Written Answers Nos. 238-245
238. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is any assistance or funding available for a start-up company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23900/23]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are a ‘first stop shop’ for providing advice and guidance, and act as a signposting service for all government supports available to anyone looking to start or grow their own business. As such, I would recommend that this individual contact their Local Enterprise Office to inquire about what supports would be available to them. The LEOs are located within each of the 31 Local Authority areas and their contact details can be found through www.localenterprise.ie.
I strongly recommend that any entrepreneur starting up their own business participate in the LEO Start Your Own Business Programme which can guide new business owners through the various aspects of business and business planning. The objective is to assist them in assessing their business idea, determining its viability and deciding if they should proceed or take a step back.
The LEOs can provide grant assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses, operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, subject to eligibility criteria. However, it should be noted that LEOs cannot provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses in the locality.
Microfinance Ireland also provides vital support to micro-enterprises by filling the lending gap in the market by lending to business that cannot obtain loans from other commercial lenders. It provides loans of €2,000 up to €25,000 to businesses that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by commercial lenders and applies interest rate charges for its lending which are not reflective of its credit risk, typically between 4.5% for clients of Local Enterprise Offices and other partners to 5.5% for direct applications.
239. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will list the locations and completion dates for the 8 advanced uilding Solutions delivered under the IDA regional building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23919/23]
View answer240. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the strategic sites have been identified for each and project lifecycle phase (i.e. in the planning process) for the 11 outstanding Advanced Building Solutions under the IDA regional building programme, in tabular form; if he will list locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23920/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
Government policy and the IDA strategy both recognise that the timely provision of appropriate, innovative, and cost-effective property solutions that meet the needs of multinational companies at the forefront of a modern economy remains essential to winning FDI. A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects, as evidenced by the record regional results achieved under the IDA's current and previous strategies. In a challenging, competitive, and uncertain global environment, IDA’s regional property programme seeks to ensure the supply of land, buildings with essential infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of IDA as well as Enterprise Ireland and LEOs.
A key strategic objective under the current IDA strategy, ‘Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021–2024’, is the delivery of Advanced Building Solutions to regional locations. In that regard, IDA is committed to delivering 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) across six regions in sixteen locations together with working with Local Authorities, where appropriate, on advance planning permissions for additional building solutions.
Against the backdrop of the difficulties experienced in the construction sector globally and despite the impact of Covid and construction price inflation on both works & budgets, IDA has maintained momentum on the delivery of its Regional Property Programme whereby c. 42% of the programme will be completed by end Q2 2023. This includes the delivery of eight buildings across 4 Regions. These are:
1. Monaghan Advanced Business Solution - delivered in Q3 2021
2. Sligo Advanced Office Building - delivered in Q4 2021
3. Dundalk Advanced Building Solution - delivered in Q1 2022
4. Limerick Advanced Manufacturing Centre - delivered in Q3 2022
5. Limerick Advanced Building Solution - delivered in Q4 2022
6. Carlow Advanced Building Solution - currently scheduled for completion in Q2 2023
7. Waterford Advanced Building Solution - currently scheduled for completion in Q2 2023
8. Athlone Advanced Office Building - currently scheduled for completion in Q2 2023.
Additionally, it is envisaged, following the successful completion of public procurement and planning processes, that there will be 5 buildings on site in 2023. 3 further buildings are expected to be in the planning system before the end of 2023. With respect to ongoing site selection for the remaining properties, this process is underway. These are detailed as follows:
1. Sligo Advanced Building Solution - work commencing Q3 2023
2. Galway Advanced Building Solution - work commencing Q3 2023
3. Mullingar Advanced Building Solution - work commencing Q3 2023
4. Cavan Advanced Building Solution - work commencing Q4 2023
5. Athlone Advanced Building Solution (formerly "AF4") - work commencing Q4 2023
6. Letterkenny Advanced Building Solution - currently in design and planning phase
7. Drogheda Advanced Building Solution - currently in design and planning phase
8. Tralee Advanced Building Solution - currently in design and planning phase
9. Castlebar Advanced Building Solution - site selection process underway
10. Oranmore Advanced Building Solution - site selection process underway and
11. Longford Advanced Building Solution - site selection process underway.
241. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a teacher (details supplied) will receive recognition for their qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23718/23]
View answerIn September 2022 unions representing post-primary teachers chose to use the Building Momentum Sectoral Bargaining Fund to restore the value of an allowance previously withdrawn from new entrant post-primary teachers.
Sectoral bargaining provides for the establishment of a sectoral fund amounting to 1 per cent of basic pay, of which some or all may be used to resolve outstanding issues, with a payment date of 1 February 2022.
The unions opted to use part of the fund for the restoration of the Professional Master of Education (PME)/Higher Diploma in Education Allowance (H. Dip in Ed) with effect from 1 February 2022. This allowance had been withdrawn from newly appointed teachers following the outcome of a public service wide review of allowances and premium payments in 2013.
The restoration was implemented by increasing the new entrant salary scale for post-primary teachers to include the value of the Honours H.Dip in Education Allowance (€1,314) on each point of the scale. The increase will be backdated to 1 February 2022.
There are a small number of teachers, who are on a salary scale other than the new entrant scale, who would also be eligible for restoration but will receive it as an allowance. Such teachers will be able to apply for the allowance once a circular issues from the Department setting out the process. This is being finalised and is expected to issue in the near future.
242. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when clarification will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo on the completion of the project brief; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23734/23]
View answer243. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a full and complete timeline for the delivery of a new promised school building in County Mayo (details supplied) in view of the condition of this school and the fact that the new school building was approved in February 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23735/23]
View answer244. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if, in light of confirmation by her Department of the terrible conditions of a school building in County Mayo (details supplied), and the health and safety issues which exist and persist at this school, a senior official will make immediate direct contact with the school involved to discuss the next steps for the progression of the new build; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23736/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 to 244, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing improved accommodation for the school in question. The Deputy will be aware that there are certain complexities associated with the school site and my Department is currently considering the options available in addressing the school’s interim and long term accommodation needs. My Department will be in further contact with the patron when this process has been completed.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc. are secured, it is not possible to indicate an estimated timeline for the provision of a new school building.
245. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of increasing the capitation grant at primary and secondary levels by 5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23754/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants, etc.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide for increases in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools in recent years.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
In addition, as part of the Cost of Living measures introduced in Budget 23, €90 million has been provided in once-off additional funding to support increased running costs for recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme, in particular in dealing with challenges they face in the light of rising energy costs. This additional grant was paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level and €113 per pupil at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Annual funding would need to be increased by circa €10.4m to increase the capitation grant by 5%. This would cost €5m at primary and €5.4m at post-primary.
