Tuesday, 13 Dec 2022

Written Answers Nos. 111-127

International Agreements

Questions (112)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 27 October 2022, the status of his engagement at WTO and European Union level with regard to the proposal to extend the 17 June 2022 decision of the WTO on the TRIPS agreement to cover Covid-19 therapeutics and diagnostic tests; if his attention has been drawn to an analysis (details supplied) outlining the inequality of access to Covid-19 medicines between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62035/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The ‘Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement’ was agreed by WTO Member States at the Ministerial Conference in June. This Decision allows developing countries to authorise the manufacture and export of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the ingredients and processes necessary for their manufacture, in a fast and simplified manner and without the consent of the patent owner.

At the time of the adoption of the Decision, there was no consensus among the Members to cover also COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. As a compromise, the Decision contained a commitment that, no later than six months from the date of that Decision (17 December 2022), Members would decide on whether to extend the Decision to cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.

TRIPS Council meetings have taken place since June dedicated to discussions of the extension, however, there is currently no consensus among members on whether to extend the June Decision. Some Members are in the process of conducting domestic consultations and information gathering on the use of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics, to identify any production, supply, distribution and demand constraints for these products. There are also calls from some Members for evidence and fact-based analysis to identify any IP-related barriers to access to therapeutics and diagnostics.

The EU is also conducting its own internal consultations and analysis to gain an understanding of the issues related to access to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. This analysis takes time as the case for COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics is more complex than the one pertaining to vaccines.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of voluntary licensing agreements put in place between pharmaceutical companies and generic manufacturers, for the production of COVID-19 treatments, with over 150 voluntary licences agreements currently in place. These licences have made it possible to ramp up production of therapeutics and facilitate lower pricing and not-for-profit arrangements for low and middle-income countries. In addition, over 90% of these collaborations involve technology transfer, which is crucial for the production of therapeutics.

Ireland has consistently advocated for an equitable global response to the pandemic to ensure safe and affordable diagnostics and therapeutics to those most in need. This is evident by Ireland’s continued commitment to vaccine donations with over 4,051,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered at the end of October in addition to funding of €13.5 million through the COVAX initiative.

In addition, the European Union and its Member States, as Team Europe, are a major contributor to the Global Fund which is a leading player in the fight against COVID-19. The Fund provides financial support to low and middle-income countries through its COVID-19 Response Mechanism, covering the costs of personal protective equipment, diagnostic tests, and therapeutics. The EU has contributed €150 million for the COVID-19 Response Mechanism.

Ireland will continue to engage with the European Commission and other Member States on the EU position. A final TRIPS Council meeting will take place on 15th December, and should no decision be reached on the extension of the June Ministerial Decision at this meeting, it is anticipated that discussions will continue in 2023.

Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 103.

Industrial Development

Questions (114)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

114. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed within IDA and Enterprise Ireland-backed companies in counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62126/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA Ireland works hard to create a welcoming environment for FDI in all parts of the country. The strong regional spread of jobs and investment in the latest IDA results demonstrates the Government's commitment to regional development. Over half of investments in 2021 and 2022 went to regional locations. Under the Government's Enterprise White Paper over half of all new inward investments to 2024 will be targeted to regional locations.

IDA Ireland reported strong annual results for 2022 on Monday 12 December with a substantial increase in growth in FDI employment on 2021, numbers are now at the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) employment level ever.

Growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to over 300,000. The results show continued substantial growth in FDI in 2022 despite a difficult global economic environment with 33,000 new jobs created in 2022.

Growth in regions continued with employment growth recorded in every region of the country. Strongest regional performance among IDA clients in 2022 was in the Mid-East region (net change 13.6%), followed by Dublin (10.8%) and the Midlands (9.7%).

There are 49 IDA client companies in the Midlands Region, employing 6,868 people.

In 2021, County Longford had 6 IDA client companies, employing 1,310. County Westmeath had 27 IDA client companies, employing 4,099.

Enterprise Ireland supports companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate, and remain competitive on international markets, now and in the future. The contribution of Enterprise Ireland client companies to the Irish economy is very important, particularly from a regional and county perspective.

The 5,000 plus manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors. In 2021, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 207,894 people. In addition, Enterprise Ireland supported companies sustained over 375,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.

The Total Spend of Enterprise Ireland clients in the Irish economy across payroll and goods and services purchased, reached €29.406bn in 2020. This shows that Enterprise Ireland clients have impact in every county in Ireland.

In 2021, County Longford had 31 EI client companies, employing 2,262. County Westmeath had 80 EI client companies, employing 3,019.

Employment figures for both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland by county for 2022 will be available in January 2023.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (115)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

115. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the implementation of the remote working strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62061/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

My Department published the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15th, 2021.

The Strategy identified 15 actions to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits.

My Department oversees the implementation of the Strategy’s actions through an Interdepartmental Group and very significant progress has been made. I would highlight the following actions delivered by various Government Departments and agencies:

- Legislating for the right to request remote working for all workers. In November, the Government agreed to integrate the right to request remote work into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill as the most efficient and practical way to introduce this right.

The amended Bill passed Report and Final Stages in the Dáil on 7 December. It has now concluded all stages in the Dáil and has been sent to the Seanad.

- The publication of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect in April 2021 by the Workplace Relations Commission.

- An enhanced income tax deduction of 30 percent of heat, electricity and broadband expenses for remote workers announced in Budget 2022.

- The launch of the national Hub Network and the ConnectedHubs.ie platform in May 2021.

- The allocation of €5m in funding to 81 digital hub projects across the country through the 2022 Connected Hubs Fund. This follows the award of almost €9m via the 2021 Connected Hubs Call.

- To date, a total of approximately €100m has been provided by the Government through various funding streams to support the development of hub infrastructure across the country.

- A new National Hub Strategy will launch in late 2023. The Strategy will aim to maximise the potential of the National Hub Network as an enabler of enterprise, rural and regional employment, sustainable and resilient communities and as a contributor to achieving to Ireland’s ambitious climate action goals.

- My Department launched new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 during spring 2022, which include a strong remote work focus.

-While the National Broadband Plan was impacted negatively by COVID-19, delivery of the Plan has gained momentum in recent months. This momentum will continue into 2023.

- The publication of the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in March.

- My Department is continuing to develop and promote its Guidance for Working Remotely webpage and Employer Checklist.

- The publication of an evaluation of the impacts of remote working in May which identified positive effects of remote work on productivity, the environment, regional development, private finances, and labour market participation.

I am satisfied that good progress is being made to ensure that Ireland is leading on remote work as a way of achieving balanced regional development, creating new job opportunities for people who want to live in rural Ireland and a more inclusive labour market.

Regional Development

Questions (116)

Barry Cowen

Question:

116. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a report on the implementation in the midlands region of IDA Ireland’s 2021-2024 strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62111/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

I was pleased to join the IDA Chairman and Interim CEO on 12th December for the launch of their strong annual employment results for 2022, with the announcement of a substantial increase in growth in FDI employment on 2021. The numbers employed in IDA clients are now at the highest level ever.

The growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to over 300,000. The results show continued substantial growth in FDI over 2022 despite a difficult global economic environment with 33,000 new jobs created.

Job losses, which were at historically low levels in recent years, increased in the latter half of 2022 as some tech companies sought to reduce costs and employee numbers in line with reduced revenue forecasts and weakening company valuations. These layoffs, proportionate to the size of the overall portfolio, resulted in less net employment growth this year, giving a net increase of just over 24,000 jobs year on year.

There was employment growth recorded in every region of the country. Strongest regional performance among IDA clients in 2022 was in the Mid-East region (net change 13.6%), followed by Dublin (10.8%) and the Midlands (9.7%).

The strong growth in regional investment was supported by IDA Ireland’s property programme. We know a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem to be a key differentiator in winning FDI projects. IDA is making considerable investments in land, buildings and infrastructure across the Midlands regions during the lifetime of the current strategy. IDA Ireland announced in October 2022 it has acquired 44 acres of land adjacent to the Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise. The land currently available on the Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise is 17 acres.

There are 49 IDA client companies in the Midlands Region, employing 6,868 people. The FDI performance in the region has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing significantly over that time. The region has an impressive range of companies across all industry sectors, with particular strengths in Life Sciences, Technology, Global Business Services, International Financial Services, and Engineering & Industrial Technologies. The existing FDI base of client companies in the region continues to perform well in terms of their operational sustainability, job retention and ongoing transformation.

The Midlands region has been performing very well over the last number of years, with consistent employment growth across all sectors. IDA’s regional team enjoys close working relationships with all key stakeholders across the 4 counties and is heavily involved in a significant number of initiatives across the region to improve the value proposition for FDI – Just Transition, Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee, ICT Cluster Steering Committee, Skills Forum, and the Industry Forum.

IDA’s focus over the coming years is to build on the strengths and competencies of the region with a particular focus on high value manufacturing, services and research and development opportunities across a number of established clusters in Life Sciences, Technology, and Global Business Services. Emerging technology trends have and will continue to create new opportunities across the region in areas such as data analytics, smart manufacturing, cybersecurity and new approaches to working such as home working and hub working.

The 2022 figures continue the pattern of sustained growth in FDI investment and FDI-related employment that has been achieved over a continuous period of more than ten-years. However, we are time of serious global challenges and uncertainties. The global economy faces serious headwinds in 2023 with the outlook dependent on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, inflation, monetary policy and geo-political developments.

In addition to the high-level results announced yesterday, a more detailed analytical report, with results split by ownership, region, county and sector, will follow in January 2023.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (117)

Robert Troy

Question:

117. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA will now go to tender for the construction of a new advance building at the IDA park at Marlinstown in Mullingar, in view of the fact that planning permission has been granted; the marketing plans to attract a tenant to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62099/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA Ireland received the decision to grant planning permission from Westmeath County Council on the 24th of November 2022 for the construction of a c.50,000sq.ft. Advanced Building Solution consisting of office and light industrial/production spaces.

Following receipt of a satisfactory outcome from the planning process, and the completion of the detailed design phase of the project, IDA Ireland plan to commence the public procurement process for the selection of a suitably qualified contractor to complete the development.

It is IDA Ireland’s intention to appoint a contractor for the construction of the Advanced Building Solution in Q2 2023 with a view to commencing the development shortly thereafter.

The Deputy will be aware that the above dates are subject to change and will depend on a satisfactory outcome from the planning and procurement process. The appointment of the contractor will also be subject to approval by the Board of IDA Ireland.

IDA’s Property Marketing team will market the proposed Advance Building Solution in Mullingar to potential overseas clients through their network of global teams. This new development is part of IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme funded by Government to develop property solutions in regional locations. The proposed new building will assist IDA in winning new investments in the Midlands Region.

Work Permits

Questions (118, 126)

James O'Connor

Question:

118. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the limitation of work permits for farm labourers across the country; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a shortage of farm labourers across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62125/22]

James O'Connor

Question:

126. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reconsider the number of work permits for farm workers allowed given that a severe shortage of workers for this sector has arisen in recent weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62124/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 126 together.

Ireland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine roles that are either in critical short supply or are ineligible for an employment permit.

The system is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term. The lists undergo periodic evidence-based review guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation and the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who have policy responsibility for this sector.

Occupations in the farming sector that have been provided with further extensions to quotas of General Employment Permits in the past year include Dairy Farm Assistant (100 GEPs), Horticulture Operative (1000 GEPs), and Work Riders (100 GEPs). The quota for Dairy Farm Assistant has now expired with the last permits issued in early November.

The use of quotas ensures that in the longer-term, strategies are put in place to source labour supply from both the domestic and European labour markets and to invest in innovative technologies to automate the sector when possible.

In order to have an occupation considered for adding to or removing from the Occupations Lists, or for a quota to be created, recruitment difficulties should be demonstrated as due to shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Sectors are also required to engage structurally with the public employment service of the Department of Social Protection.

My Department has recently received a request from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an additional quota of General Employment Permits for the role of Dairy Farm Assistant. Final consideration is now being given to this matter and a decision is expected in due course.

My Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.

Industrial Relations

Questions (119)

Ged Nash

Question:

119. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the next steps that he plans to take on foot of the Labour Employer Economic Forum High Level Group on Collective Bargaining Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62090/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

In March 2022, the Tánaiste tasked a High-Level Working Group under the auspices of the LEEF to review collective bargaining and the industrial relations landscape. The Group's final report was published in October and is available on the DETE website.

The Report is timely as Ireland also needs to keep abreast of developments at EU level which require us to promote the capacity of social partners to engage in an effective collective bargaining system. The EU Directive on Minimum Wages and Collective Bargaining was adopted by the European Council on 4th October, and I welcome the Directive’s focus on strengthening collective bargaining structures in Member States.

The Tánaiste has asked DETE officials to carefully consider the Report, consult with stakeholders and develop proposals for Government in respect of its implementation. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this work has already begun.

Work Permits

Questions (120)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

120. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any plans to review the current arrangements for work permits in carpentry and related trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62105/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Ireland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine roles that are either in critical short supply or are ineligible for an employment permit.

These lists undergo periodic evidence-based reviews guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation and the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments including the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

The construction sector was the subject of reviews in recent year, with a significant number of occupations added to the Critical Skills Occupations List and others removed from the Ineligible Occupations List.

The occupations of Carpenter and Joiner are eligible for the General Employment Permit since October 2021, and where the vacancy offers remuneration of over €64,000, an application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit may be considered. These changes were made in recognition of the challenges faced by the sector and strong evidence of continued labour shortages with the result being that almost all roles in the construction sector are now eligible for employment permits.

The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (121)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

121. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Ukraine credit guarantee scheme is now open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62123/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme will release up to €1.2 billion in lending to assist the liquidity needs of SMEs, farmers, fishers and small mid-caps. Increased energy costs are driving increased costs in every area of business operations. Viable businesses need access to cashflow funding to ensure they can continue to operate, pay their employees and pay their suppliers. This type of scheme provides access to low-cost loans to meet these liquidity needs. Experience on the very similar and successful Covid-19 CGS has seen €705 million in lending to over 9,800 businesses, helping to maintain 81,000 jobs.

The relevant amendments to the Credit Guarantee Act have been enacted this December, with the legal and operational elements being finalised to allow for deployment of the Scheme this winter. An open call to finance providers has begun to ensure competition in the market and a variety of loan types available to businesses.

To ensure that businesses can avail of loans to meet their liquidity needs this winter, a pre-allocation has been made available to the two pillar banks which is well advanced. This will significantly increase the pace of the deployment of the scheme and the availability of loans in the market.

Loans under this scheme will be available until the 31st of December 2024, giving certainty to SMEs, farmers and fishers that funding will be available to them through these extraordinary economic times.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (122)

Alan Dillon

Question:

122. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the early take-up of the green transition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62104/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Green Transition Fund, which I launched in June 2022, is designed specifically to address a core measure in the enterprise chapter of the Climate Action Plan 2021, which was to reduce manufacturing combustion emissions.

This Fund provides manufacturing businesses the foundation they need to begin their transition to low carbon production processes and help them to decarbonise their operations through investment in carbon abating capital equipment and technologies.

The Green Transition Fund comprises two separate funding streams:

1. The Climate Planning Fund for Business, which will give businesses funding to develop a plan to identify how best to remove reliance on fossil fuels in their business. A €1,800 grant to develop a plan and up to €50,000 matched funding to go towards specific capacity building within an enterprise are among the grants available.

2. The Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund, which will give manufacturing businesses funding to invest in carbon neutral heating processes, smart metering and energy monitoring, and research and development. Up to €1 million is available for businesses to upgrade their processes through this stream.

As of 8 December 2022, there have been 66 approvals valued at €1,024,796.

The level of demand is anticipated to be grow significantly in 2023 as awareness of the offerings that make up the Green Transition Fund continues to grow, and businesses see the energy efficiency improvements that can be made through decarbonisation.

The fund is administered by Enterprise Ireland. Over the period of its’ current strategy, 2022-2024, Enterprise Ireland has a target of 425 climate interventions with companies. For 2022, the target is 150 interventions. These are across a range of supports for companies including consultancy, training, R&D, capital investment to enable companies to improve their sustainability and decarbonise.

Enterprise Ireland advise me that there have been 126 approvals this year valued at €1.4m; these are across our Climate Action Voucher, Green Start, Green Plus, Strategic Consultancy, and RD&I. There have also been three Environmental Aid approvals valued at €12.8m in total.

My department aims to facilitate opportunities for decarbonisation across our enterprise base and we are in the process of integrating climate action into all aspects of the Department and its agencies’ activities. This will foster strong, resilient businesses, that are successful and sustainable, while meeting our sector’s climate action ambitions.

Human Rights

Questions (123)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 27 October 2022, the status of his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the development of a second national action plan on business and human rights; the status of his Department’s work on the development of policy on business and human rights, as per recommendation 10 of the 2021 Review of implementation of National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017 – 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62037/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland's first National Plan on Business and Human Rights was launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs towards the end of 2017. The implementation of this whole-of-Government plan was overseen by a multi-stakeholder implementation group comprised of representatives of Government, civil society and business, including from my own Department.

Both the plan itself and the Programme for Government committed to a review of implementation of the plan, and this was undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2021. The Government noted the review at its meeting on 3 December 2021 and it is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

Discussions are continuing about the best approach to a new plan and to advancing effective action on business and human rights, and officials in my Department continue to engage with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs on this.

My Department continues to play a central role in the development of policy on particular aspects of business and human rights in line with the recommendations of the 2021 review. In particular, my Department is actively engaged on a number of important EU instruments, namely the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the recent proposal from the Commission to ban forced labour products from the single market.

Labour Market

Questions (124)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

124. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department monitors the number of persons entering various college courses or apprenticeships in order to evaluate potential future labour surges or shortages in certain sectors. [61736/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, along with its enterprise agencies, works closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the availability across the economy of relevant talent and skills, which are key enablers of enterprise productivity and innovation. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is the lead Department for skills policy in the Irish context, which is framed by Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025, published in 2016.

Under the overarching framework of the National Skills Strategy, the Government operates a responsive National Skills Architecture, which aims to ensure that education and training provision is optimally aligned with identified skills needs across the economy. My Department contributes to this responsive architecture by hosting the Secretariat to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN).

The EGFSN is the independent, non-statutory body that advises the Government on projected skills requirements across the Irish economy and makes recommendations on how existing education and training systems and delivery mechanisms, as well as other sources of skills supply, can be improved.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as its enterprise agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, are members of the group, along with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority, SOLAS, and representation from the business and trade union communities.

The EGFSN Secretariat based in my Department provides research and analysis support to the Group’s sectoral and thematic research studies, which are funded through the National Training Fund, and which help inform the work of the National Skills Council, which advises on the prioritisation of identified skills needs and the allocation of resources across the education and training system to address these needs.

In recent years the EGFSN has undertaken studies on medium to longer term skills needs in Artificial Intelligence, High Level ICT, Digital Transformation, Construction, Energy Efficient Retrofit, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicle Deployment, SME Management Capability, Design Thinking and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. In the coming year it will also be publishing studies on the future skills needs of Biopharma and International Financial Services.

In the majority of its studies the EGFSN engages in forecasting the medium to longer term demand for skills at occupational level. Importantly, it also examines participation in associated education and training programmes, in order to identify the baseline supply of skills, the scale of any supply-demand gap that is forecast to emerge, and to make recommendations on how potential skills gaps can be addressed.

Through this analysis the work of the EGFSN serves to inform skills planning across Government and the education and training system. EGFSN analysis forms part of the evidence base for the competitive funding calls under National Training Fund supported programmes, which incentivise education and training providers to develop or expand provision in areas of identified skills needs. The Group’s work is also used to inform the review of Ireland’s Employment Permit eligibility lists, in order to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages in the State.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (125)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

125. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way that the IDA proposes to use and develop the land that it owns in Kanturk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62062/22]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

On 12 December, I was pleased to join the Chair and Interim CEO IDA Ireland of IDA Ireland for the launch of their annual employment results for 2022. There are now 229 IDA client companies in the South-West Region, employing 52,228 people, an increase of 8% on the 2021 figure. The FDI performance in the region has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 30%. Counties in the South-West region also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located in the South West.

The South-West has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies. It has also won significant investment across all these sectors over a sustained period which has contributed significantly to employment growth and positive economic impacts on other sectors of the economy. At the end of 2022, there are 17 IDA client companies in County Kerry employing 2,020 staff directly which is an increase of 4.5% on the 2021 employment figure.

The IDA’s property investment in the regions is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across IDA’s, Enterprise Ireland and local LEO’s respective client base. It is crucial that the South-West region has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment and jobs.

Over the last 5 years, IDA’s Regional Property Programme enabled the winning of capital-intensive projects of significant scale to regional locations including the Southwest.

IDA Ireland have engaged in numerous discussions since 2019 in relation to its land holding in Kanturk. The land was under offer to a client company but unfortunately, they have since withdrawn. Discussions have also taken place with Cork County Council in relation to taking on the lands to support potential indigenous clients. IDA’s Property Marketing team continues to market the land in Kanturk to potential overseas clients through our network of global teams as well as Enterprise Ireland and LEO clients in Ireland. This land holding forms part of IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme funded by The Government to maintain property solutions in regional locations for FDI. Finding a mutually beneficial solution for all parties for the land in question through continued marketing will assist IDA in winning new investments into the Southwest Region.

Question No. 126 answered with Question No. 118.

Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 100.