Parliamentary questions

369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration can be given to increasing the quota for dairy farm assistants under the general employment permits scheme, in view of the quota being reached and all subsequent applications being rejected, taking into account that many employers urgently require dairy farm assistants for the upcoming spring calving …

370. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of dairy farm assistants applications received since eligibility was first introduced in 2018, and for each subsequent year from 2019 to 2024, and from 1 January to the 30 November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69840/25]

371. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration can be given to increasing the quota for dairy farm assistants under the general employment permits scheme in view of the high demand for skilled workers in agriculture, in particular during the spring calving season, taking into account that labour shortages are a major challenge for dairy farms; and…

372. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the final recommendations from a review of the occupations lists for employment permits will be published, in view of the public consultation process closing on the 19 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69842/25]

373. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress that has been made to date by the interdepartmental group established to review the single application process for employment permits and visa applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69843/25]

374. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the process in place whereby if a general employment permit for a dairy farm assistant has not been taken up/activated or if the applicant has been made redundant, if a mechanism is in place to facilitate an applicant whose application was rejected as the maximum number of general employment permits that may be grante…

375. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether contributions from the State or from employers towards the My Future Fund pension scheme will be reckonable as income for the purposes of assessing the eligibility of an individual or household for any means-tested services or schemes operated by his Department. [70020/25]

376. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if a review of the Covid products scheme was carried out; the amount of aid drawn down by companies; the number of companies that drew down aid; the amount of the budget that remained unspent; and if his Department has developed any learnings from the scheme [70255/25]

377. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the average time over the past six years it has taken to produce a stamped final bill in his Department from the time when his Department has received government approval for the general scheme and the heads of a bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70271/25]

378. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a schedule of all funding and grant aid provided by heading and subhead to Kildare, Wicklow and Meath local authorities in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the amount returned and or not expended over the same period. [70307/25]

379. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a schedule to include the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to include the amount expended by event in respect of venue hire, food, drinks and alcohol in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will provide same for events hosted within this jurisdiction to include event. […

380. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a schedule to include the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland of the amounts expended by event in respect of the engagement of an external events management company, in the years 2024 and 2025 [70352/25]

261. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has examined the introduction of statutory pregnancy-loss leave for losses before 23 weeks; and the assessments carried out on cost, eligibility, expected uptake, and international best practice. [68756/25]

262. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the work being carried out to promote market leading top of the line semiconductor manufacturing companies to begin manufacturing operations in Ireland; and the way in which the funding Ireland has or will receive under the EU Chips Act will be used to attract investment from these companies. [68532/25]

263. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will prioritise work permit applications for the diary sector given the time sensitive nature of the sector's labour needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68562/25]

264. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps being taken to ensure clear and accurate consumer information on meat products supplied to food service businesses and retail outlets; the oversight mechanisms for verifying origin, labelling and traceability; and the measures in place to prevent consumers being misled about the nature or source of meat pro…

265. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific productivity indicators his Department uses to evaluate the impact of State-funded innovation schemes in the residential construction sector, including Built to Innovate and Construct Innovate, and to confirm whether metrics such as output per labour hour, output per euro of State support, and time-to-co…

266. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the methodology used by his Department to assess value-for-money in the allocation of more than €6.5 million under the Built to Innovate programme for residential construction productivity, including the performance criteria applied to participating firms and the evidence of productivity gains recorded to date. [6890…

267. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the findings of the recent mid-cycle international evaluation of Construct Innovate carried out in November 2025, including the assessment of its productivity-related KPIs, its impact on residential construction delivery, and any recommendations for corrective actions. [68902/25]

268. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the work undertaken with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Central Statistics Office since 2022 to develop residential-specific productivity data, including the collection of GVA, hours worked, and modern methods of construction output data separately from commercial construction, and t…

269. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of companies who have participated in the digital for business consultancy scheme in each year since it was established to date in 2025; the cost of the scheme in each year; the number of companies targeted to participate in the scheme in 2026; and his plans to expand the focus or scope of the scheme. [689…

123. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when a general permit application (details supplied) will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68252/25]

124. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the maximum quota for general employment permits for dairy farm assistants has been reached; if not, the number of permits issued to dairy farm assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68198/25]

125. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he has considered increasing the maximum quota for general employment permits for dairy farm assistants, given labour shortage concerns from dairy farmers, and that the quota for the roll has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68272/25]

126. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 25 November 2025, if he will provide a further breakdown of the information supplied (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68282/25]