The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The labour force survey, LFS, carried out by the CSO, is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for the fourth quarter of 2024. The figures for this response use the second quarter as the reference period for the year. Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey, it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates from the LFS. Regional estimates of employment are produced at the NUTS 3 level. NUTS are the geocode standard developed and regulated by Eurostat. The NUTS 3 mid-east region includes counties Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow. I will give a sample of the number of persons aged 15 to 89 in employment in the mid-east between the second quarter of 2014 and the second quarter of 2024. I will not go through all the figures because the Deputy will get them in writing. In 2014, there were 284,200 persons in employment. In 2024, there were 405,600 people in employment. While this region covers the counties of Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, it does not give a specific breakdown. The Deputy can have a copy of this information. These figures and further data relating to the Irish labour market, with a regional breakdown, can be accessed on the CSO website.
Sentiment score: -0.09
Go raibh maith agat.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The local enterprise office, LEO, supports the creation of many jobs in County Meath. The 2024 annual employment survey of LEO clients once again shows positive job creation across most LEOs. In 2024, the local enterprise office in County Meath provided grant assistance to 259 small businesses, thereby helping them to support 1,455 jobs and to create 255 new jobs. The plan the Deputy mentioned has five clear strategies to balance regional development. Highlights from the mid-east region include the Boyne Valley food hub having opened in May 2023 and Meath County Council participating in a pan-European programme to determine circular economy best practices for small businesses. Funding of €5.2 million was awarded under rural regeneration development for the development of the Athy Food, Drink & Skills Innovation Hub. I understand we are covering a total area in that regard. Clermont Screen Hub officially opened on 26 October 2023. Currently, we have full employment, and there are often unintended consequences. I take on board the point the Deputy makes about parents having a long commute and family time being affected by that.
Sentiment score: 0.36
The Central Statistics Office, CSO, has responsibility for collating information on the number of enterprises that close each year as part of its work in developing and maintaining the CSO's central business register, CBR. The CBR is developed using data provided by the Companies Registration Office, CRO, and the Revenue Commissioners. The most recent data available on enterprise closures from the central business register, published as part of Business in Ireland - Insights on the Lifecycle of Businesses 2022, is for 2021, for preliminary enterprise closures. This is due to the CSO's approach whereby an enterprise is recorded as having ceased trading where no tax returns have been filed for two successive years, with one year of no returns being recorded. There are a lot of complicated details on the number of SMEs involved. The number of SMEs that closed in 2017 was 687. In 2018, it was 718. The preliminary figure for SME closures in 2021 is 740. I will come back with more detail after the question.
Sentiment score: -0.01
The reason information is not available is that European business statistics regulation requires data to be transmitted with a two-year time lag. For example, 2022 data were transmitted in June 2024. The CSO is always trying to enhance the timelines of its publications. It is examining new products relating to signs of life for businesses, which it is hoped will provide a timelier picture of enterprise activity. There is some good news for County Mayo in terms of information on new enterprises that have been created there. County Mayo ranked eighth out of 26 in 2019 for SME births. This is the first time I ever heard that term. It refers to the birth of small and medium enterprises. It was ranked 25th out of 26 in 2020. It was second out of 26 in 2021 and 24th out of 26 in 2022. However, we must put it into context. Much of the country was closed between 2020 and 2022 during the time of Covid. The figure of 740 SME closures in 2021 is preliminary. The statistics also show that as many new businesses started up at the same time.
Sentiment score: 0.05
The Government's legislation programme, which was published on 18 February 2025, sets out the Government's legislative priorities for the current parliamentary session. We all understand that it is a shorter session than usual, but we will have a new programme again just after Easter. This is the first legislative programme of the new Government, which includes 50 Bills for priority publication and drafting during this Dáil session. There are 14 Bills at various Stages across both Houses of the Oireachtas. These include legislation that will amend the Mental Health Acts, amend the law on defamation and provide for sufficient and effective access to cash. I will work with all Members to progress legislation through both Houses of the Oireachtas. This aims to advance important legislation around updating employment and equality Acts, the national cybersecurity Bill, licensing of professional home support providers and legislation on housing. All Government Departments were consulted on the preparation of the spring legislative programme. The Government Legislation Committee, which I chair and is attended by the Attorney General, met on Thursday 13 February 2025 to finalise the programme. The committee will meet on a regular basis throughout the session to ensure that the key legislative priorities are progressed. The Department of the Taoiseach will continue to play a central role in supporting effective co-ordination and prioritisation of policy and legislation across government through Government meetings, the Cabinet committee structures and the Government legislation committee. Currently, some Bills are held up because the committee structure is not yet in place and, as a result, pre-legislative scrutiny of certain Bills will be pushed back.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I thank the Deputies very much. The Government, and me as Chief Whip, believe the best way to address changes to Standing Orders is within the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform. This process should be respected. A meeting of the committee will take place this evening. It is imperative that the Dáil can function and that Oireachtas committees can be established as soon as possible. I am sure we will have a robust session later. In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, the Department of Defence has prioritised one Bill for publication and one Bill for drafting. The Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is prioritised for publication and drafting of the general scheme is ongoing. The Bill will amend the Defence Acts to reform the existing provision concerning the dispatch of members of the Defence Forces for services outside the State. I reiterate that it is a priority for publication and drafting of the general scheme is ongoing at the moment.
Sentiment score: 0.22
One would assume pre-legislative scrutiny will take place in committee, when we get the committees up and running. I am very anxious to progress the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill. A lot of work has been done on it in the past six months.
Sentiment score: 0.07
With the help of the Ceann Comhairle and the House, I hope we can take Committee Stage on the floor of the Dáil in a couple of weeks, given that we currently do not have the option to do it in committee.
Sentiment score: 0.68