Written Answers Nos. 283-305
283. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the timelines and funding for the delivery of the proposed new Garda station in Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50996/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe prioritisation of An Garda Síochána capital projects is a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in line with the current Justice Sectoral Investment Plan and An Garda Síochána's current Capital Plan.
In accordance with the Infrastructure Guidelines, the Approving Authority for An Garda Síochána capital projects is Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and An Garda Síochána is the Sponsoring Agency. When capital projects are approved, the Office of Public works fulfils the role of Contracting Authority.
Funding for An Garda Síochána's Capital Plan is provided by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
An initial Business Case for a new Garda Station in Sligo is being prepared by An Garda Síochána. This Business Case will be subject to approval by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. This approval will include projected timelines for the delivery of the project.
The Office of Public works is providing technical inputs to this initial Business Case, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, to support an options appraisal process which will identify a preferred option for a new Garda Station in Sligo. Until this process is concluded, timelines for the delivery of the project cannot be confirmed.
284. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the status of the new Garda station in Tubbercurry, County Sligo; whether agreement has been reached with An Garda Síochána on the space allocation required to allow the submission of the Part IX planning application to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50997/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRefurbishment works are planned by the Office of Public Works to a State owned building to accommodate a new Garda Station in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.
It was initially intended that another Office of Public Works' client would co-locate in the building with An Garda Siochána, and so a Part IX planning application was being prepared on this basis.
However, it is now intended that the entire building will be occupied by An Garda Siochána. An Garda Siochána are reviewing their operational requirements in light of the availability of additional accommodation.
Once agreement has been reached with An Garda Siochána regarding the most efficient use of the building, a revised Part IX Planning Application can proceed.
285. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide the web link to his Department’s Q2 2026 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; to confirm the date on which this report was published; and, if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [51569/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince Q3 2025, my Department has published quarterly reports of Purchase Orders over €20,000 in Excel, in line with the FOI publication scheme and open data standards. The Q2 2026 Purchase Order report for the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation was published on 3 July, 2026.
The Q2 2026 report is publicly available on the Department's website and can be accessed at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/dper-ogcio-and-ogp-purchase-order-payments-2026/.
286. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation having regard to the definition of “machine-readable format” in S.I. No. 376/2021 and to Government Open Data Policy, to state the file formats which his Department recognises as machine-readable for the publication of tabular public-sector datasets. [51574/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the European Union (Open Data and Re-use of Public Sector Information) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 376 of 2021), a machine-readable format is defined as a file format structured so that software applications can easily identify, recognise and extract specific data from it. The Regulations do not prescribe a definitive list of file formats that must be used.
Consistent with Ireland's Open Data Policy, public bodies are encouraged to publish datasets in open, machine-readable formats wherever possible. The Open Data Technical Framework and associated guidance provide examples of suitable formats, including CSV, JSON and XML for general datasets, as well as formats such as GeoJSON, GML, KML and Shapefile for geospatial data. The guidance also notes that recommended formats are subject to review and update as new formats emerge through technological developments.
The Department does not maintain a closed or exhaustive list of suggested file formats recognised as machine-readable. The key consideration is that the format used enables data to be readily processed by software applications and supports openness, accessibility and re-use in line with national and EU legislation. My Department supports public bodies to meet their obligations under these regulations by providing guidance, such as the Technical Framework, accessible via the national open data portal data.gov.ie, training in publishing open data for civil and public servants in collaboration with the Institute of Public Administration, and one-to-one support as required.
287. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of WTE operations and event executive personnel employed by OPW as of 26 June 2026, in tabular form. [51710/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of WTE operations and event executive personnel employed by OPW as of 26 June 2026, in tabular form is as follows:
|
Business Unit |
No. of Permanent WTE Staff |
Temporary Secondments WTE support staff EU Presidency |
|
Dublin Castle State Events Unit |
8 |
|
|
Dublin Castle Events Unit |
5 |
6 |
|
Kilkenny Castle Events Unit |
2 |
|
|
Total |
15 |
6 |
In addition to the numbers above, other staff may have Event delivery as an occasional/minor part of their role and additional events staff have been engaged for delivery of the EU Presidency.
288. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the nature of refurbishment works that the OPW carried out at Ennis Friary in 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [51711/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works has undertaken a range of general refurbishment and conservation works at Ennis Friary over the period requested in addition to normal, routine maintenance. The works carried out are set out below.
|
2024 |
Electrical repair work at Ennis Friary Plumbing repairs Tree care Installation of security cameras Surveys of building |
|
2025 |
Purchase and Installation of new guide welfare unit /office Electrical works in new guide office and office fit-out Cleaning of tower and roofs of Friary Plumbing works |
|
2026 |
Feasibility report and supply of new signage at Ennis Friary Archaeological monitoring Working with Clare Co Co, the OPW is considering design options for the adjacent former public house building known as The Cloister |
289. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51772/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that between 2020 and 2025, the Department made one payment to Bearing Point for the provision of ICT consultancy services. The consultancy engagement involved assessing the feasibility of developing a Cloud Services Category Strategy for the Public Service.
|
Project |
Year |
Value |
|
OGP Cloud Sourcing |
2021 |
€32,287 |
290. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51790/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that there were no payments made by my Department to Accenture during the period 2020 to 2025.
291. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51808/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the total expenditure incurred by my Department with Version 1 during the period 2020-2025 was €107,623. Version 1 supported the work of the Department by providing ICT technical assistance and guidance on modernising systems and improving operational efficiency. The figures set out below are inclusive of VAT.
|
Project |
Year |
Value |
|
EUSF Support |
2020 |
€47,051 |
|
EU Cohesion AWS Charges |
2021 |
€1,532 |
|
Chief Medical Officer IT Review |
2024 |
€59,040 |
292. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide the list of cases in which he has rejected increases proposed by line departments for chief executives in commercial State companies/agencies, under proposals agreed by Government in April 2025 following the senior posts remuneration committee report, in tabular form; to provide an itemised list of cases where requests are still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51816/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2011 there has been no systematic review of CEO remuneration, thus any increase in salary since that time has taken place on a case-by-case basis. In April 2024 the SPRC was requested to perform a review of the remuneration arrangements for the CEOs of CSBs. On foot of this review Government agreed in April 2025 to implement a more structured approach to the remuneration across CEOs in CSBs.
In terms of the process, proposals are submitted by the Board of the CSB to the relevant line Department setting out the proposed new salary and supporting rationale. The relevant line Department undertakes an assessment of the proposal, and the relevant Minister subsequently considers the Board’s recommendation, the Department’s analysis, and input from NewERA before making a final decision. Following this process, recommendations by the relevant Minister are then submitted for my consent.
Of the recommendations received from the relevant Ministers, I have consented to 16 recommendations by Ministers, with a further five currently under consideration as follows.
|
No. |
Line Department |
Company Name |
|
1 |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
Coillte |
|
2 |
Department of Culture, Communications and Sport |
RTE |
|
3 |
Department of Transport |
IAA |
|
4 |
Department of Transport |
DAA |
|
5 |
Department of Culture, Communications and Sport |
TG4 |
293. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to outline the rules regarding the single pension scheme; the reason researchers in technological universities are prevented from accessing the scheme; whether their equivalents in universities can access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51819/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Single Public Service Pension Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. It was established on 1 January 2013 under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.
The provisions of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law. All pensionable public servants hired after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Scheme. There are a limited number of exemptions to Single Scheme membership set out in the 2012 Act, such as where a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme leaves such a role and returns to a pensionable public service role within 26 weeks, giving them a right to remain in a pre-existing public service pension scheme. There is no provision in the legislation to allow an eligible employee not to be a member of the Single Scheme.
To be eligible for membership of the Single Scheme, the employee must be a public servant in a public service body and the position must be a pensionable position. Where an individual is appointed to a non-pensionable position and/or where the individual is not a public servant, they will not be members of the Single Scheme.
The pensionable status of this cohort is a matter, in the first instance, for the Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
294. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Government have yet to designate any project as critical as per the terms of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51822/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 provides a statutory basis for the acceleration of decision-making around projects and programmes that are designated as critical infrastructure. The Act requires that all reasonable steps be taken by public bodies, both individually and collectively, to progress any functions they may have in relation to these designated projects and programmes as quickly as possible.
Section 3 of the Act sets out how projects or programmes will be designated as critical infrastructure. In summary, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation will make a recommendation to Government in respect of an individual project or programme. Government will consider the recommendation, and, if approved, an order designating the project or programme as critical infrastructure will be laid before the Dáil.
The President signed the Act into law on 25th June 2026 and it will be commenced in full shortly. It is my intention to commence the process of designating projects or programmes as critical infrastructure shortly thereafter.
295. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Government will designate phase 1 of the University Hospital Galway redevelopment as critical as per the terms of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51823/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 provides a statutory basis for the acceleration of decision-making around projects and programmes that are designated as critical infrastructure. The Act requires that all reasonable steps be taken by public bodies, both individually and collectively, to progress any functions they may have in relation to these projects and programmes as quickly as possible.
Section 1 of the Act specifically highlights transport, energy and water infrastructure in the definition of infrastructure but does not limit the potential to include other infrastructure should it be considered necessary. Any designation will also have to be compatible with the criteria outlined in Section 3 of the Act that I may have regard to before I make a recommendation on designation to Government.
I have not yet made any recommendation to Government on the specific projects or programmes that the Government should designate as critical. When I bring an initial recommendation to Government my focus will be on a small number of critical projects or programmes in the energy, transport and water sectors, with a particular focus on those projects that will benefit the most from an immediate designation.
In parallel, an enduring approach is also being developed to provide for the ongoing designation of projects or programmes to maintain a pipeline of critical infrastructure that will move through the fast track system over time.
It is also worth noting that this Act is just one of the means being pursued to accelerate the provision of infrastructure. In the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, 30 actions were identified to address the 12 barriers to infrastructure delivery identified through my Department’s extensive stakeholder engagement.
I, my Department and the whole of Government continue to implement these actions and it is only by pressing forward on all of these fronts can the required scale of transformation in infrastructure delivery be achieved.
296. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóiriúcháin Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúcháin cén méid a caitheadh ar chúrsaí Gaeilge do státseirbhísigh chuile bhliain le cúig bliana anuas, cén líon daoine a rinne na cúrsaí chuile bhliain agus cén t-eagras lena ndearnadh na cúrsaí. [51825/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNíl sonraí ag mo Roinn maidir leis an gcaiteachas bliantúil ar chúrsaí Gaeilge d’fhostaithe sna comhlachtaí poiblí go léir, mar sin ní bhaineann an freagra seo ach le mo Roinn féin amháin. B’fhéidir gur mhaith leis an Teachta ceisteanna ar leith a chur faoi bhráid Airí eile maidir lena gcuid Ranna féin. Cuireann mo Roinn an Ghaeilge chun cinn i measc a foirne trí chumarsáid inmheánach leanúnach a dhíríonn aird ar na deiseanna oiliúna Gaeilge atá ar fáil trí chlár OneLearning an Fhorais Riaracháin, lena n-áirítear scaipeadh sonraí na gcúrsaí agus na seimineár gréasáin a bhaineann le gach leagan den chlár. Cuireann an cúrsa OneLearning Teastas sa Ghaeilge Ghairmiúil ar fáil agus is é Gaelchultúr a sholáthraíonn é, le scrúdú agus creidiúnú Theastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG). Thacaigh an Roinn freisin le forbairt agus le cur chun cinn sraith micridhintiúr, lena n-áirítear cláir Ghaeilge a chuireann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar fáil.
Léirítear thíos miondealú ar chaiteachas na Roinne ar sheirbhísí Gaelchultúir le cúig bliana anuas:
|
Bliain |
Líon na Rannpháirtithe |
Méid |
|
2026 (go dtí seo) |
21 |
€24,870 |
|
2025 |
14 |
€20,860 |
|
2024 |
10 |
€11,630 |
|
2023 |
11 |
€14,155 |
|
2022 |
10 |
€11,175 |
297. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50800/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince January 2025, my Department has made significant progress delivering on our Programme for Government priorities and on my ambition to support businesses, especially SMEs, to grow, thrive and deliver high quality jobs across Ireland.
Key policy achievements include:
Enterprise and Economic Growth
• Published the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, a whole-of-government strategic response to the economic challenges Ireland is facing.
• Announced the Department’s Sectoral Capital Plan for 2026-2030, investing €4.7 billion in Ireland's enterprise and innovation ecosystem.
• Secured a €1 billion package of enterprise tax relief in Budget 2026, including an increase in the R&D Tax Credit from 30% to 35% and enhancements to Capital Gains Tax Entrepreneur Relief.
• Successfully completed the implementation phase of the White Paper on Enterprise and commenced development of the new Enterprise 2035 strategy.
• IDA Ireland announced a record 323 approved investments in 2025, a 38% increase on 2024. These investments are expected to create over 15,300 additional jobs in the coming years, across the country. 57% of all new investments are going into regional locations.
• Established a Small Business Unit fulfilling a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The Unit and Enterprise Ireland have completed a comprehensive review of application requirements for each LEO grant, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of questions across multiple grant schemes.
• Convened the Cost of Business Advisory Forum and held several thematic meetings. This Forum is focused on reducing the cost of running a business and addressing delays that can impact the operation of business in Ireland.
• Published the https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/powering-prosperity-final-implementation-progress-report.html highlighting significant achievements made in developing a successful offshore wind energy industry in Ireland.
• Secured Government approval for the Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026. The legislation empowers IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to accelerate investment, employment and regional development.
• Received Government approval for development of Next Generation Sites to ensure we remain competitive in attracting the next wave of large-scale, high-value manufacturing investments.
Employment and Workforce
• Achieved record-breaking employment levels with over 2.83 million people in work by the end of 2025.
• Employment in EI, IDA and LEO supported companies was robust in 2025. Employment in EI supported companies totalled 232,425, an increase of 1.3% over 2024 despite a challenging year for some sectors of exporting Irish businesses. 69% of new jobs were created located outside the Dublin region. The LEO portfolio of over 7,200 small businesses accounts for over 40,000 jobs across the country. In 2025, LEO supported companies created 7,261 new jobs and saw a 12th consecutive year of jobs growth. The 1,884 IDA client companies directly employed 312,468 in Ireland (up 1.5% over 2024).
• Increased the minimum wage to €14.15 per hour effective 1 January 2026, benefiting over 201,000 workers.
• Launched the Employment Permits Online system and implemented the Employment Permits Act 2024, significantly reducing processing times for critical skills and general permits. As a result of a comprehensive review of the Employment Permits System that commenced in Summer 2025, changes were made to the Critical Skills Occupations List and General Employment Permit quotas.
• Completed the first statutory review of the legislation granting employees the right to request remote working and published an updated Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working.
• Published Ireland’s Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026–2030, a comprehensive strategy designed to reinforce Ireland’s long-standing system of voluntary industrial relations.
• Expanded worker protections with the launch of a new Deemed Insolvent Process to protect employees’ pay-related entitlements if their employer becomes insolvent.
• Announced a new right under the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 allowing employees to work until State Pension age.
Tourism and Trade Promotion
• Published "A New Era for Irish Tourism," a five-year policy prioritising sustainability, digital transformation, and regional development.
• Secured a reduction in the hospitality VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% for food, catering, and hairdressers, effective from 1 July 2026.
• Unveiled a comprehensive tourism marketing plan for 2026 with a target to boost overseas visitor spending to over €10 billion annually by 2031.
• Jointly with An Tánaiste, launched the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification, a strategic whole of government initiative designed to bolster Ireland’s economic resilience and expand global trade opportunities for Irish businesses. The first progress report was published in March this year.
• Delivered a new Strategic Air Access Fund to drive tourism growth by partnering with airlines on cooperative marketing for new, high-potential direct routes. China Eastern Airlines recently announced the first direct Shanghai to Dublin service, through the fund Tourism Ireland will maximise the opportunities presented by this new route.
Innovation and Digital Transformation
• Allocated €23 million in additional funding for Ireland’s four European Digital Innovation Hubs to continue working with SMEs, as well as public service bodies, to support their uptake of AI and other cutting edge digital technologies.
• Announced details of an €18 million investment in 40 projects across Ireland under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, designed to strengthen regional enterprise, drive innovation and support sustainable economic growth.
• Under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund Call 7 almost €159 million has been awarded to 27 projects that will play a pivotal role in addressing the major challenges facing our society and economy. Call 8 will open later this year.
• Launched Ireland’s National Competence Centre in Semiconductors (I-C3), a significant milestone in Ireland’s commitment to semiconductor innovation and European collaboration under the European Chips Act.
• Announced funding of €5.74 million for seven projects under the 2025 Capital Equipment Call. As a result of this investment, the capabilities of the successful Technology Gateways and Technology Centres will be enhanced, enabling them to deliver cutting-edge solutions to industry and support innovation across key sectors.
• Launched the “AI - Good for Business” initiative, to support Irish businesses adopting artificial intelligence into their day-to-day work.
Regulation and Consumer Protection
• Designated 15 competent authorities under the EU’s AI Act and announced plans to set up a National AI Office to drive the adoption of artificial intelligence while ensuring proportionate regulation and establishing a regulatory sandbox.
• Published the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026.
• Regulations signed to give effect to EU Directives on cutting red tape and simplifying the obligations on business in relation to corporate sustainability reporting. These regulations provided much-needed legal certainty to Irish business.
• Worked to improve and strengthen the mandate of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), including the appointment of new members and raising thresholds for mandatory merger notification.
• Established the Employment Law Review Group to ensure our legal framework is fit for purpose and adapts to changes in the evolving contemporary workplace.
The Deputy will appreciate that the above represents a short synopsis of the key achievements of my Department but does not reflect the full breadth of our work over the period requested. Full details of 2025 policy achievements will be published in our Annual Report later this year.
298. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of IDA sites, by county; the number of sites that are vacant; and the average vacancy rate of sites in the last five years, in tabular form. [50866/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegional development is a key focus of our Programme for Government and is central to the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently". This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of the 1,000 investments targeted over that period.
The availability of appropriate property solutions is a significant factor in winning FDI and investments by Enterprise Ireland clients into regional locations. In locations where little or no suitable property solutions are available for FDI, and where market failure has resulted in a lack of private sector-led advanced solutions, IDA Ireland intervenes to provide high-quality and sustainable property solutions aligned with evolving client needs.
IDA Ireland’s Regional property Programme, in addition to delivering advance buildings, includes a focus on acquiring strategic land banks to future proof the ability of the property portfolio to support the project pipeline, most notably large-scale capital-intensive projects which have significant regional and national beneficial economic impacts. In that regard, a ready supply of available zoned industrial land for sale and development is vital to ensure IDA Ireland can compete for investments of scale across all activities and sectors. It is imperative that the Agency can be agile in developing and maintaining a property portfolio to support future investment opportunities across all regions as they arise.
IDA currently has a presence or maintains a residual title interest in a total of 279 holdings across industrial estates, business parks and strategic land banks throughout the country. These are either fully occupied, partly occupied or are greenfield opportunities that may have infrastructure requirements.
There are 96 IDA Ireland holdings on which there are marketable sites currently, in 2026, Table 1, which is a subset of the 279 holdings as set out. This average varies from year to year in line with marketing activities and client take up. The average number of holdings on which there was marketable land by year for the last 5 years, is set out in Table 2 below.
Table 1 Number of IDA Ireland Holdings by county, 2026.
|
County |
Holdings that are either fully occupied (on which IDA has residual title), partly occupied or are greenfield opportunities that may have infrastructure requirements/deficits |
Holdings on which there is Marketable Land |
|
Carlow |
8 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
7 |
2 |
|
Cork |
35 |
19 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
4 |
|
Dublin |
27 |
5 |
|
Galway |
26 |
9 |
|
Kerry |
6 |
4 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
4 |
|
Kilkenny |
8 |
3 |
|
Laois |
5 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
11 |
4 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
2 |
|
Longford |
5 |
1 |
|
Louth |
13 |
9 |
|
Mayo |
17 |
3 |
|
Meath |
7 |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
7 |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
2 |
|
Sligo |
7 |
3 |
|
Tipperary |
5 |
1 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
3 |
|
Westmeath |
14 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
8 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
13 |
1 |
|
Total |
279 |
96 |
Table 2 Average number of IDA Ireland Holdings on which there is Marketable Land by Year over the past 5 years.
|
Year |
Holdings on which there is Marketable Land |
|
2021 |
102 |
|
2022 |
99 |
|
2023 |
95 |
|
2024 |
93 |
|
2025 |
97 |
299. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the work his Department has carried out to investigate the reason many rural pubs are closing their doors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50867/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the important economic, social and cultural role that pubs play in communities across Ireland, particularly in rural areas, where they often serve as important local employers, tourism assets and centres of community life. My Department is aware of concerns regarding the challenges faced by some rural pubs and hospitality businesses arising from increasing business costs, labour shortages, changing consumer behaviour and broader demographic trends.
While my Department does not maintain a dedicated dataset on the number of rural pubs in operation or on the specific reasons individual pubs cease trading, we engage regularly with representative bodies from the hospitality sector, including through structured stakeholder engagement and the Cost of Business Advisory Forum. These engagements provide valuable insight into the challenges facing hospitality businesses, including rural pubs, and have highlighted issues such as labour costs, energy prices, insurance costs, regulatory requirements and changing patterns of consumer demand.
The Programme for Government recognises the importance of the hospitality sector and contains a range of commitments aimed at supporting the viability and competitiveness of small businesses. As part of these commitments, the Government reduced the VAT rate applying to food and catering services from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent with effect from 1 July 2026. This reduced rate applies to food and catering services provided by restaurants, cafés, pubs and catering businesses, although EU VAT rules require alcoholic beverages to continue to be charged at the standard rate.
The role of pubs extends beyond their direct economic contribution. The recently published National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, identifies food and drink tourism as a key area for future development and recognises pubs as an important part of Ireland's tourism offering and visitor experience. Pubs can play a significant role in supporting regional tourism, local food and drink experiences, festivals and destination development initiatives.
More broadly, the Government's approach to rural development, as reflected in Our Rural Future, recognises the importance of sustaining vibrant rural communities and supporting local enterprise across rural Ireland. Rural pubs can make an important contribution in this regard by providing places for social interaction, supporting community life and helping to address rural isolation.
In addition, my Department established a Small Business Unit to ensure that the needs of small businesses receive dedicated attention across Government. The Unit works to strengthen the application of the SME Test across policy-making, improve access to business supports through the National Enterprise Hub and ensure that the needs of small businesses, including hospitality enterprises, are reflected in Government decision-making.
The Government will continue to engage with hospitality sector stakeholders and monitor the challenges facing rural pubs as part of its wider commitment to supporting a competitive, sustainable and regionally balanced enterprise and tourism sector.
300. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the extent to which recent developments in Ireland’s external trade performance, including the decline in exports in April 2026, reflect underlying concentration risks in key sectors and markets; the implications this may have for the resilience of Ireland's export base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49859/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMonthly export data can be volatile and should be interpreted with caution. Recent declines in export values appear to reflect, in part, the unwinding of exceptionally high pharmaceutical exports that had been brought forward in anticipation of potential changes in the international trading environment.
My Department is acutely aware of the risks posed by adverse global trade developments, particularly given the significant contribution made by multinational enterprises to Ireland’s economy. In response, the Government is pursuing a coordinated, whole-of-Government approach to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and diversification of the Irish economy.
My Department’s Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 prioritises investment in innovation, digitalisation and infrastructure to support sustainable, high-quality employment and long-term economic competitiveness. Complementing this, the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification seeks to expand export opportunities and reduce over-dependence on individual markets, while Enterprise Ireland continues to support greater diversification across sectors, regions and export destinations.
Ireland’s trade policy also plays a central role in supporting economic resilience. Ireland strongly supports an ambitious EU trade agenda that advances new Free Trade Agreements and secures provisions that facilitate economic activity and trade across all regions of the country, while also providing improved market access for our agricultural sector and rural communities.
As a member of the EU, Ireland benefits from access to the largest trade network in the world, with agreements covering over 70 countries and providing preferential market access for Irish businesses. This network continues to expand, creating new opportunities for exporters and reducing reliance on any single market. During Ireland’s EU Presidency, we will continue to promote measures that support market diversification and strengthen economic resilience.
In addition, the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity sets out a range of domestic measures designed to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness and capacity to withstand economic shocks.
Taken together, these measures support the Government’s long-term objective of ensuring that Ireland remains agile, competitive and well positioned to prosper in an increasingly uncertain and contested global trading environment.
301. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to intervene with an organisation (details supplied) with a view to the company accepting and implementing the recommendations that the company recognise a trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51041/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments to promote collective bargaining through the development of an institutional framework supportive of a voluntary system of industrial relations that is premised upon freedom of contract and freedom of association. There is an extensive range of statutory provisions designed to back up the voluntary bargaining process.
The Government fully supports the right of any worker to join and be active in their trade union. Employees have the right under the Constitution to form associations and trade unions. Under Irish legislation, an employee cannot be discriminated against or dismissed because they are a member of a trade union. However, under Irish law, there is no requirement for an employer to recognise trade unions for the purpose of collective bargaining.
The Labour Court is an independent statutory body established by law to discharge its functions independently and impartially. As Minister, I have no role in the Court’s day-to-day operations and therefore do not intervene in, influence, or comment on its decisions or recommendations.
It has long been an accepted feature of the system that Labour Court recommendations in industrial relations disputes are generally non-binding. However, this should not diminish their significance. Such recommendations reflect the considered and independent judgement of the State’s highest industrial relations body, reached following a careful examination of the issues in dispute and the positions advanced by the parties. They are intended to provide an authoritative basis for resolution and to assist the parties in restoring constructive engagement where agreement has not been possible through direct negotiations.
302. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware of the high levels of absenteeism being faced by employers when it comes to employees submitting online medical certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51101/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sick Leave Act 2022 introduced Ireland’s first statutory entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This provides employees with sick pay for medically certified absences. The entitlement began at 3 days in 2023 and increased to 5 days from 1 January 2024. The goal of the legislation was to provide a level of financial protection to employees, particularly those in low-paid, precarious roles, who are unfit to work due to illness or injury but who do not have access to a company sick leave scheme.
The scheme provides employees with 70% of normal pay, up to €110 per day, for medically certified absences. Employees must have completed 13 weeks’ continuous service with the employer before availing of statutory sick leave. The employee must provide their employer with a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner and the certificate must state that the employee named is unfit to work due to their illness or injury.
My Department has no role in the provision of medical certificates.
303. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his advice to employers when medical certs being issued to employers are doing so without sufficient clinical assessment and in circumstances that would not ordinarily warrant such lengthy periods of sick leave (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51102/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sick Leave Act 2022 introduced Ireland’s first statutory entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This provides employees with sick pay for medically certified absences. The entitlement began at 3 days in 2023 and increased to 5 days from 1 January 2024. The goal of the legislation was to provide a level of financial protection to employees, particularly those in low-paid, precarious roles, who are unfit to work due to illness or injury but who do not have access to a company sick leave scheme.
The scheme provides employees with 70% of normal pay, up to €110 per day, for medically certified absences. Employees must have completed 13 weeks’ continuous service with the employer before availing of statutory sick leave. The employee must provide their employer with a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner and the certificate must state that the employee named is unfit to work due to their illness or injury.
My Department has no role in issuing medical certificates or the clinical assessment required to come to a determination of illness.
304. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of persons employed in Ireland in high tech construction; the way in which that sector is defined; and the contribution that this sector makes to the Irish economy. [51183/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficial statistics on employment in Ireland are published by the Central Statistics Office(CSO) in the quarterly Labour Force Survey and presented including by NACE classification of economic sectors. I understand that there is no definition of high tech construction under the NACE classification. However at the broad sector level according to the most recent survey in Q1 2026, over 195,600 people were employed in the construction sector representing 7% of total employment. In addition, the latest full year data from Ireland’s national accounts from the CSO shows the construction sector contributed Gross Value Added of €15.7 billion in 2025 up from €14.7 billion in 2024.
My Department also carries out annual surveys of client companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies (IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta) on their employment and economic impact. According, to the most recent data in total 203 client companies are engaged in exporting construction products. These companies employed 24,959 people in 2025 and they had €6.033 billion in exports in 2024 (latest data available).
A strong, high-performing construction sector is vital. The wider adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has the potential to deliver new housing more efficiently, more sustainably and with enhanced affordability at scale. My Department is working closely across Government and with other relevant stakeholders, to progress work to promote the adoption of MMC, including through the implementation mechanisms under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, as well as directly with the sector through the business development and enterprise innovation programmes administered by Enterprise Ireland to help drive increased levels of innovation and productivity in the sector.
305. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports in place to assist Irish businesses in using quantum computing to address enterprise opportunities and challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51184/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s National Quantum Strategy was published in 2023 by my Cabinet colleague and then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD. It sets out a vision for the development of the quantum sector in Ireland, including enterprise opportunities and challenges. In particular it focuses the efforts of Ireland’s quantum technologies community on areas of emerging growth in quantum technologies where Ireland can achieve a competitive advantage. My officials will continue to work with counterparts in that Department to advance this agenda.
The primary quantum specific vehicle is the Rinn Quantum, supported by Research Ireland, recently announced by Minister James Lawless as part of a new suite of Research Centres. Rinn Quantum aims to establish Ireland as a global leader in quantum science. The Centre will bridge fundamental research and real-world applications, addressing challenges in secure communication, future materials, and sustainable quantum technologies. Through strong academic–industry partnerships and alignment with national and EU strategies, Rinn Quantum will accelerate innovation, contribute to building Ireland’s quantum workforce, and foster public engagement.
My Department and the agencies under its aegis operate a comprehensive suite of enterprise programmes and supports delivered through DETE, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to foster innovation-led growth in the enterprise sector, including those operating in the quantum field.
Through these schemes, firms can access the necessary resources, expertise and infrastructure needed to adopt digital technologies, reducing innovation risk and accelerating the development of new products and services – strengthening their overall resilience and competitiveness.
Examples of such schemes include:
R&D Grants: Both IDA and Enterprise Ireland provide grant supports for companies that are assessing the feasibility of, or actively developing novel or substantially improved products, services or processes to enhance their global competitiveness.
Innovation Partnerships Programme: This programme, open to both IDA and EI client companies offers grants up to 80% towards eligible costs to companies engaged in collaborative research projects with Irish Universities and Technological Universities.
Commercialisation Fund: Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund focuses on creatingdeep tech start-up companies originating from research and innovation activities withinHigher Education Institutions and Research Performing Organisations. The Fund also provides grants for feasibility studies up to €15K and proof of concept studies up to €100K further supporting the journey from research to market.
Finally, businesses developing innovative quantum computing technologies with enterprise and research partners can also seek funding through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. To date, my Department has awarded over €21 million in two projects utilising quantum technology.
This includes the QCoIr project, which aims to develop a platform to integrate and optimise different quantum computing technologies, and the QUBIC project, which is creating quantum solutions for sectors such as energy, climate, advanced materials, and healthcare. These investments are helping to strengthen Ireland's capability in quantum technologies and support its position as a leader in this rapidly evolving field.
Earlier this month, I announced a further €40 million competitive call under DTIF which will open for applications in October this year, which also may serve to support companies in developing quantum technology in Ireland.
