Written Answers Nos. 232-253
232. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will address concerns regarding the 2013 public sector single pension scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23254/26]
View answerThe Single Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. It was established under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.
The provisions of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law. All new-entrant public servants hired after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Scheme. This includes uniformed members in An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, full-time Firefighters and Prison Officers.
The introduction of the Single Scheme is central to ensuring the long-term sustainability of public service pensions, particularly in the context of improved life expectancy and rising public service employee numbers. The most recent valuation of the State’s Accrued Liability in respect of public service retirement benefits calculates the overall liability to be €175.7bn, which is payable over the next 70 years of so. The annual pension bill for the public service is currently at €5.3bn; this is projected to increase to a peak of €9.8bn in 2055.
Despite the broader trend in the private sector towards closing defined benefit schemes, the Single Scheme remains a defined benefit pension arrangement, albeit based on career-average remuneration.
Uniformed members - Firefighters, Prison Officers, Gardaí and the Defence Forces - have enhanced benefits that other Single Scheme members do not have. These members accrue benefits at a faster rate due to their earlier Mandatory Retirement Age.
In 2024, in recognition of individuals seeking to work longer, Government enacted legislation to permit Uniformed staff to remain in service until age 62, should they wish to. This move allows members to build-up a higher pension than previously, increasing the final value of their Single Scheme pension. On retirement, subject to having reached their Normal Retirement Age, members receive their Single Scheme pension and lump sum immediately. The issue of mandatory retirement ages for the Defence Forces, Gardaí, Prison Service and Firefighters is firstly a matter for the relevant line Departments.
Given the career-average accrual nature of the Single Scheme, it is not possible to definitively say what an individual’s pension benefits are until their final pay period. Their final benefits will be based on their career progression and on the timing of any progression. It should also be noted that Single Scheme members pay a lower rate of ASC than their pre-existing colleagues.
There are no plans at this time to review the Single Scheme, including the Fast Accrual elements. Occupational Supplementary Pensions (OSPs) are not a feature of the Single Scheme and were not envisaged to be.
233. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date in advancing the proposal to establish a successor programme to the Peace Plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23503/26]
View answerPEACEPLUS is a €1.1 billion cross-border co-operation programme for Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and is part of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy programmes. The PEACEPLUS programme is the current iteration of the EU’s North South PEACE and INTERREG programmes which have been running since the 1990s. As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, I have joint responsibility for PEACEPLUS along with the Minister for Finance Northern Ireland.
The 2021-2027 PEACEPLUS programme is successfully in its implementation phase, funding projects across a diverse range of investment areas, including health, education, transport, and socio-economic regeneration. 122 projects have been awarded funding under the main programme to date, and further funding awards are also ongoing under the PEACEPLUS Changemaker Funds.
On 6 March 2025, the Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister issued a Joint Statement outlining their shared commitment to the successful delivery of the 2021-2027 PEACEPLUS programme and their agreement in principle to a successor programme.
In July 2025, the European Commission included legislative provision for a successor to the PEACEPLUS programme in its draft Multi-annual Financial Framework proposals for 2028-34.
My officials will continue to engage with the European Commission and the UK Government on the successor programme.
234. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his current plans to advance the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021 currently at committee stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23144/26]
View answer236. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the legislative passage of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 202; when the Bill will receive a money message; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23165/26]
View answer238. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on the aims of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; if work is ongoing within his Department with regard to achieving the same objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23197/26]
View answer239. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding any research carried out by his Department into the aims of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; if any consideration ongoing into providing for similar measures that are set out in this Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23198/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 236, 238 and 239 together.
The purpose of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021 is to amend and extend certain rights and protections for retired persons and representative associations in the context of industrial relations and trade disputes.
Specifically, it proposes amendments to the Trade Union Acts 1871 to 1990, the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2019, and the Pensions Act 1990. The Bill seeks to enhance the representation of retired workers in the administration of certain pension schemes and to address related matters.
The Bill is currently at Committee Stage in the legislative process. Matters under consideration at this stage are subject to Cabinet confidentiality and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment on prospective next steps.
The Government does not support the Private Members’ Bill in its current form. The proposed amendments are considered to fundamentally undermine the core principles of industrial relations, which are inherently based on the relationship between workers and their employers.
Please note that the position of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment was clearly articulated in a comprehensive briefing submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, following its public scrutiny session held on 25 January 2023.
My Department’s position is that any amendment to the legislation governing the rights of retired persons is not an industrial relations issue but is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
235. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline in detail the impact of US direct foreign investment in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/26]
View answerForeign Direct Investment is a key element of our economic strategy, with investments by IDA Ireland client companies consistently generating highly skilled jobs nationwide. My Department works closely with IDA Ireland and other stakeholders to ensure a strong pipeline of foreign direct investment into Ireland.
2025, saw IDA Ireland achieving the highest ever number of investments, 323, a 38% increase on 2024, which are expected to create over 15,300 additional jobs in the coming years. 183 investments, 57% of all investments in 2025, were in regional locations. IDA client-company employment increased to 312,400 in 2025 and there are currently 169,967 people employed in IDA client companies outside Dublin, with FDI employment in every region and every county of Ireland. This represents 54% of all FDI employment nationally.
The South-West Region is home to 245 IDA client companies employing 53,535 people. 17 of these are in Kerry employing 2,110. The FDI performance in the South-West Region, Cork and Kerry has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 12.3%. The South-West has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies and has also won significant investment across all these sectors over a sustained period which has contributed significantly to employment growth and positive economic impacts on other sectors of the economy.
There are 145 client operations of US origin in the South-West, contributing total employment of 42,249 (year-on-year growth of 3.1%). IDA clients in the South-West region spent a total of €6.5 billion in the Irish Economy in 2024 across Payroll, Irish sourced Materials and Services with year-on-year growth of 2.5%. Companies of US origin accounted for 13% of this spend.
IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to regional development as one of its four key strategic objectives of its new strategy, ‘Adapt Intelligently’. This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 investments outside Dublin in the period from 2025 to 2029, accounting for 55% of all planned investments. The IDA has set ambitious targets for every region in Ireland, including for 155 investments in the South-West.
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. It is crucial that the South-West region has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment to sustain further job creation and economic impact in Kerry.
IDA has made considerable investments in land and infrastructure across the South-West region. IDA has c.7.9 hectares in 4 locations in County Kerry and has undertaken several key initiatives to enhance the attractiveness and readiness of these lands for prospective investors. Under its current strategy IDA plans to secure an Advanced Planning permit for a second building in the Tralee Technology Park and undertake additional upgrade works and investments across IDA Parks in the region to ensure a robust value proposition for clients. IDA also continues to collaborate closely with national and local stakeholders to foster the conditions necessary for investment, innovation, and job creation to maximise the impact of FDI in Ireland and its regions.
237. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if there are any instances, apart from the specifically outlined cases of horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, health care assistants, home support workers and where an applicant’s degree was issued by an Irish third level college in the previous 12 months, where the minimum annual remuneration for the provision of a general employment permit may not be reached in the granting of an application; if he is considering any revision to the remuneration criteria for application for a general employment permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/26]
View answerApplications for employment permits are subject to a range of criteria established under the employment permits legislation including the requirement for the employment to reach the minimum annual remuneration for the permit type and occupation being applied for.
The primary objective of the MAR framework is to ensure that employment permit holders have sufficient earnings to live in Ireland without reliance on State supports, and to prevent undercutting efforts to improve pay and conditions, or modernisation and productivity measures.
Instances may arise where a General Employment Permit is granted without the minimum annual remuneration being reached. Such cases may be due to the effective date of MAR increases or supplementary pay elements that may be included to meet the minimum salary, such as higher health insurance premiums.
Changes to the Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) thresholds for employment permits were implemented from 1st of this month in accordance with the statutory requirements set out in the Employment Permits Act 2024.
Under the employment permits legislation, there is a legal obligation on my Department to conduct an annual review of the MAR, and where average weekly earnings have increased, the MAR must increase by at least a corresponding percentage. There are however no current plans to reconsider any revision to the remuneration for an employment permit in place since 1st March 2026.
240. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the work of the National Working Group convened by Fáilte Ireland to develop a nationwide strategy for the provision of camper van facilities; the expected timeline for the publication of its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23213/26]
View answerMy role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
I should clarify that neither my Department nor Fáilte Ireland has any statutory function regarding the development of overnight pull-in parking facilities for motorhomes or campervans, nor do we operate funding streams for local authorities in respect of such facilities.
Fáilte Ireland has advised that the national motorhome and campervan working group was jointly convened by the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and Fáilte Ireland, with the CCMA leading on issues relating to planning. A third meeting of the working group is in the process of being scheduled by the CCMA and Fáilte Ireland.
I can also confirm that there is no national strategy for the provision of campervan facilities currently in development involving Fáilte Ireland. However, the national motorhome and campervan working group is at an early stage of preparing an action plan intended to establish a consistent approach and framework for the provision of motorhome and campervan facilities.
241. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on whether the existing situation with regard to the sale of tickets to concerts, sports matches and other events, predominantly by a single company (details supplied) amounts to a monopoly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23223/26]
View answer242. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on whether the existing situation with regard to the sale of tickets to concerts, sports matches and other events, predominantly by a single company (details supplied) is in breach of competition rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23224/26]
View answer243. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding any engagement he has had with a company (details supplied) in relation to the provision of fair market competition in the sale of tickets to concerts, sports matches and other events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23225/26]
View answer244. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the actions he is taking to ensure that there is a fair and competitive market regarding the sale of tickets to concerts, sports matches and other events, predominantly by a single company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23226/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 241, 242, 243 and 244 together.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with and enforcing competition law in Ireland. Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPCis independent in the performance of its statutory functions.
In January 2017, the CCPC opened an investigation into suspected anti-competitive practices in the ticketing industry, examining activities which took place from 1 January 2012 to 13 March 2020.
As part ofitsextensive investigation,the CCPC came to the preliminary view that Ticketmaster held a dominant position in the market for the supply of outsourced primary ticketing services on the island of Ireland and that it had abused this dominant position by entering into long-term exclusive agreements with live event organisers and venues, and that such agreements had as their effect the prevention, restriction and/or distortion of competition.Ticketmaster did not agree with the CCPC’s preliminary findings.
At the time, Section 14B of the Competition Act 2002 (as amended) provided a mechanism whereby undertakings under investigation by the CCPC may avoid proceedings under the Act by entering into an agreement with the CCPC to provide commitments addressing competition concerns and the undertaking’s future behaviour. The CCPC may apply, subject to the consent of the undertaking concerned, to the High Court to have such an agreement made an order of court. As a result, non-compliance with the commitments would be contempt of court.
Ticketmasterprovided binding commitments to the CCPC in accordance withSection 14B of the 2002 Act to address the preliminary competition concerns identified in the CCPC’s investigation in relation to the supply of outsourced primary ticketing services.
The CCPC applied to the High Court to make the commitment agreement between the CCPC and Ticketmaster a court order. The High Court granted this order on 15 December 2020, and it came into effect on 29 January 2021.
These binding commitments require Ticketmaster to remove exclusivity clauses with venues in the supply of outsourced primary ticketing services. Ticketmaster also committed to limit the time period of exclusivity clauses to 3 years in contracts with live event organisers, the overall contract duration would be capped at 5 years and finally that there would be no automatic contract renewals.
The CCPC has ongoing engagement with Ticketmaster in relation to how it is complying with the terms of these commitments and court order. Additionally, CCPC continues to monitor the impact of the required changes on the sector generally.
Since this agreement the legal situation has changed. Section 14B of the 2002 Act was repealed by the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022, subject to the transitional provision in section 3 of the 2022 Act. As a result of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022, in future investigations, the CCPC will itself be able to enforce, through independent adjudication officers, commitment agreements concluded in accordance with section 15AE of the 2002 Act through the imposition of administrative financial sanctions for non-compliance. However, as the commitment agreement reached with Ticketmaster pre-dates the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022, this new provision does not apply to the Ticketmaster commitment agreement.
245. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review correspondence (details supplied); if she will address the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23417/26]
View answerSchool secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole.
My Department has been engaging with Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a number of claims including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement.
The matter was referred to the Labour Court and a hearing took place on 12th January 2026. Both parties await the recommendation of the Court. The parties remain in process, and my department remains committed and ready to engage with Fórsa to reach a resolution on this important matter.
As with any industrial relations process, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.
246. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23124/26]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, the school referred to was approved to enter my Department's pipeline of projects under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The project is for repurposing works to create one Special Educational Needs (SEN) classroom and is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
As previously advised, this project was approved to Stage 4 (construction) and remains at that stage. More recently, my Department sought an update from the school, and we are currently awaiting their response. It is the responsibility of the school authority to progress the project as required.
247. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a scheme and whether a school will be included (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23125/26]
View answerI was pleased to launch the DEIS Strategy to 2035, including the DEIS Plus scheme yesterday. This achieves the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a scheme of additional support for schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage.
I am glad to advise that the school (details supplied) has been selected for participation in the DEIS Plus scheme and has been informed directly by my department.
The DEIS Plus scheme recognises that while potential and talent is present in all children, they do not all have an equal opportunity to develop and fulfil their potential. The scheme aims to empower children and young people impacted by intergenerational poverty and disadvantage to succeed in school and progress to fulfilling adult lives, creating positive impacts for future generations. It seeks to support children, families and schools to improve school attendance, promote participation in learning and social interaction, and support children and young people to complete post-primary education and achieve the Leaving Certificate.
The DEIS Plus scheme will provide a more targeted, coordinated and evidence-informed set of supports for 96 primary and 25 post-primary schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage.
Through the scheme my department is investing in the futures of the children and young people in these schools. This will include an additional 33 school leadership posts, 121 teacher posts, additional home-school-community liaison posts and guidance hours, including guidance in primary schools for the first time. It will also provide a €3m increase in DEIS grant funding and additional funding for youth services, breakfast clubs and opportunities for innovation.
The scheme will also maximise opportunities to establish links between government departments, agencies and industry and to better align the available range of cross-government supports with the needs identified in schools in the DEIS Plus scheme.
The DEIS Plus scheme is part of a €48million increase in supports under the overall DEIS programme, increasing annual DEIS budget to €228 million. This increase includes additionality for schools beyond the DEIS Plus scheme. Over 700 schools, both DEIS and non-DEIS, will gain resources aimed at a targeted response to addressing educational disadvantage in all schools under initial actions from the DEIS Strategy to 2035.
Schools included in the DEIS Plus scheme have been identified using an approach which is objective and data based. The methodology was developed by the DEIS Technical Group, which includes members from Pobal and the Education Research Centre, and members from the department’s Statistics Unit, IGEES team, Inspectorate and Social Inclusion Unit.
248. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 910 of 18 March 2026, if she will provide the exact numerical data requested; the exact number of applications or expressions of interest from primary and post-primary schools in County Wexford to open special classes that have been refused, paused, or delayed solely due to her Department not sanctioning modular accommodation in the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 to date; the specific reasons for the delay in providing this exact regional data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23126/26]
View answerI can confirm the following for the Deputy;
Since 2024, 8 Primary Schools and 1 Post Primary School applied for SEN funding for repurposing accommodation or builds. All of these have progressed expect 1 Primary school who applied for modular accommodation in 2025 but it did not progress due to the class not being required by the NCSE for 2025. It is currently being considered for modular accommodation for 2026.
38 schools applied for SEN funding over the course of 2024,2025 and 2026 following NCSE sanctions;
16 classes opened in 2024
16 classes opened in 2025
10 classes published to open in 2026 to date.
This is 42 classes sanctioned in 38 schools(7 Post Primary and 31 Primary)
Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided.
This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year. 387 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. The vast majority of new special classes being announced are being provided in available school accommodation which is being reconfigured as a special class. Each special class at primary level is allocated 1 teacher and 2 SNAs and at post-primary level, schools receive 1.5 teachers and 2 SNAs. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level. In sanctioning new special classes, the NCSE have due regard to the level of need in an area and the existing provision, including how many places are expected to be available through the normal movement of students from primary to post-primary or finishing school. Budget 2026 provides funding for over 400 new special classes.
Approximately 80% of all new special classes are being provided in schools with existing accommodation and the Department is supporting those schools with additional grant funding to facilitate any necessary re-purposing works.
Where schools require additional accommodation, usually in the form of modular accommodation, this is being fast-tracked by the Department to be delivered as quickly as possible.
249. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the recently revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children, including in cases where intellectual disability is not suspected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23167/26]
View answer250. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the recently revised assessment of need ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or twice-exceptional that is, children with both high ability and additional needs such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia, will be appropriately identified within the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23168/26]
View answer251. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has conducted any impact assessment on how the revised assessment of need model may affect the identification of children whose needs are masked by high cognitive ability or compensatory functioning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23169/26]
View answer252. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if access to cognitive or psychological assessment remains available where there is evidence of significant intra-individual discrepancy, asynchronous development, or unexplained underachievement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23170/26]
View answer253. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth the training or guidance is being provided to assessment officers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that complex presentations, including masking and twice-exceptionality, are recognised under the revised model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23171/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249, 250, 251, 252 and 253 together.
The Assessment of Need process is under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Questions in relation to the revised Assessment of Need process should be directed to colleagues in that Department.
