Written Answers Nos. 1-23
1. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the progress of the annexe of actions contained with each annual climate action plan; to provide a breakdown of which actions are completed, are in progress and-or remain outstanding, by year, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [2821/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, updates of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) are published on an annual basis. They detail climate policies, measures and actions required to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in pursuit of statutory emissions reduction targets. CAPs detail specific actions that government departments, agencies and public bodies commit to take together with a timeline for the completion of each action.
To track delivery of actions, the Department of the Taoiseach prepares progress reports, in collaboration with implementing Departments. Attention is drawn to ‘high impact’ measures across all Progress Reports, highlighting those actions deemed to have the most significant emissions reduction and/or adaptation potential. Detail on every action due in that quarter is published as an Appendix to each report.
Once they are approved by Government, progress reports are published online. These reports, as well as detailed tables of actions completed and delayed since CAP19, are available online at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-publications/
To date:
· Six Progress Reports were produced under the Climate Action Plan 2019 . These reports show that, overall, 78% of the 500 measures in the Climate Action Plan 2019 due by end-2020 were completed.
· Four progress reports were produced under the Climate Action Plan 2021. Between Q4 2021 and Q4 2022, 79% of the 965 measures due for delivery were completed.
· Four progress reports were produced under Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) . These reports show that, between Q1 and Q4 2023, 65% of the 290 actions due for delivery in 2023 were completed.
· With the publication of Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP24) on 21 May 2024, progress reporting for Q1 and Q2 2024 was combined. This latest report highlights that 20 of the 33 new actions (c.61%) due in the first two quarters of 2024 under CAP24 were completed by the end of Q2.
In preparation of CAP23, a separate legacy exercise was conducted on all 205 delayed actions listed in the Q4 2022 Progress Report from CAP21. These actions were carried forward for consideration in drafting the new Annex of Actions for CAP23. A separate table was published that details how both delayed measures from 2022 and actions listed in CAP21 for delivery later than 2022 were accounted for in the preparation of CAP23 or if they were actioned elsewhere.
For CAP24, a report on legacy actions, those not completed in 2023, was published alongside the Q4 2023 Progress Report. Delayed actions deemed to be of higher impact were retained for progress reporting in Q1 2024 and beyond, until completion, alongside new CAP24 actions. By the end of Q2 2024 21 of 47 reportable legacy actions form CAP23 had been completed in the first half of 2024.
Publication of the Q3 2024 progress report under CAP24 (including reporting on legacy CAP23 actions) will be combined with results from Q4 2024 which are currently being compiled. Once finalised, this combined Q3/Q4 progress report will be presented to Government for its consideration and approval for publication.
The breakdown of all CAP actions that are completed, are in progress and/or remain outstanding, can be found online in detailed Excel tables at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-publications/
2. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Taoiseach the number of people on the live register in County Clare in November of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, by age, gender, occupation, nationality and duration, in tabular form. [3038/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Live Register series provides a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and other registrants as registered with the Department of Social Protection.
Table 1 below shows the number of persons on Live Register for County Clare classified by gender, age and duration of continuous registration for November 2020 to 2024.
Table 2 below shows the number of persons on Live Register for County Clare classified by nationality grouping for November 2020 to 2024.
Table 3 below shows the number of persons on Live Register for County Clare by last held occupation for November 2020 to 2024.
It should be noted that the Live Register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, and seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance.
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Table 1 Persons on the Live Register in Clare by Sex, Age and Duration, November 2020 - November 2024 |
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Year and Month |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 2020 |
November 2021 |
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
|||
|
Sex |
Age |
Duration |
|||||
|
All durations |
4,926 |
3,862 |
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
||
|
Less than one year |
2,960 |
1,971 |
3,467 |
2,808 |
2,217 |
||
|
All ages |
One year or more |
1,966 |
1,891 |
1,580 |
1,842 |
1,515 |
|
|
All durations |
550 |
361 |
517 |
455 |
374 |
||
|
Less than one year |
389 |
234 |
404 |
333 |
269 |
||
|
Under 25 years |
One year or more |
161 |
127 |
113 |
122 |
105 |
|
|
All durations |
4,376 |
3,501 |
4,530 |
4,195 |
3,358 |
||
|
Less than one year |
2,571 |
1,737 |
3,063 |
2,475 |
1,948 |
||
|
All |
25 years and over |
One year or more |
1,805 |
1,764 |
1,467 |
1,720 |
1,410 |
|
All durations |
2,704 |
2,069 |
2,537 |
2,333 |
1,960 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,564 |
951 |
1,620 |
1,355 |
1,112 |
||
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All ages |
One year or more |
1,140 |
1,118 |
917 |
978 |
848 |
|
|
All durations |
309 |
187 |
259 |
220 |
180 |
||
|
Less than one year |
218 |
111 |
200 |
156 |
128 |
||
|
Under 25 years |
One year or more |
91 |
76 |
59 |
64 |
52 |
|
|
All durations |
2,395 |
1,882 |
2,278 |
2,113 |
1,780 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,346 |
840 |
1,420 |
1,199 |
984 |
||
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Male |
25 years and over |
One year or more |
1,049 |
1,042 |
858 |
914 |
796 |
|
All durations |
2,222 |
1,793 |
2,510 |
2,317 |
1,772 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,396 |
1,020 |
1,847 |
1,453 |
1,105 |
||
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All ages |
One year or more |
826 |
773 |
663 |
864 |
667 |
|
|
All durations |
241 |
174 |
258 |
235 |
194 |
||
|
Less than one year |
171 |
123 |
204 |
177 |
141 |
||
|
Under 25 years |
One year or more |
70 |
51 |
54 |
58 |
53 |
|
|
All durations |
1,981 |
1,619 |
2,252 |
2,082 |
1,578 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,225 |
897 |
1,643 |
1,276 |
964 |
||
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Female |
25 years and over |
One year or more |
756 |
722 |
609 |
806 |
614 |
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Source: CSO Live Register |
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Table 2 Persons on the Live Register in Clare by Nationality, November 2020 - November 2024 |
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Year and Month |
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|
|
|
|
November 2020 |
November 2021 |
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
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|
Nationality |
|||||
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Irish nationals |
3,996 |
3,106 |
3,107 |
2,723 |
2,614 |
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Non-Irish nationals |
930 |
756 |
1,940 |
1,927 |
1,118 |
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of which: |
|||||
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EU 14 excl. Irl |
83 |
76 |
71 |
76 |
66 |
|
EU15 to EU27 |
432 |
321 |
322 |
286 |
284 |
|
United Kingdom |
268 |
221 |
207 |
197 |
197 |
|
Other |
147 |
138 |
1,340 |
1,368 |
571 |
|
Total Persons |
4,926 |
3,862 |
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
|
Source: CSO Live Register |
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Table 3 Persons on the Live Register in Clare by Last Held Occupation, November 2020 - November 2024 |
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Last Held Occupation |
Year and Month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 2020 |
November 2021 |
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
|
All broad occupational groups |
4,926 |
3,862 |
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
|
Managers and administrators |
197 |
158 |
123 |
122 |
122 |
|
Professional |
341 |
229 |
239 |
216 |
204 |
|
Associate professional and technical |
152 |
107 |
105 |
102 |
83 |
|
Clerical and secretarial |
579 |
429 |
401 |
337 |
329 |
|
Craft and related |
890 |
679 |
655 |
620 |
585 |
|
Personal and protective services |
960 |
702 |
693 |
742 |
574 |
|
Sales |
488 |
337 |
272 |
300 |
239 |
|
Plant and machine operatives |
490 |
331 |
298 |
298 |
276 |
|
Other broad occupational groups |
513 |
377 |
369 |
370 |
285 |
|
No occupation |
316 |
513 |
1,892 |
1,543 |
1,035 |
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Source: CSO Live Register |
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|
|
|
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
|
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
|
123 |
122 |
122 |
|
239 |
216 |
204 |
|
105 |
102 |
83 |
|
401 |
337 |
329 |
|
655 |
620 |
585 |
|
693 |
742 |
574 |
|
272 |
300 |
239 |
|
298 |
298 |
276 |
|
369 |
370 |
285 |
|
1,892 |
1,543 |
1,035 |
3. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if in cases of political corruption, members of the public have the right to request a review of a decision by the Director of Public Prosecution in the same manner as is available to a victim of a crime in a standard criminal investigation. [3136/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra4. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach the number of reviews of decisions to not prosecute requested from victims; the number of times this resulted in a decision that should be reversed and where there should be a prosecution. [3137/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, Section 2 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 explicitly provides that the Director of Public Prosecution shall be independent in the performance of her functions. One of the ways effect is given to this independence is that funding for the Director’s Office is provided through a separate Vote; Vote 5 – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. While I have a role in presenting Estimates for the DPP’s Vote to the Oireachtas annually, neither I nor my officials exercise any control in relation to how the Director discharges her functions.
I am advised by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that members of the public do not have the right to request a review of a decision by the DPP in the same manner that victims of crime can.
The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 establishes the rights of victims of crime to certain information and to certain protections during investigations and criminal proceedings. These include the right of victims to request reasons for decisions not to prosecute and subsequent reviews of those decisions.
The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act defines a ‘victim’ as:
(a) a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence
(b) family members of a person whose death was directly caused by a criminal offence and who have suffered harm as a result of that person’s death.
The Office of the DPP website also sets out who can ask the DPP for reasons for decisions not to prosecute, or reviews of those decisions as follows:
You can ask the DPP for reasons for a decision not to prosecute or for a review of that decision if you are:
• a victim of crime;
• a family member of a victim in a fatal case;
• a solicitor acting on behalf of either of the above.
More information on this matter can be found in Chapter 12 of the Guidelines for Prosecutors, published by the Office of the DPP.
Statistics on the number of requests for reviews of decisions not to prosecute requested by victims and the number of times that this has resulted in a reversal of the original decision are regularly published in the Office of the DPP’s Annual Reports.
For ease of reference, below is an extract from the 2023 Annual Report:
|
- |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
|
Decision Upheld |
198 |
236 |
206 |
|
Decision Overturned |
10 |
10 |
6 |
|
Invalid Request * |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
Pending (as of May 2024) |
10 |
1 |
2 |
|
TOTAL requests received for review of a decision |
223 |
248 |
215 |
* An invalid request would include, for example, a request to review a decision not to prosecute made by An Garda Síochána and not by the Office of the DPP.
5. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Taoiseach the number of people on the live register in County Clare in November of each year from 2020 to 2024, inclusive, by age, gender, occupation, nationality, and duration, in tabular form. [3341/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Live Register series provides a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and other registrants as registered with the Department of Social Protection.
Table 1 below shows the number of persons on Live Register for County Clare classified by gender, age and duration of continuous registration for November 2020 to 2024.
Table 2 below shows the number of persons on Live Register for County Clare classified by nationality grouping for November 2020 to 2024.
Table 3 below shows the number of persons on Live Register for County Clare by last held occupation for November 2020 to 2024.
It should be noted that the Live Register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, and seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance.
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Table 1 Persons on the Live Register in Clare by Sex, Age and Duration, November 2020 - November 2024 |
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Year and Month |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
November 2020 |
November 2021 |
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
|||
|
Sex |
Age |
Duration |
|||||
|
All durations |
4,926 |
3,862 |
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
||
|
Less than one year |
2,960 |
1,971 |
3,467 |
2,808 |
2,217 |
||
|
All ages |
One year or more |
1,966 |
1,891 |
1,580 |
1,842 |
1,515 |
|
|
All durations |
550 |
361 |
517 |
455 |
374 |
||
|
Less than one year |
389 |
234 |
404 |
333 |
269 |
||
|
Under 25 years |
One year or more |
161 |
127 |
113 |
122 |
105 |
|
|
All durations |
4,376 |
3,501 |
4,530 |
4,195 |
3,358 |
||
|
Less than one year |
2,571 |
1,737 |
3,063 |
2,475 |
1,948 |
||
|
All |
25 years and over |
One year or more |
1,805 |
1,764 |
1,467 |
1,720 |
1,410 |
|
All durations |
2,704 |
2,069 |
2,537 |
2,333 |
1,960 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,564 |
951 |
1,620 |
1,355 |
1,112 |
||
|
All ages |
One year or more |
1,140 |
1,118 |
917 |
978 |
848 |
|
|
All durations |
309 |
187 |
259 |
220 |
180 |
||
|
Less than one year |
218 |
111 |
200 |
156 |
128 |
||
|
Under 25 years |
One year or more |
91 |
76 |
59 |
64 |
52 |
|
|
All durations |
2,395 |
1,882 |
2,278 |
2,113 |
1,780 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,346 |
840 |
1,420 |
1,199 |
984 |
||
|
Male |
25 years and over |
One year or more |
1,049 |
1,042 |
858 |
914 |
796 |
|
All durations |
2,222 |
1,793 |
2,510 |
2,317 |
1,772 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,396 |
1,020 |
1,847 |
1,453 |
1,105 |
||
|
All ages |
One year or more |
826 |
773 |
663 |
864 |
667 |
|
|
All durations |
241 |
174 |
258 |
235 |
194 |
||
|
Less than one year |
171 |
123 |
204 |
177 |
141 |
||
|
Under 25 years |
One year or more |
70 |
51 |
54 |
58 |
53 |
|
|
All durations |
1,981 |
1,619 |
2,252 |
2,082 |
1,578 |
||
|
Less than one year |
1,225 |
897 |
1,643 |
1,276 |
964 |
||
|
Female |
25 years and over |
One year or more |
756 |
722 |
609 |
806 |
614 |
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Source: CSO Live Register |
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Table 3 Persons on the Live Register in Clare by Last Held Occupation, November 2020 - November 2024 |
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Last Held Occupation |
Year and Month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 2020 |
November 2021 |
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
|
All broad occupational groups |
4,926 |
3,862 |
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
|
Managers and administrators |
197 |
158 |
123 |
122 |
122 |
|
Professional |
341 |
229 |
239 |
216 |
204 |
|
Associate professional and technical |
152 |
107 |
105 |
102 |
83 |
|
Clerical and secretarial |
579 |
429 |
401 |
337 |
329 |
|
Craft and related |
890 |
679 |
655 |
620 |
585 |
|
Personal and protective services |
960 |
702 |
693 |
742 |
574 |
|
Sales |
488 |
337 |
272 |
300 |
239 |
|
Plant and machine operatives |
490 |
331 |
298 |
298 |
276 |
|
Other broad occupational groups |
513 |
377 |
369 |
370 |
285 |
|
No occupation |
316 |
513 |
1,892 |
1,543 |
1,035 |
|
Source: CSO Live Register |
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|
|
|
|
November 2022 |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
|
5,047 |
4,650 |
3,732 |
|
123 |
122 |
122 |
|
239 |
216 |
204 |
|
105 |
102 |
83 |
|
401 |
337 |
329 |
|
655 |
620 |
585 |
|
693 |
742 |
574 |
|
272 |
300 |
239 |
|
298 |
298 |
276 |
|
369 |
370 |
285 |
|
1,892 |
1,543 |
1,035 |
6. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons aged 15 to 89 years in employment in County Clare for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, inclusive, in tabular form. [3377/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra7. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Taoiseach the employment rate in County Clare for those aged 15 to 64 years for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, inclusive, by gender, in tabular form. [3378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra8. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons aged 15 to 89 years in employment classified by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector in County Clare for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, inclusive. [3379/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra9. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons aged 15 to 89 years in employment classified by gender and full-time or part-time status in County Clare for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, inclusive, in tabular form. [3380/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together.
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2024. The tables for this response use Q2 as the reference period for the year.
Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates from the LFS. Regional estimates of employment are produced by NUTS 3 level. NUTS are the geocode standard developed and regulated by Eurostat.
The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes counties Clare, Tipperary, Limerick City and County.
The current NUTS 3 classification for Ireland, incorporating changes made under the Local Government Act 2014, is available from 2012 onwards in respect of LFS statistics.
Employment figures in Co. Clare
Table 1 shows the total number of persons in employment (ILO) in the Mid-west region 15-89 years, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
Table 2 shows the employment rate (ILO) of persons in the Mid-West region aged 15-64 years by sex, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
Table 3 shows the number of persons in employment (ILO) aged 15-89 years in the Mid-West region by NACE Rev. 2 economic sector, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
Table 4 shows the number of persons in employment (ILO) aged 15-89 years in the Mid-West region, by sex and FTPT status, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
|
Table 1 Number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) in the Mid-West region, Q2 2012 - Q2 2024, 000s |
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|
|||||
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|
Q2 2012 |
Q2 2013 |
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2015 |
Q2 2016 |
Q2 2017 |
Q2 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
Q2 2020 |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
|
Persons in employment |
189.4 |
192.2 |
193.6 |
200.2 |
206.9 |
219.4 |
218.0 |
221.1 |
205.3 |
231.6 |
252.3 |
255.3 |
267.2 |
|
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland. |
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Data may be subject to future revision. |
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Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change. |
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Table 2 Employment rate of persons in the Mid-West region aged 15 - 64 years (ILO) by sex, Q2 2012 - Q2 2024, % |
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|
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|
|
|
|
Q2 2012 |
Q2 2013 |
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2015 |
Q2 2016 |
Q2 2017 |
Q2 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
Q2 2020 |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
|
|
Male |
62.6% |
63.8% |
66.1% |
68.7% |
71.0% |
73.5% |
72.4% |
70.8% |
67.1% |
73.6% |
78.3% |
77.0% |
76.9% |
|
Female |
54.8% |
56.9% |
56.1% |
57.4% |
60.0% |
63.9% |
58.9% |
62.6% |
56.3% |
62.7% |
68.2% |
67.5% |
69.7% |
|
All |
58.7% |
60.4% |
61.1% |
63.0% |
65.5% |
68.7% |
65.7% |
66.7% |
61.7% |
68.2% |
73.2% |
72.2% |
73.2% |
|
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland. |
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Data may be subject to future revision. |
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Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change. |
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10. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach the measures his Department is taking to encourage civil servants in his Department to take or avail of special leave or career breaks or other forms of leave to encourage and facilitate Ireland's 2026 EU Presidency, the Government "Career for EU" jobs strategy, and the Department's Gaeilge-Irish language policy and promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2498/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra11. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach the number of requests to his Department, including the Office of the Attorney General and Government agencies, that have granted requests for various matters (details supplied); the number of such requests that have been refused; and the grounds on which they have been refused. [2499/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The Department of the Taoiseach is supportive of staff availing of special leave or career breaks to take up roles within the European Institutions. Circular 04/2013 sets out the career break scheme for the civil service and is available to all eligible staff in the Department and in the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of the Department.
Several opportunities are available for staff at the Department of the Taoiseach, including the Seconded National Expert (SNE) vacancies for positions in the European Commission which are administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Notices of these vacancies are posted on the Department’s intranet site monthly. The National Experts in Professional Training (NEPT) programme is a bi-annual training scheme where serving civil and public servants have an opportunity to work in the European Commission for a period of three to five months. This programme is also administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and circulated to staff working in the Department of the Taoiseach and NESDO. These programmes provide officials with a first-hand experience of working in the European Commission. The Department has one staff member currently seconded to the European Commission. The National Economic and Social Development Office has no staff on special leave/career break during the period in question.
The Department is currently awaiting the publication of the first of two action plans for the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services which it will engage with fully. The Department will continue to fulfil its obligations under the Official Languages Act following the final provisions of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 which came into effect on 21 December 2024.
12. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Taoiseach if he will publish the ministerial brief he received following the recent formation of the Government. [2769/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was not provided with a ministerial briefing document following the recent formation of the Government. Since the Government was formed I have had a number of meetings with the senior officials in my Department dealing with a range of policy issues.
13. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Taoiseach the number of persons aged 15 to 89 years in employment in County Clare for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, in tabular form. [2963/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra14. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Taoiseach to list, by sex, the employment rate in County Clare for those aged 15 to 64 years for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, in tabular form. [2964/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra15. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Taoiseach the number of persons aged 15 to 89 years in employment classified by NACE Rev. 2 Economic Sector in County Clare for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, in tabular form. [2965/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra16. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Taoiseach the number of persons aged 15 to 89 years in employment classified by sex and full- or part-time status in County Clare for each of the years from 2011 to 2024, in tabular form. [2966/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 16, inclusive, together.
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2024.
Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates from the LFS. Regional estimates of employment are produced by NUTS 3 level. NUTS are the geocode standard developed and regulated by Eurostat.
The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes counties Clare, Tipperary, Limerick City and County.
The current NUTS 3 classification for Ireland, incorporating changes made under the Local Government Act 2014, is available from 2012 onwards in respect of LFS statistics.
The tables for this response use Q2 as the reference period for the year.
Table 1 shows the total number of persons in employment (ILO) in the Mid-west region 15-89 years, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
Table 2 shows the employment rate (ILO) of persons in the Mid-West region aged 15-64 years by sex, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
Table 3 shows the number of persons in employment (ILO) aged 15-89 years in the Mid-West region by NACE Rev. 2 economic sector, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024.
Table 4 shows the number of persons in employment (ILO) aged 15-89 years in the Mid-West region, by sex and FTPT status, Q2 2012 – Q2 2024
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Table 1 Number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) in the Mid-West region, Q2 2012 - Q2 2024, 000s |
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Q2 2012 |
Q2 2013 |
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2015 |
Q2 2016 |
Q2 2017 |
Q2 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
Q2 2020 |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
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Persons in employment |
189.4 |
192.2 |
193.6 |
200.2 |
206.9 |
219.4 |
218.0 |
221.1 |
205.3 |
231.6 |
252.3 |
255.3 |
267.2 |
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Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland. |
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Data may be subject to future revision. |
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Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change. |
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Table 2 Employment rate of persons in the Mid-West region aged 15 - 64 years (ILO) by sex, Q2 2012 - Q2 2024, % |
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- |
Q2 2012 |
Q2 2013 |
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2015 |
Q2 2016 |
Q2 2017 |
Q2 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
Q2 2020 |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
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Male |
62.6% |
63.8% |
66.1% |
68.7% |
71.0% |
73.5% |
72.4% |
70.8% |
67.1% |
73.6% |
78.3% |
77.0% |
76.9% |
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Female |
54.8% |
56.9% |
56.1% |
57.4% |
60.0% |
63.9% |
58.9% |
62.6% |
56.3% |
62.7% |
68.2% |
67.5% |
69.7% |
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All |
58.7% |
60.4% |
61.1% |
63.0% |
65.5% |
68.7% |
65.7% |
66.7% |
61.7% |
68.2% |
73.2% |
72.2% |
73.2% |
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Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland. |
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Data may be subject to future revision. |
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Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change. |
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17. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Taoiseach to provide a schedule of special advisers attached to him, as of 29 January 2025; and the official grade and-or title held by that special adviser. [3006/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra21. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach to list the composition of his private office, inclusive of the grade and increment of each civil servant assigned to the office; whether they are located in the private or constituency office; and the value of any allowance paid to those individuals and the purpose of each allowance. [3277/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 21 together.
I intend to put in place a team of advisers to support me in my role as Taoiseach and Head of Government. While I have not yet finalised the make-up of my Team, at present it consists of a Chief of Staff at Deputy Secretary level; a Deputy Chief of Staff at Assistant Secretary level; and five Special Advisers at Principal Officer level. All of these appointments will be subject to Government approval over the coming weeks following which the relevant contracts, statements of qualifications, and statements of relationship will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The following established civil servants are assigned to the Taoiseach's Private Office: a Private Secretary at Assistant Principal (Acting) level with an allowance of €29,466 (modified); two Assistant Private Secretaries at Higher Executive Officer level with allowances of €24,952 (PPC) and €23,707 (modified); one Assistant Private Secretary at Executive Officer level with an allowance of €24,952 (PPC); a Diary Secretary at Executive Officer level; and six Clerical Officers. An Executive Officer and two Clerical Officers are assigned to the Taoiseach's Constituency Office.
18. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Taoiseach if his Department or any body under its aegis currently outsources cleaning services and-or service officer or security officer roles to private companies; and the value and length of any related contract, by body, in tabular form. [3205/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra19. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Taoiseach if his Department or any body under its aegis currently directly employs cleaners and-or service officers; if so, the number of staff employed in each role; and the value and length of any related contract, by body, in tabular form. [3223/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
Neither the Department of the Taoiseach nor the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only body under the aegis of the Department, currently outsource any service officer or security officer roles to private companies.
While the Department occasionally engages cleaners on an ad hoc basis for carpet cleaning and paving stone cleaning, the only cleaning service outsourced on a formal contract basis relates to window cleaning. This service is currently under a two year contract the value of which is €15,000.
NESDO outsources cleaning services as part of a contract which is shared with the four tenants in the building where it is located. The length of the contract is from 7th March 2024 to 3rd January 2026 and NESDO’s portion of the costs to December 2024 was €9,446.73.
The number of staff directly employed by the Department of the Taoiseach in the grades referred to in the question are highlighted in the table below. The current salary rates for General Service Grades used by the Department are set out in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 14/2024. NESDO does not directly employ any staff in these grades.
|
Role |
No. of Staff |
WTE |
|
Services Officer |
9 |
8.2 |
|
Services Attendant |
2 |
2 |
|
Cleaner |
7 |
7 |
|
Total |
18 |
17.2 |
20. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the total value of the annual mileage claims for each Minister of State assigned to his Department in 2023 and 2024, respectively; to provide a breakdown for each year of the individual claims; and the annual cost of overnight allowances related to the civilian drivers of each relevant Minister of State in 2023 and 2024. [3259/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two Ministers of State assigned to the Department of the Taoiseach - the Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for European Affairs.
The Department recoups all mileage expenditure incurred by Ministers of State that relates to their role with other Departments.
The Department of the Taoiseach incurred no expenditure on mileage in respect of any Minister of State in 2023 and 2024.
The Civilian Drivers for the Minister of State for European Affairs are employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
From January 2024, Garda Drivers were assigned to the Government Chief Whip. The below table details overnight allowances paid by the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of Civilian Drivers for Government Chief Whip prior to this change.
|
Year |
Annual cost of overnight allowances |
|
2023 |
€15,865 |
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2024* |
€529 |
*This payment, made in 2024, relates to overnight allowances incurred in December 2023.
22. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach if the interdepartmental group on the Dublin City Taskforce has considered the proposed funding mechanism contained within the Dublin City Taskforce report of lifting the derogation for rates on State buildings. [3465/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs agreed by Government, the Department of the Taoiseach has convened an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to examine the Taskforce’s recommendations. The IDG is currently preparing a Report for consideration by Government in due course.
23. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of requests to his Department that were granted for various matters (details supplied); the number of such requests that have been refused; and the grounds on which they were refused. [2499/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra55. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures his Department is taking to encourage civil servants in his Department to take or avail of special leave or career breaks or other forms of leave to encourage and facilitate Ireland's 2026 EU Presidency, the Government "Career for EU" jobs strategy, and the Department's Gaeilge-Irish language policy and promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3935/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 55 together.
Secondments within the civil service are subject to the principles outlined in the Civil Service Secondments Policy and ‘Circular 27/2021: Secondment Policy for the Civil Service’. Moreover, in 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs adopted a ‘Secondments Policy’ which maintains the Department’s commitment to supporting strategically targeted secondments and other temporary reassignment opportunities outside the Department. The Policy recognises the value these opportunities offer to build the Department’s capacity to deliver its objectives.
There are currently seven officers from my Department on special leave to work at EU institutions. These officers are availing of special leave arrangements as outlined in ‘Circular 33/1991: Special leave without pay to take up an appointment with institution of the European Communities or other international organisation of which Ireland is a member’.
In addition, six officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs are currently Seconded National Experts (SNEs) at EU Institutions, including in posts that are of strategic value for Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Seconded National Experts (SNEs) provide EU and international institutions with specialised expertise from Member States' administrations, while fostering knowledge exchange with national authorities. SNEs must come from Government Departments or public sector bodies. These Secondments are typically two years, and can be extended for up to four years.
Furthermore, as part of the Department’s planning for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 there is currently one officer seconded to the Federal Foreign Office of Germany in Berlin, and one officer seconded to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France in Paris. The Department is continuing to identify and prioritise secondment opportunities for officers in the Department of Foreign Affairs both in EU institutions, and other international organisations of importance to Ireland in advance of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.
Under the "A Career for EU" strategy, the Government increased funding for the Centrally Funded Scheme to support 50 Irish civil servants annually in EU Institutions, up from 24 in May 2021. Administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, this scheme allows Departments to recoup costs for strategically seconded officers and hence backfill positions vacated at home. Funding was €3.5 million for 2023 and €4 million for 2024. In the course of 2024, 47 SNEs were supported under the Centrally Funded Scheme, with 39 of these in place in December 2024. The objective under the strategy is to support 50 SNEs annually and we will continue to work towards this goal. The scheme does not replace individual Departments’ own funding of SNEs but rather adds to Ireland’s existing efforts to strategically place people in EU and other international organisations.
I am not aware of any Department of Foreign Affairs officials who are availing of career breaks or special leave in order to promote the Irish language. The Department does support a number of officers to undertake Irish language classes each year. Currently 14 officers are enrolled in Irish language training classes. More generally, officials of my Department are engaged in a wide range of activities across the world that promote the Irish language.
