Alan Dillon
Mayo · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Landlords are generally not in a position to supervise day-to-day waste management practices within occupied properties. The Government therefore has significant concerns regarding both the practicality and effectiveness of these provisions.”
“The Government has commissioned an independent study to examine the feasibility of moving Ireland's household waste collection system from the current side-by-side competition model to a franchise-based system. That study is examining the environmental, economic, operational and consumer implications of alternative market structures.”
“If the evidence supports significant changes to the market structure, the Government will consider those recommendations carefully. If the evidence suggests improvements can be achieved through strengthened regulation, enhanced enforcement or targeted reforms within the existing framework, those options should also be considered.”
“We also want to see a well-designed waste collection system that not only delivers environmental benefits but also provides householders with the opportunity to reduce their own household waste costs through reducing residual waste, correctly segregating recyclable materials and correctly segregating organic materials.”
“We have a lack of capacity so we need to continue that, and investment certainty is really important in that regard but also to enable Ireland to meet both our national and European obligations, which are far reaching. These will all benefit from a stable and predictable policy framework.”
“Ireland requires continued investment across the waste and resource sector. We need investment in collection infrastructure, recycling capacity, material recovery technologies, organic waste treatment, digital systems and innovation. Those making long-term investments require certainty regarding Government policy.”
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“The scheme is designed to meet some of the upfront costs of these upgrade works and provide rapid grants and options for businesses at varying grant rates. They can get up to 30% support for a range of energy upgrade measures and up to 50% support to optimise existing systems and support retrofit design costs. I am pleased that there has been a strong uptake of the scheme since it opened for applications. There are over 200 draft applications in progress and 78 offers have been made to date, to an approximate value of €1.8 million. The scheme is funded from the climate action fund and offers up to €120,000 for a range of common building upgrade measures, including pumps, solar thermal, automatic controls, heat pumps, ventilation and wall insulation.”
“I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, I, as the Minister of State at the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for small business and retail, have responsibility for ensuring that emissions in the commercial built environment are reduced in line with climate action targets. Achieving these targets will mean that many owners of commercial properties will have to carry out energy upgrade works to their buildings. Such works can include installing smart meters and replacing gas and oil heating with a heat pump system. Doing so will come at a cost, though, and it is for this reason that I welcomed the introduction of the business energy upgrades scheme, which is run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI.”
“If they are based in Dublin, the west or the south, there might be barriers to mobility, for example, family, schools, etc. I will work with the Deputy and the migrant community on that.”
“I thank the Deputy for his input. We are open to any suggestions or proposals and will work through any enhancements needed within the system. I do not think it should be a rigid system. It should be agile and flexible to meet the needs of our current labour market. If the general work permits or critical skill work permits are required, we actively update the needs analysis regarding which sectors do or do not require an increased quota. We need to put workers front and centre in terms of any inappropriate conditions they may be subjected to. The Deputy is right that mobility in the sector is important. We have made additions to the nine-month eligibility requirement to move. We also need to ensure migrants are not moving from one sector to the same sector and facing challenges around where that employment is.”
“I understand the issues about migrants the Deputy is raising. We have heard some of the stories and I have engaged also with the migrant refugee representative body to ensure their members are listened to and are front and centre in any enhancements we can make to the scheme. We have looked at how the granting of reactivation permits is in one sense supported. We want to work with the Department of Justice in that regard and ensure that we help to support non-EU workers who are in difficult circumstances while also highlighting these changes. We have implemented a new online workers' employment permit system. That will have an additional benefit in terms of user interaction and real-time data on how permits are being processed. We will continue to engage with the Deputy and with any further suggestions he may have to support this.”
“Permit holders on the two main permit types can change to a new employer under their existing permit after a period of nine months has passed since commencing their first employment permit in the State. This has made it significantly easier for permit holders to seek more favourable working conditions and to ensure employers provide the required conditions.”
“I thank the Deputy. A well-functioning labour market and good working conditions are essential components of sustainable and inclusive growth. As part of the efforts to maintain this, the Government operates an employment permits system that is highly responsive to the labour market. I recognise the valuable role migrant workers play in Irish society, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare and ICT. The year 2024 saw significant progress in the implementation of changes to the employment permits system to address the commitments now set out in the programme for Government. The Employment Permits Act 2024 introduced several improvements to the employment permits system, making it more flexible. This includes the provision of new change-of-employer processes, facilitating permit holders to move jobs more easily.”
“On the process, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and I are determined to ensure that we have an accelerated and ambitious programme in terms of trying to get this done. The local authorities will engage with many businesses that were ineligible for ICOB 2. More than 75,000 businesses were in receipt of the first payment. They need to be engaged with to see who did not qualify and what sectors specifically did not qualify for ICOB 2. We want this to come to a conclusion and to ensure that these learnings are implemented in any future schemes.”
“I thank the Deputies for their contributions as regards the announcement this morning. Regarding the scheme and Deputy McGrath's point, the scheme was not perfect. There is an acknowledgement that it was reflective of the 2023 rates. Many businesses had to engage with local authorities about up-to-date rates and a rates repayment plan to bring them up to speed. We want to enhance potential further schemes down the road and ensure that the learnings from this process are implemented in them. However, we know the importance of the cash injection that many businesses received to deal with labour costs and energy costs over the past 12 months, which have been significant for their viability.”
“That still has to be determined. On the timeline, we want to see this done as swiftly as possible, preferably before the end of the year. We will be directed in that engagement from local authorities with businesses that applied for ICOB 1.”
“Regarding the number of those who were misclassified, the determination during the implementation of the original system was that the classification of sector, be it retail, hospitality or beauty, was insignificant when they applied initially. However, it became apparent that, when applying for ICOB 2, having the correct classification was critical in order to get both. When we implemented the power up grant in October 2024, it was on the basis that the applicant had previously been in receipt of ICOB 2. That is where the challenge is. We are scoping out the matter. While there is not a clear determination on the number, it is in the region of 6,000 businesses. We are engaging with the Department of public expenditure on the overall cost that will be involved, which is potentially in the region of €40 million.”
“Regarding the Deputies' supplementary questions, we can go back and forth. To answer Deputy Ward's questions on the steps that are now required, it was important that the Government this week approved the appeals process. We will now engage with the local authorities to map out the extent of those businesses that were eligible for ICOB 1 and, therefore, applied for ICOB 2 but were unsuccessful. ICOB 2 is the important one, as those who are eligible for ICOB 2 also get the power up grant. We obtained legal advice on those, not just on getting the power up grant, but also getting ICOB 2. It is important to emphasise that.”
“Once potentially eligible businesses have been notified and the reclassification process opens, I expect grant payments will be paid to businesses where their information is submitted and has been reviewed and verified.”
“This is not a reopening of those grant schemes, rather it is designed to allow those who originally misclassified their business sector an opportunity to register for the grants. The Department will now engage with the Department of public expenditure, infrastructure, public service reform and digitalisation and with the local authorities to agree on the details of the reclassification process. Subject to agreement with the local authorities, it is intended to open the appeals process as soon as possible and engage with local authorities to ensure eligible businesses have been informed with the necessary steps to reapply. Both businesses and local authorities will be given guidance to assist in this process.”
“This is because one of the main criteria for the power up grant was that a business must have received the second ICOB payment. While delivery of the power up grant was concluding, the Department began a review which involved detailed engagement with local authorities to assess the issue. The Department also engaged with the Department of public expenditure in order to set out the proposed solution. In order to address this, this week the Government approved an appeals process that will give those businesses in the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors that were not eligible for ICOB and the power up grant because of the misclassification issue, an opportunity to register for those grants.”
“The most common issue raised was from businesses who believed they were in the hospitality, retail or beauty sectors, but incorrectly categorised themselves during the ICOB registration process, which was the basis for the power up grant. The number of applicants that were deemed ineligible due to misclassification is not yet clear. In order to get money to businesses before the end of 2024, the power up grant was aligned with the ICOB grant. Therefore, priority was to get power up funding to businesses that had been approved for the second ICOB grant. The extent of the issue of incorrect classifications only emerged after the power up grant was launched. Businesses that had not classified themselves as operating in the hospitality, retail or beauty sectors were ineligible for the second ICOB and power up grants.”
“The increased cost of business scheme made €242 million in grant payments to over 75,000 businesses, including a double payment for businesses in the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors. This is a significant direct support that has been specifically targeted at SMEs and has benefitted thousands of small and family-run businesses. I again thank local authorities all over the country for their hard work in administering both schemes and getting this vital support to businesses in a most effective and timely manner. Following the launch of power up, the Department and local authorities around the country received a substantial amount of correspondence from businesses that could not avail of the power up grant.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 16, 20 and 24 together. I thank the Deputy for submitting his question. It is probably the most topical one on the Question Paper. The increased cost of business scheme was introduced back in March 2024 and the power up grant was introduced in October of the same year. Both schemes are now closed but, in total, more than €400 million in grant aid was successfully paid to SMEs right across the country in 2024 under these grants. The schemes were designed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and administered by local authorities with the aim of helping businesses with the increased costs associated with running a business. The power up grant was announced as part of budget 2025 and paid out €158 million in grants to over 39,000 businesses.”
“We want to establish a future platform that the Department can administer. Our officials are working on that at the moment.”
“I acknowledge some of the matters raised by the Deputy. The Government has made significant progress on the national enterprise hub, which has been established with a key focus on supporting business around training and grant applications. More than 250 supports are available online and are readily accessible for many SMEs and businesses. The hub covers more than 29 Departments and agencies. It is a vital support for many of these businesses. I compliment the local enterprise offices and all the local authorities on the administration of the ICOB and power up schemes. They are the people on the ground who engage with the businesses and have the knowledge of how businesses are classified and in which sector. It was the first scheme of its kind to be deployed at the scale required to cover all 31 local authorities.”
“From having spoken to many businesses that have applied for ICOB grants 1 and 2 and the power up grant, I am aware they were essential grants and have been hugely beneficial across all sectors. The Department approved an overall budget of €257 million as part of the ICOB scheme. Some €246 million of that was expended on the scheme in 2024. On ICOB, this week my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Burke, brought a memo to Cabinet on the appeals process. We understand there were challenges around the misclassification of certain sectors across retail, hospitality and beauty. We have engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on how we can ensure that those businesses which were misclassified and found to be ineligible for the scheme can reapply.”
“It is proposed that the outcome of the forum will be a report for consideration by the full enterprise forum, written by its chair, outlining a set of policy and administrative changes to improve the cost burden for businesses, particularly small enterprises in Ireland.”
“The recent memorandum for Government on the action plan on competitiveness and productivity also stated that in order to address costs, and so as not to duplicate existing structures, the forum should be established as a sub-group of the enterprise forum. It is proposed that the cost of business advisory forum will comprise officials from key regulatory agencies, as well as representatives from the enterprise sector and social partners. The aim would be to convene its first meeting before the end of May. It is envisaged that the forum should be output-orientated and not be just a discussion group. This approach would see a finite number of meetings, possibly no more than eight meetings, focusing on individual key themes of concern to the business community.”
“My Department’s report on the assessment of the cumulative impact of proposed measures to improve working conditions in Ireland published last year highlighted that many of the recent cost increases for business were related to Government imposed regulatory changes. Business groups have also recently highlighted the impact of the overall regulatory burden and the administrative burden on business. The programme for Government calls for the establishment of a cost of business advisory forum that will focus, in particular, on the regulatory burden as well as other costs highlighted by business.”
“I look forward to the Deputy's support in the implementation of this new system. It is reflective of the success of the Irish economy with over 2.8 million people currently employed. We have skills deficits in certain areas of expertise. Not just the general work permits but also the critical skills employment permits are essential to meet our future needs. The system has now been enhanced. Last year a record number of employment permits, over 38,000, were issued with the implementation of the online system and we want to enhance that further. I thank my predecessors, the Ministers of State, Deputies Higgins and Richmond, for their efforts in this regard. With trusted partners and employers we can certainly go further in order to implement an effective system.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Back in December 2022 the Government made a decision to implement a single application process for employment permits while also ensuring that the immigration permissions are developed in tandem with that. The new system that has been introduced and is currently live provides technology similar to that currently in place within the Department of Justice which will assist and provide the required infrastructure for a single processing between the respective Departments. There is a committee and sub-group, comprising a project management team that is co-ordinated by my Department and the Department of Justice, working on a single application process. We know we cannot have one without the other in order to have processing on time.”
“This new cloud-based system replaces older technologies and will transform the way employment permits are applied for, processed and issued. By introducing a portal space with individual online accounts for both employers and employees, it will be easier for users to get up-to-date information on their applications. It will also provide users with more ownership of their accounts. The new employment permit system will make the application process easier, more secure, more intuitive and in so doing will reduce inaccuracies in the submission of applications, resulting in a more streamlined processing experience.”
“Improvements have also been made in respect of the refund process. Fees are refunded for a variety of reasons, for example, where an application has been submitted for a role that is ineligible for a permit, where the quota for the role has been reached, or where an applicant is refused. Due to the overall backlog and high volume of demand in recent years, users were also experiencing delays in the refund process. However, following process improvements, the majority of refunds are now issued directly to the credit or debit card used to pay for the application within five working days. My Department remains committed to offering an efficient employment permit service. This week, the employment permits unit launched a new permit processing system, employment permits online.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. My Department has made significant progress in recent years in improving the employment permits processing system to ensure the service is responsive to business needs and prevailing economic conditions. Following a significant increase in demand in 2021 and 2022, the Department implemented an action plan, which increased resources to introduce effective methods of processing permit applications. The number of applications awaiting processing has been reduced from approximately 11,000 in January 2022, with processing timelines of up to 22 weeks, to just over 4,000 at the start of this year. As of 18 April, I am pleased to report that this number is under 2,000 and processing times for all permits have been reduced to within one to two weeks.”
“We want to protect the viability of these businesses and the livelihoods of those who are employed in them. These sectors account for more than 70% of all jobs throughout the country. We need to protect them and ensure that is done in a very responsible manner.”
“To clarify, this Government is committed to the introduction of a living wage. That will happen over an extended period. Again, we are committed to taking the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on board once we receive its report. That will inform the discussions in preparation for the budget later this year. Our Department takes the conditions of workers very seriously. We are guided by evidence. Our decisions are based on facts. We have engaged with the ESRI and the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES, on detailed research with key stakeholders. We know that across some of the vulnerable sectors in hospitality, food services and retail, there are real cost pressures in respect of labour, the regulatory burden and energy costs.”
“It will be maintained at its current rate of five days. Further to that, illness benefit will kick in on the sixth day. That will provide additional protection. As I said in my earlier contribution, we have committed to protecting workers through many pieces of legislation, as I referred to earlier, and we will continue to support workers while also striking a balance to ensure that businesses remain viable.”
“I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from on the issue she has raised. However, Government is very conscious of the cost of doing business with the increases in the minimum wage over the past number of years. Since 2022 we have seen a 32% increase up to the current rate of €13.50. However, Government is committed to continuing to increase the minimum wage but over a longer period. We sought approval, which was granted, to extend the living wage out to 2029. Once the report of the Low Pay Commission comes before us in July, we will take the recommendations on board. This Government is committed to ensuring that we have protection for workers. They deserve fair wages. The previous Government and Fine Gael introduced statutory sick pay leave. This was the first of its kind to protect workers on leave.”
“The Bill, once enacted, will deliver a new employment right allowing, but in no way compelling, an employee to stay in employment until the State pension age of 66. The Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024 comes into effect on 1 August 2025 to reflect higher rates of pay for craft and general constructions workers. Pay will increase by 3.4% in August 2025 and again by 3.2% in August 2026.”
“Brigid’s Day, legislating for employer-paid statutory sick leave, banning zero-hour contracts, enhancing the protection of employees facing collective redundancies due to insolvency, as well as substantial increases in the national minimum wage. Between 2020 and 2025, the minimum wage has increased from €10.10 to €13.50, representing a nominal increase of 33.7%. The Employment Permits Act 2024 updated the employment permit system, introducing a new seasonal employment permit, which is being piloted this year. This year will also see the expansion of the regime to reduce the gender pay gap. The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 was published on 1 April 2025 and successfully completed Second Stage in the Dáil on Tuesday, 8 April 2025.”
“The Government is committed to promoting positive working conditions in Ireland and ensuring access to high quality jobs. However, it is also important to maintain a regulatory environment to allow businesses to remain viable and indeed to thrive. The programme for Government outlines a strong, forward-looking enterprise and fiscal framework, prioritising economic and employment growth. The Deputy will be aware that extensive improvements to workers' rights have been implemented in recent years, including new legislation on tips and gratuities, introducing the right to request remote work, as well as a new public holiday to celebration of St.”
“Given the Deputy's knowledge of the arts and cultural sector, his input will be important in how we shape this. It is important that we have full appraisal and regulatory impact analysis of this important concept. It will need a budget and that will form part of the annual Estimates programme. The Department will make arrangements to examine this matter in its entirety. I look forward to working with the Deputy and many colleagues in this House in moving this forward as a whole-of-government approach. We welcome all contributions to the process.”
“I again thank the Deputy for raising this important Topical Issue matter this evening. I will certainly relay his comments to the Minister. I am encouraged by what the Deputy said about the importance of the youth culture card. Every organisation providing a range of programmes, events and resources for young people, including both in-person and online events, needs to be supported. There is an ambitious programme in the Department investing in the audiovisual sector to grow the sector, with new opportunities for younger people to participate in arts, culture and media activities. This group is also considering that we need to target it at young people. As I said, early access for young people allows them to grow within the sector. The Minister is keen to commence that exploration as an exciting concept.”
“Post-primary schools and Youthreach centres participate in creative youth programmes, such as creative schools and creative clusters, promoting arts and education. These initiatives demonstrate the Government's commitment to fostering the arts and cultural participation among young people. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is very conscious that the access provided under official programmes is only part of a wider sphere of activities in the arts. The Department intends to explore the contribution a youth culture card could make to encouraging interest. The Minister has stated that he will welcome the views of the Deputy. Once the committee has been established, we will certainly look to further the understanding of the opportunities a youth culture card might present and it is in the programme for Government.”
“The Chester Beatty runs creative workshops for teens and supports the youth advisory groups, with collaboration again from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The National Gallery of Ireland targets young people, aged 16 to 25, as a key audience with dedicated programmes supported by the Apollo Foundation. The gallery's youth panel curates events and festivals engaging thousands of young people annually. Creative Ireland's youth plan 2023 to 2027 aims to embed creativity in young lives through cross-government partnerships with a budget of over €10 million for 2025. The Cruinniú na nÓg annual day of creativity involves over 1,000 events across Ireland. The creative youth nurture fund supports various projects, enhancing access to arts and culture.”
“The Department supports various institutions and initiatives to ensure access to arts and culture for young people nationwide, often at little or no cost. The Arts Council has collaborated with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on an arts in early learning care and school-age childcare pilot. That is overseen by a steering committee with representatives from multiple Departments and organisations. The Arts Council has supported early years arts for over a decade, commissioning significant research and fostering practitioner development through the various agencies and organisations. The National Library of Ireland offers free tours of the W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney exhibitions. It also partners with various educational institutions to offer internship and academic and professional development.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for arts, Deputy O'Donovan. Having worked with the Deputy on the tourism and arts committee for five years during the previous Dáil term, I know how important this issue is and what a champion Deputy Byrne is for the arts and cultural sector. What he has raised today is significant and recognises the efforts we all need to take within government to champion the arts and those who work in them but also to implement new initiatives, such as what the Deputy has presented in other jurisdictions. We all have to make a concerted effort to make that happen. Research has confirmed the benefits of early arts and cultural participation for children, establishing lifelong patterns of engagement.”
“As I said in my earlier contribution, we have drafted the national policy statement and roadmap for circular textiles, which will be important in supporting the transition. That will soon go out to consultation. On the Deputy’s point, we have a real challenge around fast fashion and how we address it. The current system needs to be enhanced. We need to continue to work with local authorities and charities but we must also be mindful of extended producer responsibility. We will be working with key stakeholders to try to resolve the challenges that we face. It is a challenge in the short term due to consumer habits and online sales. We need to ensure that within the circular economy, we can continue to enhance our circularity rating and ensure that Ireland is to the fore in this regard. I look forward to working with the Deputy on this.”
“With regard to extended producer responsibility, my Department has started work on the Irish EPR. I had an opportunity to visit Primark recently and it now has bins in each of its stores. I accept we need a more comprehensive approach.”
“I acknowledge the Deputy’s work with Liberty Recycling. Since January of this year, Ireland has understood and tried to transpose the EU law that is required by every member state. We have a system in place for the separation and collection of textiles, and the bring banks are a significant part of that. I understand that significant improvements are required. I am aware of this due to working with local authorities and charity organisations, which report that used textile collection is under much strain due to adverse international trading and collection conditions. We want to find solutions to the problems and challenges that present. I know several local authorities have requested new tenders for textile collections and that is something I will be following up on.”
“This document, which has been prepared with input from the Textiles Advisory Group, will set out how we enhance our separate collection system, and it will be launched for public consultation in the coming weeks. Second, in July 2023, the European Commission proposed a further revision of the waste framework directive requiring the introduction of an extended producer responsibility, EPR, scheme for textiles. The key objective of the proposed EPR scheme is to apply the “polluter pays” principle to placing textiles on the market while creating a sustainable scheme for used textile collection, sorting, reuse and recycling. While agreement is yet to be confirmed by the European Council and Parliament, it is expected to be adopted in July and an EPR scheme for textiles should become mandatory by 2028.”
“The regulation of textiles has become a priority focus for the EU in recent years. There are two significant pieces of relevant legislation in development or recently implemented. First, since 1 January 2025, the waste framework directive requires all member states to have a separate collection system for textiles. Ireland's system consists of a network of local authority and charity bring banks, charity retail shops and private bring banks. Some retailers also operate take-back schemes in their stores. This system requires substantial enhancement to align with circular economy principles. To this end, my Department is developing Ireland's first national policy statement and roadmap on circular textiles.”
“-----to energy and efficiency measures. We are certainly committed and have said that we will ensure we have clear principles for sustained data centre development. We published our statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's enterprise strategy. We want clearer guidance for decision makers in the planning process. We also want to encourage the data centre sector to implement decarbonised energy solutions that not just increase efficiency but also decarbonise by design. That is important. It is our preference. We want to transition to a situation whereby we have renewable energy sources close to any of these new infrastructural developments.”
“The CRU has also completed its review of connections of large-scale energy users and the Government is reviewing the CRU's proposed direction in this regard.”
“I thank the Deputy. I disagree with his comment that data centres create only a few jobs. The role that data centres play in the economy is significant for large tech and foreign direct investment, FDI. We will continue to support our commitment to working with key stakeholders in that area, including the IDA, to identify and support new approaches. That is important. We need to integrate large-scale demand and sustainability into our energy system but we also need to strike a balance. New data centre grid connections are now considered by system operators on a case-by-case basis. We are in line with the CRU around the direction to system operators concerning data centre grid connection. The CRU is working to reprofile when and where to establish these data centres to ensure that the developments have access to a renewable source.”