Thursday, 24 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 107-114

Upward Only Rent Reviews

Questions (107)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor business closures in the retail and or commercial sector deemed to be caused by high rents which are the subject of upward only rent reviews; the number of premises closed in respect of which upward only rent reviews was a condition in the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3678/13]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

As I have pointed out to the Deputy in response to previous questions on this matter, (PQ number 252 of 2nd October 2012 (Ref. 42061/12) and PQ number 103 of 22nd November (Ref. 52064/12)), there is no specific data available on the extent to which upward only rent reviews have been a factor in causing job losses. While I acknowledge that upward only rent reviews are putting pressure on some enterprises in the commercial and retail sectors at the present time, there are other factors influencing decisions of individual companies to reduce jobs. The retail sector has, for example, seen a disproportionate fall in activity due to the fall in consumer confidence and a reduction in discretionary spending by Irish consumers. Allied to this, the changing nature of retailing has seen new patterns in the way people shop. The growth of On-Line trading has impacted on the high street retailer, not just in Ireland, but in the UK also where there have been a number of high-profile retail closures in recent months.

Following extensive consideration of the matter, the Government announced in December 2011 that it had decided not to proceed with legislation to abolish upward-only rent review clauses in leases signed before 28th February 2010. However, the Government took steps to address the issue where possible.

In this regard, NAMA is playing a role in dealing with problems caused by upward only rent reviews applying to NAMA properties and has published policy guidance which will inform the approach to be taken where tenants are experiencing difficulties in paying rents in these cases.

The Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 provides for the establishment and maintenance of a Commercial Leases Database by the Property Services Regulatory Authority, which is expected to capture information in relation to the rent agreed and other clauses within commercial leases agreed in the future. I understand that work is underway to ensure that the Database will be operational at an early date.

Separately, a Rent Review Arbitration Code was drawn up by a group of experts whose membership was drawn from all stakeholders in the commercial property arena. The Code, which can be found on the website of the Department of Justice and Equality (www.justice.ie), provides a mechanism to deal with the resolution of rent review disputes in the commercial property sector.

Question No. 108 answered with Question No. 102.

Job Creation Issues

Questions (109, 110)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he and his Department continues to engage and or liaise with traditional or indigenous enterprises with a view to possible job creating prospects for the future with particular reference to enterprises likely to have the greatest potential in terms of short or medium term job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3680/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which, through his contacts with the various stakeholders, he has identified the factors most likely to seriously affect job retention or creation over the next three years; the measures he has put in place or intends to put in place to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3681/13]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together.

Ireland is a small open economy and the success of our exports, as well as our ability to attract inward investment, is key to creating and sustaining employment. Irish exports have performed well in recent years. Developments in international markets have an important impact on the ability of Irish enterprise to create and sustain jobs. Therefore retaining and improving the competitiveness of Irish enterprise will be central to continuing to grow exports and jobs.

The entire focus of the Action Plan for Jobs is on improving competitiveness, transforming the operating environment, protecting existing jobs and supporting the creation of new ones. An important factor affecting job retention and creation in indigenous companies in particular is their ability to access finance from both bank and non-bank sources. The Minister for Finance has set ambitious SME lending targets for the two pillar banks and has set up the Credit Review Office to ensure that viable enterprises can access finance. I recently launched the Microenterprise Loan Fund and the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme both of which are designed to address specific market failures. There are just some examples of what we are doing in this area.

I am currently finalising the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs on behalf of the Government. As part of the process of preparing the plan I consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders, both in the public and private sector.

These consultations took the form of meetings, submissions, letters and informal contacts with interested parties to establish what issues business were encountering in trying to maintain and grow their business, hire new staff and in their dealings with Government and regulatory authorities. I also sought to establish what could be done to make Ireland a more attractive country in which to do business, to help indigenous business to start-up and grow and to encourage further deepening and embedding of, foreign direct investment in our economy.

The Action Plan will be published in the coming weeks and will once again include a range of actions to be delivered across Government that will improve the operating environment for business, improve Ireland’s competitiveness and support job creation.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (111)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

111. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community welfare office on Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, will close; if the office is moving to Parnell Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3482/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that its services are provided in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. Where changes in services are planned, all customers from these areas will be notified accordingly.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (112)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

112. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider moving the community welfare office on Cashel Road to Crumlin village as opposed to Parnell Road, in view of the fact that Crumlin village is at the heart of the community and is the easiest to get to for clients using public transport and other means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3483/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In light of the moratorium on recruitment across the civil and public service, staffing needs for all areas within my Department are continuously reviewed. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an effective and efficient service to those who rely on all schemes operated by the Department.

In this regard my Department is reviewing staffing needs in a number of Community Welfare Service clinics across the country. No decisions have yet been made in relation to the Crumlin area. Where changes in services are planned, all customers from these areas will be notified accordingly.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (113)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

113. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason behind the proposed decision to relocate the community welfare office on Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, to Parnell Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12; if this decision will be reviewed and reversed as it causing distress in the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3484/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

To ensure that the best use is made of all available resources, with a view to providing an effective and efficient service to those who rely on all schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection, staffing needs for all areas are kept under review.

In this regard my Department is reviewing staffing needs in a number of Community Welfare Service clinics across the country. No decisions have yet been made in relation to the Crumlin area. Where changes in services are planned, all customers from these areas will be notified accordingly.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (114)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

114. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in statistical form the number of persons who use the community welfare office on Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis and the types of queries dealt with in this office. [3486/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Statistics are not currently compiled for the number of persons who use the Community Welfare Office in Cashel Road Health Centre. However the most recent claim statistics available to my Department indicate that on average, 11 claims for Supplementary Welfare Allowance are made per day at the office. As the clinic is open to the public for 4 days per week, this equates to approximately 44 claims per week, 191 claims per month, or 2,288 claims per year.

There are no statistics currently compiled for the types of queries dealt with in this office. However, the two Community Welfare Officers concerned answer queries relating to the full gamut of Supplementary Welfare Allowances.