I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.

The Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment was re-established in January 2023 and met on 25 May. The next meeting of the Committee is not yet scheduled.

Unlike other areas of the Public Service, and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces. Comparisons with other areas of the Public Service must be cognisant of the unique role, structure, duties and working conditions of service, which are particularly unique to military personnel.

The non-standard time and attendance patterns of military personnel and the rates of remuneration associated with a wide spectrum of duties undertaken by such personnel can vary across the different branches of the Defence Forces.

In that regard a Military Service Allowance, which is designed to compensate for the special disadvantages associated with military life including long and unsocial hours, is paid to all ranks up to the level of Colonel. Military Service Allowance is counted for pensionable purposes.

It is of course also the case that in addition to basic pay and military service allowance, certain positions in the Defence Forces also attract specialist and technical pay and that a range of duties also attract additional allowances. These duty based allowances are not analogous to overtime as such payments are in addition to basic pay and MSA and are related to the duties undertaken.

I would also like to highlight that in instances where members of the Defence Forces acquire technical qualifications and/or fill associated appointments, there is associated technical pay. Defence Force personnel also receive tax free payments for certain overseas deployments and duties. Furthermore, Defence Force personnel receive three additional public holidays over and above the public sector norms. These additional holidays are specific only to members of the Permanent Defence Force.

I am further advised that the Defence Forces have carried out a feasibility study for the purpose of introducing a time and attendance system for their members, and that a Defence Forces Working Group has been established to examine options for capturing Time & Attendance details on the extant Defence Forces Personnel Management System (PMS) software which contains information on the range, type and quantity of duties performed by PDF personnel. This informs the calculation of remuneration for individual members.

The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) sets out the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States.

Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and of the UN.

Ireland is engaged with a number of EU defence-related initiatives and frameworks, including the European Defence Agency (EDA), the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the EU Satellite Centre (EU SatCen), the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the European Peace Facility (EPF). The Strategic Compass, endorsed by the European Council last year, outlines the way forward for the European Union in the field of security and defence.

At its core, defence remains a national competence, something borne out by the differing responses and actions taken by EU Member States in the aftermath of the Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.

Participation in EU CSDP does not prejudice the security and defence policy or obligations of any Member State. Given that decision-making power in relation to the Strategic Compass' proposed actions remain a national competence, it remains a matter for Ireland to decide our own way forward.

From decisions on defence investment and orientation taken across the Union to the choices made by Sweden and Finland in applying for NATO membership, Member States have taken such action as best fit their national needs.

Ireland is no different and is a strong supporter of the CSDP, having been an active participant in a number of the European Union’s civilian and military CSDP Missions and Operations.

As of 1 June, Ireland participates in four EU CSDP missions as follows:

• EUTM Mali – eight personnel

• Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina – five personnel with a further Defence Force member deployed to the Operational Headquarters of the operation in Mons, Belgium

• EUMAM Ukraine – four personnel(one in Brussels and three in Germany)

• Operation Irini – three personnel

Those numbers are augmented from time-to-time by the deployment of small teams of trainers as part of EUMAM Ukraine. One such training module has been delivered in Cyprus and other will shortly be delivered in Germany.

Meanwhile, the LÉ William Butler Yeats will commence operations with Operation Irini in the Mediterranean tomorrow, with a crew of 58 personnel.

It is essential that Ireland remains fully engaged in all CSDP processes and contributes fully to the development of the policy in order that we can influence its evolution, particularly since the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022.

I would also remind the House that the Consultative Forum on International Security will provide an opportunity to examine our current and future engagement in EU CSDP.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union.

Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they have the ability to undertake general surveillance, search and rescue, diving operations, drugs interdiction and other duties while conducting their primary day-to-day tasking of providing a fishery protection service. At any one time the Naval Service will have ships that are on active operations around the Irish EEZ whilst others are undergoing routine resupply, maintenance, and down time for ships' companies.

In relation to its sea-fishery protection role, the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 established the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) as the competent Authority for securing efficient and effective enforcement of sea fisheries protection legislation and the sustainable exploitation of marine fish resources from the waters around Ireland within Ireland's EEZ.

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is in place which underpins the relationship between the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Defence Organisation. The SLA between the Department of Defence, and the SFPA facilitates a close and effective partnership between the Department and the SFPA so that Ireland meets its obligations under the Common Fisheries Policy to ensure a system of fishery control for the protection and sustainable exploitation of marine organisms.

Officials from my Department and members of the Naval Service and Air Corps regularly meet with officials of the SFPA on a formal and informal basis.

The Naval Service and the Air Corps patrol the Irish 200 nautical mile limit in respect of sea fisheries protection and periodically patrol beyond these limits to protect specific fisheries. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. The Naval Service operates a rotating patrol schedule for all operational ships in an effort to maintain a constant presence in the Irish EEZ.

These patrols are augmented in the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) located at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, which the Naval Service is responsible for operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The FMC provides for fishery data collection, analysis, and dissemination to the Naval Service and client agencies such as the SFPA. The FMC carries out monitoring and surveillance of fishing vessels operating within or adjacent to Ireland’s EEZ and also of all Irish vessels operating worldwide.

Notwithstanding the significant challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime surveillance operations.

Following Government and Dáil approval, the L.É. William Butler Yeats will commence operations with the Operation Irini mission in the Mediterranean tomorrow (21 June 2023).

The core task of the mission is to contribute to the prevention of arms trafficking within its agreed Area of Operation, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2292 (2016) and subsequent Resolutions on the arms embargo on Libya.

While capacity building and training of the Libyan Coastguard is part of Operation Irini’s mandate, the Naval Service personnel will not engage in this activity when participating in the mission. Indeed, Ireland has formally declared caveats to this effect with the Operational Headquarters in Rome.

In any event, the capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy element of the mandate is not currently in operation and as such is suspended.

As regards the issue of Safety of Life at Sea/ Search and Rescue (SOLAS/SAR), the motion approved by the Dáil includes an amendment to the effect that the naval vessel participating in Operation Irini will be subject to the obligation under international law to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea.

This reiterates the pre-existing obligation on Ireland under the United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea, an obligation to which the Naval Service would have to give effect whether in the context of Operation Irini or otherwise.

In the event that any Operation Irini ship is involved in SOLAS/SAR, the mission direction is that those migrants rescued by the ship should be taken to and disembarked to a European Coastguard ship as soon as possible so that the Operation Irini ship can return to its mandated operations with the minimum of delay.

While Operation Irini has no specific mandate for Safety of life at Sea/ Search and Rescue (SOLAS/SAR), the involvement in a SAR/SOLAS event while operating as part of Operation Irini cannot be totally ruled out.

However, should the naval vessel be required at any point during its deployment to respond to a Safety of life at Sea or Search and Rescue event, they will do so in accordance with the mission direction and such rescue operation would be conducted in line with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The recent strategic review of the mission indicated that in 2022, 91,985 migrants arrived via the Central Mediterranean Route into Europe in 2022. Of this figure, an estimated 163 (0.17 per cent) were rescued by Operation IRINI.

I am confident that the crew of L.É. William Butler Yeats will maintain the tradition of those who have gone before them and make a worthwhile contribution to EU naval operations in the Mediterranean.

A wide range of primary medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force, including an annual medical examination, sick parades, GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, clinical mental health services provided by an in-house psychiatrist and two in-house psychologists, and routine dental treatment. In addition to the above, arising from a Programme for Government commitment, my Department has recently secured sanction to extend the provision of private secondary healthcare for all Defence Forces personnel, in line with the services that were previously available only to Officers.

In the case of Defence Forces personnel assigned to longer term overseas administrative posts, these personnel, and any accompanying dependents, are provided with global comprehensive medical insurance for which a formal arrangement is in place with a health insurance provider. This involves the organisation paying the difference between a basic minimum payment and the cost of the global plan.

In addition, the Defence Forces Personnel Support Service provide a welfare, information, psycho-social support and referral service, that is professional, responsive and confidential, to serving members of the Defence Forces and their families to sustain and enhance the individual well-being of personnel, and to promote a safe and positive work culture in order to support the effectiveness of the Defence Forces.

As additional support, my Department has arranged the provision of a confidential counselling, referral and support service, on a wide range of personal and work related issues, for serving members of the Defence Forces, civilian employees and Civil Defence members.

A Freephone confidential helpline is available on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year and is staffed by fully-trained and experienced counsellors. This service was extended to the families of Defence Forces personnel on a pilot basis during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chaplaincy Service also provides confidential, comprehensive pastoral support and spiritual care to personnel at home and overseas.

I can assure the Deputy that the health and welfare of Defence Forces personnel is a key priority.

My officials and Military Management engage in regular and ongoing discussion on recruitment into the Defence Forces. This includes discussions regarding the recruitment of trainees, apprentices etc, and the scope and terms and conditions falling from that, where such proposals are made by Military Management.

With regard to Air Corps, it is my understanding that Air Corps Management are currently looking at the matter of apprentices and technicians, as part of the ongoing management of provision of maintenance and servicing of Air Corps aircraft, their engines, systems, equipment and weapons. It is my understanding also that Air Corps management is engaging with the Further Education sector regarding any accreditation matters that may arise from that.

In the event that there is any change in policy suggested by Military Management in this regard, this will require a Business Case to be developed by Military Management setting out the rationale for any proposed change in practice. Indeed, it is my understanding that Military Management has just, as of last Friday, submitted proposals to my Department to run a Trainee Military Aircraft Systems Technicians induction in 2023, and my officials will work closely with Military Management on progressing that.

Ultimately, however, any decision to run an Air Corps apprenticeship induction is a matter for Air Corps Management, and is dependent on the correct accreditation arrangements being in place. I am not currently in a position to say when an induction of apprentices will take place, but I will be very happy to provide this information to the Deputy, once the necessary arrangements have been finalised by Air Corps Management.

As Minister for Defence, I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF) supported by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in my Department. A subgroup of the GTF was assigned responsibility to develop guidance on critical infrastructure resilience in 2017. The subgroup produced the first guideline document on critical infrastructure resilience in February 2019. This document was subsequently revised and updated in July 2021.

While the primary responsibility for safeguarding critical infrastructure rests with its owner or operator, the guideline document provides the methodology for operators of essential services to follow to enhance their resilience. It also outlines that it is the responsibility of each government department to foster links and work closely with the semi-state and private sector operators of critical infrastructure, in their respective policy areas, to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure from a wide variety of threats.

In advance of the enactment of the new EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive, the Department of Defence is working with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to stress test critical infrastructure in the energy sector in Ireland. These stress tests will be completed before the end of 2023.

Department of Defence officials and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore infrastructure. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore infrastructure is taking place by a mixture of air and naval platforms.

In relation to the future development of subsea capabilities, the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces considered that a step up to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2) should seek to deliver enhancement of sub-surface capabilities to monitor sub-sea cables. The report states that to achieve this would mean the Naval fleet should have enhanced air, surface and sub-surface search capabilities, with the latter allowing the Naval Service to monitor activity in the vicinity of sub-sea cables. In order to achieve these desired capability effects associated with a move to LOA2, specific recommendations made by the Commission were accepted in principle by Government when it published its High Level Action Plan for the Commission's report.

A further early action identified in the High Level Action Plan is the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review. This review will examine defence policy across all domains and inform future capability requirements and enable a broader debate on the State’s overall defence policy. Department officials are currently working with their Military counterparts with a view to progressing this action. The first stage of this review will be a security environment analysis to be conducted by an interdepartmental working group which has been established for the purposes of the review.

The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) sets out the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States. Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and of the UN.

The Strategic Compass, which was approved in March 2022, sets out an analysis of the strategic environment. This includes, in particular, the security and defence challenges faced by the EU, including emerging threats, the increasingly contested multi-polar world and the strategic implications for the EU.

The Strategic Compass will help guide the way towards realising an ambitious plan of action for strengthening the EU's security and defence policy by 2030. It is important to stress that decision-making powers in relation to the Strategic Compass' proposed actions remain a national competence.

Member States continue to work on the implementation of the Strategic Compass, taking into account the additional challenges faced as a consequence of Russia's continued illegal and immoral aggression towards Ukraine.

In light of the war in Ukraine, the European Peace Facility has been used to provide significant support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Our total expected contribution to direct Assistance Measures under the EPF to support the UAF currently stands at approximately €122 million, all of which is exclusively for non-lethal support.

With many EU Member States donating significant quantities of weapons, ammunition and other equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stocks have been left significantly diminished. Member States are now in the position of needing to replenish those depleted stocks in order to continue to support Ukraine and meet their own defence objectives.

EPF Assistance Measures have been agreed in this respect and the Commission has recently proposed a regulation aimed at ramping up the EU’s ammunition production capacity and addressing current supply shortages.

At its core, Defence remains a national competence, reflecting the differing responses and actions taken by EU Member States in the aftermath of the invasion. From decisions on defence, investment and orientation taken across the Union to the choices made by Sweden and Finland in applying for NATO membership, Member States have assessed and taken action in ways which best fit their national needs.

It is essential that Ireland remains fully engaged in all CSDP processes and contributes fully to the development of the policy in order that we can influence its evolution, particularly since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Participation in EU CSDP does not prejudice the security and defence policy or obligations of any Member State. It remains, therefore, a matter for Ireland to decide our own way forward.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary.

A total of 39 scheduled Naval Service patrol days have been cancelled up to 31 May 2023 due to staffing issues. This figure is inclusive of 12 cancelled planned patrol days for LÉ Róisín before she was placed in operational reserve with effect from 31 January, as a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions.

Notwithstanding some challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime surveillance operations.

The Government has acknowledged the recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, which present ongoing operational challenges. A number of measures have been implemented to address these difficulties, including:

• The seagoing service commitment scheme, introduced in January 2021.

• Introduction of a sea going naval personnel tax credit in 2020, which has been extended to 2023.

• Increase in the upper recruitment age limit for those recruited as Direct Entry Technicians in 2022.

• Revision of terms and conditions for certain specialists.

• Flexibility in respect of the starting pay for certain Naval Service specialists.

• A concentrated recruitment campaign for general service naval recruits and specialist personnel.

In relation to retention, there has been significant progress on pay arising from the Public Service Pay Commission recommendations along with increases from recent pay agreements and the early implementation of some of the recommendations of Commission on the Defence Forces.

I can assure the Deputy that the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence are engaged in significant efforts across a wide range of initiatives which when taken holistically aim to have the desired effect of addressing the challenges facing the Naval Service.

As the Deputy is aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive into Irish Law.

I wish to assure you, however, that I am fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied, where appropriate, to its members. This is in line with the Government commitment to remove the blanket exemption in the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 for both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána.

The removal of the blanket exemption in the Organisation of Working Time Act for the Defence Forces is a complex matter given the nature of some military activities. An extensive amount of work undertaken by military management has determined that a high percentage of the normal everyday work of the Defence Forces is already in compliance with the Working Time Directive.

Recent European Case Law on military service, however, has also been clear that certain activities due to their specific nature, can be considered outside the scope of the Directive. The provisions of this Ruling have duly informed the proposed management position, which has as its guiding principle, the fundamental requirement to ensure that appropriate rights and protections with regard to health and safety, are afforded to serving members, while also ensuring that the Defence Forces can continue to fulfil their essential state functions.

Consultation with the Representative Associations on the implementation of the Working Time Directive is taking place through a Sub-Committee of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. I understand that a series of facilitated theme-based discussions between my officials, military management, and the Representative Associations took place towards the end of last month. I understand that the discussions were constructive and are continuing.

I fully recognise the importance of implementing the provisions of the Directive and the positive impact it will have on serving members and I have directed that a final management position on the implementation of the Directive is to be submitted to me for my consideration and approval in the coming weeks.

Following my consideration and approval of a final management position on the implementation of the Directive, my Department will be engaging formally with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment who will take forward the appropriate legislative framework.

I can assure the Deputy that the health and safety of personnel in the Defence Forces remains an absolute priority for myself and the Chief of Staff and we remain fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied as appropriate, throughout the Defence Forces.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 92 together.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 May 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, was 7,764 personnel.

I have previously acknowledged the staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these.

Sanction has recently been received for 100 extra positions to facilitate the implementation of the report on the Commission on the Defence Forces. This is in addition to the pending appointment of a civilian Head of Strategic HR, and the recently appointed civilian Head of Transformation, within the Defence Forces.

In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive Naval Service Regeneration Plan is being progressed. The aim of this plan is to address issues, including Human Resource matters, facing the Naval Service. As part of a Naval Service specific recruitment campaign, a Naval Service recruitment advertisement launched last week and will be rolled out across all media platforms in the coming weeks. A contract has recently been awarded to a marine specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service.

The military authorities advise that current Defence Forces recruitment initiatives include ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment, the re-entry schemes and the 'Be More' recruitment campaign. The maximum age of entry was recently increased to 29 years old for General Service Recruits, Cadets, Air Corps Apprentices and certain specialists. In addition, the Defence Forces have established a Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston, with a view to increasing the throughput of recruits.

A range of financial and non-financial retention measures have been introduced by Government such as service commitment schemes, tax measures, and recent agreement to further extend the service of post-94 Privates and Corporals allowing for their continuance in service to the end of 2024. There has also been significant progress on pay. Current pay rates including Military Service Allowances for recruits on completion of their training, start at €37,147 in Year 1, rising to €38,544 in Year 2, and €39,832 in Year 3 of service.

My immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 99 and 112 together.

The Government has agreed to progress, as a priority, the recommendations in the Report of the Independent Review Group. The establishment of a statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints in relation to interpersonal issues, including but not limited to sexual misconduct is just one of the recommendations that is being implemented.

Following the Government approval to establish a Statutory Inquiry, there has been ongoing consultation with the Attorney General in respect of its establishment and his office has assisted in the preparation of the draft terms of reference.

I had meetings with a number of key stakeholders, in early May, where draft terms of reference for the Statutory Inquiry were shared. I requested that the groups provide feedback in writing to me, so that their observations could be considered in preparing the terms of reference. The draft terms of reference were also shared with a number of interested parties who contacted my office.

The Taoiseach and I met with the Women of Honour Group on Monday last, 12th June, to discuss the Government’s commitment to move ahead with progressing the recommendations of the IRG Report.

I met the Women of Honour Group and their legal representatives again, last Wednesday, in a further round of engagements with a number of other stakeholders, including the Defence Forces Representative Associations, the Defence Forces Veterans Associations and the Men and Women of Honour Group.

The views of all stakeholders are very important and we have listened very carefully to their concerns. I have heard differing views from differing groups. I will be reflecting on the feedback received from the various stakeholders, which will be considered in the preparation of the terms of reference for the Inquiry.

While consideration is being given to the format of a Statutory Inquiry, this has not delayed the immediate implementation of some of the recommendations in the IRG report. For instance, all allegations of sexual assault by serving members occurring in the State, are now being referred directly to an Garda Síochána for investigation and prosecution. Legislative proposals will shortly be brought forward to formalise this.

The External Oversight Body as recommended in the IRG Report has been established, initially on a non-statutory basis. Legislation will be brought forward to put this Body on a statutory footing.

With the assistance of an external legal firm, extensive work is already underway to ensure that the Defence Forces are compatible with the provisions of the relevant equality legislation.

The implementation of the recommendations in the IRG Report together with the implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, particularly around the area of culture, will see a fundamental transformation in attitudes and policies in the Defence Forces, which should be the acceptable norm in any modern day employment.

The Government agreed to establish the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces, on a non-statutory basis initially, in line with one of the thirteen recommendations of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces published on March 28th.

The Government moved quickly to establish the Body, making the following appointments on April 5th

• Professor Brian MacCraith as the Independent Chair

• Ms. Josephine Feehily

• Ms. Patricia King

• Ms. Julie Sinnamon

• Mr. Aongus Hegarty

• Ms. Jacqui McCrum in her capacity as Secretary General of the Department of Defence

In addition, on May 16th, and with the agreement of Government, Ms. Sam des Forges was also appointed to the External Oversight Body.

These appointments are fully in line with the IRG Report.

The immediate establishment of the External Oversight Body is a critical element to driving the necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces and increasing transparency and accountability.

The calibre and combined skills and experience of each member gives me every confidence that this will happen.

The first task I set the Body was to develop detailed Terms of Reference in line with the recommendations of the Report for my approval.

The Body met for the first time on April 17th and has met on a number of occasions subsequently.

The first task of Body is to submit detailed Terms of Reference for my approval. Once approved the Terms of Reference will be published, and this is expected shortly.

While the Body has been established on non-statutory basis, it is my firm intention to introduce legislation to put it on a statutory footing as soon as possible.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 111 together.

The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to the Commission’s report, was to commence planning for military radar capabilities. In response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, was established and commenced work on planning for military radar capabilities. This includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems.

It must be acknowledged, however, that delivery of primary radar in particular is extremely complex and will take some time to deliver. Nevertheless, delivery has been prioritised by Government and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of this capability. Work that has been carried out to date includes identification of requirements and research into various delivery options, as well as consideration of approaches internationally. This has included a visit to Cyprus.

Delivery of primary radar is a key capability priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and I am determined to ensure its delivery within the earliest practicable timeframe.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 117 together.

The military authorities have provided the information in the following table, detailing the total number of personnel inducted into, and discharged from, the Defence Forces in each of the years 2013 to 2023 (as at 31st May).

*As at 31 May 2023

The term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.

Ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. In that regard, my immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while conducting their primary day-to-day tasking of providing a fishery protection service. At any one time the Naval Service can have a number of ships that are on active operations whilst a number of others are undergoing routine resupply, maintenance and down time for ships companies.

Two Inshore Patrol Vessels purchased on a government-to-government basis from New Zealand in 2022, arrived in Ireland last month. The vessels will undergo a comprehensive programme of works, including crew familiarisation and training, which will take place in the vicinity of Cork Harbour and the Naval Base at Haulbowline.

The core crew complement of each vessel is between 20 and 24 of suitably qualified and experienced personnel. While the vessels have a range of 3,000 nautical miles, with an ability to patrol in sea state 5 and survive in up to sea state 8, the intention is to operate on the Irish East Coast territorial seas and Exclusive Economic Zone. They will become fully operational when all of these targets are met and as soon as possible.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 119 together.

Military management remain committed to optimising the number of personnel inducted into the Defence Forces.

Current recruitment initiatives include ongoing general service recruitment, targeted service specific recruitment, direct entry recruitment, and the re-entry schemes.

The maximum age of entry was recently increased to 29 years old for General Service Recruits, Cadets, Air Corps Apprentices and certain specialists.

Sanction has recently been received for 100 extra positions to facilitate the implementation of the Report on the Commission on the Defence Forces. This is in addition to the newly appointed civilian Head of Transformation and the pending appointment of a civilian Head of Strategic HR within the Defence Forces.

The military authorities have advised that, as at 31 May, 150 personnel had been inducted into the Defence Forces and a further 333 general service recruit applications are actively being processed. 3,017 General Service Recruit applications had been received in 2023 up to the end of May. Applications for General Service Recruits, 10 direct entry specialists’ competitions and for the re-entry schemes are received and processed on an ongoing basis. A direct entry competition for Defence Forces School of Music instrumentalists closed has recently closed. Additionally, the 1,105 applications received for the recently closed 2023 cadetship competition are being processed and those placed highest in order of merit are due to be called for interview shortly.

The 'Be More' recruitment campaign highlights the career opportunities available in the Defence Forces and also the wider benefits of membership. As part of a Naval Service specific recruitment campaign, a Naval Service recruitment advertisement launched last week and will be rolled out across all media platforms in the coming weeks. Additionally, a contract has recently been awarded to a marine specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service.

My immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 101 together.

The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will take place in three different locations over four days starting in University College Cork on 22 June. It will then move to the University of Galway on the 23 June and conclude in Dublin Castle on 26-27 June at Dublin Castle.

Louise Richardson, DBE, has been appointed as Chair. The Forum will draw on the principles underlying the Citizens’ Assembly model, but will be an open discussion in which any member of the public can participate, either by attending in-person, following on line and/or making a written submission to the Forum.

Since Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022, which blatantly violated the UN Charter and internal law and fundamentally altered the European security environment, every country in Europe has examined and re-examined its foreign, security and defence polices and Ireland is no different.

It is a fundamental duty of government to address the challenging global situation as it is today.

The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is the first time that any Irish Government has established such a debate.

The Forum will be a broad discussion with almost 80 panellists examining issues such as Ireland’s work to protect the rules-based international order, through our engagement in peacekeeping, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and arms control and disarmament.

It will look at new and emerging threats, including cyber, hybrid, disinformation and threats to critical infrastructure. The Forum will also examine our current and future engagement in EU Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as our existing relationship with NATO through the Partnership for Peace.

Almost 900 people have already registered to attend and over 300 submissions have been received which is very encouraging. All of the discussions will be livestreamed at www.gov.ie.

I have to again stress that the Forum is not a binary discussion on neutrality and was never intended to be. The Government have made clear that we do not intend to change Ireland's policy of military neutrality.

This policy does not inure us from dealing thoughtfully and responsibly with the global and European security environment that we find ourselves in, and the new and emerging threats that we face. Nor does it mean that we should isolate ourselves, or assume we have nothing to learn from, or contribute to, the wider debate about European security.

I am confident that the programme that is in place, the experience of the Chair, the moderators and panellists, will all contribute to a healthy, informed and respectful discussion on International Security Policy. I want to hear from as many people as possible, with a diverse range of experiences and views.

In July 2022, the Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces. As part of that decision the Government committed to increasing the Defence budget from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028, as part of the annual budgetary process. This endorsement envisages, inter alia, increasing capital investment on equipment and infrastructure as identified by the Commission.

The annual Defence budget allocation is determined within the overarching budgetary framework, and approved by Dáil Eireann having regard to the level of resources available, and defence policy requirements. It is within this context that the annual Defence budget for 2024 will be determined, with the estimates process for 2024 set to commence shortly.

For 2023, the total overall gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group budget, as set out in Budget 2023, is €1.21 billion, comprising of over €915 million on the Defence Vote and over €294 million on the Army Pensions Vote. This significant allocation represents an overall increase of €93 million on 2022 and includes an increase of €35 million in the capital allocation to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022.

Ongoing and future Defence capital programmes/projects are planned, prioritised and managed through the Defence Equipment Development Plan and the Defence Infrastructural Development Plan. These internal frameworks are supported and enabled by the recent establishment of a top-down civil-military Capability Development Branch - a key Commission recommendation.

The primary return on Defence capital investment is the maintenance and development of necessary military capabilities, which provide the means by which the Defence Forces contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government.

In that regard, the increased level of capital investment provided to date will allow a significant number of building projects to advance under the Defence Infrastructure Development Plan. It will also allow for significant capital investment in defensive equipment programmes, to include the ongoing development of a primary radar capability along with the progression of a range of key force protection priorities identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces, thereby significantly enhancing the equipment and facilities available to the Defence Forces.

The significant additional funding allocated in Budget 2023 across capital expenditure categories highlights the positive commitment of Government to providing a strong financial platform capable of supporting a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats. My Department remains absolutely committed to building on this successful outcome as we now move towards the commencement of Budget 2024 discussions over the coming months.

The so-called “Triple Lock” mechanism, which sets out the requirements for the deployment of more than 12 members of the Defence Forces for peacekeeping operations overseas, is set down in legislation, in particular the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 and the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, as amended.

The legislation provides that:

• the operation must be mandated by the United Nations;

• it must be approved by the Government; and

• it must be approved by way of a resolution of Dáil Éireann (with certain limited exceptions as outlined below).

The Defence Acts require that the peacekeeping operation be one that is mandated by the United Nations, which in almost all cases means approval of a given resolution by the UN Security Council. These resolutions also provide endorsement at UN level for peacekeeping and conflict-prevention operations led by regional organisations, such as military missions under EU CSDP.

Any modification to the triple lock requirements for peacekeeping operations overseas, where the Irish Government can deploy DF personnel, would require a change in primary legislation to remove the requirement for the operation to be mandated by the United Nations.

The five permanent members of the Council may exercise their veto to prevent the Security Council from taking decisions, including those related to the mandates of peacekeeping operations. In practice, the threat of a veto by a permanent member, rather than its actual use, is often enough to prevent the Council from taking action. Indeed, no new peacekeeping missions have been approved by the UN Security Council since 2014.

When the possibility of a veto emerged last year in relation to the renewal of UN authorisation for EUFOR Operation Althea, Ireland as a member of the UNSC at the time, was in a position to play a key role in securing the renewal of the UN mandate for this EU led Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where five members of the Defence Forces are currently deployed.

In 1999, our Defence Forces were unable to participate in a peacekeeping mission when a permanent member of the UN Security Council vetoed the renewal of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). Because the subsequent European Union peace operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM/CONCORDIA) did not have a UNSC mandate, Ireland was unable to participate in that mission.

My own view is that, in the context of an international security environment which has been fundamentally altered by the illegal and brutal full scale invasion of Ukraine by a permanent member of the UN Security Council is that we need an open discussion on both the merits and the limitations of the Triple Lock.

I am concerned that any decision about where Irish Defence Forces personnel should be deployed overseas should be a sovereign decision of the Irish Government and, where appropriate, the Dáil. It should not in my view be a decision over which a third country has an effective veto, as is effectively the situation with any permanent members of the UN Security Council.

However, I respect that there are varying views on this issue and my hope is that the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy set to commence this week, will be an opportunity to examine such matters as the increasing use of the veto and the implications for the triple lock.

The European Security and Defence landscape has been redefined by Russia’s appalling and illegal military aggression against Ukraine over the past eighteen months, with the focus very much on the continued provision of EU support to Ukraine and bolstering the defence capabilities of the EU, while acknowledging the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States.

Shortly after the invasion, EU Leaders adopted the Strategic Compass, which is aimed at ensuring that the EU becomes a stronger and more capable actor in security and defence, both to protect the security of its citizens and to act in crisis situations that affect the EU’s values and interests.

The implications of the ongoing war are reflected in a significant increase in investment in defence expenditure across Europe as well as the decision by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. At home, the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the current events in Ukraine are prompting an open debate and consideration of our own defence requirements.

Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine has also caused structural changes in the market in which the Defence Industry operates contributing to significantly increased global demand for specific defence products, notably ammunition and missiles, resulting in a discrepancy between production capacity and demand. The timely availability in sufficient volumes of these products is critical for the EU’s security and for its continuous efforts to support Ukraine. Ireland is no different in this respect.

The war on Ukraine has also seen the unprecedented mobilisation of the European Peace Facility (EPF). Ireland has been very supportive of the military assistance provided to the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the European Peace Facility. Our total expected contribution to direct Assistance Measures under the EPF to further support the UAF currently stands at approximately €122 million exclusively for non-lethal support. In line with the commitments in our Programme for Government, Ireland’s contribution is directed exclusively toward non-lethal support.

From the outset, Ireland was a strong supporter of the establishment of an EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine and following the Government approval to participate earlier this year, the Defence Forces have been engaged in the identification of suitable training modules that the Defence Forces could deliver, responding to the identified needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Members of the Defence Forces contributed to the delivery of a course in Demining and Clearance to the UAF in Cyprus last month and the Defence Forces are due to contribute to the delivery of a Combat Life Saver (CLS) course in Germany later this month.

Meanwhile, the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence are continuing to consider other training modules to which the DF may be in a position to contribute. It is likely that further training modules will be identified and delivered in the coming months.

Last year, and against the backdrop of developments in Ukraine, Government approval was given for a move to 'Level of Ambition 2' (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission.

There is an ongoing requirement to consider whether the capabilities we maintain are appropriate, having regard to the security environment particularly now given the ongoing war in Ukraine. The heightened risk to undersea cables in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone for example is one area that has come under close scrutiny since the outbreak of war in Europe. This consideration of military capabilities and an updated security environment assessment will form part of the Strategic Defence Review which has been commenced by my Department.

Upon publication of the LDA report referred to by the Deputy, my Department attended a meeting of the Inter Department Sub-Group on State Lands and Property Group earlier this year. The purpose of the briefing was to allow the LDA explain the background to their statutory report and also to facilitate discussions in relation to a number of existing and former military installations, including Renmore Barracks, assessed by them.

For the avoidance of any doubt it is not my intention that this active military installation will be relocated and no decision on same has been made to that effect. Given the complexity and existing constraints of the site as identified by the LDA, my Department will be available to discuss further any long term requirements with the LDA and the Department of Housing as and when required.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 105 and 118 together.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles.

While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks including contraband interdiction duties, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations (MDSO). As such any Naval Service patrol should be viewed as a multifaceted activity.

These patrols are augmented by the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft which are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment.

The Naval Service and the Air Corps currently patrol the entire 200 mile limit and periodically patrol beyond these limits. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary including coastal areas. These maritime patrols are multi-tasked in that they undertake sea fishery protection, general surveillance, security and other duties such as search and rescue, diving operations and drugs interdiction.

In addition, the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) located at Naval Base Haulbowline carries out monitoring and surveillance of all vessels equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that are operating in and adjacent to the Irish EEZ.

Following an extraordinary EU Energy Council meeting in October 2022 to discuss the EU’s energy security in response to the attacks on Nordstream 1 and 2, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications sought support from my Department in relation to additional measures that could be put in place by the Defence Forces to ensure that critical off-shore infrastructure including subsea cables are protected.

My officials and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore infrastructure. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore infrastructure is taking place by a mixture of air and naval platforms.

The Defence Forces are aware of a number foreign military vessels which have passed through the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in recent months. It is not unusual for naval ships or civilian vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within this area or to passage through this area.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS).

Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed. Infringement of these obligations under international law would be a serious matter and would be addressed by the Government accordingly.

With regard to monitoring of Irish airspace, the Air Corps is not currently equipped to monitor aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces.

AirNav Ireland (formerly part of the IAA) exercises Air Traffic Control responsibilities for both sovereign airspace and also airspace over the high seas, largely off the western seaboard. All air traffic, both civil and military, is monitored and controlled by AirNav Ireland in respect of this airspace and in line with ICAO rules it is normal practice for them to be informed by the relevant State of any military flights operating in Irish controlled airspace.

The Deputy may wish to note that the development of a primary radar capability was one of the recommendations made in the report of the Commission of the Defence Forces last year, and in response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, has commenced work on planning for military radar capabilities. This includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems. Delivery of primary radar is extremely complex and will take some time to deliver. However, delivery has been prioritised by Government and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of a primary radar capability.

The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF and, in 2022, a recruitment drive was advertised across a number of media channels. Recruit Liaison Officers across the Reserve conducted local recruitment to attract applicants for this campaign.

In 2022, to the end of year, 90 RDF recruits were inducted into the Defence Forces and the processing of eligible applicants is continuing with 10 further recruits being inducted so far this year as of 12 June 2023. All of these recruits have been in the Army Reserve.

Regarding the number of discharges in 2022, a total of 62 members of personnel discharged from the Army Reserve while 20 discharged from the Naval Service Reserve. As of 12 June 2023, a further 41 have discharged from the Army Reserve so far this year while 4 have discharged from the Naval Service Reserve.

The strength of the RDF stands as follows for May 2023: 1,351 members in the Army Reserve, 79 in the Naval Service Reserve (total of 1,430 between AR and NSR) and 276 members of the First Line Reserve.

The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF). The ORA’s initial focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan for the revitalisation of the Reserve, which is in train.

In terms of the strength and structure of the RDF, one of the recommendations from the Report is to increase the future RDF establishment strength to include at a minimum, an Air Force Reserve of 200, and a Navy Reserve of 400.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2023 and beyond.

As a serving member of the Defence Forces approaches retirement, either on age grounds or voluntarily, there are a range of supports made available to them by the Defence Forces.

Transition to Civilian Life courses are conducted by Defence Forces Personnel Support Service teams throughout the year. These courses are aimed at personnel who are retiring on age grounds or who are simply considering a change of career. The course was formally called the "Pre-Retirement" training course. The name was changed acknowledging that personnel are not always retiring when they leave the military.

These courses are of two to three days in duration and are conducted across the organisation. Each serving member is encouraged to undergo a Transition to Civilian Life course at least once during their career and within three years of leaving the Defence Forces. As part of the course, personnel receive advice and guidance on all aspects of retirement. This includes education on 'what to expect' from leaving the Defence Forces, which covers change, relationships, financial matters, health, and time management. Personnel also receive information about how others have dealt successfully with these life changes. The purpose of these courses is to enable personnel to anticipate changes in their own lives and to ease the transition to civilian life.

Additionally, I am informed by the military authorities that the following programmes, conducted by the Education and Training Boards, have been made available to Defence Forces personnel, facilitated by the Defence Forces Personnel Support Service:

• Skills for Work programme;

• Recognition of Prior Learning programme.

Personnel may also avail of assistance from the Personnel Support Service and Occupational Social Workers as may be required. Advice and guidance is available on a confidential one-to-one basis as required from Personnel Support Service teams on all issues related to leaving the Defence Forces, including pensions and finance, health, psychosocial issues and preparation for career change.

I have instructed the Defence Forces to carry out an assessment of the vacant housing stock to ascertain their suitability to a return to modern single living in accommodation usage for serving personnel. I am advised that my officials together with the Defence Forces are currently developing proposals to inform the Request for Tenders to commence the procurement process for same. Accordingly , I am not currently in a position to state when such premises, if found suitable, will be available.

The Military Medicine Training Scheme was adopted by the Defence Forces in 2015 as a means of addressing ongoing difficulties with the recruitment and retention of Medical Officers. The programme is integrated with the Trinity College Dublin/Health Service Executive GP training scheme. There are presently three (3) trainee doctors taking part in the Scheme.

I am advised that the Scheme has been adequately resourced since its inception. Intake for new applicants has been paused since 2021 in order to finalise a number of administrative issues and to allow for a joint civil-military review of the Scheme to be conducted. This review process concluded in 2022 and recommended the Scheme's continuation, pending the agreement of these outstanding issues.

I am informed that a Framework Agreement governing the Scheme has recently been agreed and signed following extensive engagement between my Department, the Irish College of General Practitioners, and the Health Service Executive.

This Framework Agreement covers the period 2023 to 2028, and is expected to ensure the viability of the Scheme in the coming years. In the meantime, Medical Officers continue to be recruited via the Direct Entry stream, as required.

The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of all claims and proposals from the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, relating to remuneration and conditions of service and having regard to the provisions of public sector pay agreements.

Officials from my Department continue to work with the Representative Associations in a positive and collaborative process within the C&A Scheme to resolve issues. There is also ongoing engagement on a regular basis between the Official side and the Representative side on a range of items which are processed through C&A.

There are no plans to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Company from UNDOF next year and planning for their withdrawal is progressing. Neither the decision to withdraw from this mission nor the decision to participate in the EU Battlegroup have any implications for Ireland's policy of military neutrality.

At the time of the recent Government Decision that the Defence Forces should join the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, the Government was advised that a further assessment would be undertaken of the sustainability of the Defence Forces' overseas commitments.

Following the conclusion of this assessment and on the basis of the military advice available to me as well as formal engagement with the United Nations, I decided to withdraw the Infantry Group personnel from UNDOF with effect from April 2024. At this stage, it is likely that the Defence Forces will continue to occupy a small number of staff officer posts.

Notwithstanding the decision to withdraw the Infantry Group from UNDOF, the Defence Forces will continue to have a significant presence serving overseas in the pursuit of peace, notably with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, where over 320 Defence Forces personnel will continue to serve.

The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission has been taken to allow the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions as well as to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity available to fulfil their commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025.

Participation in a Battlegroup has no effect on our traditional policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements.

The decision to participate in an EU Battlegroup does not presume any further decision in relation to participation in an actual Battlegroup operation. Any such decision is subject to national decision-making procedures.

Battlegroups are a key component of the capabilities that the EU can make available in support of UN-authorised crisis management operations. Within the EU Battlegroup concept, the purpose of the Battlegroup, as a rapid response capability, includes the role of acting as an initial entry force to stabilise a situation pending the deployment of a follow-on force, to support an established peace support operation which is running into difficulties, and to respond to humanitarian crises.

As Minister for Defence, I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF) supported by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in my Department. A subgroup of the GTF was assigned responsibility to develop guidance on critical infrastructure resilience in 2017. The subgroup produced the first guideline document on critical infrastructure resilience in February 2019. This document was subsequently revised and updated in July 2021.

While the primary responsibility for safeguarding critical infrastructure rests with its owner or operator, the guideline document provides the methodology for operators of essential services to follow to enhance their resilience. It also outlines that it is the responsibility of each government department to foster links and work closely with the semi-state and private sector operators of critical infrastructure, in their respective policy areas, to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure from a wide variety of threats.

The OEP is also the focal point for the new European Critical Entities Resilience Directive, published on 27 December 2022, which aims to enhance the resilience of critical entities that provide services essential for vital societal functions or economic activities in the internal market. This Directive creates a framework to support Member States in ensuring that critical entities are able to prevent, resist, absorb and recover from disruptive incidents, whether they are caused by natural hazards, accidents, terrorism, insider threats, or public health emergencies. Because of its role as focal point for this new Directive, the OEP also ensures that information concerning the resilience of critical entities is communicated in appropriate ways to Government Departments and sectors of relevance. This includes advisories for the information of operators of essential services and critical infrastructure as and when required.

Given the international context, it is clear that good practice necessitates national authorities across the European Union ensure the resilience of their critical infrastructure. Therefore, it is the Government position that it is prudent for operators of critical infrastructure to examine and enhance their resilience by increasing their physical security arrangements. An advisory has been issued from the OEP in my Department to that effect.

Also of note is that the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore energy infrastructure and data cables. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore energy infrastructure is taking place. The enhanced patrolling is being conducted by a mixture of air and naval platforms.

On a final point, my Department works closely on Cyber and Hybrid issues with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Foreign Affairs respectively.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as of 31 May 2023, is set out below:

*there is no set establishment for the FLR

The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The 2015 White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve.

The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) equally serves to reinforce that commitment. The Report contains many recommendations on the future role and structure of the RDF.

Two recommendations from the report, which have been identified as Early Actions, relate to the RDF, namely the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), and the development of a Regeneration Plan for the Reserve.

The ORA has been established, with the appointment of a Colonel to lead the ORA. The office is also currently staffed with a Lieutenant Colonel from the RDF. Further personnel will be assigned to the Unit.

The development of the Regeneration Plan will be the initial focus of the ORA and this is in train. This process will also take into consideration the CoDF recommendations relating to the structure and strength of the RDF, such as increasing the future RDF establishment strength, which includes that the future establishment of the RDF should be increased and should include, at a minimum, an Air Force Reserve of 200, and a Navy Reserve of 400.

From the 2022 RDF recruitment competition, where over 1000 application were received, nearly 100 RDF recruits have been inducted into the Defence Forces with further inductions scheduled. The military authorities have advised that once the body of work arising from last year's campaign is completed, consideration will be given to the launch of a further recruitment initiative in mid-2023.

It is intended to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained throughout 2023 and beyond, thereby enabling us, going forward, to create a Reserve Defence Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and internationally.

The CSO published the statistical release Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption 2022 on 12 June 2023. Details on this release can be found on the CSO website.

The full demand from all metered electricity customers is included in the Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption 2022 statistical release published by the CSO.

Information on individual enterprises cannot be provided as such information is confidential under the Statistics Act, 1993.

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household survey which provides quarterly statistics on employment and unemployment and is the official source of labour market estimates in the State. The classification of employment status in LFS results is determined according to ILO (International Labour Organisation) concepts and definitions.

A question on disability status (whether a person has a long-standing health problem that limits the activities that they perform) was asked of LFS respondents in each year between 2019 and 2022. There was no question on disability status in 2018. It is important to note that the 2022 question format (‘Have you been limited in activities people usually do, because of a health problem?’) was different to the question format in years 2019-2021 (‘Do you have any of the following longlasting conditions or difficulties?) and the results should not be directly compared.

The tables below contain figures for numbers of persons classified as having a disability according to the specification above whose labour market status was classified as self-employed, with a breakdown between those persons with paid employees and those without.

Table 1 Self-employed persons with a disability aged 15-89 years, 2018-2021

'000

Table 2 Self-employed persons with a disability aged 15-89 years, 2022

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution.

2022 should not be directly compared with years 2019-2021 as the question format changed (2019-2021: Do you have any of the following longlasting conditions or difficulties; 2022: Have you been limited in activities people usually do, because of a health problem?)

In line with its obligations under Circular 25/2016, the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, has the following dedicated email address for Oireachtas members: Oireachtas@nesdo.ie. This mailbox is monitored to ensure full compliance with target deadlines and standards in terms of acknowledgements and substantive responses to queries.

The priorities set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021 - 2023, reflect the role of the Department to assist me as Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government’s Programme, and to build a better future for Ireland and all its citizens.

The Shared Island Unit and Social Dialogue Unit were established in my Department as provided for in the Programme for Government. More recently the Child Poverty Unit was established to enhance co-ordination across Government, provide strategic leadership, and bring enhanced accountability to the child poverty agenda.

The Department’s new Statement of Strategy will be published in the coming weeks.

In Spring 2023, a Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office was established in the Department of the Taoiseach.

Government decided that the Programme Office will focus on six priority areas. These are:

1. Income assistance and joblessness

2. Early learning and childcare

3. Reducing the cost of education

4. Family homelessness

5. Consolidating and integrating public health, family & parental assistance, and well-being services

6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty.

These were selected because they are areas of intervention that have the potential to bring about significant change for children and families living in poverty.

The Government’s vision is to make Ireland the best country in Europe to be a child. This is important because we want every child to be happy and well-cared for, but also because happy childhoods are the foundation of realising broader economic, environmental and social goals.

The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and focus Government action. In line with this, the purpose of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office is twofold:

1. Monitor the delivery of specified policy commitments by Departments and/or Agencies, to drive implementation and policy coherence.

2. Undertake a small number of strategic initiatives which have the potential to increase the impact of current and emerging measures to fight child poverty and support child well-being.

As of last week, the Programme Office is now fully staffed and is currently working on a multi-annual programme plan.

With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application has been approved. A certificate will issue to the applicant in the coming days.

EU-Singapore relations are built on a long history of friendship and close historical, political and economic ties. In 2018, the importance of this relationship was reflected in the conclusion of the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which was duly ratified by Ireland in November 2021. The PCA provides the framework and platform for strengthening the EU's partnership with Singapore, including regular engagement on areas of mutual interest. In early June, EU High Representative/Vice President Borrell met Singapore’s Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Singapore. Last December EU leaders, including the Taoiseach, met with Singapore’s Prime Minister during the EU-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) Summit.

I met with Prime Minister Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Wong during my visit to Singapore in July 2022 as Taoiseach. As small, outwardly-focused countries with a strong commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law, Ireland and Singapore are natural partners. We discussed our growing bilateral engagement as well as EU-Singapore relations. I was pleased to exchange views with the Prime Minister on global economic recovery as well as on regional security and Russia's war in Ukraine. Singapore has consistently condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a clear violation of the UN Charter and has issued sanctions against Russia.

As a supporter of open, free trade, Ireland advocated for an ambitious agreement during negotiations to secure an EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement in 2019. This agreement has been a key factor in the significant increase in trade with the EU in recent years, notwithstanding the pandemic. In 2022, EU-Singapore trade in goods amounted to €52.4 billion; trade in services reached €57.6 billion in 2021. The EU and Singapore also signed a formal Digital Partnership in 2023, during a meeting between Commissioner Breton and Minister Iswaran.

Ireland's trade relationship with Singapore has also been going from strength to strength with over €1.4 billion in two-way goods trade in 2022, a significant increase since 2019. Our two way trade in services in 2021 was €14 billion. The promotion of trade relations with Singapore was a prominent feature of my visit to Singapore in July 2022 and of the two visits last year by cabinet colleagues.

Ireland's Embassy in Singapore engages actively both bilaterally and in conjunction with the EU delegation on the ground to advance the EU and Ireland’s interests and to advocate on human rights and political issues of interest. Singapore remains a key partner for the EU in the region and I look forward to continued high level engagement in the period to come.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application. Turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the substantial benefits of applying using Passport Online. It is by far the quickest way to apply for a passport.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has 98 overseas missions (including Embassies, Consulates, Representative Offices and missions to multilateral institutions). The list of missions, the number of Department of Foreign Affairs officials posted to each mission at end 2022, and the yearly cost of operating each mission during 2022 is set out below in tabular form.

*includes €2.2 million in respect of Ireland’s contribution to EU translation services.

The Department of Foreign Affairs manages a total of 99 Missions overseas, including Embassies, Consulates General, Permanent Representations and a small number of other offices. The table below provides the financial allocation to each Mission for administration, excluding salaries, in the years 2019 to 2023.

* Financial allocation was included with Embassy Paris until 2022

The Irish Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1939 under the Red Cross Act 1938 (subsequently amended). It is an independent charitable body with full power to manage and administer its own affairs. Its legal objectives are to furnish aid to the sick and wounded, and to provide relief to those in need. The Society has a dual mandate to act nationally and overseas and forms part of the wider International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

The IRCS received €400,000 from the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2017 for a humanitarian programme in Niger. The Department made no further grants to the IRCS until this year, when it was awarded a two-year grant totalling €160,000 under the 2023 Civil Society Fund, for a project to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable and marginalised communities in Nepal.

The IRCS has played a key role in Ireland's response to the Ukraine crisis. It received €42 million in donations from the Irish public in 2022. The IRCS works in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the people of Ukraine through National Societies in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

As part of Ireland's humanitarian aid programme, the Department of Foreign Affairs provides €2.4 million in core funding annually to the IFRC for their humanitarian work globally. Since 2010 Ireland has provided over €40 million to the IFRC in core funding and in response to emergencies as they happen. Ireland has been invited to be an observer on the IFRC Donor Advisory Group (DAG) in 2023 due to the volume of combined contributions by the Irish Government and Irish Red Cross.

Both the Irish Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross provide regular updates to the Department on their response to humanitarian crises globally. The Irish Red Cross also chairs the humanitarian working group of Irish Humanitarian NGOs which meets biannually with the Department of Foreign Affairs on humanitarian policy and implementation.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 144 together.

The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports, and has issued over 536,000 passports to date in 2023. All turnaround times are at their target level, and the Customer Service Hub is responding to an average of 15,000 queries per week. There are no application backlogs, all applications are being processed in the normal way. Over half of all simple adult online renewals are processed within 2 working days.

We are currently in the busiest time of year for passports as we approach the summer holiday season. However, the Passport Service has already seen application numbers coming down in recent weeks. This suggests that most applications for the summer season have already been processed or submitted.

Passport Online is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. It is an award winning online platform, which places the Irish Passport Service amongst the most innovative in the world. Through Passport Online, citizens also have the option of applying for a passport card, which is valid for travel in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Over 90% of applicants across the world now apply using Passport Online, and that figure will continue to grow as the Passport Service's Digital First strategy continues to roll out. Passport Online has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing resulting in greater efficiencies for the Service and for customers. I strongly encourage the Deputies to advise their constituents of the benefits of applying online.

Adequate staffing of the Passport Service to respond to demand continues to be a priority for the Department in 2023 and is an issue that is kept under constant review.

The Department has run 18 competitions since 2021 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service, and another competition to convert temporary staff to permanent staff is currently underway.

Almost 200 Temporary Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Passport Service since January 2023.

In addition to this, over 90 permanent staff have been assigned to the Passport Service since the beginning of the year and over 20 officers have been promoted. The additional staffing numbers are having a very positive impact on the service being provided to our citizens.

The number of Whole Time Equivalent staff working in the Passport Service in each of the years 2019 to date are outlined below in tabular form.

The Government is committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income in Official Development Assistance (ODA), as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and in the Programme for Government.

For 2023, the Government has provided a gross allocation to ODA of over €1.233 billion. This is the ninth consecutive year in which the allocation for ODA has increased, and the second in which the allocation has exceeded €1 billion. It includes €716 million for the Irish Aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs as well as ODA contributions from other Government Departments and Ireland's share of the EU Development cooperation budget.

Ireland's overall ODA figures for 2022 show the exceptional impact of eligible costs for the provision of services for Ukrainian refugees. Preliminary calculations, including eligible first-year refugee costs, show ODA at €2.33 billion, or 0.64% of GNP. None of the costs associated with the reception of Ukrainian refugees were sourced from the Government's original ODA allocation for 2022, and this will also be the situation in 2023.

Ireland's international development programme has a strong global reputation, which was confirmed in the most recent Peer Review of Ireland’s Development Assistance, conducted by the OECD in 2020.

Ireland has a strong history of providing humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable communities across the globe. According to global rankings, Ireland is a top twenty humanitarian donor. We respond to large scale humanitarian crises and emergencies, such as the devastating earthquakes which struck Turkiye and Syria in February, and we seek to maintain attention on less prominent and often protracted crises in places like Yemen, Somalia and Myanmar.

Ireland's humanitarian support is channelled to trusted partners on the ground, including UN Agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross Family. We provide flexible funding to enable our partners to respond to the most pressing needs. These partners are best placed to provide immediate life-saving assistance and to lay the foundations for building the resilience of communities where possible.

In response to a sharp rise in global humanitarian needs, Ireland's humanitarian expenditure has increased substantially in recent years. Humanitarian assistance provided through the Department of Foreign Affairs since 2017 has been as follows:

2017-€181 million

2018-€186 million

2019-€181 million

2020-€192 million

2021-€232 million

2022-over €280 million

The Irish Aid annual reports for the years 2017 to 2021 provide a significant level of detail on programmes and partners funded. The annual report, and final humanitarian aid figure, for 2022 will be published later this year. The 2022 figure reflects the provision of additional funding to respond to the humanitarian impact of the war in Ukraine and the devastating drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

Under the rules for accounting for Official Development Assistance (ODA), managed by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), support for refugees within donor countries is included in ODA in accordance with clear criteria. Costs counted are for refugees' first 12 months only. They include all direct expenses for food, shelter, and training, as well as basic health care and psychosocial supports.

Preliminary analysis from the OECD shows that Ireland's total ODA in 2022 amounted to €2.33 billion, representing 0.64% of Gross National Income. This includes an estimated €884 million in eligible first-year costs in support of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. None of these costs were sourced from the Government's allocation for ODA for 2022, and this will also be the case for 2023.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 139 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application. Turnaround time for both renewal and first time paper applications is 8 weeks. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the substantial benefits of applying using Passport Online. It is by far the quickest way to apply for a passport.

The Embassy in New Delhi currently has 32 staff, which includes nine officers posted from Ireland. All of the staff recruited in India, i.e. 23 of the 32 staff, or 72% of the total, speak and write Hindi fluently.

The Consulate General in Mumbai has five staff, which include two officers posted from Ireland. There are three staff recruited in India. All of these locally recruited staff, i.e. three of the total, or 60%, speak and write Hindi fluently.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within its turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

There are no State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application. When the additional supporting documents are received the Passport Service will prioritise the application for processing.

I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance and guidance.

The local Embassy of Ireland has engaged with the relevant Ministry of Justice on the matter and has provided advice to the citizen accordingly. Should the citizen wish to pursue formal mediation through the established mechanisms, it is advisable that they appoint a local lawyer to represent them and to act on their behalf. The Department of Foreign Affairs cannot represent individuals in any formal mediation or legal proceedings, and this has been made clear.

The formal mediation process also enables the concerned individual, if so desired, to attend the mediation process in-person, as has been done in other such cases in that country. However, to be clear, this is at the citizen's own discretion - and we are aware of the citizen's reservations in that regard.

Please rest assured that my Department will continue to provide support, assistance and guidance to the citizen where possible and appropriate.

The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports, and has issued over 536,000 passports to date in 2023. All turnaround times are at their target level, and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service Hub is responding to an average of 15,000 queries per week.

We are currently in the busiest season for passports, as citizens prepare for upcoming summer holidays. The Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork operate an Urgent Appointment service for passport renewals, with a one or four day turnaround in Dublin and a four day turnaround in Cork. However, since over half of all simple adult online renewals issue within two working days, for many, the Passport Online service is even faster than the 4 day urgent appointment service offered at our public counters. There are almost 700 appointments available per week, which applicants can avail of using the online booking system. Due to the complex nature of first-time applications, it is not possible to process these at the public offices.

It is important to note that the Passport Service public counters do not function as a walk-in service for passport queries. The Urgent Appointment service operates by appointment only. Applicants who have a query about their application should contact the Passport Service Customer Service Hub via phone or webchat. The Passport Service website also provides comprehensive guidance to applicants in relation to all aspects of the application process, from video guides to tracking an application in real time.

Passport Online is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. It is an award winning online platform, which places the Irish Passport Service amongst the most innovative in the world. Through Passport Online, citizens also have the option of applying for a passport card, which is valid for travel in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Over 90% of applicants across the world now apply using Passport Online, and that figure will continue to grow as the Passport Service's Digital First strategy continues to roll out. Passport Online has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing resulting in greater efficiencies for the Service and for customers.

In view of the fact that the overwhelming majority of passport applicants apply online and the considerable benefits of Passport Online for all of our citizens, I am confident that the range of service options available meets the current needs of passport applicants. The Department is of the view that a strong business case cannot currently be made for opening additional passport offices. Furthermore, recent service improvements allow the Passport Service to provide this essential citizen service in an efficient and effective manner.

The Passport Service will continue to consider ways that it can improve its service to all citizens regardless of where they live.

As I noted in my previous reply, costs related to the Forum will be split on an equal basis between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence. The contribution by the Department of Foreign Affairs will be made from within existing resources in Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs).

Expenditure related to the Forum will be in line with the Public Spending Code to ensure value-for-money.

In relation to Vote 28 expenditure, the budget for the Consultative Forum is contained in the budgetary allocation to Political Division for 2023, in particular Subhead A3, which includes a budget line for conference costs.

The international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. We have seen blatant disregard by Russia of international law and Europe’s collective security architecture, bringing war to the European continent. Ireland’s commitment to a rules-based international order and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality.

Against this backdrop, I hope that the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will build a deeper understanding of the international security environment and the policy options available to the State.

As I have said on several occasions, I am conscious that two other important Citizens’ Assemblies are already under way; the first on drugs policy and the second on the future of education policy. My view was that discussions on our international security policy could not be delayed, particularly given the increasingly complex and challenging security context across Europe.

The Consultative Forum will draw on the principles underlying the Citizens’ Assembly model but, importantly, will be an open discussion which any member of the public can access and participate in. The Forum has been designed to reach a broad audience with the aim of creating a national conversation, in a way which is not be possible through a Citizens Assembly, that is informed and evidence-based.

In total, there is capacity for almost one thousand people to attend the Forum in person. All discussions will be live-streamed, allowing members of the public full access to the all the discussions across the four days. In addition, the public consultation process in now open for submissions. Information on registration and details of the written consultation are available on the Gov.ie website.

Hydrogen provides us with an incredible opportunity in Ireland. It provides the potential for long term storage of energy, the opportunity of dispatchable wind and solar power, the potential of chemical feedstocks, the potential of an export market and the opportunity to decarbonise some parts of high temperature processing. Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world and realising the full potential of this massive resource will be a major opportunity for Ireland, and for renewable hydrogen production. In response to the climate crisis and the current energy crisis, we must look to accelerate the delivery of renewable electricity, and the delivery of alternative fuels like hydrogen.

As set out in the 2023 Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind, the Government has set an initial target of 2 GW of floating offshore wind to be in development by 2030, which may include the development of projects devoted to production of green hydrogen, to create the necessary environment to develop an indigenous hydrogen industry, and projects devoted to other non-grid uses. It is therefore currently anticipated that this 2 GW may not be connected in the traditional manner with Government welcoming and encouraging innovation from developers in this regard.

In 2022, my Department also launched a public consultation to gather views on the broad landscape of potential hydrogen supply, infrastructure, storage, and demand in Ireland, as well as the potential export opportunities for hydrogen. 126 responses were received to this consultation which reflects the momentum building behind renewable hydrogen in Ireland. A National Hydrogen Strategy is now being finalised and publication is expected shortly. The strategy will set out both the long term role envisioned for renewable hydrogen in Ireland, as well as a list of short term actions to be progressed over the coming years to enable development of the sector.

Cyber security, the protection of our IT systems, data services and communication networks, is vitally important to our economy and society. Disruption to our systems and personal data breaches are not only very expensive, they undermine trust and confidence in digital services and their providers. It is the Government’s role to develop policy and strategies which ensure Ireland can enjoy the full benefits of the digital transition. My Department works with a range of government departments, agencies, critical infrastructure operators and international partners to protect the security of key systems and data.

My Department also has responsibility for the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The NCSC is the government’s operational unit for network and information security and acts as a central contact point in the event of a government or nationwide cybersecurity incident affecting the State. It serves a constituency including public bodies, critical national infrastructure operators from key sectors such as energy, transport, and health, as well as businesses, educational institutions, and others. It engages in a comprehensive set of tasks around cybersecurity, with a primary focus on securing government networks and securing Critical National Infrastructure. It encompasses the State’s National/Governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE).

Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024 also falls to my Department. This is a whole-of-Government strategy to address the growing threat of cyber security incidents, to ensure Ireland can benefit fully from the digital transformation. The Strategy includes 20 separate measures to safeguard public sector networks and essential services, to support the development of Ireland's cyber security industry and ensure we play our part in defending a free, open, secure and stable cyberspace. The Strategy acknowledges the cyber security challenges and opportunities associated with new and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). The importance of these technologies is highlighted in the Strategy's measures relating to national capacity building and support for cyber security research, development, and innovation.

My Department has recently conducted a Mid-Term Review of the Strategy which will be considered by Government very soon and published thereafter.

While Ireland has its own policies and legislation for governing cyber security, we also abide by the relevant legislation developed by the EU. The EU Network and Information Systems Directive 2016/1148 was signed into Irish law on 18 September 2018 by way of S.I. No. 360 of 2018 (also known as the NIS Directive). This represented a significant change in how countries in the EU approach cyber security and involves a shift in approach towards a more formal type of regulatory relationship for critical services including energy, drinking water, and banking.

Since this Directive was adopted, the threat landscape has evolved considerably and as a result, the European Commission (EC) has proposed a revised directive, “NIS 2”. The revision to the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS 2) is a major step forward for the cyber resilience in Europe and will enhance cyber risk management across the union including generating significant improvements in our capacity to respond to major incidents and developing the information-sharing platforms which are proving effective to date.

My Department will lead on the transposition of the Directive, but it will be a whole of Government effort to ensure Ireland fulfils its obligations. As part of this work, we will provide the NCSC with a clear statutory mandate and legal authority.

The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.

IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.

Leaving no-one behind is Ireland’s 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focus and the inspiration for the development of Ireland’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) which I look forward to delivering at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July.

This focus runs throughout the entire report as we reflect as a country on what we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic; areas where we are doing well; areas where improvement is required; and our progress in implementing the SDG targets for all people, reaching the furthest behind first.

It reflects Ireland’s strong economic recovery following the pandemic and our efforts to build back better guided by the SDGs and Agenda 2030. It comprehensively demonstrates the extensive suite of national policies which continue to be introduced to support and address the SDGs and their associated targets. These policies also ensure delivery across areas of national importance and provide strategic frameworks for progress and success.

I am aware of the report the Deputy refers to which builds on a chapter that Coalition 2030 were invited to contribute to the VNR.

We have adopted a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to implementing the SDGs, by embedding a framework into national and local government work to ensure a coherent system-wide approach, as well as greater dialogue and joined-up thinking between policy makers across sectors.

Ireland’s first National Implementation Plan provided a framework for Ireland to work towards implementing the SDGs, including through the support of national policies which contribute to meeting the Goals, and the facilitation of multi-stakeholder participation. The timing of this VNR coincides with Ireland’s second National Implementation Plan 2022 - 2024 for the SDGs building on the structures and mechanisms from the first Plan, developing and integrating additional approaches in areas identified through review and consultation that require further action.

As we enter the third Decade of Action for the SDGs, I recognise the urgency of moving into the next phase of implementation and the actions identified in the new Plan are essential to this transition.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table attached.

Breakdown of the current and capital budget allocations for each programme under each subhead of the revised estimates for 2023

In September 2010, the Carbon Revenue Levy Account was established by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), as provided for under the Electricity Regulation (Amendment)(Carbon Levy) Act 2010.

The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Carbon Revenue Levy) Act 2010, Section 40M, subsection (3), states:

"(3) The Minister [for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources] may give a direction that such sums as the Minister may specify, with the prior consent of the Minister for [Public Expenditure and Reform], standing to the credit of the account referred to in subsection (1) shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minster may direct following consultation with the Minister of [Public Expenditure and Reform]."

In December 2013 direction was sent to the CRU to disperse €250,000 into an account established by the OPW for the Public Service Energy Campaign.

In March 2014 direction from the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the final balance on account was dispersed on 28 March 2014 as follows; €35 million to the newly established Energy Efficiency National Fund with the remaining funds returned directly to the Exchequer.

As at 31 March 2014, the only remaining balances on account related to the cash left available for the payment of €15,465 of audit fees to the C&AG. The Carbon Revenue Levy Account therefore had net assets of zero within the accounts, as at 31 March 2014.

Further details on the above are available in the Carbon Levy Revenue Report and Accounts for 2012 and the Cessation Accounts for the period 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2014 incorporating the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Report and Accounts which were laid before the Oireachtas on 3 July 2015.

The national contribution for Ireland to the Budget of the Energy Charter Secretariat for the financial year 2023 is €44, 628. Ireland has not paid this contribution yet.

The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which was enacted in 2022, makes provision for the introduction of a Waste Recovery Levy which, when implemented, will deliver on the commitment made in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy to introduce a Waste Recovery Levy.

This measure is intended to encourage higher value waste management practices by moving material management up the waste hierarchy away from waste disposal and recovery to more recycling and re-use and to encourage greater efforts to segregate waste at source.

My officials are currently working towards finalising draft regulations which will introduce the Recovery Levy at an initial rate of €10 per tonne from the 1st September this year with the existing Landfill Levy also being increased by €10 from that date.

Amounts raised from this Recovery Levy will be lodged to the Circular Economy Fund where they will be used to promote and support more sustainable waste management practices and the wider Circular Economy.

I am aware of this report which builds on a chapter that Coalition 2030 were invited to contribute to Ireland’s 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR) which I look forward to delivering at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a significant and ambitious framework. A whole-of-Government approach to implementation has been taken in Ireland. My Department leads on the delivery of 19 SDG targets: 3.9; 7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 8.4; 9.4; 11.6; 12.1; 12.2; 12.4; 12.5; 12.8; 12.c; 13.1; 13.2; 13.3; 13.a; 17.14 and 17.17.

Ireland’s Second National Implementation Plan for the SDGs, 2022 – 2024 was published in October 2022. The Plan was developed by my Department in collaboration with all Government Departments and key stakeholders and was also based on input from two public consultation processes. A key objective of the Plan is to achieve greater policy coherence for sustainable development with the aim of accelerating achievement of the SDGs at all levels of Government.

The Plan is supplemented by two supporting documents: an SDG policy map which identifies the lead Departments and relevant national policies for each of the 169 SDG targets; and a Policy Update document for each of the SDG targets. These documents are available at www.gov.ie/sdgs.

The Central Statistics Office, in collaboration with all Government Departments, has prepared as series of statistical publications which monitor and report on how Ireland is progressing towards meeting its targets under the 17 SDGs.

I am satisfied that this ‘whole-of-government’ approach to implementing the SDGs is working by effectively embedding a framework into national and local government work to ensure a coherent system-wide approach, as well as greater dialogue and joined-up thinking between policy makers across sectors.

In relation to the premises referred to in this Question and following on from the reply given to Question no. 216 of 21 March 2023, a detailed analysis undertaken by the Department’s technical team has confirmed that the premises referred to in the question is not currently capable of obtaining high-speed broadband through commercial means.

This premises had to go under a reclassification process which required a formal change procedure to be undertaken. This has now been completed and the next step is for this premises to be included in the next update to the NBI broadband map.

NBI identify new premises via Geo-directory Updates which are added to the NBP Intervention Area on a quarterly basis. NBI then undertake an assessment of the new premises and determine what is required for them to be connected to the NBI network in the area. Depending on the outcome of that assessment process the premises may be part of a future planned build programme, or there may be additional work required to connect the property to the network if the network build has already begun. The assessment will determine the date for final connection.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.

Geothermal Energy holds the potential to deliver secure, reliable, cost-effective renewable energy to heat and cool buildings, provide heat for industrial processes, and potentially generate power. Geothermal energy is “the heat beneath our feet” and has a significant role to play in how we decarbonise our energy systems, in particular our heat sector.

My Department is in the process of finalising a Policy Statement on geothermal energy which will summarise the proposed regulatory approach as well as the scope of a strategy to develop the geothermal energy sector. It is anticipated that the Statement will be submitted to the Government for its approval in the near future.

The Policy Statement will be effective for five years from 2023 to 2027 and its delivery will be assessed in relation to and determined by available resources and within the context of the regulatory framework. My Department will discuss the implementation of this policy statement at regular intervals with the Geothermal Energy Advisory Group. Following the adoption of the Statement, my Department will consult the Advisory Group in preparing a strategy for the greater deployment of geothermal energy in support of our climate goals and will take a strategic approach suited to the various types of geothermal systems.

My Department (Geological Survey Ireland, GSI), has also been involved in activities to better understand the geothermal energy potential in Dublin city, including drilling a 1 km bore hole in Grangegorman, and measuring a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, a promising result, at the base of the hole. A similar bore hole project is currently underway in Tallaght. The Department has also carried out costing exercises to calculate the current economics of deep geothermal energy projects in Dublin city. To encourage further development, a city-wide geophysical survey will be needed to close the knowledge gaps, as well as full-scale demonstration projects at key public buildings.

The Deputy may find useful the information contained in the following link, www.gsi.ie/en-ie/programmes-and-projects/geothermal/Pages/default.aspx, and in particular the 2020 report Geothermal Energy for District Heating, www.gsi.ie/en-ie/publications/Pages/Geothermal-Energy-for-District-Heating-in-Ireland.aspx, which was prepared by my Department under the Geothermal Programme. That Programme is working to quantify Ireland’s geothermal resources and to develop a National Geothermal Database of high-quality geothermal data. It has information available for home and business owners interested in geothermal energy, including geothermal suitability maps indicating which type of ground source heat collector is most compatible with the geology beneath specific sites.

In 2009, the Government approved the taking of a special dividend from ESB and the then Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), was tasked with implementing this decision through the mechanism of the network tariffs.

It is important to note that the CRU was established as an independent statutory regulator by the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and enhanced under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002 and the Water Services (No.2), Act 2013.

In 2009 the Large Energy User (LEU) Customer Credits were introduced as a result of Government concern about the impact of energy prices on LEUs competitiveness given their substantial contribution to employment.

The CRU is legally independent in the performance of its functions and is entirely accountable to the Oireachtas for such performance.

When Circular 25/2016 was issued it was brought to the attention of all bodies under the aegis of my Department. My officials have also written to all relevant Bodies in the interim, most recently in February this year, to remind them of their obligations under the Circular.

However, I have no role in assessing the level of compliance in the bodies and as such, I do not have details of the compliance by each of the relevant bodies with each of the standards and timelines set out in responding to Oireachtas Members’ queries.

I would point out that the bodies under the aegis of my Department are committed to providing an efficient, timely, professional, and courteous service to all of their customers.

State Bodies provide and maintain a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members and the relevant contacts for the bodies under the aegis of my Department were given in reply to Question No. 149 of 1 June 2023.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

In November 2021, the Deposit Return Scheme Regulations (S.I. No 599 of 2021) were signed. Under these Regulations, it is the responsibility of producers to establish and operate a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), to be funded by the following:

• Registration fees set by the approved body,

• Producer fees set by the approved body,

• Unredeemed deposits,

• Revenue derived from sale of returned containers, and

• Any other income sources created by the approved body.

In July 2022, I approved an application from Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG (trading as Re-turn) to operate as an approved body under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is a new, not-for-profit company set up by beverage producers and retailers to meet their obligations under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is responsible for all operational matters relating to the DRS, including the setting of registration and producer fees.

In January 2023, Re-turn published its producer fees on www.re-turn.ie/producer. Producers can register their products for free until 31 October 2023. From 1 November 2023, product registrations will incur a fee of €100.

I am aware of the concerns raised by small producers in relation to DRS. Re-turn are engaging with those producers and are in the process of considering what measures can be put in place to address those concerns.

It was proposed at the ACCI meeting held on 25 July 2022 that the next meeting of ACCI would be convened in September 2022.

In the intervening period, ACCI had made a request for support funding to be made available to ACCI members and, in light of same, it was agreed to hold the next meeting of ACCI after the Estimates and Budgetary processes were completed.

The intention was to reconvene ACCI meetings in Q1 2023. Once funding was secured by the Inland Fisheries Division and confirmed in mid Q1, a meeting was convened in March 2023 based on the availability of ACCI members and officials from the Inland Fisheries Division and inland Fisheries Ireland.

Further ACCI meetings were held in May and June 2023 and the next meeting is proposed for July 2023.

Bye-Law No. 840 of 2008 (Conservation of Trout in Western Lakes) specifically addresses the concerns received by the then Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB) from angling stakeholders regarding the over-exploitation of trout in the Western Lakes and its tributaries.

At that time, conservation measures had been introduced to limit the number and size of fish of other species that could be caught, nationally or locally but trout was not afforded similar protection and remained vulnerable to human over-exploitation.

To ascertain specific angler concerns regarding the over-exploitation of trout, including ferox trout (which are genetically unique), the WRFB undertook a consultation process to underpin the drafting of a suite of Bye-Laws aimed at prohibiting a range of angling practices, prevalent in the region at that time, which were inconsistent with conservation.

Specific concerns emerged during consultation regarding the practice of fishing with multiple rods at any one time, particularly in the early season on spawning tributaries where mounted rods were often left unattended and spread over a long area of the shoreline. This practice resulted in unseasonable and undersize fish being easily caught and killed.

Trolling with multiple rods was also a significant angler concern where boats with up to five rods were trolling at any one time. The recommendation to limit the number of rods allowed to be in use by an angler when trolling, bait fishing or spinning and to limit the number of rods to have on board a boat when trolling or spinning in specified waters harmonised the legislation across a range of species.

Bye-Law No. 840 of 2008 (Trout), prohibits any person to use at any one time more than 2 rods or more than 4 artificial flies per rod when trolling and prohibits any individual to have on board any boat more than 3 mounted rods when bait fishing, spinning or trolling in the specified waters. The Bye-law was introduced to address angler concerns regarding Trout.

On 9 March 2023 An Post wrote to my Department seeking consent to the second phase of their current pay agreement which provides for a 2% increase in pay from 1st January 2023. In addition to this, on foot of a recent Labour Court decision, An Post also wrote to my Department on 9 March seeking approval to make increases to pensions in payment and deferred pensions of a 5% increase from 1 January 2022 and a 1% increase from 1 July 2023.

In accordance with the relevant Code of Practice from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, An Post must seek Ministerial approval to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. As per Circular 16/2021, all such proposals require NewERA’s views, as well as a business case setting out the strategic, policy and financial rationale for the proposed increase. Circular 16/2021 states that pension approval requests should be submitted for approval well in advance of any decision to implement changes in acknowledgement of the necessary processes that must be completed and in order to ensure that pension increases are not unduly delayed. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.

Following receipt of the requests and associated documentation in recent weeks and months from An Post, the standard process is now being followed, with NewERA’s views and assessment by officials being required prior to the consent of both Ministers being sought. It is not possible to offer a precise timeframe at this point for when Ministerial consent will be given.

Departmental records indicate a proposition, from 2006, regarding the proposed purchase of the fishery by the Northern Regional Fisheries Board (NRFB), a predecessor of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), from the fishery owner. The proposal did not proceed beyond a preliminary stage and discussions. Ultimately the fishery owner did not consent to the sale.

I am advised by IFI that an alternative proposal for the NRFB and the owners to work together on managing the fishery was subsequently mooted.

No acquisition (compulsory or by agreement) was ever progressed or completed – a fact acknowledged in writing by the owners who pursued other options for their retained property. IFI and the Inland Fisheries Division of my Department advise that the matter has been closed for more than a decade.

There are no plans to launch a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service. The 2023 Naval Service cadetship competition was launched in March and closed on 26 April 2023. This competition resulted in 172 applications and these applications are currently being processed.

I am informed by the military that the current number of vacancies for each of the requested positions are as follows:

(*The overall figure comprehends three individuals who are currently undertaking the Military Medicine Training Scheme).

While Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded such Defence Forces Medals, the awarding of medals is a matter for the military authorities.

I am advised that in general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas.

This Regulation also delineates the procedures for the awarding of those medals to members of the Defence Forces. DFR A9 sets out the various types of medal awards. ‘Medal award’ serves as an overarching category and then various subcategories are further set out under each ‘medal award’. These subcategories are: classes of award, bar to medal, investigation by military board, time limit for award, and administrative instructions. The details provided underneath each of these headings essentially lays out the protocols for the awarding of these medals.

In accordance with Defence Forces regulations, the award of medals for bravery is time bound. They may not be awarded, in any case, unless a recommendation is made through the usual channels to the Chief of Staff, not later than two years in the case of the Military Medal for Gallantry, and not later than four years in the case of the Distinguished Service Medal, after the performance of the act in respect of which the recommendation is made. Such awards are made on the recommendation of a Military Board appointed by the Chief of Staff for the purpose of examining and reporting on every recommendation for an award.

With a view therefore to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the medals awarding system, I raised the matter with the Chief of Staff, in the context of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group Jadotville. I was advised that the matter remains under the consideration of the Chief of Staff.

The circular to which the Deputy refers, sets out the Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies under the aegis of Government Departments.

The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members. The Secretary to the Board is provided from the staff of my Department. Therefore, any queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to that body, as with any other matter, can be sent to minister@defence.ie.

The cost of food for the Defence Forces is met from Subhead A.14 of the Defence Vote, which provides for Defence Forces Uniforms, Clothing, Equipment and Catering Costs. The budget allocation for this subhead for 2023 is €16.5 million, of which €9.5 million provides for Defence Forces catering needs. This includes an increase of €1.76m on the 2022 allocation. In addition, the Daily Ration Rate has been increased from €4.20 to the current rate of €8 per person, with this rate being kept under constant review in line with military management recommendations. These increases will enable the continued delivery of nutritionally balanced meals to all Defence Forces personnel, serving at home and overseas.

Costs related to the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will be split on an equal basis between the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The contribution by the Department of Defence will be fully met from within existing resources, mainly from the Subhead A.22 (Miscellaneous Expenditure) allocation provided to the Defence Vote.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

Armament Artificers in the Naval Service are currently paid Technical Pay Rate 6, while their counterparts in the Army continue to be paid Technical Pay Rate 5. This differing rate arose in 2018, due to a request from Naval Service HQ, who, at the time, and as is also the case today, were facing a significant retention issue for this particular cohort, who were in high demand in the private sector. That issue did not exist in the Army at that time. As such, a case was made to the then Department of Expenditure & Reform and sanctioned by that Department, to place Armament Artificers in the Naval Service on Technical Pay Rate 6.

A subsequent Review of Technical Pay grades in their totality took place following the 2019 recommendation of the Public Service Pay Commission in this regard, that urged the Review to take place at the earliest possible opportunity, without compromising the then Public Service Stability Agreement. The approach to implementing the findings of the review of Technical Grades 2-6 was the subject of extensive engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It should be noted that this review did not recommend that Armament Artificers serving in the Army be moved to Technical Pay Rate 6.

All of the recommendations of this Tech 2-6 Review were fully implemented in 2022, representing an additional €1m approx. per annum, in pay for over 700 Enlisted personnel who were positively affected by this measure.

The current national pay agreement, Building Momentum, to which the Defence Forces Representative Associations have signed up to, provided for a Sectoral Bargaining fund which could have been utilised by the relevant Defence Forces Representative Association to address the specific measure of introducing Technical Pay Rate 6 for Armament Officers in the Army. This route was not chosen in order to address this matter.

As the Deputy will be aware, a commemorative medal was awarded to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016.

This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.

There are no plans to award a further commemorative medal for service during the Decade of Centenaries commemorations.

The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to the Commission’s report, was to commence planning for military radar capabilities.

In response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, was established and commenced work on planning for military radar capabilities. This includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems.

Work that has been carried out to date includes identification of requirements and research into various delivery options, as well as consideration of approaches internationally. This has included a visit to another Member State. Delivery of primary radar has also been prioritised by Government in this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence which includes funding to explore the development of this capability

Delivery of primary radar is a key capability priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and I am determined to ensure its delivery within the earliest practicable timeframe.

In terms of cybersecurity, the primary role of the Defence Forces relates to the defence and security of their own networks and systems. From an operational perspective it would be inappropriate to comment on the numbers currently in place in the Defence Forces working on cyber capability, however, this important role is being developed in the context of the High Level Action Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and will grow in importance as threats in the cyber space increase.

The recommendation by the Commission on the Defence Forces to create a Joint Cyber Defence Command was accepted in principle by the Government, which meant that it required further consideration on the optimal approach to meeting the intent of the Commission. Sanction has been given for the Defence Forces to create a new Cyber Development Planning Office which will start the planning needed to enhance Defence Forces structures across the cyber domain required by a new Joint Cyber Defence Command, including the management of Defence Forces IT Services, CIS Services and Cyber Defence.

This Cyber Development Planning Office will also progress other cyber-related recommendations identified in the High Level Action Plan, including updating and publishing a cyber defence strategy in line with best international practice and standards as well as incorporating practical lessons identified from comparator countries and EU Member States’ maturing cyber commands.

Also of note is that a member of the Defence Forces is seconded to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. A ceremony to mark Ireland’s joining of the Cyber Defence Centre was held last month. This Estonia-based Centre is a multinational cyber defence hub with a total membership of 38 nations from all across the world, both NATO and non-NATO members, with member states ranging geographically from Iceland to Australia. It allows members to work together and to pool knowledge to enhance cyber defence. Along with Ireland, other nations officially joining the Centre at last month’s ceremony were Iceland, Japan and Ukraine.

A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.

Following the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022, which included a wide range of recommendations in relation to capabilities and funding, the Government approved a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission.

Allied to this, one of the recommendations made by the Commission provided for the development of anti-drone or counter UAS capabilities. This recommendation was accepted in principle in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published last July following the Government's consideration of the Commission’s report.

As a result, a civil-military Working Group on UAS detection and counter UAS technology has recently been established. The Working Group has commenced a study of national and international best practice, and regulatory requirements, in order to see how UAS detection and counter UAS technology can best be deployed in the context of enhancing the capacity of the Defence Forces to carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government. Building on current and previous staff studies in this area, the Working Group will make recommendations on the development of the Defence Forces capability and capacity in this area.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the project referred to forms part of a wider initiative in Portlaoise in relation to the provision of new buildings for An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. My Department has confirmed to both the Irish Prison Services and the OPW that the Defence Forces have a current operational requirement in Portlaoise. Accordingly, the OPW are now overseeing the delivery of a new building for these purposes. While the Department does provide assist in accommodating Veterans services, the primary responsibility for sourcing such accommodation rests with the relevant Veterans organisation in the first instance. That being said, my Department will consider the scope for other users of the new building when same is completed and handed over to the Department.

I understand that the Deputy wishes to seek clarity on Pay and Allowance matters for the Defence Forces. I am very happy to outline to the Deputy the range of recent key improvements in terms of pay and allowances for personnel.

At the outset, it is important to state that starting rates of pay in the Defence Forces compare very well to comparable rates of pay across the public service. In addition there is scope for further income from duty allowances and allowances for overseas service, with tax free duty allowance starting at €15,000 for a 6 month deployment.

In 2022, my Department implemented two of the pay-related recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; namely, that all personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank are paid the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank, while at the same time, the requirement for that cohort to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank will be removed. The implementation of these measures in 2022 resulted in starting pay rates being increased. These rates include Military Service Allowance, which is pensionable. It is important also to note that these increases, once delivered late last year, were also backdated to the date of the Government decision on the CoDF in July 2022, resulting in a back pay lump sum for those eligible personnel.

Following this, and following the most recent pay increases under the Building Momentum public service pay agreement (2% on 1st March 2023) recruits on completion of training (which takes approximately 24 weeks), start at:

- €37,147 in Year 1 – equating to €712 per week in Year 1

- €38,544 in Year 2

- €39,832 in Year 3

A school leaver Cadet on commissioning is paid €41,123. This is a second lieutenant position. After 2 years they are promoted to lieutenant and their pay rises to €46,406. Where a graduate joins – the pay rate on commissioning begins at €46,406. These rates all include pensionable military service allowance.

Military Service Allowance is an allowance that is paid for the unpredictable nature of the work encountered by the Defence Forces. As with the enlisted, there is scope for further income from duty allowances. There are also opportunities for frequent career advancement to higher ranks and to qualify for additional allowances.

This information is published and routinely updated on military.ie, and is available at the following link:

Current Competitions - Defence Forces (military.ie) www.military.ie/en/careers/current-competitions/.

Further CoDF measures delivered have included:

- Agreement on regularising provision of healthcare to all members of the PDF with all personnel now being able to avail of private secondary medical care.

- Access to the Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme for personnel with one year’s service in the Naval Service (reduced from three years)

- Extensions of the Naval Service Sea Going Commitment Scheme and the Naval Service Tax Credit, and

- Extending service limits for Privates, Corporals and Sergeants.

In 2022, my Department also delivered the Commission recommendation on temporary associate membership for the Representative Associations with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) for the purpose of participation in public sector pay negotiations in mid-2020. This allowed RACO and PDFORRA, for the first time, to take part in discussions on the extension to the Building Momentum Pay Agreement under the ICTU umbrella.

The most recent agreement, the extension to ‘Building Momentum’ (referred to earlier and agreed in Autumn 2022), provided for increases in pay and allowances of 6.5% to members of the Defence Forces in 2022 and 2023. This includes:

- 3%, backdated to 2nd Feb 2022

- 2 % on 1st March 2023

- 1.5% or €750, whichever is the greater, on 1st October 2023.

Pensionable allowances in the nature of pay also benefit from this.

In addition, the implementation of the Sectoral Bargaining Fund element of the original Building Momentum Agreement has resulted in additional payments totalling €373,000 extra per annum - payments which primarily benefit over 471 of the Defence Force’s lower paid members. The implementation of the Technical Pay Groups 2-6 review also resulted in almost €1 million in additional technical pay to those covered by the Review in 2022.

In addition to general round pay increases arising out of ongoing national pay agreements, members of the Permanent Defence Forces have also benefitted from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces duty allowances, as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission in 2019. It is important to note also that for those Defence Force personnel who have specialist appointments, based on training or qualifications, there is a range of additional allowances available to them. For example, members of the Army Ranger Wing currently receive an allowance of €225 per week, on top of their salary.

Finally, it has to be noted that the Defence Forces offers opportunities for education and personal development, to include fully funded opportunities to gain professional and academic qualifications, while receiving full pay and allowances, as well as providing training for career advancements and promotion opportunities.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 189 together.

As at 31 May 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces was 7,764 personnel comprised of 6,305 Army personnel, 704 Air Corps personnel and 755 Naval Service personnel.

I have previously acknowledged the current staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces and, to counter these, there are a number of recruitment and retention initiatives currently under way.

I can assure the Deputy that the manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services.

My immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government.

The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely: Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensure that personnel are prepared for exercising command authority across the full range of military functions both at home and overseas in international operations. Skills Training ensures that Defence Forces personnel have the requisite individual, specialist, and crew skills. Career Training, and education, provides the organisation with the necessary pool of leaders and commanders at all levels. Collective Training allows military personnel to use their individual, crew, specialist and career training together, to develop integrated and coherent combat forces.

The scheduling of training in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve, is underpinned by an analysis of training required to meet operational output and capability development requirements.

The Defence Forces seek to constantly benchmark training across all three arms of the organisation against best military and academic practice. Military best practice is ensured by implementing a policy of standardisation that is in line with EU and NATO/Partnership for Peace partners. Academic best practice is ensured by benchmarking courses through accreditation under the National Framework of Qualifications which is validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland.

The Defence Forces deliver military programmes and modules meeting national and international standards and engage with external educational institutions in order to facilitate organisational learning. This engagement with national and international educational institutions, military and civilian, aims to ensure that the Defence Forces retain currency with regards to best international practice and employ all relevant modern training methods.

In 2022, 580 Defence Forces personnel spent a total of 2,940 days training overseas. The actual cost of the training courses attended by these personnel was €693,366.00.

I remain committed to ensuring that all personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be trained to appropriate standards.

I presume the Deputy is referring to the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve in his question.

Members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. In order to facilitate the voluntary nature of Reserve Service and to maximise attendance of Reserve personnel, training continues to be organised both in and out of normal working hours, at weekends and during academic and traditional holiday periods.

The primary function of training and education in both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force is to develop and maintain capabilities necessary to enable personnel to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The scheduling of training in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve, is underpinned by an analysis of training needed to meet operational output requirements and capability development needs. In addition, the Commission on the Defence Forces Report sets out a developmental path for the Reserve and confirms that the primary role of the Reserve has been to augment the PDF in crisis situations and will now also include the utilisation of the RDF on a voluntary basis, on-island and overseas in support of the PDF, where it is in the best interests of the PDF.

For the current year, a budget of €2.15 million is provided, of which €2.068 million is allocated for Paid Training days for members of the Reserve. Within this budget, seven days annual paid training is provided for in respect of each effective member of the Reserve. The budget also provides for fourteen days paid training for all additional personnel recruited to the Reserve in 2023 along with career and specialist courses for selected members of the Reserve in line with Reserve priorities. This provision is sufficient having regard to the existing strength of the RDF and the voluntary nature of Reserve training.

I am satisfied that members of the Amy Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are afforded the opportunity to avail of training and update their skills on an ongoing basis.

The Deputy will also be aware that as part of taking forward recommendations in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces, a Regeneration Plan to revitalise the RDF is under preparation and will have due regard to other recommendations in that Report, relating to the RDF.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes. Further additions to the EDP are currently under consideration, including in the context of the Government’s decision to move to a higher level of ambition, known as LOA2, and in light of specific recommendations, associated with a move to LOA2, made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces last year.

Work on capital investment in aircraft continues with the recent placing of a contract with Airbus at a cost of €72 million, including VAT, for a military transport aircraft for the Defence Forces. The Airbus C295W aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support the Defence Forces military airlift transport requirements and provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role. Delivery of this aircraft is expected in 2025.

The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is nearing completion with delivery of the first aircraft expected in the coming week and the second aircraft is due in Q3 2023. Projects for other Air Corps capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with the planning processes.

Marine advisors have been appointed by my Department to support the procurement of a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) to replace the now decommissioned former flagship LÉ Eithne. This work is underway and will inform a public tender competition, in line with the Public Spending Code, in due course.

The two Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), purchased from the New Zealand government last year to replace the now decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara, were transported to Ireland following a year long project to regenerate and modify the vessels. Following their arrival in Cork, the IPVs will undergo a comprehensive programme of works including crew familiarisation and training. Projects for other Naval Service capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with established planning processes.

Projects for the Army are being considered in the context of capability development and available funding against the backdrop of the overall Equipment Development Plan process. There has been significant investment in recent years in the armoured fleet of vehicles with the enhancement of force protection and mobility with the mid-life refit of the MOWAG Piranha III vehicles project nearing completion and the delivery of Armoured Utility Vehicles. These projects have seen the integration of cutting edge technology and equipment into the vehicles. Technology is an enabler of modern military forces and a Software Defined Radio Project which is the next generation communications system for the Defence Forces is currently in the marketplace. This complex project is being designed and customised to meet the Defence Forces' requirements and to incorporate systems and equipment platforms, it will support the joint common operational picture.

The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation under the National Development Plan of €566 million over the 2022 to 2025 timeframe. The Defence annual capital budget for 2023 is €176 million. The recent Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This includes an almost 25% increase in Capital funding and demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats.

This is following Government approval for a move over a six-year period to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on Defence Forces, which will entail funding increases to reach a Defence budget of approximately €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates.

This level of capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a phased planned programme of sustained equipment and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and the Report of the Commission, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.

The table below sets out the number of women who applied for, and the number that were inducted into, the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 May 2023.

The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. In that regard, a number of initiatives are already in place with a view to increasing the level of female participation with special consideration being paid to women as a target group for recruitment.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.

The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks. The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Principal Response Agencies.

At national level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency.

In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies such as severe weather events or terrorist attacks rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant local authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. The Defence Forces provides assistance within means to the appropriate Lead Department or Principal Response Agency in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency situation in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) and Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) roles. Major Emergency Plans have been developed by local and regional authorities and these Plans identify the procedures for requesting assistance from the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces retain a wide range of specialist skills and equipment which are available for deployment in response to any emergencies that may arise. Training is also an important aspect of maintaining the necessary capabilities in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces deliver military training programmes and modules meeting national and international standards. They also engage with external educational institutions in order to facilitate organisational learning. This engagement with national and international educational institutions, military and civilian, aims to ensure that the Defence Forces retain currency with regards to best international practice and employ all relevant modern training methods.

I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards and I can confirm that the Defence Forces keep their operational plans and response capabilities for dealing with a wide range of threats and emergencies under constant review. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces are equipped to respond, as appropriate, to any such events were they to occur in this State.

The tables below outline the variance between current strength and the establishment strength, by rank, within the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service as at 31 May 2023, the latest date for which such information is available.

Vacancies are filled in line with promotional arrangements, as appropriate, and by recruitment.

I have previously acknowledged the staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these. In that regard, my immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

As of 1 June 2023, Ireland is contributing 522 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 319 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 135 personnel. Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces jointly review the deployment of Defence Forces personnel on an ongoing basis. Ireland receives requests from time to time in relation to participating in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. The changing nature of demands and potential future mission profiles need to be considered in the context of assets and capabilities which can be made available by the Defence Forces for overseas deployment, given existing operational demands at home and overseas.

Full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed below.

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS

As of 1 June 2023

* Includes Major General Maureen O'Brien serving on secondment to the United Nations following her appointment by the UN as Deputy Military Advisor in the Office of Military Affairs, Department of Peace Operations

For 2023, the total overall gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group, as set out in Budget 2023, is €1.21 billion, comprising of over €915 million on the Defence Vote and over €294 million on the Army Pensions Vote. This significant allocation represents an overall increase of €93 million on 2022 and comprises of an increase of €35 million in the capital allocation and €58 million in the current allocation across the Vote Group.

This allocation reflects the commitment of the Government to providing a financial platform for the defence sector to initiate the transformation of the Defence Forces as recommended by the Commission. It also brings our defence capabilities closer to European norms and ensures the Defence Forces maintain their ongoing capacity to deliver on all roles assigned by the Government, both at home and overseas.

The Commission on the Defence Forces reinforced the urgent requirement for significant capital investment on defensive equipment programmes and on upgrading and modernising the Defence Forces built infrastructure. The Defence capital allocation has increased by €35 million, to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022, an allocation which represents the single biggest annual capital investment ever provided to defence. Many of the military equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times, so the additional funding now provided will further enable the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver on scheduled projects over the coming years. In particular, it allows my Department to progress its consideration of the development of a primary radar capability and the procurement of additional force protection equipment. A significant number of building projects will also advance under the Defence Forces built infrastructure programme, which will modernise and upgrade defence built infrastructure over the coming years.

The allocation for current expenditure in the Defence Vote has increased by €44 million to €739 million, comprising of €175 million to meet standing and operational costs and €564 million for the ongoing pay and allowances of the Defence Forces, civilian employees and departmental civil servants, including the costs associated with the existing Building Momentum pay deal.

The allocation includes funding to facilitate further recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force, in line with the recommendations of the commission. Funding has also facilitated implementation of a number of key recommendations of the commission, such as specific enhancements to pay and allowances and the recent appointment of a Head of Transformation for the Defence Forces, as outlined in the high-level action plan.

The allocation for Vote 35 - Army Pensions - has increased by €14 million to €294 million and it is expected that this amount will meet the pension costs for more than 13,100 ex-members of the Defence Forces and their dependants.

All expenditure within my Department is profiled and monitored closely and I’m satisfied that the funding allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group for 2023 will enable the Defence Forces to deliver effectively on all its key domestic and international responsibilities and will facilitate progression on the transformation of the Defence Forces as recommended by the Commission.

The Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain since 2004. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out the roles assigned to them by Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence 2015, which includes the provision of a range of supports to Government departments and agencies in line with MOUs and SLAs agreed by the Department of Defence, including search and rescue services.

Both the Naval Service and the Air Corps provide support to IRCG in maritime Search and Rescue operations on an “as available” basis. A Service Level Agreement is in place with the Irish Coast Guard setting out agreed roles and responsibilities in this regard.Air Corps SAR services currently provided to the Coast Guard on an “as available” basis include search support in a number of settings including the provision of top cover support, the potential to act as on-scene air co-ordinator if required and the provision of island medevacs when the IRCG are unable to respond, among other taskings.

Naval Service support to the Irish Coast Guard on an “as available” basis in the maritime SAR domain includes Search & Rescue/Recovery support, accommodation of IRCG personnel onboard Naval Service ships as required, enforcement of Exclusion Zones and Diving Unit assistance, among other taskings.

The Air Corps and Naval Service also participate in joint training exercises with the IRCG as required, and provide representation on relevant committees and fora as appropriate such as the National SAR Stakeholder Forum.

The Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades.

The Review is considering the future of the rail network with regard to the following ambitions: improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities (including the potential for higher/high-speed rail), enhancing regional accessibility, supporting balanced regional development, and rail connectivity to our international gateways. This also includes the role of rail freight.

Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation in July. Following the SEA process and finalisation of the report, it is expected that it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Transport and Government in the autumn, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the NI Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.

It is expected that the final Review will be published in the autumn of 2023.

To date, my Department has spent €1.47 million, excluding VAT, on the Review.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the setting of tolls is a statutory function of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). As such, there is no formal consultative role for me as Minister in relation to tolls.

The "maximum toll" for each tolled scheme is set in accordance with the relevant scheme bye-laws, based on inflation. In the twelve month period used to calculate maximum tolls for 2023, inflation was obviously a significant issue. That was at the heart of the toll increases which were announced for the M50 and the eight PPP schemes in late 2022. Following this announcement, I directed that Departmental officials engage with TII to develop options that might allow for the suspension of the planned toll increases.

Following this direction, TII commenced engagement with all eight PPP companies and the suspension of these increases was agreed upon for a six month period until the end of June 2023. As this six-month period is coming to an end, the planned toll increases will come into effect in July 2023.

Under European Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness testing, Ireland, like all Member States, must comply with the minimum specified intervals for carrying out such inspections. This is given effect in Irish law by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415/2017), as amended.

Regulation 3(2) of the 2017 Regulations provides that the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined by its registration date and subsequent test due dates automatically fall on anniversaries of the registration date. Any certificate issued for that vehicle will be valid up to the test due date after the certificate is issued and is not automatically issued for 24 months, or 12 months for vehicles over 10 years old, from the date of testing.

Permitting NCT certificates to be extended beyond the minimum test due dates would place the State in breach of our obligations under EU law and may affect road safety, should the vehicle in question be unsafe to drive. There are no current plans to amend this legislation.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State Road grants, where applicable.

In the case of the four Dublin Councils, prior to the introduction of the Local Property Tax (LPT) grant funding was made available under the Department's Regional and Local Road Grant Programme to supplement the Councils' expenditure on maintenance. The arrangements agreed by Government when the LPT was introduced included a requirement that the Dublin Councils would use a specified amount of their LPT receipts to fund certain housing and regional and local roads maintenance services, replacing Exchequer funding. This remains the position. The local authorities are advised annually by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the amounts to be self-funded in each category. In the case of regional and local roads, the amount for each Dublin Council has remained unchanged since 2015 and is as follows.

Aside from the requirement to apply these specified amounts for road maintenance, as the statutory road authorities, decisions on the allocation of funding to regional and local roads is a matter for the Councils.

As regards the regional and local road grant funding provided before 2015, details of grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the Regional and Local Road Allocations and Payment Booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The National Transport Authority (NTA), as part of its overall Active Travel Infrastructure Programme, receives funding, including an allocation of €38 million in 2023, for the protection and renewal of active travel assets including cycle lanes which can be located on urban roads and streets. Give the NTA’s role in the allocation of this funding to local authorities, I am referring the Deputy’s question to that agency for further detail on the specific allocations to the four Dublin local authorities.

In relation to national roads, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you. I have, therefore, referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport.

The issue of the number of electric vehicle charging points at each Irish Rail train station's car park nationwide is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

I am aware that Portlaoise and Carlow are both situated on the inter-urban rail network with rail connections between both towns currently possible through interchange, usually via Kildare town. The fact is the two towns are situated on different parts of the network with Portlaoise on the Dublin-Cork line and Carlow on the Dublin-Waterford line. I would also note that interchange is a normal feature of many rail networks although obviously its convenience is enhanced by issues such as service frequency etc.

The Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades.

The Review is considering the future of the rail network with regard to the following ambitions: improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities (including the potential for higher/high-speed rail), enhancing regional accessibility, supporting balanced regional development, and rail connectivity to our international gateways. This includes the role of rail freight. The Review will also consider the potential scope for improved rail services along the various existing or future potential corridors of the network, and that scope will include the potential afforded by disused and closed lines.

Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation in July. Following the SEA process and finalisation of the report, it is expected that it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Transport and Government in the autumn, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the NI Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.

It is expected that the final Review will be published in the autumn of 2023.

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for rail. The operation and maintenance of the rail network, including services on the network, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. Noting Iarnród Éireann's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for a direct response on the issue raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.

Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well as assisting in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.

However, there is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible, such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging and workplace charging.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles, has significant funding available in 2023 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.

In January, I launched the national Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025, alongside an Implementation Plan. The strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade.

A range of new charging infrastructure schemes are being developed which will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.

All public charge points in Ireland are managed and operated by commercial EV Charge point Operators. Some Charge point Operators require a minimum balance to be held on an EV deposit card in order for customers to charge. ESB ecars have amended their minimum account balance required to start a charge from 15 June. This is in response to a number of changes in customer charging behaviour, increases in EV battery size and the increase in energy costs.

Queries relating to public charge point payments is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. In this case, queries should be directed to ESB eCars.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally.

Therefore, in light of the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to Bus Éireann Route 243, to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

The Deputy refers to Dublin Port Company's Franchise Policy, published in May 2014, and lands described in Appendix 1 of that document.

The Deputy may be aware, that since 2014 the Company undertook a review of their master plan in 2018. This is publicly available and sets out the Company's options for each parcel of land within the Dublin Port Estate. In preparation for Brexit some further lands have been provided to the State agencies for necessary revenue and SPS inspection facilities. Dublin Port Company has also recently held a public consultation with regards to it's 3FM project and I have written to the port company to express my views with regard to the sustainable use of port lands.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for national ports policy in Ireland, however, I am not involved in the day to day operations of the port companies. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Dublin Port Company for a comprehensive direct reply with regard to the specific lands in question.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

The operation of the National Driving Test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the specific part of the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

On the broader subject of driver testing waiting times, I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the Authority on addressing this issue.

The service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which is up 28% on 2021 figures.

The RSA reviewed the capacity of the service to meet demand and following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.

It is expected that once these additional 75 driver testers are recruited, trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will start to reduce from October 2023 and agreed service levels should resume by early to mid-2024. The additional testers will be assigned to fill current vacancies and otherwise allocated to centres with the highest demand for tests. The recruitment process is currently under way.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service. This includes test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases.

I believe the RSA operates a fair and transparent appointment scheduling process, consequently I understand that those who are eligible and have been waiting the longest are offered a test first.

Urgent tests are only available to applicants who are employed by the HSE, a private hospital or the emergency services where the candidate would need to drive as part of their job (not including commuting to their place of work). Information on who can apply for an emergency test is available at www.rsa.ie/services/learner-drivers/the-driving-test/faqs

As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The issue raised by the Deputy regarding the frequency with which the help and emergency push-button system on train stations' platforms are tested is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the purchase of rolling stock for the DART+ programme and commuter rail carriages.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

As legal proceedings have been issued by CHC Ireland DAC, it is not appropriate for me to make any comment at this time in relation to the next IRCG SAR Aviation contract.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure. While I am not involved in the day-to-day operations or the management of related schemes and projects, two projects in Limerick - the Limerick City University Connectivity project, and the Moyross Train Station project - were selected to be part of a Pathfinder Programme. The Programme, which is monitored by my department, consists of a diverse range of projects that have the capacity to showcase the multiple benefits of sustainable mobility in a relatively short period - all projects will be completed by 2025.

In broad terms, the Limerick City University Connectivity project aims to create sustainable connectivity options between the city and the large residential area of Corbally and Dublin Road, University of Limerick and the large employer campus at the National Technology Park, and further onto residential areas of Castletroy and Monaleen.

The Moyross Train Station will deliver a new train station in a growing area of suburban Limerick and is a key element of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040. The acceleration of this project, which is funded by the NTA, will provide tangible benefits to the local area and will facilitate a significant modal shift to more sustainable modes of travel.

As both projects fall under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA) working in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the setting of tolls is a statutory function of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). As such, there is no formal consultative role for me as Minister in relation to tolls.

The "maximum toll" for each tolled scheme is set in accordance with the relevant scheme bye-laws, based on inflation. In the twelve month period used to calculate maximum tolls for 2023, inflation was obviously a significant issue. That was at the heart of the toll increases which were announced for the M50 and the eight PPP schemes in late 2022. Following this announcement, I directed that Departmental officials engage with TII to develop options that might allow for the suspension of the planned toll increases.

Following this direction, TII commenced engagement with all eight PPP companies and the suspension of these increases was agreed upon for a six month period until the end of June 2023. As this six-month period is coming to an end, the planned toll increases will come into effect in July 2023.

There are 12 commercial bodies and 6 non-commercial bodies under the aegis of the Department of Transport, governed by the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016. My department has a dedicated governance division which oversees compliance with the Code, including appropriate circulars relating to agencies. All circulars are distributed to our agencies once received.

I can confirm to the deputy that my department actively engages with its agencies on compliance with the Code and its circulars and that the Performance Delivery Agreements of our non-commercial agencies specifically outlines the requirement to comply with circular 25/2016.

The department will follow up with any agency who had a negative response to the requirements listed below.

Information in tabular form outlining the implementation of circular 25/2016 across my department’s agencies is summarised below.

COMMERCIAL BODIES

NON-COMMERCIAL BODIES

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 217 and 218 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In both of those areas there have been significant developments since this Government came into office, with last year's publication of a new Sustainable Mobility Policy and its five-year action plan providing strong policy support to the continued expansion and enhancement of bus services. I am also delighted to say that this strong policy support has been backed up by increased levels of Exchequer funding, which is supporting the roll-out of initiatives such as BusConnects Dublin.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects Dublin.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In both of those areas there have been significant developments since this Government came into office, with last year's publication of a new Sustainable Mobility Policy and its five-year action plan providing strong policy support to the continued expansion and enhancement of bus services. I am also delighted to say that this strong policy support has been backed up by increased levels of Exchequer funding, which is supporting the roll-out of initiatives such as BusConnects Dublin.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects Dublin.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a bioliquid, which when used in the transport sector is referred to as a biofuel. HVO bioliquid is also used as renewable energy for heating and power generators.

Supporting the supply of renewable energy in transport, the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy sets out the pathway to the achievement of both Climate Action Plan targets and European obligations concerning sustainability and GHG reduction criteria. The policy since 2010 has been to increase renewable energy in transport by pursuing progressive increases in the renewable transport fuel supply obligation (RTFO) on fuel suppliers, as provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007.

The trajectory of annual RTFO rate increases to 2030 as set out in the policy is designed to achieve the CAP target of an E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel equivalent). This is to achieve 1.08MT CO2eq carbon reduction by 2030, representing a significant portion (almost 14%) of the planned transport sector decarbonisation by 2030.

The supply of HVO, among other renewable fuels, will be critical in ensuring the 2030 Climate Action Plan target is met. A Biofuels Study Report conducted on behalf of the Department in 2022 estimated that between 570-730m litres of biodiesel/HVO could be required to meet the Climate Action Plan transport targets by 2030.

Additionally, in 2023 I made regulations under section 44G of the 2007 Act authorising the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) to issue additional renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) certificates targeting supply of specific renewable transport fuels, including HVO, Tallow Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), Biomethane, and Green Hydrogen used in transport sectors to further incentivise supply.

With regard to challenges associated with the policy of incentivising increased biofuel supply, in particular concerning future availability and meeting EU sustainability requirements, my Department will establish working groups this year involving stakeholder representatives, to work through these challenges. For example, used cooking oil (UCO), the main feedstock for HVO, is a limited resource and additional demand for it across many sectors will impact on its cost and may heighten the risk of fuel fraud in global supply chains.

To combat risks such as this the EU has introduced more rigorous verification requirements including an EU database for all biofuel supply. In this regard, my department engages with the European Commission on an ongoing basis, including through the working group on sustainability, set up under the European Renewable Energy Directive.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 223 together.

Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of the Irish Government. The Programme for Government commits to 7% average annual emissions reduction to 2030; ultimately, the goal is for a zero-emission mobility system by 2050. Decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles will be key to achieving this objective in the transport sector.

To promote the decarbonisation of the heavy-duty sector, my Department launched the Alternatively-Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle (AFHDV) Purchase Grant Scheme in March 2021. The Scheme, which is administered by TII, is intended to help bridge some of the difference in purchase price between conventional heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) and those powered by alternatively-fuelled power-trains. To accord with EU State Aid rules, grant levels under the Scheme are calculated as a percentage of the difference in price between a conventionally-fuelled diesel HDV and its alternatively-fuelled equivalent. Maximum grant levels for eligible vehicles depend on the size of the enterprise applying for the grant.

The success of the AFHDV scheme was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and global supply chain issues which resulted in significant delays in the grant applicants receiving their vehicles and drawing down their AFHDV grants. Transport Infrastructure Ireland is now processing 2021 and 2022 grant application drawdowns.

The AFHDV purchase grant scheme is open for applications in 2023 with a budget of €5million. The scheme has been gaining momentum recently with new applications and fund drawdowns.

To date the scheme has processed 49 applications.

Since the AFHDV scheme was launched on 15th March 2021 grants have been approved for 44 applications and a corresponding 180 vehicles.

Scheme Figures – Costs, committed grant funding and grants paid or in payment process.

My colleague, the Minister for Finance has responsibility for the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) Scheme for Gas Vehicles and Refuelling Equipment. I understand that the Minister for Finance will review the scheme in 2024.

The scheme, which was introduced in the Finance Act 2018, provides for a 100% up-front wear and tear allowance for qualifying expenditure incurred in a given year. The Finance Act 2021 extended the scheme to 31 December 2024 and amended it to provide that hydrogen powered vehicles and refuelling equipment qualify under the scheme.

The scheme incentivises the use of natural gas, biogas, or renewable gas of non-biological origin such as green hydrogen in large vehicles such as HGVs and buses, supporting low- and zero-carbon emission alternative technology to diesel or petrol, toward achievement of 50% reduction in carbon emissions in transport by 2030.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for complementary grant support provision through the alternative fuel heavy goods vehicle (AFHDV) grant, including grants awarded for the purchase gas powered vehicles.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a bioliquid, which when used in transport is referred to as a biofuel, therefore does not qualify under the ACA scheme. It is understood that HVO can be used with no issues in conventional diesel vehicles and fuel distribution infrastructure blended with diesel or at 100% HVO.

CNG is natural gas that has been compressed and stored at high pressures (over 200 bar) and is typically used as a transport fuel. It is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles where electric solutions are not yet a viable option. The gas used can be either natural or renewable gas that meets the network specifications, providing a pathway to more sustainable transport. Biomethane can be used with or as a substitute for natural gas in any application which uses natural gas, including transport. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are leading in the delivery of the 5.7TW/h biomethane production/anaerobic digestion development target by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan.

I made regulations authorising the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) to issue additional renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) certificates targeting supply of specific renewable transport fuels which included biomethane from 1 April 2023, further incentivising its supply for use in transport. The regulations result in a total award of 3.4 RTFO certificates for biomethane supply that has been produced from feedstocks listed in Annex IX of the EU renewable energy directive, or otherwise a total of 1.7 RTFO certificates for biomethane supply, for use in the transport sector. The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) is targeted at fuel suppliers and it should be noted that it is not designed to targeting supply of biofuels or biogas to specific end user groups such as road hauliers.

Gas Networks Ireland is leading the Causeway Project, under which a network of high capacity fast-fill CNG stations and a single renewable gas injection point are being delivered. Successful delivery of these objectives will demonstrate the validity of CNG and biomethane as viable alternatives to diesel in Ireland while also helping to meet Ireland’s requirements under the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive.

There are currently four operational CNG stations under the Causeway Project, which are operated by Circle K. These are located in Limerick; Cashel, County Tipperary; and Clonshaugh and Dublin Port in Dublin. Each station has the capacity to fill up to 50 HGVs a day, with each fill taking no more than five minutes. There is now a pipeline of additional public CNG stations progressing through the design, planning and construction project phases and Gas Networks Ireland expects to have five more operational by 2024. Further, four private CNG stations are in operation in Dublin, Cavan, Cork and Shannon.

Biomethane injected into Ireland’s gas network can be transported to forecourts which have a CNG refilling station. Where the biomethane is certified by an EU Voluntary scheme as meeting the sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction criteria set out in the Renewable Energy Directive, it is fully renewable. In the six months that BioCNG has been available at the four Circle K outlets, almost 1,900 tonnes of carbon emissions have been saved, equating to over 1.9 million carbon neutral kilometres.

To further promote CNG and the ongoing decarbonisation of transport, companies and enterprises who wish to buy alternatively-fuelled heavy duty vehicles as opposed to the diesel equivalent the Alternatively Fuelled Heavy Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme remains available since 2021. Further, under the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) Scheme for Gas Vehicles and Refuelling Equipment, the use of CNG, biomethane or renewable gas of non-biological origin such as green hydrogen in large vehicles such as HGVs and buses is incentivised, supporting low- and zero-carbon emission alternative technology to diesel or petrol, toward achievement of 50% reduction in carbon emissions in transport by 2030, through the provision of a 100% up-front wear and tear allowance for qualifying expenditure incurred in a given year. I understand that the Minister for Finance will review the scheme in 2024.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the setting of tolls is a statutory function of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). As such, there is no formal consultative role for me as Minister in relation to tolls.

The "maximum toll" for each tolled scheme is set in accordance with the relevant scheme bye-laws, based on inflation. In the twelve month period used to calculate maximum tolls for 2023, inflation was obviously a significant issue. That was at the heart of the toll increases which were announced for the M50 and the eight PPP schemes in late 2022. Following this announcement, I directed that Departmental officials engage with TII to develop options that might allow for the suspension of the planned toll increases.

Following this direction, TII commenced engagement with all eight PPP companies and the suspension of these increases was agreed upon for a six month period until the end of June 2023. As this six-month period is coming to an end, the planned toll increases will come into effect in July 2023.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply regarding the tolling system and the Austrian model. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has agreed responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in our cities, which includes the provision of park and ride facilities through the Park and Ride Development Office.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

Further, Bus Éireann's Expressway services, including routes 51 and 64, are commercial bus services and responsibility for the operation of those services, including timetabling, is a matter for the company.

I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. In January this year, I launched the national Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025, alongside an Implementation Plan. The strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade.

In July 2022 I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. Further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.

Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well assists in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.

The ESB eCars charger in Dingle is currently being upgraded to a 100kW Fast Charger which will also allow two vehicles to fast charge simultaneously. Due to the power upgrade, the supply connection had to be changed. Works are progressing and once ESB eCars have the new connection, they will be able to finalise the commissioning and testing of the new station.

Notification of the works has been flagged to EV customers and every effort is made to minimise the outage period. ESB eCars will notify customers when the new station is operational. Further queries on this matter should be directed to ESB eCars directly.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing and wheelchair accessible vehicle grants, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016.

I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry and accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and new Town Services.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the roll-out of new services, including in county Kerry, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including SPSV licensing and taxi fares, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

As set out in the table below, between 2011 and 2022, Ireland West Airport was granted over €40m in funding from my Department through various schemes, the majority of which are under the Regional Airports Programme.

The Regional Airports Programme targets Exchequer support towards safety and security related projects and activities at Ireland’s smallest regional airports i.e., those that provide connectivity and handle fewer than 1 million passengers on average, over the preceding two years. This investment supports our airports’ compliance with EU safety and security related obligations. In addition, funding is provided to support projects with a sustainability focus, encouraging airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.

In addition, in recognition of the difficulties faced by airports during COVID, my Department put in place an EU approved COVID Supplementary Support Scheme for Irish airports. In 2021 Ireland West Airport was granted over €2.8m under this Scheme, which compensated the airport for the damage caused to it by COVID.

Government is committed to continuing to support our regional airports. In relation to the funding available under the Regional Airports Programme in 2023, I was pleased to announce a capital funding allocation of over €5m to Ireland West Airport in March. Operational funding will also be made available to regional airports later this year under the Programme. My Department will be inviting eligible airports, including Ireland West, to make applications for operational funding later this year. In line with previous years, it is anticipated that this operational funding will be dispersed in early December.

Aviation Exchequer Supports to Ireland West Airport 2011-2022

I thank the Deputy for her continued interest in this matter.

In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, the Government agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver improved connections as a priority’ as part of its commitments under New Decade New Approach.

As the Deputy is aware my Department has progressed a desk-based review, which myself and Minister Ryan are considering in consultation with Government colleagues. Also being taken into consideration is the material most recently provided by City of Derry Airport (CODA).

I can advise the Deputy that I recently met with management of CODA in Derry on 22 May and that engagement on this matter will continue between my Department, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government, as appropriate.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has agreed responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in our cities, which includes the provision of park and ride facilities through the Park and Ride Development Office.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group (TWG), comprising members from a range of Departments, agencies and Disabled Persons Organisations, was tasked under Action 104 to review all Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability, including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS). The NDIS TWG final report was published on 24th February 2023 and welcomed the proposal put forward by my Department that the DDS should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation scheme, i.e. to provide direct financial assistance to individuals needing vehicle adaptations according to their needs, to meet their personal transport requirements and ultimately to facilitate independence and participation in society.

The NDIS TWG final report also noted both the outdated approach of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme and the fact that the scheme needed to be addressed as a matter of priority. The Working Group agreed that proposals in this regard was a clear deliverable on which work could begin in the relatively near future.

The NDIS TWG final report does not set out next steps with respect to the new scheme. This will be a matter for Government decision.

In relation to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) whose members resigned in November 2021, I had hoped that a new DDMBA would have been established by now and that the appeals process would have recommenced.

You should note that five members are legislatively required for a functional Board, however the recruitment of these members has proved to be challenging. In this regard, four expressions of interest campaigns have been organised by the Department of Health – 3 of them in 2022, and one in April to replace a previously nominated person. The necessary 5 members have been nominated by the Minister for Health, with Garda vetting currently being undertaken for the most recently nominated candidate – this process was completed for the other four candidates at the start of the year.

An added complication to the recommencement of the DDMBA is that in February 2023, the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) ( the body that has hosted the DDMBA since 2000) indicated their intention to withdraw their services with immediate effect. Finance and Health officials have been actively seeking to implement new arrangements since, including engaging with the NRH. Some progress has been made on this matter insofar as the NRH has indicated a willingness to once again host the DDMBA once certain conditions are met. It is important to note that requests for appeal hearings can still be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the NRH.

Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place. In this regard, an important point to make is that even though there has been no appeal mechanism since the previous Board resigned, applicants who have been deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC are entitled to request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment.

I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.

As at Q3 2022 (latest data available) there were 30,049 recipients of, and 32,314 vehicles benefitting from, DDS provisions. As at end December 2022, 1,181 applicants for a PMC had been refused (of 3,621 or 33% of all applications received). Data on successive requests for a PMC assessment are not available.

Based on Revenue’s latest Ready Reckoner (Post-Budget 2023), the estimated costs on a first and full year basis of an increase in the value of the tax credit as mentioned by the Deputy are set out in the table below:

I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the post-Budget 2023 Ready Reckoner is available on the Revenue Statistics webpage at:

www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/statistics/ready-reckoner.pdf.

Amounts other than those shown in the Ready Reckoner can generally be extrapolated using a straight line or pro-rata calculation.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 239, inclusive, together.

The IMF promotes international monetary co-operation and provides policy advice, technical assistance and loans to help countries build and maintain strong economies. It also helps countries design policy programmes, where necessary.

Ireland is one of 190 member countries and we work proactively with other members and the IMF in order to shape and support the achievement of these strategic objectives.

As the Minister for Finance, I represent Ireland on the IMF Board of Governors.

Ireland is also represented on the Executive Board of the IMF through one of its 24 constituencies. In addition to Ireland, our constituency includes Canada and a number of Caribbean nations.

It is through the Board of Governors (in the case of high level policy) and the Executive Board (in the case of the administration of programmes) that Ireland inputs into and influences the work of the IMF. This provides the opportunity to review, challenge (where appropriate) and seek alignment with our international development policies – including the areas of gender equality, climate action and reduced humanitarian need.

Given the scope and scale of supports provided by the IMF, it would not be feasible for a single member country to carry out a meaningful review of their impact. Instead Ireland works with other member countries as part of the Executive Board to input into reviews and further our international development policies.

The provision of overseas aid is a core focus of multilateral development banks such as the World Bank, with which the IMF works closely. In April of this year I attended the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington that provided valuable opportunities to engage on an international basis, and allowed Irish representatives and senior management in both the IMF and World Bank to consider many of the complex challenges currently facing the world economy such as high inflation, rising debt levels and global fragmentation.

At the Spring Meetings, I announced a €24 million contribution to the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT). The PRGT fund allows the IMF to provide zero/low interest loans to the poorest countries. It is important that Ireland continues to play its part in terms of helping vulnerable countries access affordable finance, which is key to assist in their response to economic and food crisis situation worsened by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

In October this year, the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank will take place in Africa for the first time. This will again provide an important opportunity for Ireland to engage with the IMF, to reiterate our ongoing commitment to multilateralism, and to influence the important work of these multilateral institutions.

Ireland enjoys a deep and wide-ranging bilateral relationship with Australia, owing from our historic cultural and people-to-people ties, our economic and trade relationship, and our cooperation on global affairs across an array of fora and channels. Ireland has a strong diplomatic presence in Australia, complemented by representative offices for State Agencies including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

Since my appointment as Minister for Finance last December, I have not yet had the opportunity for direct engagement with Australia’s Finance Minister, Senator Katy Gallagher. However, given the breadth of our relationship, I look forward to an opportunity to engage with her and to continuing the long-standing engagement and cooperation between our countries and economies.

I am advised by Revenue that an estimate of the number of Category A vehicles sold with an open market selling price (OMSP) above €70,000 and above €100,000, for the years 2021, 2022 and to the end of April 2023 is provided in the table below.

*To the end of April 2023

The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) was introduced in Finance Act 2021. RZLT represents the output from Action 15.2 of the Housing for All Strategy published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (D/HLGH) in September 2021 which announced the introduction of “a new tax to activate vacant land for residential purposes (to replace the current Vacant Site Levy)”. The Department of Finance (D/FIN) is supporting D/HLGH in delivering this action.

The RZLT is designed to prompt residential development by landowners of land that is zoned for residential or mixed-use (including residential) purposes and that is serviced.

The implementation of the measure may be broken down into two phases; an initial mapping phase to identify land within the scope of the tax, which is being undertaken by local authorities, and the administration of the tax, which is the responsibility of Revenue. The up-to-date position in respect of each phase is as follows:

Phase 1 – Mapping of Land in Scope

Land which falls within the scope of RZLT will be reflected in maps prepared and published by each of the 31 local authorities in the State, which will allow landowners to confirm whether their land is subject to the tax. A draft map was published by local authorities on 1 November last. Landowners and third parties had an opportunity to make submissions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of land on the maps up to 1 January 2023 – landowners also had an opportunity to request a variation of the current zoning of their land up to this date. Local authorities issued determinations in respect of submissions made on the draft maps by 1 April 2023; landowners dissatisfied with such determinations had until 1 May to make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Where appropriate, local authorities prepared and published supplemental maps, reflecting land which falls within the scope of the tax, but which had not been included in the draft maps published on 1 November 2022. Such land may have been identified from submissions made on the draft maps or may otherwise have come to the attention of the local authority in the period since the publication of the draft maps. Supplemental maps were published by 16 of the 31 local authorities by 1 May 2023. Landowners and third parties had an opportunity to make submissions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of land on the maps up to 1 June – landowners also had an opportunity to request a variation of the current zoning of their land up to that date. Local authorities are required to issue determinations in respect of submissions made on the supplemental maps by 1 August next; landowners dissatisfied with such determinations have until 1 September 2023 to make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

A final map, reflecting land on both the draft and supplemental maps and any changes on foot of the submission, determination and appeal processes relevant to each of the earlier maps, as well as any changes in zoning, will be published by all local authorities by 1 December 2023. The final map will form the basis of the administration of the tax in 2024. From 2025 onwards, local authorities will update this final map on an annual basis.

Phase 2 – Administration of RZLT

The administration of the tax by Revenue will commence in 2024, with the initial liability date for the tax arising on 1 February 2024 with the first pay and file date following on 23 May 2024.

Officials in the Department of Finance and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage continue to engage with construction and agriculture industry representatives with regard to consideration of their concerns about the residential zoned land tax.

The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate unless they are exempt from VAT or fall within Annex III of the Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply reduced rates or, in limited circumstances, zero rates of VAT.

In general, the standard rate of VAT applies to pet food. This includes bird seed for cage birds, and all other feeding stuff packaged, sold or otherwise designated for use of dogs, cats, cage birds or domestic pets. However, Greyhound feeding stuff that is packaged, advertised or held out for sale solely as greyhound feeding stuff and that is supplied in units of not less than 10 kilograms is liable at the reduced rate (13.5%).

A zero rate of VAT applies to animal feed, excluding feeding stuff which is packaged, sold or otherwise designated for the use of dogs, cats, cage birds or domestic pets.

Changes in VAT rates are considered as part of the normal annual Budget and Finance Bill process.

I am advised by Revenue that the revenues to be raised in first-year (2024) and full-year terms from legislated increases in the carbon tax in May 2024 and October 2024 respectively are estimated as follows.

These estimates are based on the most recent full year data and do not account for any future behavioural changes.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 247 together.

The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply.

In general, the EU VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate, unless they fall within categories of goods and services specified in Annex III of the VAT Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply a lower rate from VAT. Within its rates structure, the EU VAT Directive also allows historic VAT treatment to be maintained under certain conditions on certain goods and services not provided for in Annex III.

Currently Ireland has a standard VAT rate of 23% and two reduced rates of 13.5% and 9%. Ireland is also permitted to retain some historic VAT arrangements, under strict conditions.

In this context, the following reduced VAT rates apply in Ireland:

• Reduced rate of 13.5% applies to approximately 29% of activity and represents approximately 25% of VAT receipts. It includes home heating oil and solid fuels, construction, housing, labour intensive services and general repairs and maintenance.

• Reduced rate of 9% applies to approximately 12% of activity and represents approximately 6% of VAT receipts. It includes tourism and hospitality sectors to 31 August 2023, along with periodicals, and sporting facilities. It also includes the supply of gas and electricity to 31 October 2023.

• Super-reduced 4.8% rate applies to livestock by VAT registered farmers ( as per Annex VII of EU VAT Directive).

• Zero rate applies to 7 categories of Annex III of the EU VAT Directive. It accounts for 10% of activity and It applies to most food, books, children’s clothes and shoes, oral medicines, some medical equipment, the supply of services in connection with the operation of lightships and lighthouses and, from 1 May 2023, the supply and installation of solar panels.

• Exempt services include transport services, funerary services, supply of water, provision of education, financial services, medical services and services provided by charities.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 248 together.

The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply.

In general, the EU VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate, unless they fall within categories of goods and services specified in Annex III of the VAT Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply a lower rate from VAT. Within its rates structure, the EU VAT Directive also allows historic VAT treatment to be maintained under certain conditions on certain goods and services not provided for in Annex III. Currently Ireland has a standard VAT rate of 23% and two reduced rates of 13.5% and 9%. Ireland is also permitted to retain some historic VAT arrangements, under strict conditions.

In this regard, Annex III of the VAT Directive lists those goods and services to which a reduced rate may be applied. Following changes made in April 2022, the 24 items of Annex III have been expanded to 33. Some of the original categories have also been amended. In addition, the VAT Directive now includes two new limitations on the use of Annex III by Member States. The first limits Member States to using a maximum of 7 categories to which a zero or super-reduced rate of VAT (rates lower than 5%) can be applied. The second limits Member States to using a maximum of 24 categories to which a reduced rate can be applied.

Ireland applies a zero rate to 7 out of 7 permitted categories, and a reduced rate to 19 out of 24 permitted categories.

The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate unless they are exempt from VAT or fall within Annex III of the Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply reduced rates of VAT.

Under VAT law, there is no scope for a reduction in the rate of VAT on sunscreen products. The supply of sunscreen products is liable to the standard rate of VAT, currently 23%.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 (the Code) provides a framework for the application of best practice in corporate governance by commercial and non-commercial State bodies. Circular 25/2016 sets out the protocol and standards for the provision of information by State Bodies to Members of the Oireachtas, and forms part of the requirements of the Code.

It should be noted that while the provisions of the Code are directly applicable to a number of State bodies under the aegis of my Department, all of the bodies, where appropriate, under my Department’s remit adhere to the protocol and standards in Circular 25/2016.

The Credit Union Advisory Committee is an advisory committee set up to advise the Minister for Finance in relation to credit union matters. It meets on a monthly basis in my Department, with Department officials providing a secretariat function.

The Credit Union Restructuring Board concluded its restructuring work on 31 March 2017. It was operationally wound down on 31 July 2017 and is awaiting final dissolution.

The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) is a board of medical practitioners appointed by the Minister of Finance from a body of interested registered medical practitioners, on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. The DDMBA is currently not operational.

The information in the attached table is provided by the remaining bodies under my Department’s remit in relation to the standards and timelines set out in Circular 25/2016.

The rate of stamp duty that applies to the acquisition of non-residential property, a category that includes farmland, has, since 9 October 2019, been set at 7.5%.

All land (as opposed to buildings and their sites/curtilages), including agricultural land, is classified as non-residential property for stamp duty purposes.

Any re-categorisation of agricultural land as residential property (which is subject to a stamp duty rate of 1% on value up to and including €1 million, and 2% on any value above that), or as some third form of property, for the purposes of stamp duty would be inconsistent with the application of stamp duty to other forms of business.

It may interest the Deputy to know that there are a number of stamp duty related reliefs which are currently available to the farmers. These reliefs considerably reduce the applicable rate on agricultural land for qualifying acquisitions. These reliefs include Farm Consolidation Relief, Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty Relief and Consanguinity Relief.

I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, that the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) places a statutory obligation on suppliers of road transport fuel to ensure that a proportion of the fuels that are placed on the market in Ireland are produced from renewable sources and that renewable transport fuels adhere to sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions criteria. Economic operators within the obligation are awarded RTFO certificates for each megajoule (MJ) of renewable transport fuel placed of in the market or two RTFO certificates per MJ where it is produced from feedstock set out in Annex IX of the Renewable Energy Directive.

Following a statutory consultation process, the Minister for Transport made regulations under section 44G of the 2007 Act on 31 March 2023, which became operational on 1 April, aligned to the administrative requirements of the RTFO. The regulations authorise the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) to issue additional Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) certificates for specified renewable transport fuels, where those fuels are used for specific purposes or means of transport, to incentivise their supply. The renewable transport fuels specified include Hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), biomethane, green hydrogen, and renewable transport fuels used in aviation and maritime. It is envisaged that these regulations will be kept under review within the context of the development and implementation of the renewable transport fuel policy.

The 2023 RTFO rate is 17%. The rate of the obligation will increase on an indicative trajectory until 2030 and is subject to annual review and analysis. The Renewable Fuel for Transport Policy Statement sets out the annual increase in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) rate (provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007) to support the achievement of the Climate Action Plan E10/B20 target by 2030 and European obligations.

With regard to tax treatment of biofuel, taxation of fuel is governed by European Union law as set out in Directive 2003/96/EC, commonly known as the Energy Tax Directive (ETD). The ETD prescribes minimum tax rates for fuel with which all Member States must comply. The ETD also allows Member States to apply partial or full reliefs or reduced rates of tax to biofuels produced from biomass. Biomass is defined as the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from agriculture (including vegetable and animal substances), forestry and related industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste. The ETD provisions relating to fuels used for transport purposes are transposed into national law in Finance Act 1999. This law provides for the application of excise duty in the form of Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) to liquid fuels. It also provides for the application of MOT to gas used for propellant purposes.

MOT is comprised of a non-carbon component and a carbon component with the carbon component being commonly referred to as carbon tax. The non-carbon component of MOT is often referred to as “excise”, “fuel excise”, “fuel tax” or “fuel duty” but it is important to note that both components are excise. MOT law provides for a full relief from the carbon component of MOT for liquid or gaseous fuels that have been produced from biomass. This means that no carbon tax applies to biofuels, such as Hydrogenated/Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil or biomethane, used in any road vehicle, private or commercial. The table below lists the current MOT rates on petrol, auto-diesel and vehicle gas along with the effective MOT rates applicable to biofuels used in their place.

Where a fuel blend contains biofuel, the carbon tax relief applies to the portion that is produced from biomass. Regarding hydrogen, its use in hydrogen fuel cells to power vehicles is outside the scope of MOT, i.e., such use is not subject to taxation.

The carbon tax relief for biofuels is intended to promote a higher level of biofuel usage and supports the Government’s commitment to incentivising more environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. As the carbon component of MOT is fully relieved for biofuels, these types of fuels are not impacted by the ten-year trajectory of carbon tax increases which was introduced in Finance Act 2020. This means that, as annual increases in the carbon component of MOT are implemented, the differential in tax costs between biofuels and fossil fuels will continue to widen, further incentivising the uptake of biofuels.

I note that the question relates to an individual application for mortgage protection insurance. As the Deputy will appreciate, I am unable to comment on individual cases.

Moreover, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can intervene in the provision or pricing of insurance products. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance companies (the Solvency II Directive).

Notwithstanding the above, I am aware of the issue of access to financial services – including mortgage protection insurance – for individuals with historic or underlying health conditions. This is a very sensitive matter for many in our community.

It is my understanding that generally insurers use a combination of actuarial factors in making their individual decisions on whether to offer life cover and what terms to apply. These can include: age; health; family medical history; occupation; and lifestyle. In addition, these may be determined or linked to the policy duration. In the case of mortgage protection policies, these tend to be over the lifetime of the repayment schedule. In addition, my understanding is that different insurers do not use the same combination of factors. Accordingly, the cost and availability of cover varies across the market, and will be priced in accordance with firms’ prior claims experience.

In order to assist clients who have had difficulty acquiring life cover due to a pre-existing illness or condition, Brokers Ireland has published a register containing contact details of brokerages who have experience in advising on life cover in this area. This is available on its website: brokersireland.ie/life-cover-pre-existing-illnesses/. In addition, Insurance Ireland operates an Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance, which can be accessed by ringing 01-676-1820 or at feedback@insuranceireland.eu.

Furthermore, with regard to mortgage protection insurance and home ownership, under Section 126 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, lenders can provide a mortgage in situations where a borrower may be unable to obtain life insurance, or where such insurance is unduly costly compared to that payable by borrowers generally. For individuals, including those with historic or underlying health conditions, who may experience difficulties acquiring mortgage protection insurance when securing a home loan, this is also an important provision to be aware of.

Finally, consumers who feel they have been treated unfairly by any financial service provider, including an insurer, can make a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO). The FSPO is a statutory official who acts as an independent arbiter of disputes which consumers may have with their insurance company or other financial service provider. The FSPO can be contacted either by email at info@fspo.ie or by telephone at 01-567-7000. Investigations by the FSPO are free of charge to the complainant.

As the Deputy will be aware the planned ‘go-live’ date for the operation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is February 2024.

The appropriate VAT treatment for the scheme has been considered and discussed with the European Commission. I intend to amend the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 in Finance Bill (no.2) 2023 to set out the operating principles of the scheme along with a Regulation, which will set out the detail.

The intention is for only the first taxable person in a supply chain charging a DRS deposit to have to account for VAT on unredeemed deposits. No other businesses further along the supply chain, such as wholesalers and retailers, will account for VAT on deposits at any point. Producers will calculate the VAT due on unreturned deposits based on their total DRS sales less DRS returns.

This non-taxation approach is in line with the VAT Directive and with the principles of the proposed Deposit and Return Scheme.

In November 2022 the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled, in Joined Cases C-37/20 and C-601/20, that a provision of the EU anti-money-laundering directive, under which information on the beneficial ownership of corporate and other legal entities, held in central registers, must be provided to the general public, is invalid. The Court found that the provision interfered with the rights recognised in Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Therefore access for the public must now be on the basis of the previous version of that Directive, meaning on the basis of having a legitimate interest.

Following receipt of legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General and in order to ensure our domestic legislation complies with the Court’s ruling, a Statutory Instrument was prepared amending Regulations which govern two of Ireland’s registers of beneficial ownership information - the Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial & Provident Societies (RBO), which operates under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles, Credit Unions and Unit Trusts, which is operated by the Central Bank of Ireland. I have now signed this Statutory Instrument (S.I.) into law as S.I. 308 of 2023, the European Union (Anti-Money Laundering: Beneficial Ownership of Corporate Entities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

The central feature of this Statutory Instrument is an amendment of Regulation 25 (3) of S.I. 110 of 2019, such that access to the two Registers referenced above can be provided to persons who have - and can demonstrate - a "legitimate interest", in accordance with the Court’s judgement. Legitimate interest will be determined in line with what is already provided for in Regulation 27(4) of S.I. No. 194/2021, which established the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Trusts (which is not affected by the court ruling). In summary, the requester would have to justify access, to the Registrar, by demonstrating that the requester is engaged in the prevention, detection or investigation of money laundering and/or terrorist financing offences. In addition, the person must demonstrate that the entity which is the subject of the access request is connected with persons convicted (whether in the State or elsewhere) of an offence consisting of money laundering or terrorist financing, or that the entity holds assets in a high-risk third country.

At EU level, new anti-money laundering legislation is still being negotiated, following its publication by the European Commission in July 2021. On 7 December 2022, the Council of the European Union agreed its position on two parts of this package - a new EU Directive and EU Regulation - and published its mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament (the Council had previously agreed its position on the other elements of the draft package). It can be seen from this mandate that the Council proposes that provision for access to beneficial ownership information, by the public, should be on the basis of ‘legitimate interest’. Negotiation of this draft legislation with the European Parliament is currently underway and agreement is expected to be reached during 2023.

Further amendments to domestic legislation in this regard may be required as part of the transposition process, once that new legislation is agreed.

The Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill attended Money 2020 in Amsterdam on Wednesday 7 June as part of a trade mission. The itinerary was developed by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Money 2020 is the largest global fintech event attended by over 7,000 from the fintech community, including multinational companies, banking, investors, and start-up companies from across the world.

There were several engagements throughout the day. Firstly there were engagements with exhibiting Enterprise Ireland client companies. They included Transfermate, Daon, Assure Hedge, Currencyfair, Know Your Customer and Fenergo.

A meeting was held with the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and its sister agencies, Innovation Quarter, Amsterdam in Business and Holland Fintech. Areas of discussion included the topics of common interest between the Netherlands and Ireland and the opportunities for Irish financial services companies to grow in the Netherlands.

A roundtable luncheon was held entitled ‘The future of regulation within the financial services industry and evolution of technology’. A variety of organisations attended including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Leaders in Finance, De Nederlandsche Bank and companies including Corlytics, Fenergo, ID-Pal, Know your Customer, DigiTrust, CM.com, Lelieveldt and ING Bank. The topics discussed were rules based versus risk based approach to regulation and corporate transparency versus privacy.

Meetings were held between the Minister of State and representatives from IDA Ireland client companies and target companies. These meeting were important engagements in helping to highlight the significance of the financial services sector in Ireland and the importance of foreign direct investment to the economy.

The Minister of State also attended the Enterprise Ireland Client-Buyer Networking Canal Cruise which was attended by Enterprise Ireland companies, Dutch and EU buyers, and partners.

This trade mission was an important part of the implementation of the Update to Ireland for Finance strategy, in particular Theme 4: Regionalisation and Promotion. Part of this theme aims to maximise the potential that events like Money 2020 represent for international promotion of the international financial services sector to investors, individuals and companies.

The objectives for Enterprise Ireland included to promote Irish fintech companies on a global scale and to raise awareness of the breadth of Ireland’s financial services offering. The objectives for IDA Ireland were to promote Ireland as a world class investment location for international financial services companies and to continue to demonstrate the capacity of Ireland for investment from this sector in a post-Brexit and post-Covid environment.

The feedback received from Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland has been very positive in terms of the Minister of State’s participation and promotion of Irish fintech companies and the promotion of Ireland as a location for international financial services companies.

The new EU Anti Money Laundering Authority - AMLA - will be established on foot of an EU Regulation that was published in July 2021 and expected to be adopted later this year. AMLA will be a significant EU institution, tasked with supervision - either directly, or indirectly - of obliged entities in the financial services sector in the first instance and eventually, those in the non-financial sector. The supervision will be in respect of the entities' compliance with EU anti money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism ("AML/CFT") rules and standards. In effect, it will oversee implementation of the forthcoming EU "single rulebook" on AML/CFT matters and is expected to provide harmonised guidance and regulatory technical standards to national supervisors, such as the Central Bank of Ireland. For it to have full authority in these matters, it will take over the AML/CFT competences from the European Banking Authority.

On 24 March, the Government decided to signal Ireland's interest in hosting the new EU Anti Money Laundering Authority, "AMLA". Nine other countries are also bidding - France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Italy and Austria - and others may yet do so.

AMLA was due to be established in January this year, but the decision about the host location has been delayed, as a new framework has to be developed in relation to the selection criteria and selection processes to be effected when the EU is establishing new EU institutions, beginning with AMLA. Following an ECJ ruling in July 2022, there is now a greater role for the EU Parliament in the selection process and settling on an agreed framework, between the EU Council and Parliament, is taking some time. Nevertheless, the indications are that the process will conclude this year. We have a good sense of what many of the criteria for selection of the host country will be, including that AMLA should be able to establish immediately, in the host country and do so with full independence; it should have access to a skilled labour force in the country; there should be appropriate social welfare, educational and medical care for AMLA staff and their spouses and children; there should be adequate training opportunities in AML/CFT matters; and there should be a balanced geographic spread of EU institutions across the entire of the EU.

The EU Parliament is keen that an added consideration, in terms of deciding on the host country, should be its AML/CFT framework, but there is no consensus on this yet. However, if our AML/CFT framework is to be scrutinised, I am confident we will not be found wanting, as it is robust and last year, the Financial Action Task Force, which is the global standard setter in all matters AML/CFT-related, noted the "significant progress" made by Ireland in strengthening its framework over the last few years.

While we await the final criteria in relation to the selection process, my officials have been preparing the groundwork for Ireland's formal bid, compiling the information that will likely be sought by the EU co-legislators tasked with assessing Member States' applications. Officials have also collaborated closely with our embassies, reaching out to counterparts at official level across the EU, to highlight the benefits of locating AMLA in Ireland and seeking their support for our bid. Underpinning all of those efforts, has been a significant volume of information and advice provided by many Government Departments, agencies, semi-State agencies and the private sector, all of whom have been highly supportive of the proposal to host AMLA here. That work is ongoing.

I believe Ireland is a great location for this important new EU authority. We have a significant financial services sector, built over decades, that will be subject to AMLA’s direction and the new single rulebook. Within that sector, there is good AML/CFT compliance as we have a robust framework which will be further enhanced by this new agency. Hosting it here will only add to Ireland’s and the EU’s compliance with international standards.

Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government as evidenced through the implementation of the Action Plan on Insurance Reform as overseen by a specific Cabinet Committee Sub-Group chaired by the Tánaiste. The latest Implementation Report demonstrates that significant progress has been made, with 90 per cent of the actions contained in the Action Plan now being delivered or initiated.

The establishment of the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market in December 2020 was a Programme for Government commitment. Its aims are to help expand the risk appetite of existing insurers and explore opportunities for new market entrants, thus increasing the availability of insurance. The Office, chaired by Minister of State Carroll MacNeill, includes officials from my Department as well as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Since its establishment, the Office has conducted intensive and ongoing engagement with a range of stakeholders, including insurance companies and representative organisations. As part of this, the Office is working closely with IDA Ireland to help leverage the ongoing reforms with the objective of targeting new entrants to the Irish market, or persuading current incumbents to expand their risk appetite. This will, in the first instance, target providers who offer insurance in areas which have been identified as ‘pinch-points’ in the Irish market, such as high-footfall/activity sectors having difficulty in obtaining public liability insurance.

The Office has had success in assisting to remove ‘pinch points’ in the insurance market, with various solutions found for a variety of sectors including childcare, equestrian and inflatable hire. In addition, there have been announcements from new entrants to the market, as well as commitments by existing insurers that they will expand their risk appetite to cover new areas, particularly in the SME space. This is a welcome development and I am hopeful that sectors currently experiencing issues with the availability of insurance will be positively impacted.

Upcoming developments, such as the reform of the “common Duty of Care” (via amendments to the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995), will further enhance the insurance market by addressing the issue of ‘slips, trips and falls’ which is particularly prevalent in high-risk public-facing sectors.

I wish to assure the Deputies of my intention to continue to work closely with my Government colleagues to ensure further implementation of the Action Plan which, in tandem with the work of the Office to Promote Competition, should have a positive impact on the affordability and availability of insurance for all consumers.

Overall, the financial sector accounted for some €2.7 billion of corporation tax receipts in 2022. This was around 12 per cent of the corporation tax yield. According to the CSO, corporate taxes paid by the financial sector were split broadly equally between domestic (48 per cent) and foreign owned (52 per cent) financial corporates in 2021. A breakdown of the financial sectors corporation tax receipts for 2022 is not yet available from the CSO.

The domestic economy is poised to grow at a robust pace this year, with the pace of growth expected to pick-up over the course of the summer as inflation continues to ease. The financial services sector will have an important role to play in ensuring the resilience of this growth, by enabling broad based and sustainable investment across the domestic economy. This role takes on particular significance given the rapid tightening of monetary policy over recent months, and the greater financing burden faced by both businesses and households.

In relation to the international financial services sector specifically, the current estimate from the enterprise agencies IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland is that direct employment in this sector stood at around 56,000 at the end of 2022. This is an increase of over 3,000 in the numbers employed compared to the end of 2021. In addition to these high-value jobs, there are many more thousands of people who are employed indirectly in professional services for which the international financial services sector generates a demand.

Ireland for Finance is the whole-of-Government strategy for the further development of Ireland’s international financial services sector. The Update to Ireland for Finance was launched in October 2022 and its vision is for Ireland to continue to be a top-tier location of choice for specialist international financial services and to enhance and protect our future competitiveness. The employment target of the updated strategy is to achieve a further net increase of 5,000 people in direct employment in the international financial services sector (above the target set out in the previous iteration of the Ireland for Finance strategy). This target applies for the period of the updated strategy, from January 2023 to December 2026.

The nature, scale and complexity of Ireland’s international financial services sector is changing and will continue to change in a number of ways as a result of the financial services investments won in recent years, including both firms relocating from the UK following Brexit and firms looking to set up operations in the EU for the first time. The industry in Ireland has become broader and more diverse with more firms carrying out a greater range of regulated activities than at any time.

I thank the Deputy for his question.

As of March 2023 the total credit union mortgage book amounted to approximately €364 million. The average credit union mortgage is approximately €100,000. Mortgage lending in the sector is up 26.6% year on year to March 2023 and this growth demonstrates that there is demand for credit union mortgages.

Credit union mortgage lending is fragmented with 20 mainly industrial credit unions accounting for approximately 75% of mortgage lending. Credit unions with over €50 million in assets and reserves greater than 12.5% can notify the Central Bank that they intend to use a higher 10% combined mortgage and SME lending limit.

I believe that credit unions can help the entire mortgage market and fulfil a significant role nationally through increased collaboration and the creation of a compelling mortgage product offering.

Such a product could benefit from standardisation of rates and nationwide advertising.

I am currently aware that a number of stakeholders are currently working on a mortgage Credit Union Service Organisation (CUSO). The future strength of the credit union movement is dependent on its ability to work together to develop new and compelling products and services for its members.

Finally, enabling provisions contained in the Credit Union (Amendment) Bill, such as allowing for member referral and the establishment of corporate credit unions, will further help credit unions provide a product for first-time home buyers.

I thank the Deputy for his question.

This Government is encouraged by the growth in credit union SME lending to date. In total, SME lending has grown 12.4 % year on year to the end of March 2023.

Credit unions with over €50 million in assets and reserves greater than 12.5% can notify the Central Bank that they intend to use a 10% combined SME and mortgage lending limit.

A number of enabling provisions in the Credit Union (Amendment) Bill, such as allowing for member referral and the establishment of corporate credit unions, will help future-proof and strengthen the sector for the years ahead. The Bill is currently progressing through the Oireachtas.

The introduction of corporate credit unions and member referral, should support greater collaboration between credit unions, facilitating a sharing of resources and greater access to funding for SMEs. While member referral is not mandatory, it is a new option for making additional services available to members who can't access a service in their credit union.

This Government recognises that insurance fraud is one of several factors that negatively impact the cost of insurance. Of course, it is important to remember that the vast majority of insurance claims are genuine and far outnumber the amount of fraudulent cases.

As part of the wide-ranging Action Plan for Insurance Reform, the Government has included a number of targeted measures to help reduce fraud.

The Minister for Justice, has completed the establishment of a dedicated Insurance Fraud Coordination Office (IFCO) within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB). The Office was established with the aim of improving cooperation and coordination with the insurance industry, bringing consistency to the handling and investigation of insurance fraud referrals from industry, and improving subsequent referrals to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I understand that the GNECB is providing training and support to all Garda Divisions in how to investigate fraud. It has also put in place reporting mechanisms between An Garda Síochána and the insurance industry, and has drafted Memorandums of Understanding in association with Insurance Ireland and the Alliance for Insurance Reform.

Separately, the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021 was signed into law in June 2021, representing another tool to tackle fraud. This places perjury on a criminal footing for the first time, thereby making the offence easier to prosecute. The Act increases the range of options for investigation, prosecution and penalties on conviction which can be considered for those making false and misleading claims.

In summary, the Action Plan for Insurance Reform has delivered a suite of measures aimed at addressing the factors that influence insurance costs, including fraud.

Alongside actions to reduce fraud, reforms have been implemented in several other key areas, ranging from the Personal Injuries Guidelines, which set new levels for personal injury awards, to legislation to enhance the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.

It is important to note that the impact of reforms takes time to transmit to price levels for a variety of reasons. These can include: uncertainty arising from ongoing legal challenges; the inherent complexity of the insurance sector’s operating environment; or even dynamic, external developments which can determine price or supply in a small market such as Ireland.

It is therefore vital that reforms are given sufficient time to take effect, and are supported by all stakeholders to do so. In this way, I believe that the cumulative impact of the Action Plan will lead to an improved insurance environment for all policyholders, including motorists, homeowners and businesses.

The Women in Finance Charter was developed over a number of years by the industry representative associations, Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, Financial Services Ireland, Insurance Ireland and Irish Funds, with support from government, as part of the Ireland for Finance strategy. It was launched in April 2022. Theme 3 of the Update to Ireland for Finance strategy is Diversity and talent and the Women in Finance Charter is an important part of this theme. Improving gender balance in senior roles in international financial services, and the broader financial services sector, has the capacity to bring benefits to organisations, including better decision making.

Firms that sign the Charter publicly commit to targets to increase the representation of women at specific levels within their firm. Progress against these targets is measured annually and publicly communicated.

The industry representative associations have commissioned the ESRI to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the data that signatory firms provide outlining their targets for increasing gender balance at all management levels

For the launch of the Charter last April there were 60 signatories in total, of which 56 signatories completed the baseline survey with the ESRI and 54 signatories have completed the full data reporting process. The firms include organisations from banking, insurance, funds and professional services, for example, the legal profession.

The ESRI's first Annual Report on the Charter will be launched tomorrow and I understand overall progress has been good on the achievement of the targets that were set by the signatory firms. However, there is a lot of work to do in achieving greater gender balance in the financial services sector and in encouraging more firms to sign the Charter and to complete the data reporting process.

Ensuring that the Charter is supported on an ongoing basis is extremely important and in that regard, a Steering Group for the Charter has been established. My Department is represented on the Group and officials are playing an active role in supporting the core objectives of the Charter. Furthermore, as this is part of the IFS Strategy Minister of State Carroll MacNeill, in her role as Minister with specific responsibility for the Strategy is very engaged in this policy space. Other members include the four industry bodies, the two Co-Chairs of the Balance for Better Business Review Group, 30% Club, 100 Women in Finance, 100 Women in Finance Early Career, the Financial Services Union and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment provides the Secretariat. The Group has met three times to date.

Comprehensive information relating to the Women in Finance Charter, which includes guidance notes, a baseline data template and an annual reporting template is available on the Balance for Better Business website www.betterbalance.ie/partners/ The industry representative associations are the points of contact for firms that would like to find out more details about the Women in Finance Charter.

In December 2022, all employers with more than 250 employees published their first gender pay gap reports, a new legal requirement in Ireland. It is important to note that the data showed the financial services sector has challenges in this area.

I am advised by Revenue that the flat rate expense (FRE) regime it operates is done so on an administrative basis. It applies where both a specific commonality of expenditure exists across an employment category and the statutory requirement for the tax deduction as set out in section 114 Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 is satisfied, namely, that the expenses are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of the duties of the office or employment by the employee concerned. A further requirement is that such expenses are not reimbursed by an employee’s employer.

The FRE regime was established to apply a uniformity of approach to tax deductibility for expenses of large groups of employees and to facilitate ease of administration for both Revenue and employees. The expense should apply to all employees in that category and not be discretionary.

Applications are generally made by the representative bodies in the employment sectors concerned and are considered by Revenue based on the specific commonality of expenses within the employment category and compliance with the strictly applied statutory requirement for a tax deduction.

In relation to the building industry, the FRE categories are published on Revenue’s website and included in a table below for the Deputy’s convenience. Apprentices who operate in any of the employment categories outlined below are entitled to claim the corresponding FRE for their trade.

A review of the FRE regime was undertaken by Revenue in 2018/2019. Implementation of those findings has been deferred a number of times, pending consideration by the Tax Strategy Group of the tax deductibility of expenses in employment.

Given the time since the 2018/2019 review, it may be necessary for Revenue to further review a number of the FREs. With this in mind and given the prevailing circumstances, Revenue has deferred the implementation of the findings of the 2018/2019 review to allow time to complete its further review of certain FRE rates. Once this work is concluded, a further update on the implementation of changes to the FRE regime will be made available and published on the Revenue website.

In the meantime, where the 2018/2019 review identified FRE categories for which an increase in the existing rate is appropriate, Revenue will implement these changes so that the benefit of such a change will apply from 1 January 2023. The Revenue website will be updated with regard to the necessary steps to avail of the increases once arrangements are finalised.

It should be noted that all employees retain their statutory right to claim a deduction under section 114 TCA 1997 in respect of an expense incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of their employment, to the extent to which such expenses are not reimbursed by the employer.

At the outset, it is important to note that neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive).

Nevertheless, this Government is aware that certain groups are currently facing difficulty in terms of affordability and availability of insurance, and has therefore continued to prioritise the delivery of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform. The latest implementation report indicates that significant progress has been achieved, with the vast majority of actions now completed, and the remainder ongoing.

Key reforms include the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines, with data from the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) indicating that the overall average award has fallen by 38 per cent compared to awards made in 2020 under the Book of Quantum. Another key, complementary action is the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022, which aims to increase the number of personal injury claims settled through the PIAB, thereby reducing the expense and time associated with personal injuries litigation. Further reforms aimed at lowering costs include measures to reduce fraud, and placing perjury on a statutory footing for the first time.

In my engagement with industry, including its representative body Insurance Ireland, I have clearly impressed upon them Governments expectation that insurers increase their risk appetite, especially to provide cover for small, niche sectors experiencing affordability and availability issues. Furthermore, Minister of State Carroll MacNeill in her meetings with the CEOs of the main insurers in the Irish market has reiterated this message and in particular the need to pass-on the savings arising from the Government reform programme.

In addition, the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market is working closely with IDA Ireland to help leverage the ongoing reforms, with the objective of targeting new entrants to the Irish market, or persuading existing incumbents to expand their risk appetite.

In terms of next steps, rebalancing the “common Duty of Care” legislation (the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995) is now a priority for completion. This legislation would help to reduce frivolous claims proceeding to litigation. In time, cost savings from reduced claims should also help to lower premiums for businesses, particularly those engaged in high-risk/heavy-footfall areas, where claims associated with ‘slips, trips and falls’ are more prevalent.

I note the Deputy’s concerns regarding potential “micro-sectoring” by insurers resulting in certain groups having difficulty in accessing insurance cover. While the increased use of data analytics and technology by insurers brings risk and stability benefits, we must also consider the possibility that this can create issues around availability and cost of cover. Officials in the Department of Finance continue to monitor developments in this regard.

In conclusion, I wish to assure the Deputy that seeking to secure a more sustainable and competitive market through deepening and widening the supply of insurance in Ireland remains a key policy priority for this Government. For my part, I am committed to working with colleagues to complete outstanding reforms, and monitoring their impact, with a view to achieving an improved insurance environment for all policyholders, including in niche sectors.

SI 353 Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 as amended sets out the requirements for accessing VAT and VRT relief in respect of qualifying vehicle adapted for the use or for the transport a Primary Medical Certificate holder, as a disabled driver or as a disabled passenger. Regulations 10 outlines the requirements which a passenger with a disability must meet in order to qualify for tax relief from VRT and VAT.

Regulation 10(1) and (2) sets out the conditions for repayment of VAT, VRT or residual VRT borne or paid by a disabled passenger or by a family member responsible for the transportation of that disabled passenger, where at the time of the registration of the vehicle the family member must be residing with the disabled passenger.

Regulation 10(5)(a) sets out that in exceptional circumstances the Revenue Commissioners may waive the conditions concerning residency of a claimant. Regulation 10(5)(b) states 'The Revenue Commissioners shall waive the conditions concerning both family membership and residency of a claimant under Regulation 10 in the case of a claim lodged by a person appointed by the President of the High Court to act on behalf of a disabled passenger who is a Ward of Court.'

These are the legislative requirements in respect of a family member transporting a disabled passenger as defined in respect of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.

In exercise of powers conferred upon me by Section 92 ((as amended by section 36 of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)) of the Finance Act 1989 (No. 10 of 1989), I am required to consult with the Minister for Health and with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in respect of any changes to regulations concerning the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.

I am aware that the primary legislation as set out in Section 92 of the Finance Act of 1989 will need to be amended to reflect changes in functions of relevant Departments for which consultation is required, and I will consider this matter as part of this Year's Finance Bill.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 51(1)(b).

As part long-standing OPW policy to seek to reunite the historic Castletown demesne lands with the house and lands in the care of the State, the OPW sought, on several occasions, to purchase the lands from Janus Securities including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market in 2022. However, despite the very best efforts of the OPW, the State was out-bid in the process and ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.

The State owned lands at Castletown House and Estate have not been subject to a poisonous overspill. The OPW have not identified any risk of an impact of a poisonous overspill on State-owned lands.

Any potential issues relating to poison on private lands would be a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency.

The OPW will continue to monitor any potential hazards to the State owned lands at Castletown House and Estate.

Since 2015 a policy of delegated sanction has been in place across the majority of public service bodies for the management of public service staffing levels. Under delegated sanction, it is the responsibility of Departments to manage their workforce subject to legislation, circulars and other policies and within the overall agreed pay allocation. This policy permits public bodies to fill vacancies through recruitment and promotion in grades up to and including Principal Officer (PO) standard or equivalent, provided that the full year cost of the post concerned can be met from within the approved pay allocation.

In relation to the number of candidates on panels, the Public Appointments Service (PAS), which is the central recruitment agency for the Civil Service and other public bodies in Ireland, has a significant number of competitions running continuously. At any particular point in time, there are interviews for various competitions, running simultaneously for multiple locations and panels are constantly being refreshed.

PAS has shared the following information on the number of available candidates on panels as of 16th June, 2023. These numbers are subject to constant change as assignments are made, candidates withdraw and further candidates are panelled after successful interview stage.

The latest available candidates on panels is as of 16/06/2023 and is set out below:

It is my understanding that the Department of Social Protection has accepted a recent Data Protection Commission (DPC) finding in relation to Free Travel usage data. Importantly, the DPC did not make any order following on from their investigation because the Department had already implemented the necessary measures in relation to transparency (since August 2016) and proportionate and necessary data collection (since February 2020).

The Department of Social Protection is not aware of any Free Travel usage data being shared with my Department.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995 as amended. The area in question does not form part of an Arterial Drainage Scheme, therefore the OPW does not have the authority to carry out any drainage maintenance at this location.

Riparian owners of land have an important role in ensuring that watercourses are managed and free flowing so that in extreme weather events the risk of flooding can be minimised.

The Office of Public Works has never made an application to designate lands as either a special area of conservation and special protection area, otherwise known collectively as NATURA 2000 sites and or a natural heritage area. The designation of a site as a special area of conservation and special protection area is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Services.

It is important to note that there are two distinct parcels of lands to which the Deputy refers. One is owned by the State and managed by the Office of Public Works, the other lands are in private ownership.

The lands which are owned by the State have been actively managed for biodiversity conservation and gain since 2007. The historic landscape surrounding the House is expertly managed by a team of horticultural specialists in the OPW and is an exemplar site for the All Ireland Pollinator Plan with some grasslands of Annex 1 quality under the EU Habitats Directive. Extensive pollinator surveys have been conducted which have identified a large number of bumblebee, butterfly, hoverfly, and solitary bee species. Other studies have recorded a high diversity of tree, bird, and other invertebrate species. The landscape is of high value to grassland plants regionally due to the increasingly urban nature of the surrounding landscape.

The Office of Public Works has no remit in the management of the privately held lands adjacent to the State owned lands.

It is not intended to tender for provision of restaurant/café services at Dublin Castle at present as a process is currently underway to redevelop the visitor reception facilities at Dublin Castle.

The space formerly occupied by the tearooms/café has been prioritised for redevelopment as part of a planned new visitor hub for the Castle.

Visitors are already well served by numerous cafés and restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the Castle including at the Silk Road Café at the Chester Beatty, adjacent to the Dubh Linn gardens.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 51(1)(b).

The table below sets out the position with regard to the implementation of Circular 25/2016 by each body under the aegis of my Department. As a general point, the Deputy may wish to note that the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies does not apply to the Office of Public Works, the National Shared Services Office, the Public Appointments Service, the Office of the Ombudsman or the State Laboratory. As Civil Service Offices, the Civil Service Corporate Governance Standard for Departments and Offices applies to those bodies.

* The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies does not apply to the Office of Public Works, the National Shared Services Office, the Public Appointments Service, the Office of the Ombudsman or the State Laboratory. As Civil Service Offices, the Civil Service Corporate Governance Standard for Departments and Offices applies to those bodies.

** The responses reflect that the Office of the Ombudsman includes a number of separate entities under its ambit (the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, the Standards in Public Office Commission, the Office of the Information Commissioner and the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information). Correspondence from Oireachtas Members is directed to the individual entities and is not centralised.

The Independent Review Panel was established following a Government decision on 31 March last year. It was tasked to evaluate and make recommendations to strengthen the current pay determination and recruitment processes for Senior Public Servant posts. The Panel was chaired by Dr. Donal de Buitléir, with Ms. Jenny Smyth and Mr. Bryan Andrews members of the Panel. The full terms of reference for the Independent Review Panel setting out the issues to be reviewed are available at:

gov.ie - Terms of Reference of the Independent Review Panel established to review Senior Public Service recruitment and pay processes (www.gov.ie)

I have received the final Report of the Independent Review Panel on Senior Public Service Recruitment and Pay Processes and intend to bring the report to Cabinet for consideration in the coming weeks.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 to 280, inclusive, together.

Castletown House is an eighteenth-century neo-Palladian country house built within an extensive estate. Numbers using the estate have increased greatly since the OPW took over the estate and now stand at over one million visitors to the estate each year.

In 1994, the Office of Public Works took responsibility for Castletown House and estate. Initially, this was only 13 acres of land with the house. It has long been the policy of the OPW to seek to reunite the historic Castletown estate. In 1997, one hundred acres south of the house was acquired. The farmyard adjacent to the house was acquired in 2001. In 2006, lands associated with the Batty Lodge were acquired with former Coillte lands to the north and east of the House acquired in 2007. Since 2008, the OPW has reassembled 227 acres of the original 580 acres of land which formed the historic demesne.

Much of the original demesne lands acquired over the years were in poor condition. The OPW has worked to open up the lands and to restore many of the landscape features, particularly the historic network of pathways across the estate and the vista towards Connolly's Folly. Work is ongoing on the opening up to the public of the Crodaun Woods.

The restoration of the historic pathways began in 2007. There has also been a concerted effort to manage the Estate for biodiversity. The landscape by the Office of Public works are an exemplar site for the All Ireland Pollinator Plan with some grasslands of Annex 1 quality under the EU Habitats Directive. Extensive pollinator surveys have been conducted which have identified a large number of bumblebee, butterfly, hoverfly, and solitary bee species. Other studies have recorded a high diversity of tree, bird, and other invertebrate species. The landscape is of high value to grassland plants regionally due to the increasingly urban nature of the surrounding landscape.

In 2007, the Office of Public Works worked with the owner of the adjacent lands to develop an entrance and carpark from the M4 slipway. This removed traffic from the environs of the house. The land encompassing the new access and car park were retained in private ownership and were used under licence, by the OPW, from the landowner, Janus Securities.

As part of the policy to seek to reunite the historic Castletown demesne lands with the house and lands in the care of the State, the OPW has sought on several occasions to purchase the lands from Janus Securities including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market in 2022. However, despite the very best efforts of the OPW, the State was out-bid in the open market process and ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.

The OPW has not been provided with any details of the proposed development of these lands. Therefore, it is not possible to assess any potential impact, negative or positive, on the Castletown House and its historical, aesthetic, architectural and cultural integrity. If there is to be any future proposed development, it will be subject to the full planning processes and local planning regulations. In this context, the owners will have to comply with all of the relevant environmental impact assessment requirements pursuant to the type of development proposed.

While the OPW would be concerned in relation to any potential development on lands adjacent to Castletown House and indeed is concerned with how they continue to be managed in the interim, it does not have any role in overseeing the management of these lands which are in private ownership. As such, the OPW would have no rights or basis on which to conduct any environmental assessment of these lands.

It should be noted that the lands managed by the Office of Public Works remain open for full access to the public.

The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that on 13th October 2022 a renewal of a General Employment Permit application was submitted in respect of the person named in the details supplied. On 2nd November 2022 the processing agent contacted both the employer and employee to address the multiple discrepancies within the application. After correspondence from the agent and both parties, the employer requested to withdraw the application and apply again.

A new application was submitted for a Contract for Services Employment Permit on the 20th April 2023 in respect of the person named in the details supplied. On 9th May 2023 the Contract for Services Employment Permit application was refused for the following reasons:

• the person in question was residing in the State without current immigration permission from the Minister for Justice;

• the Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) was not carried out correctly;

• the annual remuneration for a Contract for Services Employment Permit was not met;

• the position on offer is listed on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.

Applications for employment permits are subject to a range of criteria including the obligation on the non EEA national to maintain up to date immigration permission to remain while in the State. In the time between when the first application was withdrawn and the second application was submitted, the foreign national's Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card expired. My Department has not received evidence that the foreign national engaged with the Department of Justice to regularise their immigration permission, therefore an Employment Permit could not be issued.

My Department and the Department of Justice are currently examining the development of a single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions. An Inter-Departmental Group has been established to examine the legal and operational changes required to deliver a more seamless customer experience for users of the employment permits and entry visa systems. It is expected to make recommendations to Government within six months.

The Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to Goods Exports and Imports.

According to the CSO, the value of our goods exports to Mexico was €2.2 billion in 2022. Our top goods exports to Mexico in 2022 were soft drink concentrate; chemical materials & products; and stents, pacemakers, digital media, artificial body parts. In Q1 2023 our goods exports to Mexico were valued at almost €647 million which is a 65% increase compared with Q1 2022. The increase is due mainly to an increase in exports of soft drink concentrate, cosmetic and dental preps.

The value of our goods imports from Mexico was €615 million in 2022. Our top goods imports from Mexico in 2022 were miscellaneous plastic, stents, other miscellaneous articles; computers, computer parts & storage devices; and medical devices. In Q1 2023 our goods imports from Mexico were valued at almost €974 million which is a 40% increase compared with Q1 2022. The increase is due mainly to an increase in imports of Organic Chemicals.

The CSO does not yet have data for our services imports from, and services exports to, Mexico for 2022 or Q1 2023. The value of our services exports to Mexico was €1.8 billion in 2021 (latest statistics available). Business services made up one quarter of our total services exports to Mexico in 2021.

The value of our services imports from Mexico was €377 million in 2021 (latest statistics available). Business services made up almost one third of our total services imports from Mexico in 2021.

The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that a Critical Skills Employment Permit application submitted in respect of the person concerned (in the details supplied) was refused on 12th April 2023.

Following the receipt of further information in relation to this application, the application will be reviewed. An official from the Employment Permits section will be in touch with the applicant in due course.

Approval has been given recently by Government to amend the Employment Permits Bill to allow General Employment Permit and Critical Skills Employment Permit holders to transfer employer after a prescribed period has passed from the start of their first employment in the State. The amendment will allow these permit holders to transfer employer without the requirement to apply for a new employment permit. The initial period prescribed will be nine months.

Currently, a change of employer can only be made by way of a new application for an employment permit after a period of 12 months has elapsed since taking up employment in the State with their first employer.

Report stage for the Employment Permits Bill 2022 is scheduled to take place before the summer recess. The Bill will then begin its legal process through the Seanad in the autumn, with enactment expected towards the end of the year or early next year.

Increasing employment opportunities for disabled persons involves the tackling of barriers to labour force participation and a whole of Government response.

Government’s approach to supporting employment for people with disabilities is set out in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015 – 2024), led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Make Work Pay Action Plan associated with that strategy. This is a cross-government approach that brings together actions by different Departments and State Agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment rates of people with disabilities.

In terms of specific employment schemes and programmes, the Department of Social Protection plays the lead role, supporting jobseekers, employees with disabilities, and private sector employers seeking to hire or retain a person with a disability.

My Department is represented on the Steering Group for the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024. Officials from my Department also sat on the steering group for the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 and are currently engaged with DCEDIY on a successor to that strategy.

Recruitment to the Public Service is centralised with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) who play a key role in attracting candidates from all sectors of society, ensuring that routes to career opportunities are accessible to all who are interested. They are committed to equality of opportunity for all candidates.

A candidate with a disability or in need of reasonable accommodations are strongly encouraged to share this with PAS so they can ensure people get the support needed.

My Department, as a public service employer, has a legal obligation under the Disability Act 2005 to, insofar as practicable, take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities. In line with the Government commitment to increase the percentage of employing people with a disability in the public sector to 6% by 2024, the Department has reached a level of 7%. My Department has in place a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer who acts as a proactive contact for staff with disabilities, to assist and support them, and to assist in the implementation of best Human Resource practices in line with equality legislation. My Department is also participating in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) and the Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programmes.

More generally, the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 come under the responsibility of my Department. The Acts place obligations on employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the needs of employees and job applicants with disabilities. Denial of reasonable accommodation under the Acts can be a cause for action and may amount to discrimination on disability grounds. The Workplace Relations Commissions (WRC) deals with all complaints of discrimination, not limited to workplace complaints, made under the Equality Acts.

In addition, my Department has brought forward important enhancements to workers’ rights. The Sick Leave Act 2022 ensures that, for the first time, all qualifying employees will have an entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This progressive Act commenced on 1st January 2023. Workers will be entitled to up to 3 days medically certified sick leave per year, rising incrementally to 10 by 2026.

Enterprise routes such as self-employment and entrepreneurship are increasingly important employment options for people with disabilities. Last year my Department commissioned the OECD to undertake a report to assess inclusive entrepreneurship training and provide recommendations on how to improve the provision of training interventions to improve their accessibility and impact. My officials are currently completing a process review and will be engaging with the organisations who participated in the OECD workshop to ascertain appropriate contact information of relevant providers regarding inclusive supports to entrepreneurs. In conjunction with the Local Enterprise Offices, a working group is exploring options for the development of a bespoke programme for new entrepreneurs. Promotion of inclusiveness will be a key feature of any new programme.

The agencies under the aegis of my Department have a number of initiatives in place to help encourage employers to employ persons with disabilities:

• Enterprise Ireland is focused on ensuring that their supports for entrepreneurs and enterprise are accessible to all, including people with disabilities. EI have signed a partnership agreement with Open Doors to further develop awareness campaigns and programmes that will utilise success stories of self-employed and entrepreneur role models with a variety of disabilities.

• The Local Enterprise Offices are progressing a new online course Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities which will begin in September 2023.

• While the remit of IDA Ireland is to attract and retain foreign direct investment, they have launched a Pilot Programme designed to widen the talent pool and attract people from diverse backgrounds to avail of employment opportunities. IDA Ireland is in the third year of its Work Placement Programme with the Open Doors Initiative.

• IDA Ireland will be returning as the headline sponsor for Legacy Dublin ’23. This programme is designed for future leaders to reimagine their community, their workplace and their environments 20 years into the future and they spend 3 days creating solutions that are rooted in inclusion and purpose. IDA will also be sponsoring 20 spaces for persons from underrepresented groups to attend. Last year’s spaces were filled from such organisations as Open Doors Initiative, MASI, Exchange House, Sanctuary Runners, Traveller Graduate Network, NCBI and Youth Reach.

• IDA Ireland promote access to reasonable accommodations during the application/recruitment process, onboarding, new hire induction and training sessions. All requests are handled confidentially on a case-by-case basis. The Reasonable Accommodation Passport, developed between ibec and ICTU, is currently being piloted in the organisation.

Circular 25/2016 has been brought to the attention of all bodies under the aegis of my Department, and each body has a dedicated email address in place for members of the Oireachtas.

The tabular compliance information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

I welcome the slowdown in food price inflation in recent months. Over recent weeks we have seen price cuts to a wide variety of goods from some grocery retailers which should contribute to a further easing of food inflation and help customers at the checkout. Though prices are being cut, in May food prices rose overall by 0.4%. While any price rises are unwelcome, this was the lowest rate of monthly food inflation since January 2022.

It is very important that retailers continue to pass any reductions in input costs onto their customers. This was assured to me by grocery retailers in May.

As Chair of the Retail Forum, I met with the retail and grocery sector in May and factors driving inflation for grocery goods, which is higher than the general rate of inflation, were discussed. At the meeting retailers said that, where reductions in input costs filter through to products, consumers will benefit from this. I am due to meet the sector again on 21 June and will request an update on what progress has been made.

Minister Coveney met with the CCPC on 24 May to discuss the ongoing issue of food prices and the costs incurred by consumers on that front. At the meeting, he discussed a number of areas related to competition in the grocery retail market and the powers of the CCPC with respect to competition law. Following that meeting, Minister Coveney wrote to the CCPC to request that they provide their views on the grocery retail market, including on areas such as the level of profitability in the sector, international practices and sectoral trends of pricing practices. He have requested that the CCPC return to him with their views as a matter of urgency.

At the meeting, he also discussed the establishment of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s new Agri Food Regulator. The Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 provides for a new office of the Agri Food Regulator with powers in respect of market and price analysis and reporting. The establishment of new Regulator will improve fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act was enacted on 4 April 2023. Under the Act, all employees will have a right to request remote working.

The legislation contains an obligation on the employer to consider both their needs and the needs of employees when considering a request for remote working arrangements. Employers will also be required to have regard to a Code of Practice when considering such a request from their employees. Work on the development of the Code of Practice is ongoing. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have recently held a public consultation, which was receiving submissions up until 9 June. My intention is that the Code will be published as soon as practicable, following the conclusion of the work of the WRC.

My Department initiated a comprehensive consultation process on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) when it entered into force on 5 January 2023. A public consultation launched on 30 January sought the views of stakeholders, in particular, on the discretionary options for Member States contained within the Directive, one of which is to accredit independent assurance service providers. The deadline for receipt of submissions was 9 March 2023.

My Department received 34 detailed, substantial submissions to the public consultation. Officials are analysing the submissions received and continuing engagement with relevant stakeholders in other Departments and Agencies.

I will review the policy choices presented by the options once this analysis is complete, and it is my intention to convene a further stakeholder forum to set out the choices made later this summer. As would be the norm, the Department will also publish the 34 submissions received during the consultation.

The Labour Court is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department. The Court was first established under the Industrial Relations Act, 1946. Since the enactment of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, the Labour Court holds sole appellate jurisdiction in all disputes arising under employment rights enactments. This sole appellate role is in addition to those functions held by the Court under the Industrial Relations Acts prior to the enactment of the Workplace Relations Act 2015.

Section 41 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 provides that the Labour Court may exempt an employer from the obligation to pay an employee the National Minimum Wage in specific circumstances.

The legislation stipulates that before granting such an exemption the Labour Court must be satisfied that the employer’s inability to pay, is to the extent that, if the employer were compelled to pay, the employee would be likely to be laid-off employment with the employer, or the employee's employment would be likely to be terminated.

I understand that the Labour Court, during the period from 2014 to date, has not used its powers under Section 41 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to exempt an employer from the obligation to pay an employee the National Minimum Wage.

The review, to which the Deputy refers, is in response to a recommendation contained in the Future of Media Commission (FOMC) Report.

The Future of Media Commission (FOMC) was established in late 2020, to undertake a comprehensive examination of Ireland’s broadcast, print and online media, and to consider how media can remain sustainable and resilient in delivering public service aims over the next decade.

The FOMC Report was subsequently published in July 2022 and contained a number of recommendations. Recommendation number 6-9 relates to the Digital Single Market (DSM) Copyright Directive, and it was recommended that the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment “implement the copyright directive, assess its effectiveness and take further action if necessary”.

The first FOMC Implementation Strategy and Action Plan was published on 18 January 2023. It was acknowledged that my Department had already fulfilled a significant element of the relevant recommendation as the DSM Copyright Directive (2019/790) was transposed by my Department by way of the European Union (Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market) Regulations 2021, in November 2021 (S.I. No. 567 of 2021).

The Action Plan outlines my Department’s intention that, by the end of Q3 2023, a stakeholder consultation, focusing on Article 15 (rights of press publishers) of the DSM Copyright Directive, will be undertaken. This is in keeping with the subject matter of the FOMC Report and I do not currently have any plans to go beyond the area specified in the FOMC Report in the upcoming review.

The transposed Directive needs sufficient time to be fully implemented, both in Ireland, and across the entire EU before an effective review can be undertaken. In that respect, the European Commission is obliged, pursuant to Article 30 of the Directive, to undertake a full review of the DSM Copyright Directive and present a report on the main findings to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee. My Department will fully support and engage with the European Commission in its work on this upcoming review.

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The enrolment thresholds for the appointment of classroom teachers for the 2023/24 school year are set out in Appendix A of Circular 0006/2023, available on the Department website.

There will be no reduction in teaching staff in the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2023/24 school year.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the March meeting of the Appeals Board. The appeal was refused on the basis that the grounds of appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional teacher. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision. Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.

My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas (SPAs) including the school planning areas around East Cork.

Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies around the country to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

New schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.

Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% increase in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms from and are attending their nearest Primary School as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Due to the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all of the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route.

Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.

Bus Eireann have confirmed, that the family to whom the Deputy refers, are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest primary school. The family reside 3.7kms to their nearest school and 4.8kms from their school of attendance. They cannot be considered for concessionary transport as there is no service operating from where they reside to the school of attendance.

The specific information requested by the Deputy relating to outdoor spaces in primary schools is not available in my Department.

My Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for outdoor multi use games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size of school. For example, a new 24 classroom primary school with special education needs classes is provided with 3 ball courts (1,755m² in total), 2 junior play areas (600m² in total), as well as secure hard and soft play area (300m²) and a 100m² sensory garden. In respect of new post-primary schools, a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school will be provided with 6 ball courts (3,060m² in total) and a 200m² secure hard and soft special education play area.

A suite of technical guidance documents is available on www.gov.ie to assist design teams in best practice design and development of school building projects

Details of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly.

In general, the priority use of school property will be for educational purposes, however, it is Department policy to support the use of school facilities for wider community usage where possible. Accordingly, a set of guidelines ('Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours') in relation to the use of school buildings outside of school hours was published by my Department in October 2017. These guidelines can be viewed on the Department's website at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance for schools in relation to the use of school buildings outside of school hours. These guidelines are presently being updated, following consultations with school stakeholders - however, the 2017 documents remain valid.

I can advise the Deputy that a request from the individual was been received in my Department on 12th June 2023. The individual is seeking a number of forms to be completed containing records from 2022 and onwards.

The form for the current period from Easter to Summer 2023 can only be completed when the schools are closed which Is at the end of June 2023. Forms are processed chronological order of receipt and the time frame for return is approximately 4 weeks at present.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached tabular statement.

I am very much aware of the impact Maths Paper 1 Higher Level has had on students, parents and teachers, however, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations.

The examination paper development process involves a multi-stage process of drafting, setting, translating and various layers of oversight and scrutiny. Those involved are experts in the subject who are also experienced teachers.

Each year the Commission receives commentary and observations about the content and level of difficulty of the examination papers from students, parents, teachers, professional bodies and other interested parties.

I understand that all such correspondence is brought to the attention of the Chief Examiner and is considered in the refinement of draft marking schemes. The approach taken by the SEC to the development of the final marking schemes ensures consistency in the marking and fairness to candidates.

In March 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. In my announcement, I set out a clear vision for the redevelopment of all Senior Cycle programmes, including the Leaving Certificate Established (LCE), and also the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) and Transition Year (TY) Programmes.

The traditional written examinations in June have been an important part of the Leaving Certificate Established, and I firmly believe that examinations have their strengths. They enable us to assess a considerable range of student learning in a manageable way that is trusted by students, teachers, parents and the general public.

However, we also need to get a better balance in the range of ways we assess students’ learning. Under Senior Cycle redevelopment, we are moving to a model that uses other forms of assessment beyond terminal written examinations, over a less concentrated time period, in line with international best practice. It will enable us to maintain the high standards and quality that we need to continue to achieve in our schools to serve our students well. It is vital that the form of assessment we use both reflects excellence in standards and truly enables all students to showcase their abilities.

In the future, each Leaving Certificate subject will have a State Examinations Commission (SEC) externally moderated, teacher-based form of assessment which will be worth 40%. This will be designed on a subject-by-subject basis. This does not prevent further components, which would be externally assessed in a similar fashion to existing arrangements.

Setting a weighting of 40% for the teacher-based form of assessment demonstrates our commitment to deliver on the objectives of encouraging the development of a broad range of skills whilst also addressing the stress for students that many experience arising from the exams.

It is planned that the first tranche of new and revised subject specifications, including updated assessment models, will be introduced for students in entering 5th year in Network Schools in September 2024. The first tranche includes the two new subjects of Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development, and the optional subjects of Business, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Arabic, Latin and Ancient Greek. The national roll-out of the first tranche is planned for students entering 5th year in September 2024; with annual tranches of revised subject specifications from then.

Work is currently advancing within the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to develop the subject specifications for the first tranche of new and revised subjects. The NCCA and the SEC have also commissioned research on the weighting and timing of additional assessment components, and on moderation of teacher-based assessment.

In addition, in September 2023, the NCCA will publish a schedule of subject specification reviews which will provide the sequencing and timing of changes to all subject specifications beyond those in the first tranche.

Whilst the Deputy has asked about the reform of examinations, it is important to highlight that Senior Cycle redevelopment will have an effect on all aspects of the student experience across all four of the Senior Cycle programmes. Considerable work has been ongoing regarding Senior Cycle redevelopment in my Department, the NCCA and the SEC, and much has been achieved since my announcement last year, including:

• Subject background papers were prepared, public consultations completed and Subject Development Groups convened for the two new subjects ((i) Drama, Film and Theatre Studies and (ii) Climate Action and Sustainable Development) and also for Business;

• Subject Development Groups for the remaining subjects in the first tranche (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Arabic, Latin and Ancient Greek) have been reconvened;

• Access to the LCA and LCVP has been broadened through the removal of subject specific requirements. These are the first steps which will ultimately lead to a more integrated Leaving Certificate available to all students.

• The Post-Primary Special Education Development Group was established within the NCCA’s structures to develop follow-on Senior Cycle modules for students progressing from Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes at Junior Cycle level.

• A Statement Development Group was established to develop a revised Transition Year Programme Statement.

• The Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme Delivery Board, which will oversee the reform work and report regularly to me on progress, was appointed in February of this year

• At the same time, I established the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum. This is a representative stakeholder engagement group; which will underpin the collaboration necessary to support implementation and, where appropriate, further developments under the programme.

Our focus now is on advancing the planning in relation to the approach to Network Schools, with further engagement necessary with the NCCA and other key partners before launching an Expression of Interest process to schools seeking their participation.

The announcement of a pilot of counselling supports in primary schools marks an important development in supporting the well-being and mental health of children. I was delighted to secure this funding as we know that nationally and internationally there is increasing concern about the mental health and well-being of children and young people and that school staff are facing challenges every day in supporting children and young people presenting with these issues. I have listened to schools and to stakeholders and responded to their calls for the provision of mental health services in primary schools. This pilot will support children to cope better with their emotions and feelings, learn about and understand their feelings, develop coping skills and improve their relationships with others. Under this pilot selected schools are provided with easy access to a pre-approved panel of counsellors. This pilot will build on existing good practice, guidance and supports currently available in the system.

NEPS psychologists will work with schools to identify and support the prioritisation of those most in need of access to this counselling support. This is part of the current role of the NEPS psychologist when working with schools – identifying need for and signposting to appropriate services.

The significant work in preparing for this project will be done by my Department, which will manage and provide for all matters relating to Garda Vetting, payments, governance and related training. As this is a pilot project, the NEPS psychologists will work very closely with the schools concerned. What is required by schools is to link with a counsellor on a panel of pre-approved counsellors to provide for the service. This service will be provided, initially, to a small number of children in each school, and as such, I am satisfied that the expert assistance of the psychologists to the schools will provide adequate reassurance and support to implement this project. To the greatest degree possible in the context of the pilot my Department has mitigated additional work for school personnel, whom I know will be eager to participate in this innovative initiative, for the benefit of children in their school.

The Department will be providing detailed information and support to both the schools and the counsellors over the coming months to ensure the smooth running of the pilot.

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities.

This close engagement will allow my Department to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/

I am very much aware of the impact Maths Paper 1 Higher Level has had on students, parents and teachers, however, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations.

The examination paper development process involves a multi-stage process of drafting, setting, translating and various layers of oversight and scrutiny. Those involved are experts in the subject who are also experienced teachers.

Each year the Commission receives commentary and observations about the content and level of difficulty of the examination papers from students, parents, teachers, professional bodies and other interested parties.

I understand that all such correspondence is brought to the attention of the Chief Examiner and is considered in the refinement of draft marking schemes. The approach taken by the SEC to the development of the final marking schemes ensures consistency in the marking and fairness to candidates.

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for the provision of two Mainstream Classrooms.

My Department subsequently agreed to extend the scope of this project which provided for the replacement of temporary accommodation on site with 8 new permanent classrooms and 3 Special Education Teaching rooms. and ancillary accommodation.

The project is devolved for delivery to the school authority and my Department received the school's Design Team Stage 1 architectural design report in 2022. Additional information was requested from the Design Team to complete this review. This information was received from the school in April 2023, The submission is being reviewed by my Department's technical team and upon completion, my Department will engage directly with the school authority to provide whatever practical assistance and advice is necessary to implement this important project for the wider school community.

As the Deputy is aware, a major building project for the school to which he refers is included on the Department's school building programme.

The project is currently at project brief stage and my Department expects to be in contact directly with the school authority as part of this process shortly.

There are standard procedures to be followed in relation to the progression of a building project, which involve finalising the project brief, the appointment of a Design Team, preliminary design, detailed design, planning permission and then ultimately proceeding to tender and construction. It is not therefore possible, at this stage, to provide an estimated timeframe for this project.

The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the schools referred to by the Deputy issued to the preferred tenderer on the 18th May 2022 commencing the school building contract.

Works are progressing well on site with the school building due for completion for the start of the 2023/24 school year.

The major project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The reserve specialist tender report is currently under review by my Department.

When the Senior Quantity Surveyor has assessed the reserved specialist tender report and is satisfied with the details and the calculations, a recommendation will issue to the Design Team.

As the Deputy is aware, the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 following an extensive consultation process. The Strategy sets out my Department’s policy approach to build on the progress made in embedding digital technology across the curriculum and in all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment. It aims to ensure that we have an education system that supports the development of competent, critically engaged and active learners.

While an implementation plan is being finalised and will be published shortly, the overarching objectives under the strategy are already in progress with various programmes, initiatives and pilots underway, as well as continuous professional support for schools leaders and teachers.

The strategy is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.

It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.

As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.

Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year and advance notice of the payment will be communicated to schools at that time. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.

It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.

As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

The School Transport Scheme is an important service for families and children.

The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

A review of the School Transport Scheme is underway. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.

Significant consultation has been undertaken as part of this review. A public survey was administered for parents/guardians and students who use the service and those who do not use the service but who would like to. A broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments were all consulted as part of this review.

Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021.

Following consideration of this Phase 1 report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have been continued for the current 2022/2023 school year, and will again continue in the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review.

For the 2023/2024 school year, these measures mean that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and, who applied for school transport by the 28th April 2023 and pay for a ticket/enter medical card details by the 9th June 2023.

Phase 2 of the review was completed late last year and phase 3 will be completed shortly. This final report will include recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.

For the 2023/2024 school year, it remains that children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

My Department provides a book grant to all recognised post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes.

Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €10.2 million in 2022 to these schools.

Schools participating in my Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant. The rates for the book grant are €24 per pupil in Non-DEIS schools and €39 per pupil in DEIS schools

School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents and guardians. However, it is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of book grant funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need.

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.

This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.

This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.

In 2023 the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.

For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

My Department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

My Department strives to ensure that every child has access to an educational experience that is appropriate to their needs and supports both their academic and personal development.

Our policy, which is set out in the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN) is that children with SEN should be educated in mainstream placements with additional supports provided as appropriate.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.

In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.

My Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.

My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations and the schools should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

Additional supports for children with special educational needs are embedded in all primary and post primary schools. Schools allocate their Special Education Teaching and SNA supports based on need in the school setting, so that those with highest level of need can access the highest level of support within the school in a timely manner. This model means that pupils do not need a psychological assessment, or a diagnosis of a disability, in order to access additional support in school.

Where a parent has an assessment for their child which notes that they have a particular special educational need, or disability, they should still bring this to the attention of the school, as it may assist the school to decide how best to support the child. The school will take account of learning needs as evidenced by performance in schools but also supported where relevant by information provided regarding the nature of a condition that a pupil may have.

My Department encourages parents and school authorities to engage locally regarding pupils' education. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which supports have been provided to support their child's education they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.

The project the Deputy refers to has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of bundled school building programmes. The shared education campus at Celbridge is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’.

A letter was issued by the Department to the schools to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme and the NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the team, communicate arrangements and discuss the project briefs.

The NDFA are currently finalising the arrangements for the procurement process required to appoint a Design Team for the project bundle to progress the projects through the various architectural design stages. At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.

It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.

This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.

This includes funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

Over the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.

My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

As a result of this forward planning, on the 12th of April, Minister Foley and I announced the establishment of 2 new special schools for the 2023/2024 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

Along with the two new special schools, 328 new special classes – 217 at primary and 111 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Of these new classes, 7 are in Co. Kildare, with 5 at primary level and 2 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Kildare to 112.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.

Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie

The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/2024.

I want to reassure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.