Written Answers Nos. 429-449
429. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports his Department is currently providing or willing to provide in the future to support small family-run self-catering businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14842/26]
View answerTourism is a sector where small businesses play a central role. With over 46,000 tourism-related enterprises, the sector supports and sustains local economies in every region. In early December, I launched Ireland’s new National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which sets a clear strategic direction for the sector to 2030.
This Policy Statement focuses on building competitiveness through sustainability and digital transformation, while providing strong support for SMEs and reinforcing tourism’s role in driving balanced regional development. Delivering on these ambitions requires action at regional level. That is why balanced regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation are key policy priorities for this Government.
My Department and its agencies contribute to this through nine Regional Enterprise Plans, which identify growth opportunities and strengthen regional enterprise ecosystems. The current plans run to the end of this year, and the Programme for Government commits to developing and resourcing new plans following full consultation in each region.
In 2026, the Department’s priorities for the SME sector will be focused on implementing key actions under the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, particularly those aimed at creating and scaling more SMEs and reducing the regulatory and administrative burdens on small businesses. This will include progressing measures to strengthen the start-up and scaling ecosystem, improving access to scaling finance for indigenous firms, and continuing to simplify how SMEs engage with Government through more streamlined supports and processes. These actions are intended to support productivity growth, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen the resilience of Irish SMEs in the context of ongoing cost pressures and international uncertainty.
This Government recognises the central importance of tourism to Ireland’s economy and to the vitality of communities across the country. A strong, sustainable and regionally balanced accommodation base is fundamental to that success. Accommodation not only underpins the visitor experience and perceptions of value for money, but also strengthens the competitiveness of the wider tourism ecosystem and enables businesses of all sizes to grow and thrive.
Fáilte Ireland maintains accommodation registers under the Tourist Traffic Acts and through the National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF). Currently, 225,577 tourism bedplaces are recorded across these registers, reflecting the scale of the industry and providing a solid platform for strategic development. The self-catering sector are encouraged to and participate in the NQAF.
This Summer, a statutory register for all Short-Term Letting (STL) accommodation will be introduced. This measure will significantly enhance transparency and visibility across the full accommodation spectrum, ensuring a more complete and robust overview of tourism accommodation in Ireland to inform tourism policy and investment decisions.
In parallel, Fáilte Ireland has developed a Tourism Accommodation Capacity and Pipeline Monitor. This strategic tool tracks existing capacity and monitors developments as they progress through planning, construction and opening phases. It enables early identification of supply constraints, provides insights into regional and sectoral trends, and supports evidence based decision making by policymakers and industry stakeholders.
The forthcoming Tourism Accommodation Strategy, a key commitment under A New Era for Irish Tourism, will establish a clear framework to strengthen, diversify and expand Ireland’s accommodation offering. Particular emphasis will be placed on unlocking development in areas with significant untapped tourism potential, supporting balanced regional growth and delivering sustainable, year-round economic benefits nationwide.
This will ensure that Ireland’s tourism infrastructure evolves in line with changing consumer preferences and global travel trends, safeguarding the resilience and competitiveness of the sector into the future.
The National Enterprise Hub is the official, government-funded national business support service for companies across all sectors. Its trained advisors provide guidance and connect businesses with relevant funding opportunities and grants available through various Government departments and agencies for which they may be eligible.
As the National Tourism Development Agency, Fáilte Ireland, offers an extensive range of capability building supports for SME's businesses, designed to support businesses manage costs and enhance their competitiveness. These supports are accessible from the LearniFI platform (both LearniFI live and LearniFI on demand). Fáilte Ireland also have a range of 'on demand' webinar recordings on areas such as 'managing insurance costs' which are accessible on their LearniFI platform, once you register for LearniFI.
In addition, all supports provided by Fáilte Ireland are available through its Business Support Hub.
A range of resources is available specifically for self-catering businesses, including:
• Self-Catering Business Supports
• Access Welcome Guide Checklist
• Business Planning for B&Bs, Hostels, Self-Catering, Caravan and Camping
• Financial Planning for B&Bs, Hostels, Self-Catering, Caravan and Camping
430. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with regard to the 2025 report by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission highlighting significant information gaps for homebuyers, if he has considered using his powers under section 50 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to prescribe the consumer information that must accompany the sale of real property to consumers by traders; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13990/26]
View answerThe primary consumer protections relevant to homebuyers are found in the general prohibitions on misleading and unfair commercial practices under Part 3 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007, which prohibit traders from providing false or misleading information, omitting material information, or engaging in practices likely to mislead consumers. These provisions apply in full to any trader engaged in the marketing or sale of residential property, including developers and other commercial sellers.
I recognise the importance of ensuring that consumers purchasing homes have access to clear, accurate and comprehensive information to support what is, for most households, the single largest financial transaction they will undertake. The Programme for Government committed the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to creating a home-buyer's guide, and the CCPC has this guide available on its website.
The CCPC recently commissioned a report which highlighted knowledge gaps, financial pressures and delays in conveyancing as ongoing issues for homebuyers and sellers in Ireland and my Department is examining the CCPC’s recommendations.
431. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment total value of dual-use exports to Israel from 2017 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13996/26]
View answerAs the National Competent authority for export controls, my responsibilities centre around the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. These controls are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items.
The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. These controls are designed to manage risk, uphold international peace and security, and ensure Ireland’s compliance with its international obligations.
The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software (networking, data storage, cybersecurity etc). They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.
The total maximum value of individual dual use licences issued for exports to Israel from 2017 to 2025 is €178.9m.
All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and National Regulations and with Ireland’s international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually, considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end-user, and the intended end-use. A range of complex factors is considered in every application, including national security, regional stability, and human rights concerns.
There is extensive engagement between my officials and exporters should any questions or concerns arise with any application for any destination, including Israel. If, after engagement, there are any outstanding concerns over the stated end use, that the goods being exported will not be used for the end use or by the specified end user as detailed in the application or if the exporter does not provide enough information on the intended end-use for my officials to make an informed decision, the application for a licence is denied.
432. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of dual-use export licenses granted to Israel from 2017 to 2025, detailing the type of product exported, the type of end user academic, medical, military and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13997/26]
View answerAs the National Competent authority for export controls, my responsibilities centre around the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. These controls are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items.
The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. These controls are designed to manage risk, uphold international peace and security, and ensure Ireland’s compliance with its international obligations.
The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software (networking, data storage, cybersecurity etc). They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.
All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and National Regulations and with Ireland’s international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually, considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end-user, and the intended end-use. A range of complex factors is considered in every application, including national security, regional stability, and human rights concerns.
There is extensive engagement between my officials and exporters should any questions or concerns arise with any application for any destination, including Israel. If, after engagement, there are any outstanding concerns over the stated end use, that the goods being exported will not be used for the end use or by the specified end user as detailed in the application or if the exporter does not provide enough information on the intended end-use for my officials to make an informed decision, the application for a licence is denied.
The following table shows the number of individual dual-use export licence applications, in respect of end-users in Israel, granted by my Department in years 2017 to 2025, including some detail of the application and broad sector of end user. My Department has a duty to protect the commercial confidentiality and security of exporters who apply for export control authorisations, including their staff and facilities. This is a fundamental principle of how export controls are managed responsibly and in line with international best practice. Therefore, in order to avoid possible identification of exporters, the following table reports the category of the product, as per Annex I of Regulation 2021/821, rather than specific product details, and a broad category of end user.
In applying export controls in a robust and transparent way, my Department ensures that legitimate business transactions by reputable Irish traders are not damaged in any way while also ensuring that exports of controlled goods are thoroughly risk assessed in the context of ongoing conflicts, diversion of goods and humanitarian considerations.
Dual Use export applications – approved to Israel 2017 – 2025
|
Year |
Category |
Number of approved applications |
End user sector |
|
2017 |
Category 2 - materials processing |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 3 - electronics |
3 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 - telecommunications and information security |
13 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Category 7- Navigation and avionics |
1 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry |
|
|
Total 2017 |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2018 |
Category 2 - materials processing |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 3 - electronics |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 - telecommunications and information security |
22 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Category 7- Navigation and avionics |
1 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry |
|
|
Total 2018 |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 |
Category 2 - materials processing |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 3 - electronics |
1 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry |
|
|
Category 5 - telecommunications and information security |
13 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State |
|
|
Category 7- Navigation and avionics |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2019 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Category 2 - materials processing |
3 |
Private Industry Government/State |
|
|
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
23 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2020 |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
Category 1 – special materials and related equipment |
1* |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 2 - materials processing |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 3 - electronics |
2* |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
21 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Category 6 - sensors and lasers |
1* |
Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2021 |
|
24 * One licence covered 3 categories |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
Category 2 - materials processing |
3 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 - telecommunications and information security |
28 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2022 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023 |
Category 0 - nuclear materials, facilities and equipment |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 2 - materials processing |
4 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 - telecommunications and information security |
27 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2023 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
Category 0 - nuclear materials, facilities and equipment |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 2 - materials processing |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
24 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2024 |
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025 |
Category 0 - nuclear materials, facilities and equipment |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 2 - materials processing |
2 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 3 - electronics |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
11 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry Government/State Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2025 |
15 |
|
433. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of dual-use export licenses to Israel which were denied from 2017 to 2025, detailing the reason for denial, type of product requested for export, the type of end user academic, medical, military and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13998/26]
View answerAs the National Competent authority for export controls, my responsibilities centre around the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. These controls are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items.
The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. These controls are designed to manage risk, uphold international peace and security, and ensure Ireland’s compliance with its international obligations.
The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software (networking, data storage, cybersecurity etc). They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.
All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and National Regulations and with Ireland’s international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually, considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end-user, and the intended end-use. A range of complex factors is considered in every application, including national security, regional stability, and human rights concerns.
There is extensive engagement between my officials and exporters should any questions or concerns arise with any application for any destination, including Israel. If, after engagement, there are any outstanding concerns over the stated end use, that the goods being exported will not be used for the end use or by the specified end user as detailed in the application or if the exporter does not provide enough information on the intended end-use for my officials to make an informed decision, the application for a licence is denied.
The following table shows the number of individual dual-use export licence applications, in respect of end-users in Israel, denied by my Department in years 2017 to 2025, including some detail of the application and broad sector of end user. My Department has a duty to protect the commercial confidentiality and security of exporters who apply for export control authorisations, including their staff and facilities. This is a fundamental principle of how export controls are managed responsibly and in line with international best practice. Therefore, in order to avoid possible identification of exporters, the following table reports the category the product, as per Annex I of Regulation 2021/821, rather than specific product details, and a broad category of end user.
Ireland’s decisions are guided by the EU Common Position (2008/944/CFSP) and its eight criteria, which include respect for human rights, international obligations, and regional stability. A number of the denials listed were denied under criteria 2 (human rights considerations), criteria 4 (regional stability) and criteria 7 (risk of diversion to another end user/end use).
Under Article 14 of Regulation 2021/821, if the items for export are physically located in another Member State, my Department must consult with that Member State. Should that Member State refuse permission for the export to take place from their territory, my Department are obligated to deny the application. There is no requirement for the Member State to provide a reason for such denial. Four of the denials listed were denied as a result of a negative consultation under Article 14.
In applying export controls in a robust and transparent way, my Department ensures that legitimate business transactions by reputable Irish traders are not damaged in any way while also ensuring that exports of controlled goods are thoroughly risk assessed in the context of ongoing conflicts, diversion of goods and humanitarian considerations.
Individual dual use export licence applications – denials to Israel 2017 – 2025
|
Year |
Category |
Number of denied applications |
End user sector |
|
2017 |
NIL |
NIL |
NIL |
|
2018 |
NIL |
NIL |
NIL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 |
Category 5 (telecommunications and information security) |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2019 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Category 7 Navigation and avionics |
1 |
Private Industry |
|
|
Total 2020 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
NIL |
NIL |
NIL |
|
2022 |
NIL |
NIL |
NIL |
|
2023 |
NIL |
NIL |
NIL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
4 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry |
|
|
Total 2024 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025 |
Category 5 Telecommunications and information security |
2 |
Defence/Aerospace Industry |
|
|
Total 2025 |
2 |
|
434. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs in IDA-supported companies in each county, from 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14006/26]
View answerThe employment and economic impact of IDA client-companies for the Irish economy and society remain at record levels. IDA Ireland had over 1,880 client companies within its portfolio employing over 312,400 people at the end of 2025 which is up by 1.5% on 2024 figures and holds the share of total national employment at 11%. Additionally, my Department estimates that for every ten jobs generated by FDI directly, another eight are created in the wider economy.
FDI has a significant impact in realising balanced regional growth, and investments by IDA Ireland client-companies consistently generate highly skilled jobs nationwide, evidenced by the number of people directly employed in IDA client-companies across the country. In this regard, IDA Ireland continues its strong commitment to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its 2025–2029 strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation. This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of the 1,000 planned investments over the lifetime of the strategy and the IDA has set ambitious targets for every region in Ireland. Moreover, the overarching goal is to create 75,000 new jobs nationwide and generate a projected €250 billion in economic impact.
Importantly, a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be a key differentiator in winning FDI projects and IDA’s Regional Property Programme ensures the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of the IDA itself as well as Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. In this regard, IDA’s Regional Property Programme 2025 - 2029 will consist of 23 projects across 21 locations in 8 regions and primarily manufacturing buildings. IDA will also continue acquiring land and providing infrastructure to support clients across the portfolio of existing business & technology parks and strategic sites nationally, including in the context of developing a small number of Next Generation Sites.
IDA’s strategy focuses on partnering with existing clients to increase the competitiveness of their Irish operations through investment in RDI, digitalisation, talent development and sustainability, providing the foundation on which IDA clients can capture new growth opportunities, alongside an ongoing focus on attracting new investment to Ireland aligned with FDI growth drivers including AI & digital, semiconductors, sustainability and health.
IDA Ireland will continue to target investments from across the globe through its global network of offices, supported by a focus by Government on our competitiveness challenges which are being prioritised through major NDP investments, the Action Plan on Competitiveness and the recently published Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan.
As requested by the Deputy, the number of IDA client-companies and IDA-supported jobs for each county in 2024 and 2025 is shown below:
|
IDA Client employment by County |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Cavan |
1,629 |
1,557 |
|
Donegal |
5,191 |
5,687 |
|
Leitrim |
1,204 |
1,196 |
|
Monaghan |
258 |
265 |
|
Sligo |
2,884 |
2,860 |
|
Dublin |
139,984 |
142,501 |
|
Kildare |
11,009 |
10,258 |
|
Louth |
4,125 |
4,048 |
|
Meath |
2,915 |
3,151 |
|
Wicklow |
2,755 |
2,827 |
|
Clare |
6,146 |
6,136 |
|
Limerick |
16,251 |
16,35 |
|
Tipperary |
5,516 |
5,630 |
|
Laois |
145 |
156 |
|
Longford |
1,787 |
1,572 |
|
Offaly |
1,437 |
1,299 |
|
Westmeath |
4,552 |
4,474 |
|
Carlow |
1,414 |
1,428 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,714 |
2,172 |
|
Waterford |
9,019 |
9,391 |
|
Wexford |
3,626 |
3,404 |
|
Cork |
50,369 |
51,425 |
|
Kerry |
1,989 |
2,110 |
|
Galway |
24,741 |
2,430 |
|
Mayo |
5,422 |
5,507 |
|
Roscommon |
1,660 |
1,625 |
|
Total |
307,742 |
312,468 |
435. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of the five IDA visits to Laois in 2025 that were virtual, and the number that were physical; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14007/26]
View answerRegional development is a key focus of our Programme for Government and is central to the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently". This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment projects (FDI) outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of the 1,000 investments targeted over that period.
IDA Ireland utilises a range of strategies to maximise dispersal of FDI nationally. IDA’s regional focus leverages the wider demographic catchment of a region, the track record of existing client companies already located in the region, the presence of third level universities to provide a skilled talent pipeline for companies investing in the region, and the availability of property and developed infrastructure assets. IDA’s regional development strategy and regional investment targets are aligned with Government policy including Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework.
As the Deputy is aware, the availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions in the regions from both new and existing clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. Through its Regional Property Programme IDA aims to provide agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions providing certainty to clients in advance of demand.
There were six visits to County Laois by the end of 2025, 4 were 'in person' IDA-facilitated visits and 2 were E-visits. It should also be noted that site visits not necessarily be a true measure of the overall level of FDI activity in a region or county but are only one measure of a company’s interest in a particular location and naturally, year-on-year, the number of visits to any location will vary.
IDA Ireland continues to collaborate closely with national and local stakeholders to foster the conditions necessary for enterprise, innovation, and job creation in the region. The IDA’s ongoing focus is to build on the strengths of the Midlands, with particular emphasis on high-value manufacturing, services, and research and development opportunities.
I must also stress that, ultimately, individual investors decide which counties to visit, and where to locate their investments.
436. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he intends to publish the National Life Sciences Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14010/26]
View answerThe Life Sciences sector is one of the strongest drivers of our economy, fuelling both growth and exports. It combines a thriving indigenous enterprise base with some of the world's largest multinational companies, underpinned by a continually advancing world-class research ecosystem. Today, the sector employs over 100,000 people across the country and accounts for more than €100 billion in exports.
The Programme for Government, has committed to the development of a National Life Sciences Strategy to ensure this important sector remains competitive, as well as adopting a coherent and ambitious approach to future opportunities.
To ensure that this Strategy is evidence-based, ambitious and responsive to emerging opportunities, it is being developed through extensive engagement with key stakeholders across the Life Sciences ecosystem. This includes a Public Consultation which closed in December, with over 70 submissions being received from right across the life sciences ecosystem, which are currently being analysed.
My officials are also hosting a series of Consultative Forums to enable a more in-depth engagement with key stakeholders to examine issues such as research & innovation, talent & skills, sustainability, healthcare & patient access and regulatory excellence.
Developments at EU level, including relevant EU legislation that is currently being progressed this year will also inform the scope and content of the Strategy.
The development of this national Strategy is a critical undertaking - one that warrants careful planning and sufficient time to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. The Strategy must deliver an evidence-informed and forward-looking set of actions that not only consolidates Ireland’s position as a global leader in the sector, but also creates new pathways for innovation, drives sustainable economic growth, strengthens the workforce, and improves health outcomes for all.
With this in mind, I expect the National Life Sciences Strategy to be published in the second half of this year.
437. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of buildings leased by his Department, or bodies or agencies under its aegis, during 2025; the total cumulative sum paid under these leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14018/26]
View answerAll buildings occupied by my Department and the Offices under its aegis are either owned or leased on its behalf by the Office of Public Works, therefore there was no expenditure by my Department in relation to leases in 2025.
I have asked the Agencies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy within 10 working days of this reply.
438. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide a breakdown of funding provided to Local Enterprise Office’s in Cork city and county over the past three years; the number of grants awarded and jobs supported or created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14062/26]
View answerThe three Local Enterprise Offices in Cork city and county play an extremely important role, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the city and county.
My Department provides funding to the Local Enterprise Offices in Cork and across Ireland. LEO funding is allocated to each of the 31 Local Authorities based on a distribution model agreed in the Service Level Agreements in place between Enterprise Ireland and the 31 Local Authorities.
This capital funding is used to support enterprise development through direct grant aid, productivity supports, and capability training and development interventions.
The 2025 Annual Employment Survey of LEO clients once again shows positive job creation across most of the Local Enterprise Offices including those based in Cork, where 3,200 jobs were supported by 620 small businesses, showing a net gain of 233 jobs.
The figures accounted for in the annual employment survey only relate to LEO clients that have received direct financial grant assistance from the LEO and does not include the number of small businesses and associated jobs that have received training, mentoring or other supports such as the Grow Digital Voucher, Green for Business, Lean for Business, Digital for Business and Energy Efficiency Grants (EEG).
Funding provided to Cork LEOs: 2023 - 2025
|
Funding provided |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Non-Pay |
1,269,531 |
1,259,150 |
1,278,219 |
|
Capital |
3,610,351 |
4,390,525 |
5,511,965 |
Grant Support provided (Feasibility, Priming, Business Expansion, Market Explorer Grant) by Cork LEOs:
|
Measure 1 Grant supports |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
No Of Projects Approved |
116 |
157 |
137* |
|
No of Clients Approved |
97 |
128 |
120* |
|
Approved Amount |
€2,325,927 |
€1,740,808 |
€3,112,612* |
|
No. of Projects Paid |
139 |
160 |
161* |
|
No of Clients Paid |
115 |
131 |
132* |
|
Amount Paid |
€1,505,157 |
€1,611,104 |
€2,121,720* |
Note: The Local Enterprise Offices have yet to finalise the results for 2025 an as such these represent preliminary figures
Employment figures for Cork LEOs:
|
Annual Employment results |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
No. of Clients |
630 |
618 |
620 |
|
Jobs supported |
3268 |
3076 |
3200 |
|
Jobs Gains |
714 |
619 |
615 |
|
Net Jobs |
244 |
119 |
233 |
439. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he has engaged with stakeholders regarding the redevelopment of the former sugar beet factory lands at Newberry, Mallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14063/26]
View answerMy Department and the agencies under its remit have not had any engagement with stakeholders regarding the redevelopment of the lands in question.
440. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an exhaustive list of flood related compensation, paid from his Department's vote allocations over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14099/26]
View answerThe Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has administered the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme (EHFS) since 2018. The scheme is delivered by the Irish Red Cross and a table breaking down the funding by year is provided below.
|
Year |
Funding |
|
2019 |
€6,000 |
|
2020 |
€167,446 |
|
2021 |
€403,216 |
|
2022 |
€104,948 |
|
2023 |
€3,681,102 |
|
2024 |
€6,137,439 |
|
2025 |
€114,727 |
|
2026 (to date) |
€42,406 |
|
Total |
€10,657,284.00 |
It should be noted that the costs associated with a scheme may not necessarily be paid out in the same calendar year depending on when the flooding event occurred. The figures listed also include a fee to the Irish Red Cross for the administration of the Scheme and the cost of independent, professional building assessments that are done for second stage payments under the Scheme.
441. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the State, or any State-owned agencies, funded the building of a factory (details supplied); if so, the cost of the grant towards same. [14171/26]
View answerRegional development is a key focus of our Programme for Government and is central to the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently". This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment projects (FDI) outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of the 1,000 investments targeted over that period.
As the Deputy is aware, the availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions in the regions. Through its Regional Property Programme IDA aims to provide agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions providing certainty to clients of IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, in advance of demand. This includes collaboration with Local Authorities on advance planning permits and investment in infrastructure projects across the portfolio to meet evolving business needs. IDA is also focused on acquiring new landbanks and strategic sites to support future projects across all key sectors. This targeted planning ensures Ireland remains competitive and meets the changing needs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients in particular.
I can confirm, however, that the LIR chocolates facility located on the Navan Business and Technology Park was not constructed by IDA Ireland and IDA did not fund the building of the facility.
442. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount of investment by the State, or any State-owned agencies, in the IDA Park, Johnstown Navan; the average build cost of each unit; if these units are still under the ownership of the IDA; and if not, if the details of any sales be provided. [14172/26]
View answerIDA Ireland prioritises balanced regional development, aiming for 550 of its 1,000 new investments under its current strategy Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29 to be in regional areas. This targeted planning ensures Ireland remains competitive and meets the evolving needs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients.
A key component of the IDA’s strategy is the continued and ambitious focus on maximising regional investment opportunities for all regions including the Mid-East region in the years ahead, through the delivery of agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions providing certainty to IDA and Enterprise Ireland clients in advance of demand.
The IDA Navan Business and Technology Park is maintained as part of IDA Ireland’s property portfolio and is available to accommodate investment by IDA clients and clients of Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices. There is c. 23 hectares of available lands on the IDA Business Park to suit both manufacturing and international services clients, in a landscaped and serviced environment and the IDA continues to proactively market these available lands to suitable qualifying client companies. Further, IDA Ireland continues to work with stakeholders to ensure that a supportive ecosystem is in place to assist IDA in winning investments into the Mid East Region.
The actual buildings on the Navan Business and Technology Park are in the ownership of third parties with the majority held pursuant to 999-year leases. IDA and EI client companies operating on the Business Park include Utmost Services Ireland Limited, Welch Allyn, and Emeri Nutrition.
Capital investment by IDA Ireland in its Navan Business and Technology Park in Co. Meath, amounts to €3,989,460.87. In the past 20 years, no buildings have been constructed by IDA on the park.
443. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagements he has had with the tourism industry regarding the role of online booking platforms and the commission and fees they are charging affecting the profitability of small, local tourism businesses; whether his Department has considered a Government-backed booking platform for the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14299/26]
View answerMy Department maintains regular and ongoing engagement with tourism industry stakeholders and their representative bodies, as well as with the major online booking platforms operating in Ireland, particularly in the context of the EU Short-Term Rental (STR) Regulation and its forthcoming implementation on 20 May 2026.
Department officials and I meet stakeholders and their representative organisations on a continuous basis and participate in relevant events as part of this ongoing engagement.
The most recent group meeting with online booking platforms was in Dublin on 15 January while the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, is meeting the three biggest online booking platforms this week and last week individually (19, 20 and 24 February). These meetings focused on the technical implementation of the required systems to enable the exchange of data between Member States and platforms as this is a requirement of the STR Regulation.
The commission and fees charged by online booking platforms for the services they provide are a commercial matter, in which I, as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, or the Government or State, have no direct role. A Government-supported booking platform that could potentially limit competition and restrict market access would not be permissible under EU Single Market rules. However, the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) which came into effect from May 2023 introduced harmonised rules for platforms that act as ‘gatekeepers’ in the digital sector. The intent of the DMA is to improve competition, foster innovation and facilitate the scaling up of smaller platforms by preventing ‘gatekeepers’ from exploiting their dominant market position.
The DMA aims to ensure a higher degree of competition in European digital markets, by preventing large companies from abusing their market power, and allowing new players to enter the market. These obligations are designed to ensure new entrants can contest markets and challenge gatekeepers based on the merits of their products and services. The DMA aims to put an end to price parity clauses, which force businesses to offer their best deals only on gatekeepers' platforms.
This means businesses should be able to offer better prices and conditions to customers on their own websites or other platforms, while still being able to sell on the gatekeepers' platforms. In practice this means self-catering businesses, hotels, car rentals, and other travel channels can set their own prices and conditions on distribution channels other than on gatekeeper platforms, including their own website. This provides more choices and better deals for European SMEs and users.
Tourism remains a vital part of the Irish economy, supporting 227,000 jobs and generating €6 billion in 2024. In line with the Programme for Government, I was pleased to launch the Government's new National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, on 1 December 2025. This policy statement sets out the Government’s long-term approach to tourism development to 2031 and a clear framework to support a competitive, sustainable and regionally balanced tourism sector. The Policy Statement positions tourism firmly within the wider enterprise, trade and employment agenda, recognising its importance as a key indigenous industry and employer across the State. It sets out an ambitious but achievable vision to grow the economic contribution of tourism, strengthen regional development and ensure that the sector remains resilient, innovative and inclusive in the face of ongoing economic and global change.
One of the key commitments included in the policy is sustained support for tourism SMEs and a stronger emphasis on year-round tourism. The Policy further addresses long-standing challenges such as seasonality by prioritising the extension of tourism activity beyond the traditional summer peak. The period from October to May has been identified as the off-peak season, with investment focused on festivals, cultural and creative activities, business events and the development of the night-time economy to encourage year-round tourism and more sustainable employment in tourism-dependent communities.
This approach will also benefit tourism accommodation providers by helping to increase occupancy rates outside the peak season, improving revenue stability and supporting more sustainable, full-time employment within the sector.
444. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans for the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council; if it will be built into the governance structures of the National AI Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/26]
View answerThe AI Advisory Council was established in January 2024 for an initial two-year term to provide independent expert advice to Government on AI policy, with a specific focus on building public trust and promoting trustworthy, person-centred AI.
Since its establishment the Council has provided advice to my Department on a number of policy areas related to AI. In February 2025 the Council submitted its report, 'Ireland’s AI Advisory Council Recommendations – Helping to Shape Ireland’s AI Future’ to Government. The comprehensive report outlines key opportunities and strategic policy recommendations aimed at accelerating AI adoption in Ireland while safeguarding the nation’s economy, competitiveness, workforce and society.
I would like to particularly thank members of the AI Council for their quick work in response to AI generated non-consensual intimate imagery and child sex abuse material (CSAM). Several of their recommendations are now being advanced by my Department, including their recommendation to work with the other EU member states and encourage the amendment of Article 5 of the AI Act pursuant to the Article 112(1) mechanism, in order to prohibit AI practices which permit users to generate non-consensual intimate images and CSAM.
Council members have also participated in hundreds of public engagements helping to demystify AI technology.
The work of the Council is of a part-time nature, and its members offer their time and expertise voluntarily in the public interest, which I greatly value.
Since the Council’s inception, significant progress has been made across the AI ecosystem in Ireland. In particular, work is well underway to establish the new AI Office of Ireland.
The establishment of the AI Office of Ireland provides an opportunity to put a permanent source of independent expertise on AI in place for the Government, superseding the part-time and voluntary model of the AI Advisory Council. This was communicated to members by the Department at the end of last year.
It will be the central co-ordinating body for the implementation of the EU AI Act in Ireland and will leverage the expertise of regulators across all sectors to ensure that when AI is deployed it is done so in a responsible and ethical manner.
It is planned that a Board of the AI Office of Ireland will be established which will be responsible for the governance and oversight of the Office. Suitably qualified members will be appointed to the Board, drawing on the expertise of the Public Appointments Service.
445. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the monitoring practices carried out by Government on the potential and actual impact of artificial intelligence on employment in specific sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/26]
View answerThe Department regularly monitors the labour market and of course the role of artificial intelligence (AI) has grown immeasurably in importance over the last number of years.
There is no doubt that AI will revolutionise many aspects of the labour market and how we go about our day-to-day work. My department, through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published research on the theme of AI and the labour market late last year. The paper ‘How AI is transforming the Irish Labour Market’ (see: egfsn-skills-insight-note-2025-2-_how-ai-is-transforming-the-irish-labour-market-final-for-website.pdf) highlights the speed at which Ireland is moving in relation to AI. The research noted that Ireland leads in terms of the demand for AI jobs but also has a strong performance in relation to the supply of AI talent.
We have seen a doubling in AI jobs and usage since 2023. While this is a fast-changing field – it shows the inherent dynamism and resilience of the Irish labour market, and this bodes well for productivity, growth and incomes. The paper used national level data to compare Ireland with other European and international economies but doesn’t go specifically into graduate or entry level jobs.
Work published in February of this year from the Department of Finance (assets.gov.ie/static/documents/391b8952/Economic_Insights_Volume_1_2026.pdf) also pointed to the fact that our labour market is highly exposed to AI given the composition of employment here, specifically in relation ICT, financial and professional services. The work also noted that AI may already be affecting employment patterns, with sectors more exposed to AI such as ICT and financial services recording significantly weaker employment growth in recent years.
We will continue to closely monitor AI related developments through research and day-to-day work.
I would also point to last week’s strong labour force survey numbers for the year which showed a record level of employment across the economy, although numbers employed in the ICT sector declined. The extent to which this the impact of AI, or a rebalancing of other factors is not yet clear.
I would also point to several projects underway within my department that will be informative in this regard.
The EGFSN is funding or co-funding AI related work, including a project on ‘Skills for Digital Specialists 2030’.
I expect that this report will be published in the first half of this year and this will identify skills needs and gaps for ICT/digital specialists, including AI.
The EGFSN is also co-funding a new ‘Working in Ireland Survey’ on the Irish labour market being done by UCD. Research from this extensive, all-island study will be available in 2026 and will include work on AI and the labour market.
My department also has a working relationship with the OECD on AI related research, and I expect this will continue this year.
446. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide a list of all State agencies within his Department that allocate programme and project funding to section 39, section 56 and section 10 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14389/26]
View answer447. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the State agencies within his Department that have made provision for the pension auto enrolment payment as part of their allocation to funded organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14407/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together.
My Department and the agencies under its remit work to drive a competitive, resilient and sustainable economy that supports enterprise, tourism, and employment across all of Ireland’s regions. This incudes creating the conditions for sustainable enterprise growth, investment and high-quality jobs, ensuring safe workplaces, growing tourism, and helping markets work effectively for consumers and for the economy as a whole. As such, the agencies within my department do not have a role in providing health and personal social services on behalf of the HSE, services for children and families on behalf of Tusla or services for homeless persons and addiction services.
448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports available for SMEs in Offaly to integrate AI technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14548/26]
View answerAI has the potential to greatly improve productivity, drive efficiencies and enhance competitiveness. To empower more businesses, particularly SMEs, to adopt AI, I am working with the Local Enterprise Offices, European Digital Innovation Hubs, and enterprise agencies to ensure that every SME is aware of the benefits and the State supports available to them.
A wide range of enterprise supports are in place for SMEs:
• The Grow Digital Voucher offers up to €5,000 to small businesses (under 50 employees) to adopt digital tools like e-commerce, AI, cybersecurity, and website development.
• The Digital for Business consultancy scheme, a free service which connects businesses with expert advisors to assess needs and develop tailored plans.
• The Grow Digital Portal showcases success stories from non-tech businesses embracing digital transformation.
• Ireland’s four European Digital Innovation Hubs (Dublin, Cork, Mullingar, Sligo) help SMEs and public bodies adopt key technologies: AI, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing.
A further €23 million in additional funding was recently announced for these Hubs to support SMEs in their uptake of AI and other cutting edge digital technologies. These hubs are delivering real, practical supports that help SMEs understand, test and adopt advanced digital technologies with confidence.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), located within the 31 Local Authorities, are the first stop shop for local businesses in Ireland. In the first instance LEOs provide a signposting service for government supports available to the SME sector, including the grants and assistance mentioned above, and can provide referrals to other relevant bodies where appropriate.
In 2025, the LEO in Offaly received 23 applications for Digital for Business, with 21 approvals. For the same period there were 12 applications for the Grow Digital Voucher, with all 12 being approved.
The new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future, was published last week. One of my key priorities in the Strategy is fast-tracking enterprise technology adoption, to boost productivity and competitiveness. Under the Government's AI - Good for Business initiative, a national AI and digital awareness roadshow has been established in tandem with LEO regions and is designed to help SMEs understand the benefits of adopting AI and digital technologies, together with promoting SME experiences of using supports available from their local LEO.
Finally, the establishment of a new AI Office of Ireland in 2026, an independent statutory entity which will be the central coordinating authority for the EU AI Act, will be a major milestone. One of they key functions of the office will be promoting safe AI innovation and adoption across the economy and society.
449. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will undertake a review of the critical skills occupations list to ensure it accurately reflects current labour market shortages. [14555/26]
View answerA comprehensive review of the occupation lists is currently under way. This process began with an eight-week open public consultation, which closed on 19 September last year. I’m pleased to say we received the highest number of submissions of any review to date, a clear signal of how engaged stakeholders are with the future shape of our skills and migration system.
Over the past number of months, my Department has worked closely with the relevant lead Departments to carefully examine the evidence and insights submitted across various sectors. The Interdepartmental Group was convened in December and considered the available labour-market evidence and relevant departmental inputs and sectoral perspectives.
We are now in the closing stages of concluding this review. My Department is working through the final details, and I expect to publish the updated occupation lists in the coming weeks. This will ensure our employment permits system continues to respond to Ireland’s evolving labour market needs in a fair, evidence-based and future-focused way.
