Written Answers Nos. 500-511
500. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether consideration has been given to targeted investment or incentive schemes to support the redevelopment of large-scale vacant or underutilised industrial sites for tourism-related uses such as food tourism, visitor centres, or experimental attractions in regional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30555/26]
View answerIn line with the Programme for Government, I launched the National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, on 1 December 2025. The Policy sets out the Government’s long-term approach to tourism development to 2031 and provides a framework to support a competitive, sustainable and regionally balanced tourism sector.
The Policy positions tourism within the wider enterprise, trade and employment agenda and sets clear targets for growth in revenue and employment, with a particular focus on supporting tourism SMEs and achieving stronger performance in less mature tourism regions. A central element of the Policy is continued public support for tourism capital investment, prioritising projects that enhance the visitor experience, support regional spread and contribute to extending the tourism season.
Under the Policy, Fáilte Ireland will develop and implement a capital investment strategy to guide public investment in tourism infrastructure in line with these objectives.
Implementation of the Policy will be overseen by a Tourism Policy Oversight Group, with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland aligning their corporate plans accordingly. The Government has already demonstrated its commitment through measures including €400 million for tourism development and promotion under the Sectoral Capital Plan 2026–2030.
As part of the EU Just Transition Fund, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, Fáilte Ireland is delivering a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands. Through this scheme, Fáilte Ireland is investing in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities, and it is being delivered through a series of funding programmes.
One of the programmes is the Trail Network Development Scheme, a €30m fund towards the regeneration and repurposing of peatlands through the development of a network of trails. Through this Scheme Bord na Móna (BnM) will develop a network of universally accessible walking and cycling trails across BnM lands. The scheme includes trail development on suitable BnM lands, predominantly on former rail beds and bog headlands that were previously used for peat extraction and will include new developments as well as upgrades to existing trails to significantly improve the user experience. Construction has commenced in Westmeath and Longford, with works due to commence in Offaly.
In Carrick on Suir, Fáilte Ireland is working with Tipperary County Council on a project to explore the potential tourism uses for the “Gold Crop" site. This project involves a feasibility study on potential uses, for which Fáilte Ireland has awarded a grant of €185,000 to the Tipperary County Council in order to progress this project and it is expected to be concluded by May 2026.
Fáilte Ireland has also awarded €150,000 to Longford County Council for a project involving the development of an amphitheatre in a former quarry. The project funded the planning and design stages of the development. The amphitheatre was awarded planning permission in March 2026. The detail design stage is now underway and is expected to be complete in June 2026.
501. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of employment permits issued in each sector for each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of persons on the live register or in receipt of jobseeker payments who possess the required qualifications or experience for those roles; the measures in place to ensure that employers are genuinely unable to recruit from within the State before sourcing labour from outside the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30574/26]
View answerIreland operates a managed employment permits system which is designed to support economic growth by addressing genuine skills and labour shortages, while at the same time protecting the domestic labour market.
The system is underpinned by legislation which sets clear statutory criteria in relation to minimum remuneration, qualifications, and eligible and ineligible occupations. Employment permits are granted only where the relevant legislative requirements are met and where the occupation concerned has been identified as experiencing labour or skills shortages.
A key safeguard within the system is the Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT), which applies to General Employment Permits, Seasonal Employment Permits and Contract for Services Employment Permits. The LMNT requires employers to advertise vacancies for prescribed periods, thereby ensuring that suitably qualified candidates from Ireland, the EEA, the United Kingdom and Switzerland have an opportunity to apply before an employment permit application may be made.
The Employment Permits Act 2024, which commenced in September 2024, modernised and strengthened the employment permits framework, including the Labour Market Needs Test, ensuring that employee protections are maintained and that the domestic labour market continues to be prioritised. There are currently no plans to amend LMNT requirements for occupations to which it applies.
My Department does not hold data on the number of persons on the Live Register or in receipt of jobseeker payments who possess the specific qualifications or experience required for the roles in respect of which employment permits are issued. This information is not collected or assessed as part of the employment permits application process.
The table below sets out the number of employment permits issued in each sector for the years 2022 to 2025, and to date in 2026.
Employment permits form part of a wider, balanced labour market approach and operate alongside ongoing measures to support the recruitment, training and upskilling of workers already resident in the State.
502. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if it is the current policy of his private office/Department to formally invite or notify all local Oireachtas members of constituency events at which Ministers are in attendance in the course of performing their ministerial duties and functions; if he will provide the Department's current policy or protocol on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30596/26]
View answer503. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide a list of all events across every constituency attended by the Minister in the course of his ministerial duties since 1 January 2026, where formal invitations/notifications to attend were not issued by his office to all local Oireachtas members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30614/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of these Parliamentary Questions, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).
504. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of his Department building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30695/26]
View answer505. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30713/26]
View answer506. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30733/26]
View answer507. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30750/26]
View answer508. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30771/26]
View answer512. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by his Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30841/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 504, 505, 506, 507, 508 and 512 together.
As set out in my Department's Climate Action Roadmap, my Department is committed to achieving its 2030 Climate Action goals in respect to energy efficiency and green house gas emissions. My Department currently occupies buildings at Kildare Street, Dawson Street and Lansdowne House in Dublin and in Government Buildings in Killarney, and I understand there are no solar panels installed at any of these locations at present.
My Department does not own any of the premises in which it is currently located. The Department's offices are owned and managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Installation of energy efficiency infrastructure, including the installation of solar panels, are their responsibility. My Department is committed to working in partnership with the OPW to progress any initiatives that will improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions including the installation of solar panels.
The maintenance and upkeep of premises occupied by the Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the relevant Agency themselves, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions relating to Agencies under the aegis of my Department to all the Agencies involved and asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.
509. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total allocation of funding to each State agency under his Department’s remit, broken down by the allocation to each agency, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30793/26]
View answerThe table below provides a breakdown of funding allocated to Agencies under the remit of my Department for the past 15 years as published in my Department's Appropriation Accounts.
510. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total spend on consultancy firms by each State agency under his Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each named consultancy firm, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30811/26]
View answerIn respect of the agencies that come within my remit, they are statutorily independent in their functions. Their day-to-day expenditure is an operational matter for the agencies themselves and the requested records are not held in my Department. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply.
511. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports for chartered ferry operators who provide tourism services in County Mayo rather than as a transport option to islands, in view of the recent fuel cost increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30831/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the significant challenges facing enterprises arising from current global energy supply pressures. In response, a comprehensive fuel support package was announced on 12 April, under which targeted measures have been put in place to assist businesses. In addition, over recent years the Government has implemented a broad range of measures to reduce exposure to fossil fuel price volatility through improved energy efficiency, fuel switching and the acceleration of the transition to low-carbon, indigenous energy sources. These measures are designed to mitigate cost pressures across the economy while ensuring the sustainable and responsible use of public resources.
I am aware that increases in fuel costs may present particular challenges for certain tourism-related operators, including chartered ferry operators. The Government, through my Department and its agencies, supports the tourism sector through the implementation of A New Era for Irish Tourism – the National Tourism Policy Statement. This policy places a strong emphasis on supporting tourism SMEs, extending the tourism season, and promoting balanced regional development. Both Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland play a central role in delivering this policy on the ground.
In response to recent increases in fuel and energy costs affecting tourism businesses, Fáilte Ireland has put in place a range of practical and immediate supports aimed at helping businesses protect margins and manage rising operating costs. While more structured initiatives, such as Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action Programme, are designed to operate over a longer timeframe, these supports are informed by the learnings from that programme and focuses on enabling businesses to take practical, short-term actions to improve energy efficiency and achieve fuel savings. This approach allows businesses to realise financial benefits more quickly.
In addition, the Programme for Government sets out an ambitious framework for strengthening and enhancing the tourism sector nationwide. In this context, I secured additional funding in Budget 2026 for Fáilte Ireland to further its work on balanced regional development and domestic marketing.
More broadly, the Government continues to prioritise measures to reduce exposure to fossil fuel price volatility through energy efficiency, fuel switching and the acceleration of the transition to low-carbon, indigenous energy sources across the economy.
Responsibility for the provision of subsidised ferry, cargo and air services to offshore islands rests with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. That Department supports island communities by providing subsidised passenger and cargo ferry services year-round between the mainland and permanently inhabited offshore islands, with such contracts incorporating fuel price variation clauses. The application of the fuel price variation clause in respect of the subsidised services is a matter for that Department. There are also several non-subsidised ferry services to the offshore islands, many of whom operate on a seasonal basis.
Government has agreed to establish a support scheme for the road transport sector in response to the recent fuel costs increases. The scheme will support both licensed and own account hauliers, as well as licensed passenger operators, subject to eligibility requirements. It is also being considered whether non-subsidised ferry services to the offshore islands could be supported through a similar mechanism. In this context, my Department, in conjunction with colleagues across Government, including the Department of Transport and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, will continue to keep cost pressures facing affected businesses under review, in line with overall policy objectives and budgetary frameworks.
