total money paid out as of that date is €136.43 million.
The Revenue Commissioners who administer the scheme are hoping to have all payments paid to the remaining applications by the end of the year. These remaining applications are a small cohort that Revenue are having discussions with.
Question No. 140 answered with Question No. 130.
Business Supports
Ceisteanna (141)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:141. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total amount of funding received by a company (details supplied) since its opening; and if he will provide a breakdown the areas that funding was supplied for. [45757/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy may be aware that mining began in Tara in 1977. My Department and its agencies have not provided funding to Boliden Tara Mines during the timeframe in question.
Since the Board of Boliden Tara Mines decided to put the company into care and maintenance from 14th July 2023, officials in my Department have engaged with management to discuss what assistance can be provided to introduce efficiencies and reduce costs including energy costs within state aid parameters. However, financial supports can only be paid out in the context of the reopening of the mine.
I, along with officials, have met the company and unions on a number of occasions to discuss potential state supports and a reopening of the mine. I also met with the parent company who have confirmed that they are committed to Ireland and have welcomed Government commitment and support to the mining industry in Ireland.
Officials in my Department, Enterprise Ireland and other relevant Departments and Agencies of the State have continued to engage with management to offer any support possible with a view to seeing the mine reopening as early as possible.
Enterprise Ireland have confirmed that they will engage with Boliden Tara Mines and provide supports which the company is eligible for under Irish and EU legislation.
Budget 2024
Ceisteanna (142)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:142. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how the people of Clare will benefit from his Department’s allocations in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45771/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Last week the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD, announced a Budget 2024 package which recognises the ongoing challenges businesses are facing across the country, including in Clare.
Overall funding allocated to the Department in Budget 2024 increased by 3.7% to €979m, including a €26m increase in capital expenditure to €584m, and a €9m increase for current expenditure to €395m.
Some of the key items announced that the people of Clare will benefit from include:
• An allocation of approximately €250 million to the new Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB). This scheme will provide a targeted grant payment for businesses operating out of a rateable premises, at a rate of up to half their commercial rates bill, subject to a prescribed limit. The intention is to provide a welcome relief and a cash injection to shops and small businesses, many of which are at the heart of our towns and main streets – from Ennis to Shannon and across all of Clare.
• Enterprise Ireland will administer a new Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme (SREIS) which will assist in delivering on the objectives set out in the nine Regional Enterprise Plans and support projects aligned to those Plans. The first call for €35 million under the new Scheme was announced. The overall objective of the Scheme is to drive job creation and enterprise development. It will provide an opportunity for regional stakeholders to unlock potential from the bottom up through collaboration. I look forward to seeing innovative enterprise focused projects from all regions of the country – including Clare – applying for this funding.
• IDA Ireland continues its commitment to the pursuit of more balanced regional development. An additional €27 million will be provided to the IDA to accelerate its regional property and grants programmes.
• The capital allocation of the Local Enterprise Offices is also being increased by 25%. This additional funding will be targeted primarily at helping SMEs and micro businesses to digitalise and decarbonise. The LEO supports such as the Energy Efficiency Grant, Digital for Business and Green for Business are specifically designed to enable small businesses to become more competitive and productive in how they work and in how they manage the transition to Digital and Green; these grants can directly improve a company’s bottom line and their capacity for growth. These measures are vital for businesses all over Clare and beyond.
• It is recognised that it can be challenging for small businesses to find the help they need, when they need it. So last week a new National Enterprise Hub was announced. This includes a dedicated website, neh.gov.ie, and phone line with a Hub Advisor to help businesses access State supports. Developed by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Government, any business can call it for direct help in navigating the comprehensive suite of supports that are being offered to business. I have no doubt that companies the length and breadth of Clare will find this an invaluable service as they seek to develop and grow their business.
Library Projects
Ceisteanna (143)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:143. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project and JCSP Digital Library Service will be expanded; and if she will consider including a school (details supplied). [45389/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) is a national programme sponsored by the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Introduced in 1996, it is a social inclusion programme that is aimed at students who are identified as being at risk of being socially or academically isolated or at risk of early school leaving before the (then) Junior Certificate has been achieved.
One of the initiatives under the JCSP is the JCSP Demonstration Library Project. School librarians work as part of a network of librarians in the JCSP Demonstration Library Project. Within the Demonstration Library Project, there are 32 professional librarians employed by the CDETB who are based in 30 schools that operate the library facility. They are managed by the Senior Librarian.
Librarians are responsible, together with key school staff, for drawing up and implementing library strategies to tackle the literacy difficulties experienced by many JCSP students. Each year, each library receives a grant from JCSP. The grant funds literacy and numeracy initiatives, book buying and resources for the library. Expenditure is approved in advance by the Senior Librarian. Funding of €2.5m was provided by my Department to the JCSP Demonstration Library Project in 2022.
The JCSP Digital Library is a centrally managed online eBook and eAudiobook lending library that is free for students and staff in all JCSP/DEIS schools. The collection consists of a wide range of teenage and young adult titles to suit all year groups, interests and ability levels. In addition, the library hosts collections of titles to support teacher CPD and staff/parent book clubs.
The collection currently consists of over 10,500 unique titles, with multiple copies and/or class sets of many of these, bringing the overall total to over 45,000 items. Over 600 titles are available for simultaneous use, meaning they are always available to borrow without wait lists or holds. New titles are being added to the collections on an ongoing basis. To date, over 100,000 individual students and 9,000 staff from over 220 schools have been set up with library membership. Borrowing levels are increasing year on year with over 84,700 items borrowed from the library in 2021-2022 – a 47% increase on the previous year.
As part of the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015), it was agreed to carry out a review of the JCSP and consider the extent to which the needs of students undertaking the JCSP are met through the Junior Cycle. The work of the review group was paused as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated necessary shift in work priorities and work is now ongoing to recommence the review.
Departmental Legal Cases
Ceisteanna (144)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of legal cases taken against her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; and the costs associated with same in each of those years. [45393/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is not all readily available and is being collated by officials in my Department. A response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (145)
Ged Nash
Ceist:145. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when an application for a change in the nature of the school transport provision will be made for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45448/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the Scheme and is currently availing of a dedicated school transport service.
School Transport Section of my Department is currently liaising with Bus Éireann with regard to the possible re-organising of the service for the child referred to by the Deputy and will liaise directly with the family in this regard.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (146)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:146. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 10 October 2023, the number of State-owned/Bus Éireann-owned buses in the school transport fleet for the 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 school term, in tabular form. [45493/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/23 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
As mentioned in question number 191 of 10 October 2023, the school transport fleet is made up of both contractors and Bus Éireann vehicles. Bus Éireann has provided the following information in relation to average fleet for the years requested by the Deputy. Bus Éireann school transport scheme benefits from the availability of cascaded vehicles from the wider Bus Éireann PSO fleet for use on direct provision services, due to the extended operating life of vehicles used on school transport services. The 2023/2024 fleet is estimated as any additional fleet is assumed will cascade in to the school transport fleet at the end of 2023, and will be reflected in the 2024/2025 school transport fleet.
|
School Year |
Average Fleet |
|
2021/22 |
324 |
|
2022/23 |
310 |
|
2023/24(Est) |
282 |
Budget 2024
Ceisteanna (147)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:147. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what funding her Department will allocate to the National Educational Psychological Service as part of Budget 2024. [45498/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special schools.
The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:
• Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
• A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
• A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and
• Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.
The final budget figure will be available after the Revised Estimate process. However, there has been no reduction to the NEPS overall funding allocation from 2023 to 2024. In addition to the NEPS budget I was also pleased to announce that my Department has secured additional funding in Budget 2024 to continue the counselling in primary school pilot for an additional year, until June 2025.