Written Answers Nos. 232-251
233. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the current and capital projects under the remit of his Department that received EU funding in 2023 and to date in 2024; and the amount of EU funding received per project in each of the years in question, in tabular form. [36665/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR)
As a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the EU put in place funding support for Member States to mitigate the resulting impacts, in the form of a Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).
Ireland’s BAR allocation is €802 million, the largest allocation for any Member State. Ireland has received its share in the form of pre-financing - approximately €361.7m for 2021, €276.7m in 2022, and €163.7m in 2023. In order to be eligible for BAR funding, expenditure must fall within the BAR eligibility period for expenditure that runs from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023.
Member states are required to submit their final claim to the Commission by 30 September 2024. The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.
Following the BAR Regulation coming into force in October 2021, the Government allocated specific funding of €389 million in Budgets 2022 and 2023 across a number of sectors. Further to this, officials in my Department have engaged in a review exercise of Brexit related spending outside of that allocated in Budgets 2022 and 2023 which may qualify for inclusion in Ireland’s BAR claim.
The exact composition of Ireland's BAR claim will not be finalised until the claim is submitted to the EU Commission. Once this is finalised, it will be possible to confirm detail in relation to individual projects and final amounts.
National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)
Ireland will receive approximately €1.15 billion in funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in respect of measures included in our National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The overall objective of Ireland’s NRRP is to contribute to a sustainable, equitable, green and digital recovery effort, in a manner that complements and supports the Government’s broader recovery efforts.
The Recovery and Resilience Facility is performance-based and is pre-funded through the estimates process and the National Development Plan. RRF allocated funding is then recouped from the EU after the agreed milestones and targets within the Plan have been achieved and verified.
The RRF allocation will be paid to Ireland in five instalments. Following the successful submission of our first payment request, Ireland received €324m in July 2024 from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Further information on the RRF and details of beneficiaries is available here: eufunds.ie/covid/recovery-and-resilience-facility/
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Ireland will receive €396m in ERDF funding during the 2021-2027 programme. While the Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has overall responsibility for the two ERDF Programmes, the Department of Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform does not make any direct ERDF funding awards, and so does not carry information on individual projects. In addition, ERDF funding is paid by the EU to Ireland subject to evaluation and approval of claims arising from grant awards and associated projects. Claims are currently in the process of submission and evaluation.
The Minister has appointed the Southern Regional Assembly, and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, as Managing Authorities for the two ERDF Programmes.
The Southern Regional Assembly (SRA), is the Managing Authority for the ERDF co-funded Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027. The SRA publish a list of ERDF grant awards for their ERDF programme on their website in tabular format (CSV file available for download), under the heading “List of Operations/Beneficiaries”, on this webpage: www.southernassembly.ie/eu-programmes/sem2127
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) is the Managing Authority for the ERDF co-funded Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. The NWRA publish a list of ERDF grant awards for their ERDF programme on their website in tabular format (Excel file available for download), under the heading “Beneficiaries of EU Funding under the Northern and Western Regional Programme”, on this webpage: www.nwra.ie/northern-and-western-regional-programme-2021-2027/.
234. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the flood relief works at Holycross, County Tipperary are completed; if not, when these works will be completed; and the estimated costs of those works. [36804/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of Ireland’s National Flood Policy, which includes the development of a planned programme of feasible works for flood relief schemes.
In 2018, to facilitate the development of a national programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study - the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Suir CFRAM Study Area included Holycross as an Area for Further Assessment (AFA), and it was subsequently agreed that Tipperary County Council as the Lead Authority would progress Holycross as a flood relief scheme, with the relevant funding to be provided by the OPW through the Government’s €1.3 billion for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan.
In the event that such flood relief works are considered viable, they typically go through a five stage process, namely:
• Stage 1: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
• Stage 2: Planning Approval
• Stage 3: Detailed Design
• Stage 4: Implementation/Construction
• Stage 5: Handover
Tipperary County Council have advised the OPW that the scheme is currently at Stage 1 and this is due for completion in Q4 2024. The proposed works in and around Holycross are likely to include flood defence embankments, flood gates, floodwalls, river channel capacity improvements, local drainage improvements and upgrades to culverts. The estimated costs for the Holycross Flood Relief Scheme are currently in the region of €300,000 and the works are expected to reach substantial completion in Q4 2027.
235. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the flood relief works at Knocklofty, County Tipperary are completed; if not, when these works will be completed; and the estimated cost of those works. [36805/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of Ireland’s National Flood Policy, which includes the development of a planned programme of feasible works for flood relief schemes.
In 2018, to facilitate the development of a national programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study - the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Suir CFRAM Study Area included Knocklofty as an Area for Further Assessment (AFA), and it was subsequently agreed that Tipperary County Council as the Lead Authority would progress Knocklofty as a flood relief scheme, with the relevant funding to be provided by the OPW through the Government’s €1.3 billion for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan.
In the event that such flood relief works are considered viable, they typically go through a five stage process, namely:
• Stage 1: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
• Stage 2: Planning Approval
• Stage 3: Detailed Design
• Stage 4: Implementation/Construction
• Stage 5: Handover
In Q2 2024, Tipperary County Council submitted an Options Report from its consultant to the OPW, which contained a preferred option for a flood relief scheme in Knocklofty, and a recommendation that the scheme proceed to Stage 2 planning. In July 2024, the OPW approved the preferred option in the Options Report for the Knocklofty Flood Relief Scheme. The preferred option includes a flood defence embankment, access ramp over flood defence embankment, improvements to existing stone walls, culverting of drains, storm water drainage and a pumping station.
The estimated Total Project Budget for the scheme is currently €1.1m, and subject to receiving the relevant planning permissions, it is currently envisaged that the scheme will reach substantial completion in Q2 2027.
236. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in light of the recent increase in mandatory retirement age for members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Prison Service and Fire Services, the estimated full-year cost of restoring the pre-2012 pension entitlements for these fast accrual cohorts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36965/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Single Public Service Pension Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, established on 1 January 2013 under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The Single Scheme was established to place publicly-funded retirement benefits on a more sustainable footing in the context of longer life expectancies and is a fundamentally different pension scheme than the occupational public service pension schemes preceding it.
Initially, long-term savings were estimated at circa 35% versus pre-existing pension schemes. However, the decision not to increase minimum retirement age beyond 66 has reduced that estimated saving to circa 25-30%, depending on assumptions used.
All new entrants to the public service, hired after 1 January 2013, are members of the Single Scheme. Members of the Permanent Defence Force, members of An Garda Síochána, firefighters, and Prison Officers are categorised as members of the ‘Uniformed Accrual’ cohort of Single Scheme members. The uniformed grades have certain enhanced benefits that other members of the Single Scheme do not have, in recognition of their earlier retirement age, such as accelerated pension benefits accrual and early payment of scheme benefits, compared with Standard Accrual members. This enables them to accrue more Single Scheme benefits over the expected shorter public service careers in these roles.
As referenced, an increased mandatory retirement age of 62 for Uniformed Members was recently introduced by Government, following the commencement of the relevant Part 11 provisions of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024.
This legislative change facilitates an increase in the number of years over which Uniformed Accrual members can accrue pension benefits, should they choose to do so. This option is available to Uniformed Accrual members of the Single Scheme as well as those in pre-existing public service pension schemes.
The costings requested by the Deputy are not currently available.
237. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take to address systemic inequality after findings show that nearly half of all social enterprises were denied support from their local enterprise office due to their legal status or perceived lack of commercial viability. [36055/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Enterprises are an important and growing part of Ireland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, creating jobs and stimulating local economic activity and are recognised as an integral part of Ireland’s broad enterprise policy landscape.
Policy responsibility for social enterprises lies with the Department of Rural and Community Development and in July this year my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys launched 'Trading for Impact 2024-2027 -Ireland’s National Social Enterprise Policy', which will help sustain and grow the social enterprise sector.
In May this year Minister Burke and I launched the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Policy Statement, which outlines how LEOs will align their work with the priorities of the White Paper on Enterprise going forward, setting out the roadmap and future direction of LEOs. The LEO Policy Statement affirms the intention to grow the reach of the LEOs to provide support to all small businesses including Social Enterprises.
Social enterprises are eligible for LEO assistance provided they operate on a commercial basis and meet the eligibility criteria of the particular scheme for which they wish to apply.
The LEOs’ range of competitiveness and productivity supports are designed to help businesses address some of their most challenging issues. LEOs have broadened their engagement with the small locally traded enterprise sector of the economy in response to Government policies to grow the overall productivity of the economy and meet the challenges of a digital, low carbon economy. Social enterprises may be eligible for supports such as the Grow Digital Voucher, the Energy Efficiency Grant, Green for Business, and the LEO training and mentoring programmes.
There has been positive engagement between this Department, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, the Enterprise Ireland LEO Centre of Excellence and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
An information webinar will be arranged later this month, which will be attended by representatives from all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and SERI. The aim of the webinar is to provide clarity on the range of supports available to social enterprises through the LEOs and the eligibility criteria of these supports.
238. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to improve awareness and understanding among policymakers and enterprise support agencies about the role and value of social enterprises, in light of the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) about a lack of understanding within the enterprise ecosystem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36073/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Enterprises are an important and growing part of Ireland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, creating jobs and stimulating local economic activity, and are recognised as an integral part of Ireland’s broad enterprise policy landscape.
Policy responsibility for social enterprises lies with the Department of Rural and Community Development and in July this year my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys launched ‘Trading for Impact 2024-2027’ -Ireland’s National Social Enterprise Policy which will help sustain and grow the social enterprise sector.
In May this year I launched the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Policy Statement, which outlines how LEOs will align their work with the priorities of the White Paper on Enterprise going forward, setting out the roadmap and future direction of LEOs. The LEO Policy Statement affirms the intention to grow the reach of the LEOs to provide support to all small businesses including Social Enterprises.
There has been positive engagement between my Department, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), and the Department of Rural and Community Development in recent months. Enterprise Ireland and SERI have continued to engage over the summer, and an information webinar will be arranged later this month, which will be attended by representatives from all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and SERI. The aim of the webinar is to provide clarity on the range of supports available to social enterprises through the LEOs and the eligibility criteria of these supports.
239. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has a policy, or has issued guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence, large language model, natural language processing, generative or otherwise, or products based thereon in the course of their duties; if this has been communicated to staff; if he will publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36138/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department led the development of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy - “AI – Here for Good”, and published a progress report on its implementation in August 2023. As part of this Strategy, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) play a key role in providing advice and guidance on the deployment of AI tools across the public sector including to my Department. Specifically, Strand 4 AI Serving the Public focuses on driving the use of A.I. across Government, which is overseen by the GovTech Delivery Board with supporting workstreams in relation to data (as a foundational enabler for the deployment of A.I.), security, ethical considerations and future skills.
The National AI Strategy and this cross-government engagement will continue to inform my Department's future approach in seeking to leverage A.I. in relation to the work and functions of the Department. When considering the use of new technologies, my Department assesses the risks and benefits of appropriate technologies, including A.I., on a case by case basis. When implementing these technologies, advice is sought from all appropriate sources. Suitable policies and safeguards are then put in place and issued to all staff.
A policy document on the use of Generative AI was issued to all staff setting out the risks of using such technologies and the mitigation they must adopt to avoid those risks. This is based on guidance received from the NCSC. The policy document is available to all staff in my Department on the Departments intranet and to members of the public on request.
240. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department, or any agency under his auspices, has ever used any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions, or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation; the details of same if applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36157/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not use any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation.
An internal policy document regarding the use of Generative AI was developed in 2023 and issued to all staff in my Department. This policy document sets out the risks of using A.I. and related technologies and the mitigation that staff must adopt to avoid those risks. This policy position was informed by guidance received from the National Cyber Security Centre.
When considering the use of new technologies, my Department assesses the risks and benefits of appropriate technologies, including A.I., on a case by case basis. When implementing these technologies, advice is sought from all appropriate sources. Suitable policies and safeguards are then put in place and issued to all staff.
My officials continue to keep the potential to leverage A.I. technologies to deliver efficiencies in all areas of the Department’s work under review, including considering opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies specifically within the areas of engagement with the parliamentary system and with other external stakeholders. A new ICT strategy for the Department is due to be developed and published in 2025 as a successor to the current ICT strategy - enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/dete-ict-strategy-2020-2025.html.
In respect of the agencies that come within my remit, they are statutorily independent in their functions and this is an operational matter for them. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply.
241. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way he plans to integrate social enterprises into a broader Government strategy for sustainable job creation and social cohesion, as advocated by an organisation (details supplied) in its pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36177/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Enterprises are an important and growing part of Ireland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, creating jobs and stimulating local economic activity, and are recognised as an integral part of Ireland’s broad enterprise policy landscape.
Policy responsibility for social enterprises lies with the Department of Rural and Community Development and in July this year my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys launched ‘Trading for Impact 2024-2027’ -Ireland’s National Social Enterprise Policy which will help sustain and grow the social enterprise sector.
The policy details five key objectives to sustain and grow social enterprise over the years 2024 to 2027, their rationale, and 57 actions which will be undertaken to deliver on these objectives.
i. Build awareness of Social Enterprise and its potential,
ii. Growing and Sustaining Social enterprise through government supports
iii. Supporting the Green Transition by Social Enterprises
iv. National and International Engagement to align social Enterprise Policy on a regional, EU and International level
v. Impact Measurement to improve levels and quality of data relating to social enterprise.
This Department is responsible for the delivery of four specific policy actions, and work has commenced on these actions. These are:
Action 15: To ensure consistency of approach to social enterprises across Local Enterprise Offices.
Action 16: To improve social enterprise access to Enterprise Ireland business supports such as the High Performing Start-up Scheme (HPSU), as appropriate.
Action 32: Progress the Co-operative Societies Bill 2022 which will provide improved legal formation options for social enterprises.
Action 40: Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committees will consider the inclusion of any appropriate measures within the next cycle of plans to support the development of social enterprises.
In May this year Minister Burke and I launched the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Policy Statement, which outlines how LEOs will align their work with the priorities of the White Paper on Enterprise going forward, setting out the roadmap and future direction of LEOs. The LEO Policy Statement affirms the intention to grow the reach of the LEOs to provide support to all small businesses including Social Enterprises.
There has been positive engagement between this Department, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, and the Department of Rural and Community Development in recent months. Enterprise Ireland and SERI have continued to engage over the summer, and an information webinar will be arranged later this month, which will be attended by representatives from all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and SERI. The aim of the webinar is to provide clarity on the range of supports available to social enterprises through the LEOs and the eligibility criteria of these supports.
Minster Humphreys also announced the launch of the new €2m Dormant Accounts funded ‘Growing Social Enterprise' fund which is an action within the policy. The purpose of the fund is to provide capital supports that assist enterprises to achieve their social, environmental and economic objectives, and to improve their sustainability and impact. The fund will benefit up to 100 social enterprises nationwide, with grants ranging from €1,500 to €100,000.
242. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on his engagements regarding the Mercosur trade agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36254/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU-Mercosur Agreement is designed to cement the close political and economic relations between the EU and Mercosur countries and represents a commitment to rules-based international trade. Since formal negotiations concluded in 2019, the global trade policy landscape has changed considerably. The rise in trade nationalism, the economic impacts of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and the accompanying impacts on global supply chains have demonstrated the importance of diversifying our import and export markets by securing robust and comprehensive trade deals with global partners. The Mercosur Agreement, if ratified, will support that objective.
Ireland and other EU Member States have raised concerns regarding the strength of the trade and sustainability commitments in the Agreement. As a response to those concerns, the European Commission commenced a process with the Mercosur region on a draft interpretative legal instrument addressing sustainability commitments. This interpretative text will have the same legal status as the existing text within the Agreement itself.
Commission negotiators are currently engaging with their Mercosur counterparts on the text of the new instrument. I wish to assure the Deputy that my officials and I continue to closely monitor developments regarding the instrument, and discuss it at EU level at both the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) with other EU Ministers, as well at meetings of officials in the Trade Policy Committee. It is in our collective interests that commitments relating to the environment, biodiversity and sustainability remain central to the overall trade agreement reached with Mercosur.
243. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that some soft play centres that have a coffee shop attached which accounts for 80% of their turnover and the business is a registered cafe and or restaurant with the HSE have been deemed ineligible for the increased cost of business scheme (ICOB2) grant funding despite the fact that they were eligible for ICOB1 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36292/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Scheme opened on 14 March this year. All rateable businesses that met the eligibility requirements were eligible to register for the grant. On 15 May, the Government announced that the retail and hospitality sectors were eligible for a second payment of the grant. The Scheme is now closed for new registrations.
The decision to give a second payment to those sectors was due to the greater impact that increased costs are having on those sectors as noted in the DETE-DSP joint working paper titled “An assessment of the cumulative impact of proposed measures to improve working conditions in Ireland”.
Activity play centres are not eligible for the second payment as their primary business is not in the retail, hospitality sectors, and as per the NACE Codes used to define business categories, their primary function is not hospitality. The final decision on eligibility is with the Local Authority who assess the information provided by the business and make an evidence-based decision based on the primary activity of that business.
244. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has conducted assessments or studies on the job creation potential of social enterprises, as suggested by an organisation (details supplied); and if so, the findings and recommendations of those studies. [36417/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Enterprises are an important and growing part of Ireland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, creating jobs and stimulating local economic activity, and are recognised as an integral part of Ireland’s broad enterprise policy landscape.
Policy responsibility for social enterprises lies with the Department of Rural and Community Development and in July this year my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys launched ‘Trading for Impact 2024-2027’ -Ireland’s National Social Enterprise Policy which will help sustain and grow the social enterprise sector.
In 2023 the OECD published their report on Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland, which provided an in-depth analysis of social entrepreneurship and social enterprises in Ireland. It identifies the country’s strengths and challenges and provides several recommendations for the development of Social Enterprises in Ireland, which continues to influence Government’s Social Enterprise Policy.
In May this year Minister Burke and I launched the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Policy Statement, which outlines how LEOs will align their work with the priorities of the White Paper on Enterprise going forward, setting out the roadmap and future direction of LEOs. The LEO Policy Statement affirms the intention to grow the reach of the LEOs to provide support to all small businesses including Social Enterprises.
There has been positive engagement between this Department, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, and the Department of Rural and Community Development in recent months. Enterprise Ireland and SERI have continued to engage over the summer, and an information webinar will be arranged later this month, which will be attended by representatives from all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and SERI. The aim of the webinar is to provide clarity on the range of supports available to social enterprises through the LEOs and the eligibility criteria of these supports.
245. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the track record of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which clearly shows that State bodies are not required to adhere to competition law; if his attention has been drawn to the amount of damage this can do to individuals and small to medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36425/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Investigations and enforcement matters are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC and I, as Minister, have no direct function in these matters.
The CCPC’s annual report for 2023, which was published on 16 July 2024, shows the CCPC carried out four dawn raids as part of two separate cartel investigations, 37 competition compliance reviews across a range of sectors and issued 66 merger determinations. In addition, the CCPC concluded one court prosecution for car crime and issued several different guidelines and policies for the implementation of new legislation.
246. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a children’s play centre in Donegal (details supplied) has been denied the second phase of the increased cost of business grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36441/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Scheme opened on 14 March this year. All rateable businesses that met the eligibility requirements were eligible to register for the grant. On 15 May, the Government announced that the retail and hospitality sectors were eligible for a second payment of the grant. The scheme is now sclosed for new registrations.
The decision to give a second payment to those sectors was due to the greater impact that increased costs are having on those sectors as noted in the DETE-DSP joint working paper titled “An assessment of the cumulative impact of proposed measures to improve working conditions in Ireland”.
Activity play centres are not eligible for the second payment as their primary business is not in the retail or hospitality sector, and as per the NACE Codes used to define business categories, their primary function is not hospitality. The final decision on eligibility is with the Local Authority who assess the information provided by the business and make an evidence-based decision based on the primary activity of that business.
247. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this Bill is supported by an organisation (details supplied); if he will make a commitment to progress the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36442/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Private Members Bill cannot be supported by Government as the proposed changes would fundamentally undermine the very concept of industrial relations, a process essentially involving workers and their employers. My Department’s position was clearly set out in a detailed brief provided to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment following its pubic session scrutiny of the Bill on 25 January 2023. There has been no further correspondence from the Committee in relation to the Bill. As a Private Members Bill, it is a matter for the sponsoring deputies to progress the Bill.
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.
Currently, in the context of any changes to pension benefits payable from a scheme, the employer and the trustees of a pension scheme are required to notify scheme members, beneficiaries and authorised trade unions. Changes made to the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulations in 2015 require trustees to also notify groups representing the interests of pensioners and deferred scheme members in these situations. This affords the representative groups an opportunity to make a submission to the trustees of a pension scheme in advance of any proposed changes taking effect.
No case can, or should, be referred to the workplace relations bodies that comes within the remit of the Pension Ombudsman. The role of the Pensions Ombudsman, within the meaning of the Pensions Act, is to act in an independent and impartial means of resolving complaints alleging financial loss occasioned by an act of maladministration and disputes of fact or law in relation to occupational pensions schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts.
248. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost in 2025 if the capital funding for Innovation Partnership increased by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36542/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Innovation Partnership Programme is funded by my Department, though Enterprise Ireland (EI).
The Innovation Partnership programme offers financial support to companies who engage in collaborative research projects with research performing organisations (RPOs) such as Universities, or Technological Universities where the bulk of the R&D is carried out within the RPO. The programme provides grants of up to 80% towards eligible costs of the research project with a view to developing new products, services and cost efficiencies.
The Innovation Partnership Programme budget outturn for 2023 was €5,500,418 which comes from capital expenditure. Therefore, increasing the budget for Innovation Partnerships will only have impact if the companies have eligible projects to this value. The table below shows the cost of increasing this funding by 20% and the total expenditure inclusive of the rate of increase.
|
Innovation Partnership Programme (increase based on 2023 outturn) |
|
|
Budget outturn for 2023 |
€5,500,418 |
|
Cost of 20% increase |
€1,100,084 |
|
Total cost including increase |
€6,600,502 |
249. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the Enterprise Ireland office in Vietnam since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36543/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo support continued growth and business opportunities regionally, Enterprise Ireland (EI) established its representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2020. Amid the trend towards global diversification of supply chains in the manufacturing and processing industry, Vietnam is fast becoming a surging hub for FDI inflows in recent years.
The key objective of this EI office is to work with clients to ensure they are market-ready for Vietnam and that they have sufficient market intelligence in the Vietnam market, forming part of their overall internationalisation strategy.
Asia will be a central driver of future world growth dynamics, with economic forecasts (IMF 2023) suggesting that as much as 70% of global growth will come from the region. The economy of Vietnam is set to remain one of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) top performers since 2020, thanks to buoyant industrial activity, private consumption, and exports.
The EI Vietnam representative office is overseen by the Enterprise Ireland Director for ASEAN, based out of the Singapore office, with one staff member based in the Vietnam office as part of the wider team. Sectors of focus include International Education including Edutech, Financial Services and Fintech, High Tech Construction, Agritech, Life Sciences and Digital Health, Digital Technologies, IOT and Cybersecurity, Cleantech and Sustainability, Consumer Retail and Aviation.
EI’s Vietnam priorities, to deliver on 2024 growth objectives, will continue to focus on driving scale, proactively seeking new market opportunities, and assisting clients to build presence in market.
Enterprise Ireland in Vietnam facilitates and brokers introductions between client companies and key companies and decision-makers in the ASEAN region to achieve export growth. Scaling and diversification to the market is assisted through a one-to-one engagement with the market advisor in Vietnam. In addition to facilitating introductions and B2B meetings, EI provide support on market validation, competitor intelligence, value proposition, channel strategy, sales processes and establishing a market presence.
The work of EI in the region is also supported through Ministerial missions and events into Vietnam and wider ASEAN region, delegation visits from the region to Ireland, and many in-market events for clients.
Enterprise Ireland client companies' total exports to ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, increased to over €458 million in 2023 - growth of approximately 30% since 2018. Exports to Vietnam grew by 3% in 2023 to €43 million.
250. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost in 2025 if the capital funding for technology centres increased by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36544/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Technology Centre programme is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, which is funded by my Department, through Enterprise Ireland.
The programme allows Irish companies and multinationals to work together on market focused strategic R&D projects in collaboration with research institutions. Technology Centres are collaborative entities established and led by industry. Participating companies propose areas and themes of greatest relevance to them over a 3 to 5-year period and in response, the researchers develop solutions that respond to these needs.
The Technology Centre programme budget outturn for 2023 was €17,906,000 which comes from capital expenditure. The table below shows the cost of increasing this funding by 20% and the total expenditure inclusive of the rate of increase.
|
Technology Centres Programme (increase based on 2023 outturn) |
|
|
Budget outturn for 2023 |
€17,906,000 |
|
Cost for 20 % increase |
€3,581,200 |
|
Total cost including increase |
€21,487,200 |
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a work permit application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36663/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that to date no Employment Permit application for the person concerned in the details supplied has been received. It should be noted that it is not permissible for a company to employ a non-EEA national without an employment permit.
Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order.
The Employment Permits processing times are updated on a weekly basis at the following link: enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/.
There is also an Online Status Update Enquiry - where details on a particular application can be found on the following link: enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Employment-Permit-Status-Form/.
