Written Answers Nos. 311-330
314. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding an application for a working visa in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50923/12]
View answerA work permit application in respect of this person was received in my Department on 9th November 2012. My Department’s policy in this regard strikes a balance between the needs of the proposed employer and the employment rights of the employee. The application was refused on 15th November 2012 as the salary stated in respect of the proposed employment was not in accordance with the prescribed policy for sports professionals who must be paid the National Minimum Wage for a 39 hour working week. In addition the employer did not observe the requirements for registering as an employer with the Revenue Commissioners. Finally, the employment permit sought was for a one year duration. This did not accord with my Department’s policy to issue work permits for Sports Professionals on a seasonal non-renewable basis.
Finally, I would advise the Deputy that should the employer wish this decision to be appealed they may do so in accordance with Section 13 the Employment Permits Act, 2006, within twenty-one days from the date of the letter of refusal. Any such submission, addressed to the Appeals Officer, Employment Permits Section, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Davitt House, Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, will be considered on the basis of the evidence available to my Department and any further information of relevance which the employer may wish to submit.
315. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to provide additional supports for enterprise development in Tallaght, Dublin 24; if he will note that this particular need was highlighted at the recent AGM of Partas Get Tallaght Working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51087/12]
View answerSupporting new and existing indigenous and foreign-owned businesses, across all regions, is central to our plans for recovery, growth and jobs. The Action Plan for Jobs contains a number of measures which are aimed specifically at the facilitation and incentivisation of national enterprise development from start-ups to growth companies. The Enterprise Development agencies, under the aegis of my Department, are at the forefront of implementing the Action Plan for Jobs across all regions and will ensure that enterprises can maximise their contribution to economic and jobs growth.
In 2011, Enterprise Ireland paid over €5.4m in financial support to its client companies to assist them to develop their business and create employment in South County Dublin including Tallaght. The New Frontiers Programme, which focuses on developing a person’s entrepreneurial abilities is co-ordinated by Enterprise Ireland and is providing €4.25m in funding to enable the Institutes of Technology, including Tallaght IT, to deliver the Programme at a local level. Participants receive financial support of €15,000. So far this year, 23 people participated in Phase 1 of the Programme at Tallaght IT and 15 applicants are currently completing Phase 2.A new Community Enterprise Centre Development Programme was launched this year for the maintenance or establishment of a strong business development function in the Community Enterprise Centres, funded by Enterprise Ireland. Three Community Enterprise Centres in the Tallaght Area were successful in securing this funding in 2012, including Partas Centres in Killinarden and Brookfield.
The South Dublin County Enterprise Board provides support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer in the start-up and expansion phases, to develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. In 2011 the Board paid out €357,682 in grant assistance to 38 microenterprise projects in the county. This year, the Board will continue to be actively involved in economic development in the area and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development.
From IDA Ireland’s perspective, Tallaght continues to be well-equipped to compete for potential Foreign Direct Investment, with superb infrastructure facilities at City West and Grange Castle. IDA announcements in 2012 include Xilinx – a €50m expansion in its operations; SAP – creation of 150 jobs; Microsoft – US$130m expansion in its operations. As recently as September 2012, Aspen, announced the creation of 44 jobs at its facility in City West.
Ensuring that more micro and small businesses can start up, expand and export is a key pillar of the Government’s plans for jobs and growth. That is why the Government has decided to implement an ambitious reform in the delivery of service to small and micro business. This will include the:-
- Development of a new Small and Micro Business Division within Enterprise Ireland (EI) as a centre of excellence in the provision of supports to the small and micro enterprise sectors;
- Dissolution of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and the transfer of their functions, assets and liabilities to Enterprise Ireland (EI);
- Establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) to provide a high quality, innovative, “one-stop-shop” support service for small businesses within Local Authorities, and providing early access to the services of national bodies and,
- Integration of key local authority business services into the Local Enterprise Office and promotion of a local environment in which enterprise can thrive.
Pending the introduction of these proposed new arrangements, micro-enterprises employing less than 10 persons, in Tallaght can, as their first port of call, continue to contact South Dublin County Enterprise Board (SDCEB) on: www.sdenterprise.ie.
To improve access to credit for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises, and to facilitate the growth and expansion of viable businesses from all industry sectors which have been refused access to credit by banks, the Government recently established the Microfinance Loan Fund. The Fund is open to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages, across the country.
Microfinance Ireland, (MFI), the company set up to operate the Fund, is working closely with the CEBs and Enterprise Ireland and are very conscious of the particular difficulties entrepreneurs face with regard to credit history, previous business experience etc. and where they can assist entrepreneurs, they will do so. However, the potential viability of the business proposal is the dominant factor in any credit decision made by Microfinance Ireland.
I am confident that the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with the initiatives being pursued by the State Agencies will ensure the creation of enterprise development and employment opportunities for Tallaght and the surrounding area.
316. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the number of jobs announced by the Industrial Development Agency; the number of jobs created in IDA supported companies and the value of grants awarded and the value of grants refunded to the IDA for each of the past five years. [51201/12]
View answerDetails of IDA Ireland’s investment announcements, including potential job numbers since 2007, are available on the IDA website - www.idaireland.com.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. The number of new jobs created in IDA client companies in each of the years 2007 to 2011 is set out in the following tabular statement. Figures for 2012 will not be available until the end of the year.
Information relating to grants awarded by IDA to its client companies is confidential between the Agency and the client company. However, total figures for grants paid by IDA and refunded to IDA in each year 2007 to 2011 are contained in the financial statements to the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. IDA’s Annual Reports for each of the years 2007 to 2011 are available on the Agency’s website www.idaireland.com.
Table showing Number of Jobs created in IDA Supported Companies in each of the years 2007 to 2011 inclusive
|
Year |
Number of new jobs created |
|
2007 |
10,401 |
|
2008 |
9,203 |
|
2009 |
5,239 |
|
2010 |
9,075 |
|
2011 |
11,594 |
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
The number of jobs announced by IDA Ireland; the number of jobs created in IDA supported companies; the value of grants awarded to IDA client companies and the value of any grants refunded to IDA for each of the past five years are detailed in the following table.
|
Year |
Number of Jobs Announced |
Number of new jobs created |
Value of Grants Awarded |
Value of Grants Refunded |
|
2007 |
3,014 |
10,401 |
78,518,000 |
14,572,000 |
|
2008 |
5,406 |
9,203 |
79,691,000 |
4,189,000 |
|
2009 |
2,876 |
5,239 |
80,862,000 |
14,734,000 |
|
2010 |
5,841 |
9,075 |
120,339,000 |
12,881,000 |
|
2011 |
7,060 |
11,594 |
96,757,000 |
18,798,000 |
317. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the number of jobs announced by Enterprise Ireland; the number of jobs created in Enterprise Ireland supported companies and the value of grants awarded and the value of any grants refunded to Enterprise Ireland for each of the past five years. [51202/12]
View answer318. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of each of the jobs announced or welcomed by his Department over the past five years; the numbers employed by the enterprise at the time of the announcement and the numbers currently employed by the enterprise. [51203/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.
As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I welcome all announcements concerning the creation of jobs. All press releases relating to job creation issued by my Department’s Press Office are available at: http://www.enterprise.gov.ie/Press-Releases/
Details of Enterprise Ireland’s job and investment announcements to the end of October 2012, and those of IDA Ireland and Shannon Development, are published on their respective websites – www.enterprise-ireland.com; www.idaireland.ie and www.shannon-dev.ie. However, I should point out that some investment and job creation projects in client companies are not announced by these agencies, for example, in cases where the company involved does not wish this to happen.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development. The data is compiled on an annualized basis and details relating to 2012 will be available in the early part of 2013.
In addition, Enterprise Ireland publishes each year a detailed schedule of financial support payments to its client companies for the previous year. This information is listed by client company at county level. These reports are available directly from Enterprise Ireland and I have requested the agency to forward a copy of the 2011 report to Deputy Tóibín.
In relation to public funds paid to enterprises, details of individual offers of support from Enterprise Ireland to each client company are confidential and will vary, depending on the type of support being sought.
Table 1 below provides details of Enterprise Ireland full-time job gains for the period 2007 to 2011. Table 2 identifies the value of grants awarded to Enterprise Ireland supported companies and the value of any grants refunded to Enterprise Ireland for each of the past five years.
Table 1
|
Enterprise Ireland Employment Data |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Full Time Jobs |
171,532 |
165,685 |
145,767 |
141,222 |
141,228 |
|
Full Time Job Gains |
18,133 |
13,886 |
8,464 |
11,001 |
9,076 |
Table 2
|
- |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Direct Financial Support to Enterprise (€'000) |
€77,214 |
€125,430 |
€204,103 |
€222,620 |
€105,658 |
|
Refunds (€'000) |
€1,186 |
€2,484 |
€1,617 |
€4,391 |
€4,267 |
319. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide statistics on the number of site visits for potential investors arranged by the Industrial Development Agency to Dublin 10 from 2002 to 2012. [51236/12]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that the data on site visits by potential investors is tracked on a regional basis.
Dublin 10, as part of Dublin City, is the only gateway in the East Region. IDA’s East Region consists of Counties Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath.
I am informed that in the period from the 2003 to date, there have been a total of 1109 site visits to that region, the majority of which would have been to the Greater Dublin area. Details of the number of site visits to the Region in each of the years 2003 to 2012 are set out in the following tabular statement. The agency has informed me that details on site visits for 2002 are not available.
Dublin is a spectacular success in terms of Foreign Direct Investment as it hosts many of the world’s leading companies such as Google, eBay, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Oracle, Pfizer, Amgen, IBM, Citi and Accenture. There are 492 IDA client companies employing 51,910 people in permanent employment and a further 5,075 in part-time and contract positions across a range a business sectors and activities in Dublin City and County.
While, globally, the outlook for FDI continues to be challenging, IDA Ireland has assured me that there are still investment opportunities to be won in global markets. Accordingly, the Agency continues to compete vigorously for such projects for Ireland and, as part of that process, continues to promote Dublin City and County including Dublin 10 for suitable investment.
However, while IDA tries to influence the location of investments, the final decision on where to locate is taken in all case by the investor.
Table showing the number of site visits by potential investors to the East Region in each of the years 2003 to 2012.
|
Year |
Site Visits |
|
2003 |
45 |
|
2004 |
54 |
|
2005 |
83 |
|
2006 |
92 |
|
2007 |
92 |
|
2008 |
98 |
|
2009 |
95 |
|
2010 |
214 |
|
2011 |
158 |
|
2012 (to date) |
178 |
320. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position on the Domestic Workers' ILO Convention; if Ireland will make the convention a priority as part of our membership of the UN Human Rights Council; if he will ratify the convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51248/12]
View answerIreland was recently elected to serve as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for a period of three years, beginning January 2013. Ireland has long championed the vital role of the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the rights of workers, and will continue to do so as members of the Human Rights Council.
The issue of ratification by Ireland of Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers is being considered in the context of our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments. Ireland does not ratify international Conventions until any such necessary amendments to domestic legislation have been identified and effected.
A preliminary assessment of the implications of ratifying the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 189 on Domestic Workers is currently being finalised by my Department. The Assessment includes an Article-by-Article examination of the extent to which Domestic legislation provisions already provide for the Rights and Entitlements enunciated in each Article, as well as the extent to which any legislative amendments will be required. This assessment will then be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for their examination.
My officials have been in contact with EU Commission officials and I am aware that they are in the process of issuing a document to all its members in relation to the ratification of the Convention. I have asked the Commission to provide me with this document when it is available.
It is important, to note, however, that domestic workers are protected by virtue of the fact that the full suite of employment rights legislation, including that of redress for violations of their employment rights, apply to domestic workers in the same way as they apply to other categories of employees in Ireland. Also it is worth pointing out that NERA has carried out a programme of inspections involving Domestic Workers as well as continuing to respond to any complaints it receives from Domestic Workers.
A voluntary Code of Practice for Persons Employed in Other People’s Homes was developed under the Industrial Relations Act 1990. The Code sets out certain employment rights and practices for persons employed in other people’s homes and encourages good practice and compliance with the law in such employment situations. In any proceedings before a court, or a workplace relations dispute resolution body, a code of practice shall be admissible in evidence and any provision of the code which appears to the court, body or officer concerned to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings shall be taken into account in determining that question.
321. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the details in relation to the new credit guarantee scheme; if new start up businesses can apply under this scheme; the percentage of the State guarantee that will be provided in these cases; the number of enquiries and the approvals that have taken place under this scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51358/12]
View answerThe Credit Guarantee Scheme is targeted at commercially viable, well performing micro, small and medium enterprises including start-ups that have a solid business plan and a defined market for their products or services, thereby demonstrating their ability to repay the loan. The Scheme provides a 75% State guarantee to banks against losses on qualifying enterprises to facilitate lending that would not otherwise take place. The Scheme is intended to address two distinct barriers to lending; inadequacy of collateral (Pillar 1) and inadequacy of understanding of the novelty of a business model, market, sector or technology (Pillar 2).
The lender assesses viability according to its normal assessment criteria and the decision of the lender in terms of assessing viability is final. Guarantees may be provided for any loan value between €10,000 and €1 million. The borrower pays a 2% annual premium which partially covers the cost of providing the guarantee. Use of the Scheme is limited to additional new lending, with refinancing of existing debt explicitly excluded.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Scheme went live on Wednesday 24th October. At this early stage, the number of approved guarantees on Friday 16th November is two.
Bank of Ireland, AIB and Ulster Bank are participating in the Scheme. Initial enquiries regarding the Scheme are not currently being monitored as potential borrowers are being advised to contact the participating banks directly. The Department will of course keep a close eye on developments in respect of the scheme as matters unfold.
322. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding a complaint made to his Department by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51533/12]
View answerI understand that the circumstances surrounding your constituent’s complaint arise on foot of an appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) of the recommendation of a Rights Commissioner under the Unfair Dismissals Acts.
The EAT and the Rights Commissioner Service, which operates as a service of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), are independent statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department. As independent quasi-judicial bodies, I have no role in the day-to-day exercise of their functions.
If an employee considers that s/he has been unfairly dismissed, s/he may submit a claim for redress under the Unfair Dismissals Acts to a Rights Commissioner or a claim may be submitted directly to the EAT. Where a claim is heard by a Rights Commissioner under the Unfair Dismissals Acts, the Rights Commissioner will issue a recommendation and either party may appeal that recommendation to the EAT. The appeal must be made within 6 weeks of the date on which the Rights Commissioner communicated the recommendation to the parties. This is done by giving written notice of appeal within that period to the EAT on the prescribed form. In communicating Rights Commissioners’ recommendations, it is standard practice to include with the recommendations, information on how an appeal of recommendation can be made.
Where a claim or appeal is heard by the EAT under the Unfair Dismissals Acts, the Tribunal will issue a determination. There is a right of appeal by either party to the Circuit Court from a determination of the Tribunal.
The statutory time limits for appealing the recommendation of a Rights Commissioner to the EAT are provided for in the Unfair Dismissal Acts and the EAT does not have any discretion to extend these time limits in any circumstances.
I am fully aware of the specific issues and circumstances surrounding your constituent’s complaint. Having made enquiries into this matter, I understand that Officials within my Department have conducted a thorough scrutiny of the facts in relation to this case and letters have issued, in both November 2011 and February 2012, in respect of earlier complaints made by your constituent in relation to this matter. I am informed that there has been no change in facts of this case since then. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I have addressed the specific issues concerning your constituent’s present complaint in my reply which will issue to you in response to the representations you have made on his behalf in relation to the matter (Ref: 121035/MIN refers).
As you may be aware, I am currently undertaking a root and branch reform of the existing Workplace Relations Bodies. The Reform Programme I have commenced will deliver a two tier Workplace Relations structure by merging the activities of the Labour Relations Commission, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the EAT and the Labour Court into a new Body of First Instance, to be known as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The appellate functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal will be incorporated into an expanded Labour Court. Work has commenced on the drafting of a Workplace Relations Bill to give effect to the new two-tier structure.
My objective is to establish a world-class Workplace Relations Service. The Workplace Relations Bill which I hope to publish in early 2013 will contain provisions in respect of the relevant procedures for appeals along the lines already outlined in the policy document ‘Legislating for a Worldclass Workplace Relations Service’ and also in my presentation before the joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs Enterprise and Innovation last July. I intend proposing to the Oireachtas that all first instance complaints requiring adjudication will be heard by the Adjudication Officers of the new Workplace Relations Commission and any subsequent appeals will be heard by the Labour Court as a full fresh appeal. The Labour Court will act as a court of final appeal for all adjudication decisions of the Workplace Relations Commission, subject to the right of either party to bring a further appeal from a determination of the Labour Court to the High Court on a point of law only.
The WRC will have statutory jurisdiction for facilitating the resolution of disputes under employment, equality and industrial relations legislation, in accordance with best practice and in compliance with international human rights standards. To ensure that the WRC delivers its services to the highest standards, the Director will be supported by a Registration Service with a suitably qualified and experienced lawyer as Registrar. It is envisaged that such a Registration Service would be responsible for the receipt, validation and processing of all employment related complaints and the coordination, management and referral of those cases to Hearing. For example, the Registration Service will check complaints on receipt and reject or redirect incomplete complaints, complaints which are out of time or which are grounded incorrectly. The Registration Service will have responsibility for steering each case through the system and ensuring it is dealt with efficiently and effectively.
In this regard, I am happy to report that substantial progress has been made to date and a number of important priority actions have been successfully delivered within the target timescale which will ensure that all employment related complaints are dealt with effectively, efficiently and in a timely manner, including:-
- the introduction of a new single contact portal called “Workplace Relations Customer Services” (for information provisions and complaints receipt and registration) which has replaced the five separate entry points, and
- a Single Complaint Form that deals with 100 first instance complaints has replaced the 30 forms previously in use.
I fully expect the work that I have initiated with regard to the reform of the Workplace Relations Bodies to significantly improve the quality of service to users and I am confident that all employment related complaints will be dealt with in an effective, efficient and timely manner under the new structures.
323. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he or any of the State's industrial promotion agencies have been able to assist in having production resumed as a processing plant (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51606/12]
View answerI understand that a Receiver was appointed to the company concerned on 22 October 2012.
I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that they have been in regular contact with the Receiver and are available to provide any possible assistance that the agency can. Enterprise Ireland will continue to work with all interested parties in line with its remit. However, given the sensitive nature of situations such as this, discussions are conducted on a strictly confidential basis.
324. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce improved structures to incentivise social welfare recipients to work in the caring sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51522/12]
View answerThe Government will continue to ensure that the social protection system incentivises rather than blocks the return to work for unemployed people, including those with families. This holds for all sectors of the labour market, including the care sector.
Incentivising the take-up of employment is essentially being achieved by three means:-
- First, the Government is determined to continue to reform the tax and social welfare system to ensure that a person who takes up employment is significantly better off financially then if they remained on social welfare. Our current Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance payments are already designed in such a way as to ensure that persons are incentivised to take up either full-time or part-time employment. This is achieved by a gradual tapering of the social welfare payment for people who take up part-time employment. Currently, a person can work up to three days and still have an entitlement to a reduced social welfare payment, with the reduction in the social welfare payment tapered in line with a person’s increase in earnings from work. A person who wishes to work on a part-time basis over a period in excess of three days per week can avail of the Part Time Job Incentive Scheme or the Family Income Supplement Scheme. People who are more than 12 months unemployed are also entitled to an increased personal tax credit in certain circumstances further increasing the returns to work.
In addition, reforms to the jobseekers’ schemes are being introduced to ensure that people in part-time employment are incentivised to take up full-time employment as such opportunities become available. This includes rebasing the payment week for jobseeker’s benefit on a five-day week rather than the previous six-day week basis where a person is working for part of the week. This measure was introduced in July 2012. And from February 2013 employment on a Sunday will be taken into account when determining the level of entitlement to jobseeker’s payments. The recognition of Sunday working from the perspective of jobseeker’s allowance and benefit will reduce the amount of jobseeker’s payable to casual workers and thereby encourage workers to take up offers of full-time employment rather than combining part-time employment with social welfare payments.
In a further effort to improve the financial incentive to take up employment, the Government has halved the lower rate of PRSI until end-2013 on jobs that pay up to €356 per week and exempted low-paid, part-time and seasonal workers with an annual income of less than €10,036 from the Universal Social Charge (increased from €4,004).
The Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare is examining issues around the operation and interaction of the tax and social welfare systems and may also recommend further measures to improve incentives to take up employment.
- Second, the Government is incentivising employers to hire the long-term unemployed. The Government has introduced a range of reforms and incentives to support, protect and create jobs, including through the Jobs Initiative in May 2011 which among other measures reduced VAT rates for labour intensive sectors. The Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme is available to employers who hire persons who have been in receipt of specified social welfare payments for a period of six months or more and the Revenue Tax Assist Scheme is available to employers who hire a person in receipt of those benefits for in excess of 12 months. This scheme, which provides a double tax relief for employers, also provides increased tax credits for the employee.
- Third, with the unemployed via the roll-out of the new one-stop-shop Intreo offices which were launched in October. Interventions will include referral to group engagement, one-to-one interviews, education and/or training and placement/work experience opportunities at appropriate intervals. In addition, the Department of Social Protection will continue to implement its powers to sanction individuals in the form of reduced social welfare rates, if they fail to make a meaningful effort to engage in efforts to progress towards employment.
325. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50833/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 18th June 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
326. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50837/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28th September 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 9th October 2012 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
327. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been taken to prioritise the processing of claims for family income supplement which have been received since 5 of November 2012 over those which have been waiting from the beginning of June 2012; the person who took this decision; the date on which it was it taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50839/12]
View answer328. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of a backlog in applications for family income supplement which were received before 5 November 2012; the timeframe expected to take to clear this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50840/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.
The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers.
The current average waiting time for new family income supplement (FIS) claims is 16 weeks and for renewal applications is 17 weeks. At the end of October, there were 7,267 new FIS applications and 7,864 renewal applications awaiting decision. The volume of FIS claims on hands and the delays in processing are a consequence of continued strong claim intake.
An in-depth business process improvement (BPI) project has recently been completed for the FIS scheme. This project focused on optimising output and customer service and the elimination of backlogs. Part of the project was a detailed examination of workloads and a full assessment of existing capacity within the area and what capacity is needed in order to process the volumes of claims, both new and renewal, being received on a weekly basis.
A plan has now been devised and implementation commenced on 5 November 2012. This plan sees the normal weekly new claim and renewal intake processed without delay while the backlog is ring-fenced and a focused team assigned to this work with a clear plan for its elimination.
The first steps taken to permanently eliminate future backlogs in FIS are to put in place sufficient capacity and suitable structures and processes to deal with the weekly intake of work. This has been done in the case of the FIS scheme and the first week of operation has been very successful in this regard, achieving its target output.
This is not to say that the backlog of claims awaiting decision is being ignored or that work has ceased on it. On the contrary, a separate team including additional temporary resources has been identified and is already assigned and working on the claims in question. This team is fully focussed on the elimination of the backlog of claims in the shortest possible timeframe, concentrating in the first instance on those claims which were previously in payment but where payment has expired.
It is expected that the backlog will be fully eliminated by the end of March 2013. Claims which are approved by the backlog team will be backdated to the date of claim or the date of expiry of the previous claim, as appropriate, and all arrears due will be paid.
329. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50841/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3rd May 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 8th October 2012 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
330. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the way JobBridge is audited to ensure that employers do not use repeat internships to avoid employing new paid staff and if her attention has been drawn to any cases where this practice has been noticed and halted. [50869/12]
View answerThe JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. Over 12,100 internships have commenced to date with 5,398 participants currently on an internship as at 15th November 2012 and over 1,900 internship opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie.
The interim evaluation report conducted by Indecon found that 52% of the participants who have finished their JobBridge internship placement have progressed into employment. These progression rates compare favourably with European averages in this area.
In order to protect the Intern and to ensure the integrity of the JobBridge Scheme a variety of control measures and criteria have been introduced. These ensure that the internship does not displace an existing position; that it provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the Intern.
Under the current guidelines, upon the conclusion of an internship position a cooling off period of 6 months must elapse before a Host Organisation can re-advertise either this position or another placement in the same area of activity. This is to prevent potential displacement and checks are conducted by the National Contact Centre in Edenderry. However, should the proposed placement be in a different area of activity or in cases where a Host Organisation has employed their incumbent intern no such cooling off period will be applied.
Furthermore, to ensure that both the host organisation and intern are abiding by the spirit and the rules of the scheme, the Department of Social Protection are involved in the on-going monitoring of internships. Through a strong on the ground presence; this involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and the conducting of random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the Internship. I am delighted to advise that 95% of monitoring visits conducted to-date were of a satisfactory nature. Remedial action has been taken in a small number of cases where the monitoring exercise deemed that not all aspects of the internship were of a satisfactory nature.
It is worth noting that participation in the Scheme is voluntary and an intern may contact the JobBridge Team at any stage of their Internship for advice and support. Moreover, any individual who suspects that an internship may be in breach of the scheme’s criteria, including cases of suspected or potential displacement and quality may contact the JobBridge directly via the ‘Contact Us’ section of the JobBridge website. This dedicated support unit will investigate matters further.
However, it is important to note that an independent evaluation of the Scheme is currently being undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants and it is anticipated that a final report will be published later this year. Part of its remit includes recommendations on how the Scheme might be improved or expanded. It is at this stage that further consideration will be given to amending the terms and conditions of the Scheme. Any such amendments to the scheme will be notified via the website.
