Written Answers Nos. 356-368
356. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department’s expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming, and general cosmetic expenses, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [36992/25]
View answerI am advised that a review of my Department's records from January 2015 to June 2025 indicates that there has been no expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming, or general cosmetic expenses during this period.
357. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department’s expenditure on beauticians, make-up artists or hairdressing professionals, stylists or personal shoppers, specifying if such expenditure was on a contract or retainer fee basis, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [37012/25]
View answerI am advised that a review of my Department's records from January 2015 to June 2025 indicates that there has been no expenditure on beauticians, make-up artists or hairdressing professionals, stylists or personal shoppers during this period.
358. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his expenditure on advertising detailing the objective, duration, media platforms, advertising agency or agencies, and cost of each advertising campaign in each of the years 2015 to 2025. [37030/25]
View answerI have set out below advertising expenditure by my Department, 2015 – 2025 to date. My Department does not record the information in the format that you have requested. However, should you require further details I will endeavour to provide it to you.
Advertising is conducted to support the work of my Department and develop public awareness across a broad range of our activities. In the period 2015 – 2025, advertising was conducted in support of nine regional Building Better Business events, the Increased Cost of Business scheme, National Minimum Wage, Public Consultations, the Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process, Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene, Brexit information campaign, advertising in Iris Oifigiuil, business supports, COVID campaigns relating to supports and return to work protocols, remote working, Action Plan for Jobs and the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund.
Information regarding expenditure on advertising for the agencies and public bodies under my Department’s remit is not included as that is an operational matter for those agencies, and I do not have any direct function in these matters.
Total Advertising Spend
|
Year |
Traditional Advertising Costs € |
Online Advertising Costs € |
Total € |
|
2015 |
|
|
532,961 |
|
2016 |
|
|
113,035 |
|
2017 |
|
|
285,859 |
|
2018 |
|
|
60,380 |
|
2019 |
170,011 |
10,644 |
180,655 |
|
2020 |
38,889 |
19,963 |
58,852 |
|
2021 |
318,793 |
48,812 |
367,605 |
|
2022 |
74,630 |
148,325 |
222,955 |
|
2023 |
134,164.92 |
90,853.34 |
225,018 |
|
2024 |
79,409 |
10,379 |
89,788 |
|
2025 (to date) |
0 |
4,556 |
4,556 |
359. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training for example minister, secretary general, principal officer and so on. [37047/25]
View answerMy Department is a client of OneLearning, the Learning and Development Centre for the Civil Service and regularly draws down training services from OneLearning. Where specific training is not available, my Department will source training from external providers to ensure business needs are met. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to media training expenditure specifically is outlined in the table below:
|
YEAR |
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
PARTICIPANT GRADE |
TRAINING COURSE |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
|
|
2016 |
0 |
|
|
|
2017 |
0 |
|
|
|
2018 |
1 |
Executive Officer |
Dealing with the Media |
|
2019 |
1 |
Executive Officer |
Dealing with the Media |
|
2020 |
0 |
|
|
|
2021 |
0 |
|
|
|
2022 |
0 |
|
|
|
2023 |
1 |
Assistant Secretary |
Media Skills |
|
2024 |
0 |
|
|
|
2025 |
0 |
|
|
Total expenditure: €950
360. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37065/25]
View answerThe media consultancy services providers engaged by my Department and Offices of my Department, and the details of the services supplied and expenditure on each from 2015 to 2018 are set out below. Information regarding expenditure on media consultancy for the agencies and public bodies under my Department’s remit is not included as that is an operational matter for those agencies, and I do not have any direct function in these matters.
My Department has not incurred media consultancy service costs from 2019 to date.
|
Year |
Name of Public Services Provider |
Details of Services Supplied |
|
2015 |
Barberry Ltd |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content, and production of reports & brochures). |
|
2016 |
Barberry Ltd
Fuzion Communications |
To provide the Workplace Relations Commission with Communication Services (including PR; Media Monitoring advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures.
Provision of Communications services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
|
2017 |
Drury Porter Novelli
Fuzion Communications
Fuzion Communications |
To provide PR and event support for information campaigns; encouraging and informing companies on how to prepare their business for Brexit
Provision of a range of Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission
Development of Communications Strategy for the Workplace Relations Commission to enhance activity impact and its roll out in 2017 |
361. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the initiatives currently undertaken or planned by his Department and agencies under his remit to encourage more businesses to adapt faster, more reliable fibre to the premise broadband over slower, outdated copper broadband; if he is concerned by Comreg data which indicates that only 10% of all business broadband connections currently are fibre to the premises connections; if his Department has undertaken any research on the impact of continuing to use outdated copper broadband on business productivity and efficiency and on the adaptation of digital technologies such as AI; the way in which his Department intends to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37078/25]
View answerMy colleague Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport is better suited to provide a response. Responsibility for the Digital Connectivity Strategy, including the National Broadband Plan, which oversees the rollout of fibre broadband across the country is under the remit of Minister O'Donovan's Department.
For the information of the Deputy, Minister O’Donovan provided a response to a parliamentary question relating to promoting and successfully implementing the Copper Switch Off on 10 June 2025. PQ 30040/25 refers. I understand the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport continues to engage with both ComReg, through a bilateral working group on Copper Switch Off, and Eir to keep apprised of any developments in this area.
The 2025 Programme for Government sets out an overall commitment to harnessing the digital and AI revolution to deliver effective and modern public services and to grow the economy. Digital Infrastructure commitments include continuing to deliver broadband and 5G, expansion of the Connected Hubs network, and commitments on Data Centres and data interconnections, as well as strengthening cyber security.
362. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will make a specific targeted provision for a scheme to support small businesses in providing baby changing facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37129/25]
View answerMy Department has not yet given consideration to the matter raised by the Deputy. The matter of such facilities may be pertinent to building regulations which are generally within the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
However, for a comprehensive overview of existing supports available to businesses, I would encourage any business owner to visit the National Enterprise Hub (NEH). The NEH is available to those who wish to start their own business, or indeed for those who already own a business. The NEH is an all-of-government service, staffed by expertly trained advisors and is focused on helping businesses access a range of government supports. The hub brings together information and resources on over 250 government supports from 29 different Departments and State Agencies.
363. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of purchase orders processed by his Department in 2023 that were not included in the published reports of purchase orders over €20,000; the number of purchase orders excluded due to their value falling below the €20,000 threshold, and the total combined value of those purchase orders; and the number of purchase orders excluded because they related to transactions other than goods or services (for example, grants-in-aid, reimbursements), in line with reporting conventions. [37230/25]
View answerGiven the volume of data that needs to be considered I am advised it is not possible to provide the full information to the Deputy within the timeframe provided. I will arrange for the provision of the requested material to be provided to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity over the coming days.
364. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the full enactment of the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024, specifically in relation to audit exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37340/25]
View answerThe Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024 was signed into law on 12th November 2024, with 64 of the 90 sections of the Act being commenced on 3rd December 2024.
Section 22 of the Act provides for a change to the current audit exemption regime, whereby small and micro sized companies will not, in future, automatically lose the privilege of audit exemption on a first occasion, in a five year period, of late filing of an annual return with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). This will ease the burden on small and micro sized companies and is considered appropriate, bearing in mind the importance of timely filing of annual returns with the CRO and having a proportionate penalty regime for late filing.
The remaining provisions not yet commenced require development work on the CRO online filing system. Work to facilitate changes to the audit exemption regime was prioritised and is now complete and I expect that this section will be commenced in the coming weeks. The other provisions will be commenced later in 2025 as soon as the related preparatory work has been completed.
365. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans to improve AI literacy on a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37376/25]
View answerA key part of the 2024 Refresh of the National AI Strategy is a commitment to ensuring people better understand the benefits, risks, safeguards, rights, and responsibilities in relation to the use of AI systems. This focus on AI literacy is central to ensuring that our society is empowered to engage with AI technologies in an informed and confident manner.
Under the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, providers and deployers of AI systems (e.g. companies and public bodies) must ensure that their employees, contractors and other relevant individuals have a sufficient level of AI literacy.
To this end, my Department has worked with CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for AI to develop an online AI literacy training course “AI for You: Introduction to AI and the EU AI Act”. This course is available free of cost to all citizens and enterprises and is designed to introduce the fundamentals of AI in an accessible way.
The AI Advisory Council was established in 2024 with a specific focus on building public trust in AI. Experts from the council have participated in hundreds of public engagements to promote understanding and confidence in trustworthy AI.
AI literacy is also an integral component of Ireland’s literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy 2024-2033 which aims to promote the development of essential literacy skills for every citizen from birth to young adulthood.
The embedding of digital skills, including AI, in teaching and learning at school level will help to ensure that Ireland has a future oriented workforce and population with the skills to drive the development, deployment and use of AI to increase productivity and benefit society. This is reflected in the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 which aims to ensure that all learners gain the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world. The Department of Education is currently finalising guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning.
For workers across multiple sectors, there is a wide range of AI related upskilling and reskilling initiatives via Skillnet Ireland, and the Springboard+ programme.
Finally, Adapt, the Research Ireland Centre at Dublin City University, in partnership with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), has secured national funding to lead Ireland’s first dedicated AI literacy campaign for older adults. The Age-Friendly AI initiative will engage more than 60,000 older people across Ireland in order to empower them to navigate the challenges and opportunities of AI, and to understand concepts related to the technology.
We are committed to continue to work across government, education, and industry to build a digitally confident and AI-literate society.
366. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the protections that will be in place for family home bed and breakfasts as part of the short-term letting legislation currently being considered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37430/25]
View answerOn 15 April, Government approved the General Scheme for the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. The General Scheme was submitted to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on 16 April for drafting and this work is currently underway. It is expected that the STLT Bill will go through the full legislative process in the Oireachtas later this year.
This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of new regulatory controls for the Short Term Letting (STL) sector in Ireland, including the introduction of a STL register which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026, ensuring compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation, which was adopted on 11 April 2024. The decision to introduce a STL register has been broadly welcomed by the tourism sector.
The new STL register will be available online and will provide a full picture of the stock of registered tourist accommodation across the state. STL hosts (including self-catering and B&Bs) offering accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland, confirm their compliance with planning requirements and hold a valid registration number that must be displayed when advertising their STL property on online platforms.
The establishment of the register will assist local authorities with the enforcement of planning requirements for Short Term Lets.
Fáilte Ireland has estimated that, based on data for April 2025 which has been screen scraped from publicly available STL listings across four major booking platforms, there are in the region of 33,000 STL properties in the State currently being advertised online and up to approximately 64% of these properties are advertised as “entire” houses and apartments. In the absence of a register there is no way of knowing whether these are principal private residences or otherwise. The research also points to an ongoing annual 10% increase in the size of the STL sector, year on year. It is important that in such a fast-growing area, we have data on where this growth is happening.
The new Housing policy, proposed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D., and approved by Government on 15 April is to generally preclude new planning permissions for STLs in cities and towns with a Census population in excess of 10,000 persons and to enable local authorities have discretion to develop policies for other locations having regard to relevant local criteria to be set out in the planning guidance. Minister Browne will set out the planning guidance for STLs in a National Planning Statement on short term letting and will progress any necessary legislative changes to implement the new Planning requirements. The National Planning Statement will be published in advance of the final enactment of the STLT Bill to provide clarity for the tourism sector.
At present, all STL properties with the exception of your principal private residence (PPR) based in rent pressure zones are required to have planning permission. If you rent out a room in your PPR, planning permission is generally not required, however if you rent out the entire PPR property for more than 90 days planning permission is necessary.
Tourism is of significant importance to the Irish economy, providing 227,000 jobs and €6 billion income to our economy in 2024. Bed and breakfasts have played a key role in welcoming visitors from around the world to Ireland for more than 50 years and this accommodation type is a unique part of the Irish tourism offering and an important part of the overall tourism accommodation ecosystem.
I am aware of the genuine concerns regarding the impacts on rural tourism and local economies, and on traditional bed and breakfasts specifically, of removing a significant cohort of properties from the STL market. However, meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critically important consideration and Government must use every lever available to assist in providing homes for our people, including returning properties to the long-term residential market.
My Department will consider the full implications for the Tourism sector as we await the publication of the National Planning Statement for STL by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
367. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware of the success of a business (details supplied), of the number of employees working in the facility and the number of visitors the facility attracts on an annual basis; the supports his Department is providing to the business to ensure its continued success; if he is aware of the limitations of the current retail planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37453/25]
View answerI am aware that, since opening, the business referred to has expanded to become a substantial retail employer, attracting a significant number of visitors each year. It also participates in some of Tourism Ireland’s overseas marketing events and familiarisation visits for international media and tour operators and also engages with Fáilte Ireland across a range of promotion, training and sales initiatives.
A broad range of supports for the retail sector, including training programmes and funding, to help retailers adapt to new challenges and opportunities in retail can be found on the National Enterprise Hub. The National Enterprise Hub is an all-of-government service, staffed by expertly trained advisors and is focused on helping businesses access a range of government supports. The Hub brings together information and resources on over 250 government supports from 29 different Departments and State Agencies.
The Retail Planning Guidelines fall under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The guidelines recognise that the retail sector is a key component of the national economy and aim to ensure that the planning system continues to play its role in supporting competitiveness and choice in the sector, while also promoting the vitality and viability of city and town centres.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has advised that it will undertake a programme to review existing Guidelines, including the Retail Planning Guidelines, with the intention of replacing them with National Planning Statements. The conversion of existing Guidelines to National Planning Statements will be sequenced over time following commencement of the relevant chapters of the Planning and Development Act 2024. Having regard to the evolving nature of the retail industry and broader changes that are impacting on the role of city and town centres in recent years, it is envisaged that a review of the Retail Planning Guidelines will be included in the review programme. My officials are keeping in regular contact with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this matter.
368. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason section 22 of the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024 has not been commenced. [37578/25]
View answerSection 22 of the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024 provides for a change to the current audit exemption regime, whereby small and micro sized companies will not, in future, automatically lose the privilege of audit exemption on a first occasion, in a five year period, of late filing of an annual return with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). This will ease the burden on small and micro sized companies and is considered appropriate, bearing in mind the importance of timely filing of annual returns with the CRO and having a proportionate penalty regime for late filing.
CRO IT development work was required to facilitate the amended audit exemption regime. This work is now complete and I expect that this section will be commenced in the coming weeks.
