Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
475. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress made on each of the individual Programme for Government commitments assigned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28656/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to report that since its publication in January 2025, my Department has made substantial progress in delivering on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government with significant progress achieved across a wide range of areas. Our focus has been on supporting enterprise, fostering innovation, strengthening tourism, and ensuring high-quality employment opportunities across all regions of Ireland.
The Irish labour market finished 2025 with strong, record-level employment figures that continued into the first quarter of 2026. Employment grew by 56,700 in the year to Q4 2025, bringing the total number of people employed in Ireland to a record high of approximately 2.83 million, with employment outside Dublin rising by 1.9% in the year.
Inward investment has remained robust. IDA Ireland announced a record 323 investments in 2025, a 38% increase on 2024, expected to deliver cutting-edge research and development and create over 15,300 additional jobs. IDA also launched its new five-year strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025–2029, aligning with Programme for Government objectives.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) continues to drive employment growth with employment in EI companies at 232,425 in 2025 an increase of 1.3% over the previous year. 69% of new jobs created were located outside the Dublin region. The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) portfolio of 7,148 small businesses accounts for over 40,000 jobs across the country. In 2025, LEO supported companies created 7,261 new jobs.
Key policy initiatives have been advanced, including the publication of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity in September, supported by €4.7 billion in capital investment over the next five years under my Department’s Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030.
We launched the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification, with the first progress report recently published. Six months on from publication of the Plan, ten actions have been fully completed, with the vast majority actively underway and progressing according to their timelines.
A Small Business Unit was established, fulfilling a key Programme for Government commitment, and we convened several meetings of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum.
In line with the Programme for Government a key priority of mine is reducing red tape and simplifying processes for small businesses. Key highlights in this regard include:
• Grant simplification: The newly established Small Business Unit has reviewed all Local Enterprise Office (LEO) grant schemes, resulting in a reduction of application questions, down 47% for Business Expansion Grants, 30% for the Green for Business Grant and 28% for the Feasibility Grant with further reductions targeted.
• Faster approvals: Enterprise Ireland has been tasked with achieving a 24-hour turnaround time for grant application approvals.
• EU regulatory relief: Ireland was among the first in Europe to sign regulations exempting 80% of small businesses from the scope of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), with a two-year delay granted to others pending further EU negotiations.
• SME Test expansion: In 2025, 33 SME Tests were applied by 10 Government Departments. This compares to 26 SME Tests applied by 8 Government Departments in 2024. These tests assess the impact of new legislation on small businesses and propose mitigation measures. This figure is expected to increase with all departments mandated to apply SME Tests for new policies.
• Listening to businesses: My officials are actively engaging with stakeholders through the Enterprise and Retail Forums and the Cost of Business Advisory Forum to identify high-impact burdens and opportunities for reform
• Digital transformation: 95% of filings with the Companies Registration Office are now online and the Workplace Relations Commission has implemented Robotic Process Automation to streamline complaint handling.
• Business support access: The National Enterprise Hub has now handled over 12,000 enquiries, simplifying access to over 250 supports from 32 departments and agencies.
• Regulatory modernisation: Updates to the Companies Act, the introduction of SCARP (Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process), and reforms to co-operative legislation are making compliance more flexible and accessible.
• EU engagement: My Department continues to shape EU policy through active participation in working groups, supporting simplification efforts such as the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and the forthcoming Digital Simplification Package.
In line with the Programme for Government commitment, tourism policy has been strengthened with its functions transferring to my Department and with the launch of A New Era for Irish Tourism, Ireland’s new National Tourism Policy Statement, and the publication of the Tourism Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2025–2030, the first of its kind for the sector. These initiatives aim to ensure balanced regional development and resilience in the face of climate change.
Innovation remains central to our agenda. Under our Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030 (https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/sectoral-capital-plan-2026-2030.html) we will deliver investment for Technology Centres (€190 million), the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (€196 million), European Space Agency programmes (€170 million) and €120 million for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI). We launched Ireland’s first Semiconductor Strategy, positioning Ireland as a key player in Europe’s semiconductor future. As part of this strategy, in February 2026 I launched I-C3, the National Competence Centre in Semiconductors for startups and SMEs which will provide resources, including funding pathways, training, design tools and pilot line facilities. I have also launched a public consultation on the new National Life Sciences Strategy, and received government endorsement of the strategic approach on developing Next Generation Sites to position Ireland to be competitive in winning high-value, employment-rich projects in future-focused sectors.
Additional commitments have been advanced through convening of the Employment Law Review Group, the publication of the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026–2030 and an updated Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working. The Employment Permits system was digitally transformed in 2025 facilitating the more efficient and secure processing of permits with critical skills processing times below 10 working days. This progress is critical given the service’s central role in enabling business growth and job creation. New categories of permits were issued including town planners, a seasonal permits scheme, and new quotas to support meat processing and dairy sectors. A project management team has been established to deliver the Single Permit Directive, a commitment under the Programme for Government.
There is a firm commitment in the Programme for Government to support the central role played by the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court in industrial relations and employment matters. A new chair of the Labour Court was appointed in April 2025 and the WRC continues to play a critical role in ensuring that employment rights are upheld for all, establishing a new division focused on outreach and information provision and also a new continuous improvement office, focused on driving efficiencies through digitisation and data informed change.
I secured Government agreement to adopt a distributed model of implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. This approach will build on the deep knowledge and expertise of the established sectoral regulators. Following this, in September 2025 a national single point of contact has also been established within the department to streamline coordination between Irish regulators, the European Commission, and stakeholders.
My officials have been putting in place the structures for a successful Presidency and have been working through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Interdepartmental Groups on Presidency Policy Priorities and Operation Planning on progressing Ireland’s policy priorities and operational planning for the Presidency. This work will continue right up to 1st July 2026 when Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. My Department’s Presidency Planning Team will continue to collaborate across government to ensure that all perspectives are heard and considered in a fair and inclusive manner.
In line with commitments in the Programme for Government my Department continued work to strengthen the mandate of the Competition and Consumer Protection (CCPC) through the addition to and enhancement of its senior leadership team and a public consultation on proposed legislative measures under the Consumer Protection, Competition and Enforcement Bill 2026. This includes reviewing the legislative framework governing consumer protection fines with future penalties expected to align with those applicable to competition law infringements, ensuring greater consistency and impact across the regulatory landscape.
Further progress includes commissioning research to inform the review of Personal Injuries Guidelines, launch of the new Action Plan for Insurance Reform which 11 actions for delivery by my Department and new mediation service from the Personal Injuries Resolution Board.
Supported by Ministers Dillon and Smyth good progress is being made across all relevant commitments beyond the main achievements highlighted above, in fulfilment of the Programme for Government. Full details of last years’ achievements and ongoing initiatives will be published in the Department’s Annual Report for 2025.
