Written Answers Nos. 560-580
560. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the assessments that are carried out to determine the level of Exchequer funding that any NGO receives from his Department on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11832/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe only NGO funded by my Department since 2022 has been the Irish Red Cross. This funding comes from the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme (EHFS).
This scheme designed to assist small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations, that have been impacted by flooding due to a severe weather event. The EHFS provides a contribution towards the cost of returning a business premises or community, voluntary or sports organisation to its pre-flooding condition. The scheme is for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations, that through no fault of their own cannot secure flood insurance.
There are two payment stages; an initial payment of up to €5,000 and then a second payment subject to an assessment of the damages by an independent, professional assessor. The total funding available is capped at a maximum of €20,000 (or €100,000 for the current Enhanced Scheme) per small business or community, voluntary or sporting body. These funds may be used to replace damaged flooring, fixtures and fittings, and stock, with the aim of enabling businesses to reopen as soon as possible.
The EHFS is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department. This relationship is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department and the Irish Red Cross that is drafted annually and signed by both parties. The MOU sets out the terms and conditions of the EHFS.
Initially the Irish Red Cross makes payments and then requests reimbursement from the Department. They may request an interim payment at a mid-point in the scheme, and then a final payment when the scheme is closed. The interim and final invoices that the Irish Red Cross submit to the Department must be accompanied by an Interim or Final Report about the particular scheme.
561. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding any direct lobbying he has received from any NGO in relation to his annual funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11855/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny lobbying received by me has to be registered by the lobbyist as per Regulation of Lobbying legislation on the Lobbying Return Register.
The Standards Commission is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Register which is available at [www.lobbying.ie]
562. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the systems in place to agree performance metrics of Chief Executives of agencies within the aegis of his Department; the way in which these are measured; the person or body that carries out the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11957/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies places responsibility for managing and supervising Chief Executive performance with the relevant State body Board. Each agency is the legal employer of its staff and is responsible for the terms and conditions outlined in its contracts with staff. The Code of Practice states that the Board is “collectively responsible for leading and directing the State body’s activities” and “the Board is responsible for holding the CEO and senior management to account for the effective performance of their responsibilities”. Each of the agencies conduct regular reviews of Board Effectiveness, which are refenced in their annual reports.
The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation provides templates for CEO contracts and Conditions of Service, and all CEO contracts must be sent to DPEIPSRD for approval prior to circulation to, and signature from, the candidate.
While my Department does not appraise Chief Executive performance directly, it evaluates whether the agencies meet the performance commitments in the Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreements (OPDAs) which are in place with each agency. Under the separation of roles, my Department sets the framework for performance (OPDA), while the Board holds the organisation and management to account. To monitor agency performance, my Department has regular engagement at official level with the agencies including quarterly liaison meetings with each agency where performance and targets are discussed as standing items, an annual agency business plan meeting with my Department’s Management Board, bi-annual meetings between the agency Chief Executives and the Management Board and an annual meeting between the agency Chairs and relevant Minister.
563. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a list maintained by IDA of Nevada Headquartered companies with operations in Ireland. [12066/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCentral to IDA Ireland’s strategy, ‘Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation, 2025-29’ is an emphasis on partnering with the existing base of 1,800 clients from across the globe to identify opportunities to safeguard and strengthen their long-term investment in Ireland. IDA supports clients to increase the competitiveness of their Irish operations through investment in research, development & innovation, digitalisation, talent development and sustainability, positioning them to capture new growth opportunities.
The strategy also includes an ongoing focus on identifying new opportunities associated with FDI growth drivers of AI & digital, semiconductors, sustainability and health. These growth drivers are well aligned to the core sectors and territories in Ireland’s existing FDI base and will help shape IDA’s continued focus on attracting new investment to Ireland.
IDA Ireland enjoys strong partnerships with US investors and these partnerships have been built over many decades. The US is Ireland’s largest source of FDI, with over 900 client operations employing more than 210,000 people.
Ireland is home to 5 companies headquartered from Neveda:
|
Company Name |
US HQ |
|
Cascade Designs Limited |
NV |
|
CTRL IQ (CIQ) |
NV |
|
PDL Biopharma (Noden Pharma) |
NV |
|
Salted Stone |
NV |
|
Scientific Games Worldwide |
NV |
564. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department is considering measures to compel watermarking on AI-generated images and videos;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12088/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As Artificial Intelligence technologies become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, it is essential that citizens can distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content. It is also fundamental to maintaining public trust and enabling citizens to make informed decisions in an age where AI-generated media can be virtually indistinguishable from authentic content.
The EU AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, establishes harmonised rules for Artificial Intelligence across the European Union. Notably, the AI Act introduces specific transparency obligations for providers of certain AI systems that generate or manipulate image, audio, or video content - including generative and interactive AI.
These rules will become applicable in August 2026 and aim to reduce the risk of misinformation, fraud, impersonation, and consumer deception by fostering trust in the information ecosystem. Under the AI Act (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/regulatory-framework-ai), content such as deepfakes and certain AI-generated text and other synthetic material must be clearly marked as such, in a machine-readable format and detectable as artificially generated or manipulated at the point of consumption by a person or another system. This applies to text, image, audio, and video content.
In November 2025, as part of the implementation of the EU AI Act, the European Commission launched work on a code of practice on the marking and labelling of AI-generated content. The work brings together independent experts appointed by the European AI Office, marks the beginning of an inclusive, seven-month, stakeholder-driven process to draft the code. The independent experts are currently leading the process, using input from the public consultation (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launches-consultation-develop-guidelines-and-code-practice-transparent-ai-systems) and stakeholders selected through an open call. My Department along with representatives from other national authorities involved in the AI Act are participating and monitoring developments in this work.
The Code of Practice aims to help providers of generative AI systems effectively meet their transparency obligations. It will support the marking of AI-generated content, including synthetic audio, images, video and text, in machine-readable formats to enable detection. The Code will also assist deployers using deepfakes or AI-generated content in clearly disclosing AI involvement, particularly when informing the public on matters of public interest.
In addition to these measures, the AI Act also places obligations on the providers of General Purpose AI models to provide summary details of the data used to train their models.
My Department, which is leading the national implementation of EU AI Act, has been actively progressing Ireland's preparations for he full implementation of the AI Act. Government decisions in March and July 2025 approved the adoption of a distributed model of regulation for the AI Act in Ireland, leveraging existing framework of regulatory bodies in Ireland. To date, thirteen public bodies have been designated as market surveillance authorities (MSA) and four as notifying authorities (NA), with some of those public bodies having a dual role as both an MSA and an NA.
While the EU Regulation has direct legal effect in EU Member States, domestic legislation is required to establish a suitable supervision and enforcement regime that enables competent authorities regulate AI at a national level. In January 2026, Government approved priority drafting of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill, on the basis of the General Scheme prepared by my Department. The General Scheme proposes to establish a new statutory independent body – the AI Office of Ireland - under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, to act as the Single Point of Contact and central coordinating authority for the implementation and enforcement of the EU AI Act in the State. The General Scheme also provides for the empowerment of Competent Authorities as approved by the aforementioned Government decisions, and lays out rules on penalties for infringement of the Act.
I am pleased to share that my Department is actively engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of this important piece of legislation. The Bill is proceeding through the pre-legislative scrutiny process in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
Finally, I want to assure the Deputy that the Government recognises the importance of transparency measures in combating disinformation, protecting intellectual property rights, and maintaining public trust in AI and in wider digital media and is committed to ensuring effective and timely implementation of the AI Act to ensure our citizens remain informed and protected from harmful AI contents.
565. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide an update on the national life sciences strategy consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12194/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra566. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 243 of 23 September 2025, 149 of 7 May 2025 and 156 of 7 October 2025, and noting that his Department published consolidated “Government Departments Prompt Payment Returns” for over a decade up to Q1 2025 which included both the number and value in euro of payments made within prescribed timeframes, to outline a series of matters (details supplied). [12219/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA cross-Department review of prompt payment performance was carried out in 2024/2025 and a key recommendation from this review was the establishment of a Prompt Payment Officer Network, to aid and encourage improved payment performance across the Public Sector.
My Department compiles a consolidated report of the payment performance of all Government Departments every quarter showing payments made within 15 days and 30 days. The format of the consolidated report was changed for Q2 2025 to show only the number of invoices and the percentage of payments made within 15 days and 30 days based on the number of invoices.
The rationale to exclude monetary values was simply that listing this data does not provide any additionality to the consolidated report as the values are not comparable between Departments given their varying sizes and different votes. The core point of this report is to capture payments made within 15 days and those made between 15 and 30 days thus providing greater insight on compliance with prompt payment obligations.
The decision to streamline the consolidated report was made at the first Prompt Payment Officer Network meeting in June 2025. The format of the report was once again discussed within this group at its subsequent meeting in November 2025, with the consensus being that the new streamlined format of the report be retained over the old format.
My Department and the other members of the Prompt Payment Network remain fully committed to open and transparent reporting. No formal assessment on the areas referenced has been carried out as yet. My Department will bring the Deputy's question to the attention of the Network for its information. In the meantime, more data fields such as monetary values are readily available and accessible on each individual department’s website.
567. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any artificial intelligence tools or systems were used at any stage in the drafting, analysis, consultation, or preparation of the general scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 (details supplied); if so, the nature of those tools, the purposes for which they were used and the safeguards in place to ensure accuracy, accountability and human oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12220/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is committed to the responsible and transparent use of technology in all aspects of our work, including in the preparation of legislation.
Building on our internal 'Policy on the use of Generative AI', my Department's approach to the use of artificial intelligence is guided by the 'Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service', which were published by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in May 2025. These comprehensive guidelines establish a framework for the ethical, transparent and accountable deployment of AI across the public service, underpinned by seven core principles including human agency and oversight and privacy and data governance. The Guidelines provide robust safeguards in the use of AI which include mandatory human oversight, data protection requirements aligned with GDPR, and transparency and accountability mechanisms. These safeguards apply to any use of AI tools within the public service and ensure that technology serves to enhance, rather than replace, human judgement and expertise.
In April of last year, our Departmental policy on the use of Generative AI was updated to designate Microsoft CoPilot Chat as the primary Generative AI platform to be used in the Department providing enterprise grade security. In line with, and as encouraged by the 'Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service', my Department is keen to reap the benefits of AI through its responsible use. In the context of my Department's work on the General Scheme for the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026, officials have used Microsoft CoPilot Chat on occasion to help identify sources of research material to assist in their work. This minimal use, whereby the AI tool is used to signpost sources of information rather than act as a source itself gives rise to few risks identified in the policy and guidance on the use of AI while still enabling efficiencies.
The EU AI Act is an EU regulation and directly applicable and binding in all EU Member States without needing to be transposed into national law. The General Scheme of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 provides the legislative foundation, by conferring Market Surveillance powers to the designated competent authorities, to ensure that the AI Act can be effectively implemented within our national system of regulation.
The General Scheme is informed by Ireland's obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and draws on legal advice, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and consultation with relevant regulatory bodies and Government departments. It is prepared by officials within the Department and reflects Government policy decisions, expert legal drafting, and comprehensive stakeholder input. It also draws on existing national policy frameworks including the National AI Strategy 'AI - Here for Good', and extensive sectoral and public consultation.
568. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific recruitment initiatives that are being used to increase the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12332/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has policy responsibility for recruitment policy in the civil/public service. Publicjobs is a body under the aegis of that Department and is the primary recruiter for the civil service and some parts of the public service.
My Department collaborates with publicjobs on their inclusive pathways into employment for disabled people. As an example, their partnership with AHEAD on the Willing and Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme offers graduates with a disability a 10-month fully paid and mentored work placement in the civil service. We have participated in the WAM programme since 2007 and since the introduction of the permanent pathway 5 WAM graduates have progressed into permanent employment in my Department.
My Department has also participated in the Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme and in 2022 had an OWL graduate commence employment in a permanent part-time position.
569. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if individual public sector bodies are required to publish annual reports on their disability employment numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12334/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Part 5, public bodies have a statutory obligation to collect and process data on all employees, including employees with disabilities. Under Part 5 of the Disability Act (2005), public bodies have a statutory obligation to submit annual and updated data regarding the total number and percentage of employees with disabilities that they employ.
Public bodies have a duty to promote and support employment of persons with disabilities and achieve the current employment target of a minimum of 6% (2025 returns).
Every year public bodies provide annual updated statutory reports to their Departmental Monitoring Committees by 31 March.
Monitoring Committees have to send their annual Departmental returns to the National Disability Authority (NDA) by the statutory deadline of 30 June.
As required under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has a Departmental Monitoring Committee. This committee monitor the progress that public bodies under the aegis of my Department is making to meet their obligations under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005.
The NDA has a role to monitor Part 5 and to provide public bodies with evidence informed advice and guidance to help them meet their obligations under Part 5.
The Disability Act 2005 does not specify how public bodies collect their data. NDA advises on data collection processes but it is up to public bodies how they collect their data.
It is the responsibility of public bodies and Monitoring Committees to ensure that the NDA is provided with accurate Part 5 data that is collected/updated on an annual basis.
The annual Report on Compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, based on anonymous data submitted by public bodies, is in the public interest, because it captures the annual challenges that public bodies experience and the progress they are making regarding increasing the recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities.
570. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way the Government plans to ensure transparency and accountability for meeting targets on disability employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has responsibility for monitoring compliance with the Part 5 Disability Act 2005 targets across the civil service. My Department is accountable to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in terms of meeting our commitments to the targets in this Act.
In terms of the workforce of my own Department, and in line with the Government commitment to increase the percentage of employing people with a disability in the public sector to 6% by 2025, the Department has reached a level of 6.24% (2025).
In line with statutory deadlines, we will undertake our next annual census in March 2026. We undertake the census each year in form of a survey given to all staff. We then submit our Part 5 data to the Monitoring Committee at DPENDR on an annual basis, by the statutory deadline of the 31st of March.
The National Disability Authority is the statutory body responsible for monitoring public-sector compliance with disability employment targets. Key evaluation mechanisms include: Numbers and percentages of employees with disabilities, trends across sectors, progress toward statutory targets and qualitative actions taken to improve recruitment, retention, and inclusion. These annual reports act as a core evaluation tool of how increased employment influences inclusion across the state sector.
571. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the evaluation mechanisms in place to assess the impact of increased public sector employment of people with disabilities on social inclusion and economic participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12337/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has policy responsibility for recruitment policy in the civil/public service. Publicjobs is a body under the aegis of that Department and is the primary recruiter for the civil service and some parts of the public service.
My Department collaborates with publicjobs on their inclusive pathways into employment for disabled people. As an example, their partnership with AHEAD on the Willing and Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme offers graduates with a disability a 10-month fully paid and mentored work placement in the civil service. We have participated in the WAM programme since 2007 and since the introduction of the permanent pathway 5 WAM graduates have progressed into permanent employment in my Department.
My Department has also participated in the Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme and in 2022 had an OWL graduate commence employment in a permanent part-time position.
The National Disability Authority is the statutory body responsible for monitoring public-sector compliance with disability employment targets. Key evaluation mechanisms include:
Numbers and percentages of employees with disabilities, trends across sectors, progress toward statutory targets and qualitative actions taken to improve recruitment, retention, and inclusion. These annual reports act as a core evaluation tool of how increased employment influences inclusion across the state sector.
572. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if it will be a requirement of the proposed Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 that all units that qualify to be let under the legislation will require planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12535/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in the new Policy Statement 'A new Era for Irish Tourism', which I published in December, the introduction of regulatory controls for the Short Term Letting Sector is to ensure the tourism sector develops in a way that recognises and is complementary to the wider needs of local communities, both economically and socially.
Last April, I secured Government approval for the General Scheme of the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. When enacted, this Bill will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of regulatory controls including a national register for the Short Term Letting sector. Fáilte Ireland will implement and manage this register ensuring compliance with the EU Short Term Rental Regulation which comes into effect on 20 May this year.
I am pleased that the tourism sector has broadly welcomed the introduction of a Short Term Letting register.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D. has responsibility for planning matters and has committed to publishing a National Planning Statement on Short Term Letting to clarify how planning law applies to short-term lets. This statement will be published in advance of the enactment of the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill. On 9 February I reached an agreement in principle with Minister Browne to allow operators based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last Census to be permitted to continue to provide short-term letting accommodation over the next two years. This will allow time for operators to meet compliance requirements.
From 20 May 2026, all STL hosts offering accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland via a digital system and confirm their compliance with planning requirements. Registration will take 5 minutes and will generate a unique registration number for each STL unit registered. This number must be displayed when listing the STL unit on any online platforms.
Fáilte Ireland estimates that, approximately 34,020 STL properties were advertised online in the State in October 2025, based on screen-scraped data from four major booking platforms. Up to 64% were listed as “entire” houses or apartments. This represents a 26% increase from an estimated 26,960 units in October 2022. Given this rapid growth, improved oversight and data collection are essential.
I recognise the concerns of the tourism industry. With the approach outlined, I believe we are balancing the need for rental housing stock with the need to protect rural and regional tourism and jobs. The department will continue to engage with all stakeholders.
573. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports available to employers and employees to promote remote and flexible working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy will be aware, there has been a significant long-term shift in attitudes to remote and hybrid working, and flexible working arrangements more broadly, amongst both employers and workers throughout the country since the pandemic. Acceptance of remote, hybrid and flexible working is high, and the evidence suggests that they are here to stay.
The most recent data from the Central Statistics Office for example show that around a million persons were working from home (either usually or sometimes) in the third quarter of 2025 – or 35% of those in employment – a ratio that has been fairly stable since the pandemic.
Remote, hybrid and flexible working represent a significant opportunity for creating a more inclusive labour market and society, particularly for people with caring responsibilities, people returning to the workforce, older people, people with disabilities. This in turn provides employers with access to a larger talent pool, with remote and hybrid options representing powerful tools for staff recruitment and retention which improves labour market and economic performance overall.
Both the National Remote Work Strategy and Our Rural Future, the Government's rural development policy, recognise the opportunity for improved balanced regional development and the rejuvenation of communities across Ireland that remote working presents - particularly through expanding the range of employment opportunities available to people living in, or wishing to return to, communities outside Ireland’s larger cities.
The Government launched the National Remote Work Strategy, 'Making Remote Work' in January 2021. The Strategy identified 15 actions to be undertaken to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature of the Irish workplace, and all these actions have been successfully delivered.
The 2025 Programme for Government re-affirms the commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers and Government is committed to facilitating remote and flexible working in a way which maximises economic, social and environmental benefits.
Most recently the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has commenced a statutory review of the remote working provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. The 2023 Act provides all workers with the right to request a remote working arrangement, and this right has been in effect since March 2024. The purpose of this review is to assess the effectiveness of the legislation in providing the entitlements, to evaluate the clarity of the legislation and to identify any unintended consequences of the legislation.
As part of this review, my Department held public consultation which closed on 9 December 2025 and a nationally representative survey of employees and employers. The final report of this review will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous provisions Act 2023 also provides the right to request flexible working arrangements to parents and carers. Those provisions are under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and are being reviewed by that Department. I understand that this review will also include further research on what additional flexibilities could be introduced for parents and carers.
Ensuring that the legislation underpinning remote and flexible work is effective is key to ensuring that their benefits are fully realised.
In addition to our work on the legislation, the Government has developed and introduced an evolving suite of policies and supports for remote working, including:
• The publication of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2021.
• There is an income tax deduction for people working from home introduced as part of Budget 2022.
• The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, together with my Department, is leading the development of a National Hub Strategy which will inform the future direction of the National Hub Network.
• The National Hub Network, facilitated by the connectedhubs.ie platform, was launched in 2021. Underpinned by significant Government investment, there are currently 400 facilities across the country on-boarded to the online platform in communities across Ireland.
• The Programme for Government sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026.
• My Department continues to update the Guidance for Working Remotely website, which assists workers and organisations to implement remote and hybrid working practices in a safe and sustainable manner.
• The Government also co-funds remote work skills training programmes, such as Leading and Hybrid Remote Teams provided by Laois Offaly ETB and Grow Remote, and The FORWARD Programme which provides SMEs personalised support to design, implement, and sustain effective remote work practices.
• Agencies under the aegis of my department are also playing their part: For example, Enterprise Ireland acknowledges the growing importance of flexible and hybrid work arrangements in enhancing business competitiveness, attracting talent, and supporting sustainable growth and is actively assisting its private sector clients in adopting hybrid work models through strategic initiatives and funding programmes which support the digital transformation and leadership development within enterprise which underpin successful remote and hybrid working. Enterprise Ireland-funded enterprise centres also form an important part of the Connected Hubs network.
Finally, I understand the need to monitor the impacts of new ways of working. To this end, my Department is co-funding to the Working in Ireland Survey, undertaken by University College Dublin., and aims to interview several thousand persons across Ireland about their experiences of working life. The survey investigates a variety of employment quality factors across the entire island of Ireland, including work-life balance and remote working. I understand that the fieldwork has been completed and that we can expect research output in the coming months.
In addition, the Department of Taoiseach has requested that the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) undertake research into the Evolution and Impact of Remote and Hybrid Working in Ireland. A working group has been established to oversee the research, which is expected be completed by mid-2026.
I think these pieces of research will be a useful input into the debate which will help inform the direction of remote working and flexible policy over the next few years.
574. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of discrepancies identified and resolved in the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial and Provident Societies since the enhancements introduced by the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12649/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial and Provident Societies (RBO) was set up under the European Union (Anti-Money Laundering: Beneficial Ownership of Corporate Entities) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 110 of 2019) and contains information regarding the beneficial ownership of entities registered under the Companies Act 2014; and societies, registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1893-2021.
Discrepancies in the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial and Provident Societies (RBO) relate to information supplied to the RBO which does not match that held by Designated Persons and Competent Authorities.
Discrepancies are notified to the RBO by Designated Persons and Competent Authorities where they are identified during customer and financial due diligence, or, in the case of Competent Authorities, where discrepancies have been identified during their investigations.
Resolution of discrepancies can be achieved in a number of ways. In the majority of cases, resolution is achieved where updated or corrected information is filed with the RBO. In cases where the entity either fails to communicate or ceases communication with the RBO, the RBO will revert back to the reporting Designated Person or Competent Authorities. A small number of reported discrepancies are either addressed by entities prior to engagement by the RBO; fall outside the scope of the RBO as they do not relate to beneficial ownership information or relate to situations where non-filing is inaccurately reported as a discrepancy.
Since the enhancements introduced by the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2021, the RBO has received a total of 11,078 reported discrepancies, noting that the figures included for 2025 are provisional.
The table below outlines the discrepancies received categorised by both Designated Persons and Competent Authorities for each year during the period 2021 to 2025.
|
- |
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025* |
|
|
Received In total |
687 |
3426 |
2170 |
2265 |
2530 |
|
|
Designated Persons |
669 |
3420 |
2168 |
2265 |
2530 |
|
|
Competent Authorities |
18 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Details |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Designated Persons |
615 |
2802 |
1636 |
1848 |
1927 |
|
Issues resolved |
Competent Authorities |
16 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Designated Persons |
54 |
362 |
449 |
331 |
420 |
|
Reverted to notifier |
Competent Authorities |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Designated Persons |
0 |
256 |
83 |
86 |
105 |
|
Outside scope / otherwise addressed |
Competent Authorities |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cases ongoing |
Designated Persons |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
78 |
|
|
Competent Authorities |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
* Provisional figures for 2025
575. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has received in 2026 under the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12729/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra576. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has fully processed and paid out in 2026 under the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12730/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra577. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has received in 2026 and have not yet been paid out under the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12731/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra578. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has received in 2026 but were rejected under the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12732/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra579. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the total amount paid out to date in 2026 under the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 575, 576, 577, 578 and 579 together.
On the 29 January, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment activated an Enhanced Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme (EEHFS) for small businesses and voluntary, community and sports organisations, which were affected by the flooding due to Storm Chandra and subsequent heavy rainfall from 26 January to early February.
This EEHFS is for small businesses of up to 50 employees (or wholetime equivalents), and community, voluntary and sports organisations, who through no fault of their own cannot secure flood-insurance. The scheme provides a contribution towards the cost of returning a business premises to its pre-flooding condition. There are two payment stages; an initial payment of up to €5,000, and then a second payment subject to assessment of the damages by an independent, professional assessor. The total funding available is capped at a maximum of €100,000 per small business or community, voluntary or sporting body. The funds may be used to replace damaged flooring, fixtures and fittings, and stock, with the aim of enabling businesses to reopen as soon as possible. The scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on the Department’s behalf.
As of the 16 February 2026, the Irish Red Cross have received 53 applications for the Enhanced Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme.
A breakdown of the applications by processing stage is as follows:
• 29 applications are at the initial review stage.
• 8 applications are being verified by the relevant Local Authority.
• 10 applications are ineligible.
• 6 applicants have received an initial payment of €5,000.
Total funding disbursed to date is €30,000, comprising first stage, interim payments of €5,000 each to six small businesses. Further information and application forms are available on the Irish Red Cross website. The closing date for applications is 6 March 2026.
580. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way the small business unit within his Department is delivering on its responsibilities; including implementing the SME test to ensure that the impact of new legislation and regulation on small businesses is fully assessed; overseeing the simplification of information and access to grants and supports through the National Enterprise Hub; ensuring that Local Enterprise Offices are properly resourced to support small businesses; advancing measures to identify redundant regulations and reduce the regulatory burden on SMEs; and supporting the development and implementation of the Government's Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12809/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Small Business Unit was established in my Department last year, fulfilling a Programme for Government commitment.
The Unit has been tasked with ensuring that the needs and issues of small businesses have a dedicated focus and are recognised and acknowledged across Government. There are a number of tools this Unit and my Department will use to enable its work.
First, through the rigorous implementation of the SME Test. The SME Test tasks policy makers to consider the impact that any new policy, legislation, or regulation, may have on SMEs, and to mitigate against those impacts where appropriate.
In 2025, 33 SME Tests were applied by 10 Government Departments. This compares to 26 SME Tests applied by 8 Government Departments in 2024. Since the establishment of the reporting framework in 2021, a total of 81 SME Tests have been applied across 14 Government Departments. I am keen for this number to grow every year, and my officials and I are looking at ways to improve enforcement of the SME Test.
Secondly, access to grants and support programmes have been simplified through the launch of the National Enterprise Hub. The NEH is hosted and operated by Enterprise Ireland and has over 250 different supports for businesses from 32 Departments and agencies.
Since launching in July 2024, the NEH has handled over 12,000 enquiries. Monthly volumes have grown steadily, with over 1,000 queries received in December 2025 alone. My Department is working on how to improve the NEH further with a greater emphasis on simplification.
Third, the Small Business Unit has responsibility for the Local Enterprise Offices. We are ensuring the LEOs are properly resourced to help small businesses. A review of the full suite of LEO supports is currently underway while my Department and EI have completed a review of applications for all LEO grant schemes to reduce the number of questions and simplify requirements.
This review has resulted in a reduction of application questions across all schemes - for example down 47% for Business Expansion Grants, down 30% for the Green for Business Grant and down 28% for the Feasibility Grant, with further reductions targeted.
While the Small Business Unit is responsible for the areas outlined above, responsibility for the development and implementation of the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, and for measures relating to the identification of redundant regulations, rests outside the direct remit of the Unit and is led by other relevant areas of the Department.
However, I can say that the development and implementation of the Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity has been supported through a comprehensive whole-of-government process that included extensive cross-departmental consultation, bilateral engagements led by the Department with key partners in areas such as infrastructure, housing, and research and innovation, and the assignment of clear accountability for each of the Plan’s 85 actions with defined timelines. Progress structures have been established, including regular reporting to Cabinet and a dedicated review at the 2026 Competitiveness Summit. Although the Action Plan has been in effect for only four months, most actions are already in progress, with several key deliverables completed or imminent—such as the publication of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce’s final report and the forthcoming report of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum.
Offices and agencies under my Department’s aegis have been asked to reflect on their processes to consider how they may be simplified without compromising policy objectives. Efforts on this front will be set out in each organisation’s annual report for 2025.
In terms of legislative change, the Companies Act was updated through the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024 which introduced a range of practical reforms consistent with ensuring that Ireland’s regulatory framework provides flexibility and is fit for modern business operating in an increasingly digital and virtual environment. Work is also ongoing to modernise and reform a range of other legislation including the Co-operative Societies Bill and legislation relating to Limited Partnerships and Business Names.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government and my Department have been and are still committed to backing businesses and will ensure the actions aimed at supporting small businesses in the Programme for Government are implemented in an effective and timely manner.
