Written Answers Nos. 1-5
1. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach the number of persons recorded as unemployed for 12 months or more; of those, the numbers unemployed for 24 months or more and those unemployed for at least three years, four years and five years. [53079/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of labour market estimates for the State. The most recent LFS figures available are for Q2 2025.
Table 1 contains LFS estimates for unemployed persons broken down by duration of unemployment from Q2 2015 to Q2 2025.
In Q2 2025, there were 31,800 persons in the State in long-term unemployment (one year or longer). Of this number, 17,100 persons were in unemployment for two years or longer; and 8,400* persons were in unemployment for four years or longer.
*This estimate should be treated with caution as it is based on a low number of observations – see footnote in Table 1.
Table 1 Unemployed persons (ILO) 15-74 yrs by duration of unemployment, Q2 2015 - Q2 2025, 000s
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
000s |
|
|
Q2 2015 |
Q2 2016 |
Q2 2017 |
Q2 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
Q2 2020 |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
Q2 2025 |
|
Unemployed for less than one year |
103.6 |
101.3 |
79.0 |
90.5 |
87.8 |
92.5 |
126.5 |
84.1 |
84.6 |
99.4 |
105.0 |
|
Unemployed for one year or more |
124.9 |
102.1 |
73.8 |
48.9 |
41.1 |
25.8 |
50.3 |
31.7 |
32.3 |
26.9 |
31.8 |
|
Unemployed for two years or more |
91.6 |
69.9 |
51.4 |
32.1 |
25.0 |
12.5 |
17.8 |
21.5 |
20.6 |
13.5 |
17.1 |
|
Unemployed for four years or more |
51.8 |
45.5 |
28.0 |
19.1 |
12.7 |
[7.5] |
[10.8] |
[6.4] |
11.1 |
[8.6] |
[8.4] |
|
Not stated |
5.5 |
7.9 |
7.9 |
[6.4] |
* |
* |
[9.6] |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
All unemployed persons |
234.1 |
211.3 |
160.8 |
145.9 |
132.2 |
122.6 |
186.4 |
121.1 |
122.2 |
131.2 |
140.8 |
Source: Labour Force Survey, Central Statistics Office.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses []. In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Reference period: q2 Apr-Jun.
2. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Taoiseach if public sector employers, colleges and public bodies have moved to 20% home and remote working as per the Making Remote Work strategy. [52681/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of labour market estimates for the State. The most recent LFS figures available are for Q2 2025.
The LFS does not contain a breakdown of public sector vs private sector employment. NACE sections O - Public Administration and Defence, P – Education and Q - Human Health and Social Work Activities include persons employed in the public sector. It should be noted that Sections P and Q also include private sector employment.
The LFS contains a question asking the extent that people work from home. Those who work more than half the time from home are coded ‘Mainly works from home’, those who work more than one hour per week, but less than half the time from home are coded ‘Sometimes works from home’. The aggregate of these two codes is ‘At least some work from home’. The survey does not ask whether working from home is possible based on the nature of their work.
Table 1 contains estimates for the numbers of people in employment by selected NACE economic sector and extent of working from home.
In Q2 2025, 780,100 people were employed in NACE sections O - Public Administration and Defence, P – Education and Q - Human Health and Social Work Activities. Of these, 256,400 undertook at least some of their work from home - 101,100 mainly worked from home and 155,300 sometimes worked from home.
Table 1 Persons in employment (ILO) by economic sector and extent of working from home, 000s
|
NACE economic sector |
Extent of working from home |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
Q2 2025 |
|
|
Mainly works at home |
67.5 |
50.4 |
38.7 |
43.8 |
37.8 |
|
|
Sometimes works at home |
10.8 |
19.9 |
35.6 |
37.9 |
39.4 |
|
|
At least some work from home |
78.3 |
70.3 |
74.3 |
81.7 |
77.2 |
|
|
Never works at home |
52.6 |
59.6 |
70.0 |
70.1 |
68.6 |
|
|
Not stated |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Section O Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security |
All persons |
131.1 |
130.2 |
144.7 |
152.1 |
146.3 |
|
|
Mainly works at home |
73.3 |
43.6 |
33.3 |
32.1 |
30.8 |
|
|
Sometimes works at home |
43.2 |
49.0 |
53.9 |
60.7 |
72.7 |
|
|
At least some work from home |
116.5 |
92.6 |
87.2 |
92.8 |
103.5 |
|
|
Never works at home |
99.0 |
127.4 |
132.7 |
139.7 |
138.1 |
|
|
Not stated |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Section P Education |
All persons |
216.4 |
220.7 |
221.4 |
233.2 |
242.7 |
|
|
Mainly works at home |
40.9 |
30.7 |
23.9 |
28.1 |
32.5 |
|
|
Sometimes works at home |
23.7 |
34.1 |
36.8 |
42.9 |
43.3 |
|
|
At least some work from home |
64.6 |
64.8 |
60.7 |
71.0 |
75.8 |
|
|
Never works at home |
245.7 |
274.7 |
296.8 |
305.2 |
314.5 |
|
|
Not stated |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Section Q Human Health and Social Work Activities |
All persons |
312.2 |
340.3 |
358.0 |
376.6 |
391.1 |
|
|
Mainly works at home |
181.8 |
124.8 |
95.8 |
104.0 |
101.1 |
|
|
Sometimes works at home |
77.7 |
103.1 |
126.3 |
141.5 |
155.3 |
|
|
At least some work from home |
259.5 |
227.9 |
222.1 |
245.5 |
256.4 |
|
|
Never works at home |
397.3 |
461.7 |
499.5 |
514.9 |
521.2 |
|
|
Not stated |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Sections O, P and Q |
All persons |
659.7 |
691.2 |
724.1 |
761.9 |
780.1 |
|
|
Mainly works at home |
774.3 |
643.0 |
547.6 |
553.6 |
555.5 |
|
|
Sometimes works at home |
178.4 |
279.4 |
360.5 |
399.3 |
457.6 |
|
|
At least some work from home |
952.7 |
922.4 |
908.1 |
952.9 |
1013.1 |
|
|
Never works at home |
1419.0 |
1672.6 |
1767.9 |
1794.1 |
1795.6 |
|
|
Not stated |
[10.5] |
[6.3] |
[6.8] |
[7.2] |
9.3 |
|
All persons |
All persons |
2382.2 |
2601.2 |
2682.7 |
2754.2 |
2818.1 |
Source: Labour Force Survey, Central Statistics Office.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses []. In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Reference period: q2 Apr-Jun.
3. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the number of persons in receipt of sub-minima rates of pay for those aged 17, 18 and 19 years, in tabular form. [53298/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State.
The LFS produces estimates for the number of employees who report earning the national minimum wage as well as those who indicate they have gross hourly earnings which do not exceed the national minimum wage.
In Q2 2025 there were 28,500 employees, aged 17-19 years, who reported that they earned the national minimum wage of €13.50 per hour, with a further 18,600 reporting that they earned less than the national minimum wage. The total number of employees in this age cohort in Q2 2025 was 74,600.
Number of employees aged 17 - 19 years earning the National Minimum Wage or less, Q2 2021 - Q2 2025 '000s
|
- |
Q2 2021 |
Q2 2022 |
Q2 2023 |
Q2 2024 |
Q2 2025 |
|
Employees reporting earning less than National Minimum Wage |
8.8 |
14.7 |
17.4 |
15.7 |
18.6 |
|
Employees reporting earning National Minimum Wage |
20.2 |
25.4 |
25.5 |
26.1 |
28.5 |
|
Total employees reporting earning National Minimum Wage or less |
29.0 |
40.2 |
42.9 |
41.8 |
47.1 |
|
Employees reporting earning more than National Minimum Wage |
15.9 |
28.3 |
30.9 |
27.9 |
21.6 |
|
Not stated |
* |
[6.6] |
[5.8] |
* |
[5.9] |
|
Total employees |
50.0 |
75.1 |
79.6 |
74.6 |
74.6 |
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Estimates for number of persons, where there are less than 30 persons in a cell, are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables. Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses. In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Reference period: Q2 Apr-Jun
4. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he has used transport modes other than a car on the island of Ireland; and, if so, to outline what those modes are and the frequency of use since his appointment as Taoiseach, in tabular form. [53404/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy ground transport for the purposes of domestic travel is provided by An Garda Síochána.
This is the only mode of transport I routinely use, and have used, since taking up the role of Taoiseach.
5. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach for an update on his engagements at the seventh summit of the European Political Community. [53917/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended a European Political Community (EPC) summit on 2 October in Copenhagen, Denmark, hosted by the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen.
This was the seventh meeting of the EPC, an informal forum which brings together around 50 leaders from across the continent of Europe to discuss issues of shared concern.
The opening plenary session focused on Ukraine, the general security situation in Europe and making Europe stronger and more secure.
I co-chaired a Roundtable discussion among Leaders on Economic Security with the Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir. There was considerable common ground on the need to underpin the rules-based international order; to support free, fair, and rules-based international trade; to reduce our economic dependencies and vulnerabilities; and to increase our cooperation with reliable economic partners. The EPC involves a wider group than the EU, and I strongly support efforts to cooperate more closely with its members. I reported our work back to the closing Plenary.
I also joined many of my colleagues in endorsing a new initiative – the European Coalition against Drugs – led by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, and aimed at strengthening our cooperation in combatting drug trafficking and drug-related threats in Europe.
I had bilateral meetings with President Jakov Milatovic of Montenegro, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store of Norway, Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir of Iceland, and President Maia Sandu of Moldova. These meetings were a valuable opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and shared opportunities. I especially congratulated President Sandu on the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections in Moldova which demonstrated strong support for its continuing journey towards EU membership despite considerable interference in its democratic debate by malign external actors.
The EPC will convene again in Armenia in the first half of 2026, and Ireland looks forward to hosting a meeting in Ireland in the second half of next year, during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.
