Written Answers Nos. 226-245
226. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made to provide a new emergency department in GUH, Newcastle, County Galway; the progress made to date in the development of hospital services in GUH Merlin Park to relieve the pressure on GUH, Newcastle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50766/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA strategic assessment report is currently being developed for the new ED and Women’s and Children’s Block at University Hospital Galway (UHG). It is envisaged that the project will progress through the planning process in 2022. Following detailed design and a tendering process, construction works should commence in 2024, with an estimated completion date of mid-2026.
A temporary ED is currently being delivered at UHG to provide additional ED capacity.
The relocation of some general medical and surgical OPD clinics, as well as the Adult Fibrosis OPD from UHG to Merlin Park is planned to meet service demands. Planning permission for this project is in place and it is hoped to commence construction next year and to complete the work in 2023.
227. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the way in which he will fully implements the safe staffing framework; the full-year implementation cost; the number of nurses and midwives the health service will hire in 2022; if he will implement nurse patient staffing ratios; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50781/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Safe Staffing Framework is an evidence based approach to determine the safe nurse staffing and skill mix requirement based on patient care needs. The initial phase, Phase 1, applied to acute medical and surgical areas in the hospital setting. Following the success of the pilot project Phase 1 was agreed as national policy and handed over to the HSE for implementation across the system. To support national implementation funding was allocated for a National Lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix to set up a governance structure in the HSE to oversee implementation of Phase 1.
The national roll out has been impacted by COVID 19 and the cyberattack however the allocation of €10m provided to progress Phase 1 implementation in the National Service Plan 2021 will deliver 177 additional whole time equivalents across the Model 4 Hospitals. Budget 2022 has provided for further continuation of Phase 1 implementation based on the HSE business case to progress this important work. Full details of this funding will be clarified in the Letter of Determination, from my Department to the HSE.
The Deputy will also be aware that my Department continues to develop the Framework. It is expected that policy development for Phase 2 of the Framework, relating to emergency care settings, will be complete by the end of 2021, with implementation commencing by the HSE in 2022.
228. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if more nurse specialists in neurology will be appointed in Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50828/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
229. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the details of the Budget 2022 package for women’s health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50613/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government and €31 million euro has been allocated to women’s health in Budget 2022 for new developments.
This additional funding supplements both the ongoing work of my Department in key areas for women and a specific dedicated allocation for innovative approaches to women’s health services nationwide, through the Women’s Health Taskforce ‘Women’s Health Fund’.
There are a number of key initiatives driving progress for women’s health which have been supported through Budget 2022.
This includes:
- €8.66 million additional funding in the National Maternity Strategy, further increasing targeted investment and focus in our maternity services for the second year in a row, to ensure standard, consistent models of care for the delivery of a national maternity service, with specific focus on ensuring strengthened clinical governance and leadership within services, targeting improvement in the health and wellbeing of women accessing maternity services and enhancing midwifery care for women across the three pathways of care (supported, assisted & specialised).
- An additional funding of €5million to the Women’s Health Fund. This will support delivery of the women’s health action plan, anticipated to be brought to government later this year, which will outline measures needed to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health in outcomes in Ireland
- Aligning with the priorities set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, we will see €8.98 million allocated to enable the introduction of a scheme for the provision of the most effective method of contraception, free of charge and having regard to personal circumstances, for women aged 17-25.
- A significant portion of the investment will be allocated to the continued investment in major areas of women’s health, such as gynaecological services. In 2022, we will see the establishment of a further 6 ambulatory gynaecology “see and treat” clinics, increasing the total to 20 clinics nationally, at a cost of €3.31 million; extended endometriosis services in Tallaght and Cork at a cost of €1.39 million; and further developments will be made in menopause care by establishing three new specialist menopause clinics, based in Galway, Cork and Limerick, at a cost of €0.58 million.
- A further €0.25 million will be allocated to Sexual Assault Treatment Units.
- Budget 2022 also commits €0.7 million as a first-time investment in tackling period poverty.
The remainder of the women’s health allocation will invest in existing and new initiatives, including €1.34 million towards the commencement of a structured and resourced service in the Dublin and Cork regions for perinatal genetics services and €0.54m towards the establishment of an obstetric event support team expert team to support services and sites that report pre-defined severe maternity incidents.
A further €16m in other measures to support women's health is embedded within other new measures for 2022 within the Health Vote in areas such as cancer, mental health and social inclusion budgets, bringing the overall investment in women's health to €47m in additional funding provided for 2022.
This additional investment demonstrates our continued commitment to women’s health.
230. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the status of the issuing of free access to the FreeStyle Libre device for all adult diabetics; his plans to remove the age limit for free access to this device; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
231. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the mental health services budget to the internationally recognised level of 12% of the overall health budget in the lifetime of the 33rd Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50805/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of all aspects of mental health services remains a priority for Government. This is reflected in the current Programme for Government, Sharing the Vision - A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and the HSE National Service Plans.
2022 will see another record spend of €1.149 billion for mental health services. This includes an additional €47 million on 2021, comprising €24 million for new developments, €10 million for mental health initiatives in response to Covid and €13 million for existing level of service.
Separately, another €10 million is being made available in 2021, aimed at supporting the community and voluntary pillar in the mental health sector.
In 2022 this represents 5.4% of the overall provision of €21.337 billion for the HSE.
However, this figure does not include funding for other parts of the health service that provide mental health services and supports, such as psychotropic medicines funded by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, liaison mental health services in acute hospitals, some dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health) services and mental health and well-being promotion. It does not include the cost of the Mental Health Commission.
Nor does it include spending by other departments on services that incorporate psychological or mental health supports, such as the Prison and Probation Services, Social Protection, Defence Forces, Department of Foreign Affairs supporting the Irish diaspora or the Department of Education.
I am, along with Government as a whole, committed to ensuring continued investment in mental health so that we can further improve and enhance our mental health services and supports.
232. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to alleviate the situation whereby women have been diagnosed with breast cancer recently and have a more advanced diagnosis as a result of screening being unavailable over the Covid-19 restrictions given that October 2021 is breast cancer awareness month; the actions being taken to assist these women and their recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50925/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBreastCheck, the national breast cancer screening programme, is currently operating and inviting women for screening. Due to the impact of Covid-19 and the pauses in screening in 2020 and again earlier this year, BreastCheck appointments have been delayed. It will take approximately 3 years to get through this current screening round when it normally takes about 2 years; however this is still within international norms.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and BreastCheck is running a campaign which encourages women to be breast aware, know the symptoms of breast cancer and the risk factors for developing breast cancer. The campaign also explains about the impact of Covid-19 on services and provides advice for women about managing their screening appointments.
The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued provision of cancer care as a priority. Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), with a particular focus on urgent and time-sensitive cases.
As part of Budget 2021, an extra €20m was allocated for the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy this year. Additional funding of €12m has also been allocated this year for the restoration of cancer services to 95% of 2019 (pre-Covid) levels. This funding is being used to support hospitals in addressing backlogs, extending clinic times, providing additional clinics, increasing diagnostic capacity and providing locum/temporary support.
The NCCP is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment.
- From January–September this year, GP e-referrals for breast cancer are at 130% of 2019 (pre-Covid) activity; and
- Attendances at urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics from January–August 2021 (16,211) are at 115% of 2019 levels (14,127).
An important message to everyone now is that, if you have any concerns about cancer, please go to your GP who will arrange appropriate follow-up care. Our cancer diagnostic and treatment services are open, and our healthcare staff will provide any necessary care.
I have now secured a further €20m in Budget 2022 to progress the delivery of the National Cancer Strategy and this will have a significant impact on access to cancer diagnostics, treatment and support to patients across their cancer journey.
233. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the costs to date incurred by the Future of Media Commission. [50364/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the formation of the Future of Media Commission in September 2020 the costs associated with its work have totalled €421,971.33.
Some of the main cost items include:
- Advertising of consultation process in national and social media: €162,469.41
- Stipend to Commission Members: €145,350.00
- External Service contractors: (including survey research, audio-visual and event management support): €67,015.66
Other costs incurred were for items such as website development and services such as publication design and research.
234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he plans to include all publications in national advertisement campaigns that are under the umbrella of an organisation (details supplied) in view of the fact that the spread of expenditure and public messaging was fragmented across trusted local media sources. [50368/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic information campaigns in relation to Covid-19 have been advertised across a broad range of media, including national and local newspapers, and this will continue to be the case.
235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the amount of funds spent by his Department to date in 2021 for Covid-19 public communications activities; and if he will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the funds allocated in tabular form to including the recipients of the funds allocated, the services provided and the tendering processes undertaken to ensure optimal value for money. [50683/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAttached is a tabular breakdown of the spend in 2021 on public advertisements in response to the Covid19 pandemic.
All of the contracts for media buying, print ads, radio ads, tv ads, social media promotion, online banner advertising and creative services were contracted through competitive processes and the Office of Government Procurement Framework contracts to ensure best value for money.
Since March of 2020, my Department has co-ordinated communications for the whole-of-government response to the pandemic. This necessitated expenditure on a broad range of targeted public messaging across over fifty different information campaigns.
The overall communications strategy for Covid-19 is based on a coordinated response that ensures maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community. This aligns with both World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) advice, both of which emphasise the importance of ensuring the general public is aware of the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, and further that a high degree of population understanding, community engagement and acceptance of the measures put in place are key in preventing further spread.
It is also recommended that communication strategies should target different audiences and provide the rationale behind the measures, also outlining the necessity to put a support system in place to provide essential services and supplies (e.g. food and medication), and to monitor vulnerable individuals.
Campaigns have included Radio, newspaper and social elements.
It is essential that citizens, business owners and communities are informed of the decisions being made by Government, and campaigns are developed and implemented to make the public aware of these decisions.
Campaigns have achieved impressive audience reach across all media platforms. The #AntiViral Campaign had over 5.7 million impressions by mid-December 2020 – we had communicated with over 300,000 young people approximately 5 times across the platforms building awareness of the Campaign. The AntiViral hashtag had over 1.1 million views and the Campaign’s positive sentiment was measured at over 60%.
Data from 25 of the Campaigns advertised in National press show an average reach of 49%, with 17 of these reaching over 50%. The average readership for the 25 campaigns was 1.9 million (with 16 of the 25 campaigns having a readership of over 2 million). Readership figures for regional newspapers is over 1.5 million for each campaign.
Radio advertising had an average audience reach of 79%, with 19 of the campaigns advertised on radio reaching over 80%.
Digital display advertising was used in 13 campaigns, with a combined audience reach of over 33 million. This is an average of 2.6 million impressions, with six of the campaigns reaching over 3 million citizens.
Of 19 campaigns analysed that used Social media advertising, an average of 4.9 million impressions were achieved, with a high of 16.1 million impressions for the Publication of the Roadmap campaign.
236. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the estimated total amount spent by his Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the total amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office IT equipment or furniture in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51112/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not rent, lease or hire any office space. The properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works. The National Economic and Social Development Office pays a contribution to the OPW of €322,329 per annum for its office space. Since August 2020, the OPW also manages the rental of office space for the Moriarty Tribunal and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Commission of Investigation. These incurred expenditure on office space rental of €155,055.74 in 2020 and €236,009 to date in 2021.
My Department also purchases, as required, office furniture and general office equipment such as computers and IT accessories. Details of this expenditure is set out in the table below. My Department also has a lease agreement for the provision and maintenance of printers, the costs for which are included in the table.
|
2011 |
€134,375.82 |
|
2012 |
€158,425.32 |
|
2013 |
€101,695.20 |
|
2014 |
€160,249.53 |
|
2015 |
€95,770.50 |
|
2016 |
€122,681.68 |
|
2017 |
€191,634.07 |
|
2018 |
€181,531.51 |
|
2019 |
€278,445.70 |
|
2020 |
€338,063.91 |
|
2021 to date |
€57,040.35 |
237. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of his Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51129/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not own or rent any office space. All office accommodation is provided by the Office of Public Works and is currently being used.
238. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach the working groups his Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [51311/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of the Taoiseach has no working groups with industry in place.
The Taoiseach has regular engagement with businesses and representative groups. This includes in the context of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), the forum for dialogue between Government, employers and trade unions. LEEF was established in 2016 and plenary meetings are now chaired by the Taoiseach.
In LEEF, employers are represented by Ibec, the Construction Industry Federation, and Chambers Ireland, while trade unions are represented by ICTU.
239. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work being undertaken to deliver a universal basic income pilot separate to the pilot basic income for arts; the reason these two schemes have been separated; and when he expects both to be delivered. [50974/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to ‘Request the Low Pay Commission to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government’. Earlier this year, I formally requested the Low Pay Commission to examine this issue.
The Low Pay Commission has asked ESRI to conduct background technical research on this issue, under the terms of the Low Pay Commission/ESRI Research Partnership Agreement.
The study will examine universal basic income pilots that have taken place in other countries to identify what was learnt and that could be relevant to a pilot in Ireland. It will also seek to identify what policy objectives a universal basic income pilot could examine and its associated risks and fiscal implications.
It will conclude with recommendations on how a universal basic income pilot in Ireland could be designed.
The Low Pay Commission intends to provide a report to me on this research and their recommendations later this year.
I will then work with my officials to examine the Low Pay Commission’s findings and recommendations.
The idea of a universal basic income is that it is universal and not sectoral (e.g. for artists). The commitment in the Programme for Government will be informed by the results of any pilots organised in response to the recommendation of the Arts and Culture Taskforce and the Arts and Culture Recovery Oversight for a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists, if these results are available within the set timeframe. It is however being considered as a separate initiative.
240. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if undocumented workers who report illegal employment practices as described in Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 7 October 2021 will be referred to immigration authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50449/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. The WRC is staffed by civil servants who are staff of the Department.
The Inspectorate Division of the WRC is authorised to carry out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with the Employment Permit Acts. Under the Acts, it is a criminal offence to employ a worker in the State without either an Employment Permit or the appropriate permission issued by immigration services, or to be in employment without either an Employment Permit or the appropriate permission issued by immigration services.
Where non-compliance is detected and undocumented workers are encountered in the course of an inspection, the employer may be prosecuted for breaches of the Act and any other breaches of employment law detected. Employee details may also be referred to immigration services with a view to ensuring that the immigration status of the worker is regularised.
Due to the precarious nature of their status and their vulnerability to exploitation, as a matter of policy, the WRC does not prosecute undocumented workers.
241. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the State organisation that assumed responsibility for ensuring the quality of concrete blocks from the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards after it was merged with the National Board for Science and Technology to form Eolas in 1988 and then Forbairt in 1993. [50457/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn and from 1 July 2013, under Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 (known as the Construction Products Regulation or the “CPR”), CE marking became mandatory for all construction products placed on the market in the European Economic Area for which there exists a harmonised European product standard.
The CPR provides for Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) as a harmonised system defining how to assess products and control the constancy of the assessment results. This system safeguards the reliability and accuracy of the manufacturer’s Declaration of Performance. The AVCP system 2+ requires that an independent Notified Body, designated under the CPR, carries out auditing of the manufacturer’s factory production control (FPC) to ensure the integrity of the particular production control process. To comply with Irish Building Regulations aggregate masonry concrete blocks must be declared under AVCP 2+.
As a Notified Body under the CPR, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)’s scope of auditing and certification is limited to the factory production control process (FCP). This NSAI Certification enables a business to use the CE marking, as the manufacturer’s declaration, on their construction product as per the CPR. At all times responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the CPR rests with the manufacturer.
NSAI’s remit does not extend to monitoring products on the market (i.e. Market Surveillance), which is the responsibility of Market Surveillance authorities. Initially the market surveillance function was carried out by Local Authorities, however, it is now the responsibility of the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office.
242. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of non-EEA doctors that are offered critical skills work permits from 2015 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50472/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for the medical practitioners falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health.
The employment permits system is managed through the use of lists designating highly skilled and ineligible occupations. In order to maintain the relevance of these lists of occupations to the needs of the economy and to ensure their ongoing relevance to the State’s human capital requirements, they undergo twice-yearly evidence-based reviews.
Occupations appearing on the Critical Skills Occupations List, including Medical Practitioners, are eligible to apply for the Critical Skills Employment Permit. This permit type is designed to attract highly skilled people into the labour market in roles identified as being in critical short supply with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence and employment in the State. The qualification criteria for this permit includes a two-year job offer, a relevant third level qualification and a minimum remuneration of €32,000.
Individual contracts of employment and the type of employment permit for which an application is submitted are matters between the employee and employer, in this case the Health Service Executive. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has agreed an arrangement with the HSE to facilitate multi-location rotations without requiring a new employment permit for each medical rotation.
The statistics requested by the Deputy concerning the figures for Critical Skills Employment Permits provided in respect of non- EEA doctors for the period January 2015 up to and including 12th October 2021 are set out in the table below.
Critical Skills Employment Permits Issued to Doctors from 2015 to 12th October 2021 inclusive
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Critical Skills Employment Permit |
40 |
48 |
54 |
55 |
84 |
169 |
198 |
243. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a programme to encourage non-EEA doctors and their families to work and stay in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50473/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for this sector falls under the remit of my colleague, Mr. Stephen Donnelly T.D., Minister for Health.
The State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing enterprises to recruit nationals from outside the EEA, where such skills or expertise cannot be sourced from within the EEA at that time. The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists. These lists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based review, taking account of labour market research, a public consultation and contextual issues such as Brexit and Covid 19.
Doctors, including non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs), are on the critical skills list and are eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit. The Critical Skills Employment Permit is Ireland's premium employment permit and is targeted at highly skilled people in eligible occupations deemed to be critically important to growing Ireland’s economy, are highly demanded and highly skilled, and in significant shortage of supply in our labour market. This permit provides for immediate family reunification, broad access to the labour market for dependents, spouses and partners as well as fast tracking to long term residency after two years. The criteria attached to this permit type includes the requirement for the non-EEA national to have secured a job offer of two years.
My Department has worked with the HSE to put in place a process that allows for up to two-year, multi-site applications for Doctors, including NCHDs, for employment permits but any agreement on duration of individual employment contracts is a matter for the HSE and the doctor concerned.
244. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address concerns (details supplied); the business supports that may be available to severely impacted cottage industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50654/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMany cottage industries, self-employed sole traders, and micro-enterprises that are reliant upon the larger events industry, continue to be impacted by the effects of COVID-19 restrictions.
It is certainly hoped that a further lifting of restrictions on 22nd October will help ease the burden on these enterprises, but we must follow the advice provided by NPHET for the benefit of society as a whole.
My Colleague, Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection, will provide guidance through her department on the possibility of extension of the PUP payment.
I would advise businesses such as this to contact their Local Enterprise Office. The Local Enterprise Offices are a ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to small enterprises and act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols e.g., Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Office Mentor programme can provide business owners with invaluable advice and guidance, covering areas such as business planning, expansion, and access to finance.
Business support schemes such as the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which provides a voucher of up to €2,500 to help businesses develop their e-commerce capability, and the Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (TAME), which offers a grant of up to €2,500 to help businesses to part-fund the costs that can be incurred in investigating and researching export markets, can provide micro-enterprises with access to a wider marketplace for their product.
The LEO Mentors can also assist businesses owners with applications to Micro-finance Ireland (MFI) , which is a not-for-profit lender that offers small business loans of between €2,000 and €25,000 (unsecured). Loans for commercially viable proposals can be used to help fund start-up costs, working capital or business expansion and by applying through their Local Enterprise Office, clients can avail of a 1% reduction in the interest rate charged.
245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in the National Remote Work Strategy; when it is expected to implement the recommendations from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50690/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published ‘Making Remote Work’, the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15th, 2021.
The objective of the Strategy is to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The report is built on three pillars which are bolstered by underpinning conditions. These pillars are:
1. Create a Conducive Environment
2. Develop and Leverage a Remote Work Infrastructure
3. Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework
Under the pillars and underpinning conditions there are 15 actions to progress remote working now and inform decision-making into the future. My Department is focussed on the implementation of the Strategy. All of the Strategy’s actions have delivery dates in 2021. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) has been monitoring the delivery of the actions. Three meetings of the IDG have taken place to date through which it has been demonstrated that good progress is underway. A further meeting will be held in November.
Key achievements to date include:
- The publication of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect in April 2021 by the WRC.
- On 20th August 2021 my Department published the results of the Public Consultation on the Right to Request Remote Work. Informed by the consultation and a review of international best practice the drafting of the General Scheme of the Bill has commenced and I will be seeking Cabinet approval for the drafting of Heads of a Bill in Q4 2021.
- My Department is currently developing new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 in which there will be a focus on promoting remote working opportunities and investing in infrastructures across the nine regions.
- My Department also announced €10 million in funding for a new Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme. This scheme is administered by Enterprise Ireland includes a €500,000 Feasibility Study to assist enterprise development projects, including the development of remote working and enterprise infrastructure.
- ConnectedHubs.ie- Ireland’s first national digital hub network- was launched by DRCD at the end of May 2021. ConnectedHubs.ie will ultimately link over 400 hubs throughout the country.
- The Connected Hubs Call has awarded funding of €8.8m to 117 remote working hub projects in July to upgrade Ireland’s remote work infrastructure.
- Discussions are ongoing to find ways through which the rollout of the National Broadband Plan can be accelerated in order to improve connectivity in all parts of Ireland.
- Ongoing remote work promotion and skills training by a range of agencies including EI, IDA Ireland, WDC, Skillnet Ireland and ETBs.
- On June 28th, 2021, the Government launched the ‘Making Remote Work’ campaign across broadcast, print and social media to promote the Guidance for Working Remotely webpage. This webpage acts as a central access point for employers and employees and brings together the existing State guidance, legislation and advice on remote work into one place. The webpage includes an Employer Checklist to provide employers with a quick way to successfully navigate the adoption of remote working arrangements. The Government is encouraging workers and employers to discuss the kinds of remote working arrangements that may be suitable for their organisations.
- In Budget 2022, an income tax deduction for people working from home was announced. It amounts to 30 percent of the cost of vouched expenses for heat, electricity and broadband.
