Written Answers Nos. 134-152
134. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way he intends to tackle the additional cost to business of transport and in particular businesses in areas with poor transport infrastructure such as the border counties. [18622/13]
View answerThe primary issues raised in this question relating to transport costs and transport infrastructure would be more appropriately directed to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The recently published Forfás report “Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2012” identifies a number of issues relating to transport costs in Ireland. Prices for transport related services have generally remained stable since 2006, with the exception of air transport which has increased significantly since 2010. There has been significant investment in national transport routes over the last decade and this has led to significant improvements in connectivity for Irish enterprises. However a number of bottlenecks still remain.
The 2013 Action Plan includes a number of actions to review and update policies across different modes of transport to deliver an efficient and integrated transport system including:
- Completion of the review of Ports Policy
- Publication of Competition Authority study into Ports
- Development of a new aviation policy to deliver competitive international access
- Development of a land transport strategic investment framework to decide what investment will be required out to 2025 to facilitate easy access to markets and the mobility of the workforce.
The Forfás report makes a number of recommendations aimed at reducing transport costs, most of which come under the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and / or the Minister for Finance. I will consult with my Government colleagues to see how these measures might be progressed.
135. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail policies being implemented by his Department to tackle the competitive disadvantage experienced by rural enterprises and in particular those enterprises located along the border. [18623/13]
View answerThe achievement of balanced regional growth is a core objective of Government. Promoting entrepreneurship, attracting inward investment and facilitating the key infrastructural needs of Irish enterprise across all regions is vital to ensuring a vigorous pipeline of new business leaders, new business ideas and entrepreneurial activity. The Action Plan for Jobs is a whole of Government, national strategy aimed at creating and sustaining jobs across all regions of the State. The objective of balanced regional development is supported by the EU Commission’s Regional Aid Guidelines, which recognise that some regions can face significant structural disadvantage. The Guidelines permit Member States to grant higher investment aid to these areas. Under Ireland’s current Regional Aid Map, the highest rates are afforded to the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) region.
The establishment of a one-stop-shop to provide micro enterprise support through the dissolution of the existing CEB offices and the creation of a new network of Local Enterprise offices (LEOs) will ensure an enhanced delivery of support to micro enterprises in the regions in question and nationally.
Microfinance Ireland is providing support, in the form of loans of up to €25,000 available to start-up, newly-established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal.
I understand from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013, LEADER provides both direct and indirect support to enterprise start-ups and already established microenterprises in rural areas all over Ireland. Since 2009, almost €20m has been provided for direct support to enterprise in rural Ireland through the RDP. A significant proportion of the resources provided through the RDP Training Measure, which has registered a further €10m in expenditure to date, also provide indirect capacity building and mentoring support for rural entrepreneurs.
Enterprise Ireland continues to work with its 700 client companies in the region to support their growth in 2013. To support the development of a pipeline of High Potential Start-Ups in the Border region, EI has the following initiatives in place:
- The New Frontiers Programme, with funding of €4.25m, in IT Sligo/Letterkenny and Dundalk Institute of Technology/DCU.
- On February 15, 2013 the Government launched a €200k Competitive Feasibility Fund aimed at stimulating start-ups and creating jobs and growth in the North East Region. Funding of up to €25,000 per project was available under this initiative.
- The “Get Export Ready” Programme encompasses a wide range of practical measures for early exporters focusing on export readiness, the importance of research, developing a value proposition and the skills of export selling.
- Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000, give small companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. Since their inception in 2007, 485 vouchers have been awarded to companies in the Border Region worth a total of €2.4m.
I am confident that the measures set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with the other initiatives in place, will assist the development of investment and employment opportunities in the Border Region and the country generally.
136. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will advise on the amount of EU funding available to Ireland under the PCP and PPI in the ICT FP7 and CIP programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18593/13]
View answer317. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if Ireland was represented at the EU High level PCP-PPI event in Berlin 21-22 March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18820/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 317 together.
The total amount of funding available for Pre-Commercial Procurement topics that have featured in FP7 ICT between 2007, when FP7 commenced, and 2012 is €18 million. A further €32.5 million of available funding is projected for 2013. For the years 2007 to 2008 no budget was available, and during 2009-2010 €4 million became available. At present, all calls and evaluations have been completed for the first 3 Work Programmes (2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012). However, there has been no Irish involvement in any of the PCP related actions in these calls.
It is important to point out that FP7 funding is made available under a Call for Proposals, competitive procedure, amongst the 27 EU Member States and participating Associate Countries. It is also important to note that Pre-Commercial Procurement and Public Procurement of Innovative solutions are relatively new areas under FP7. In fact, under this year’s 2013 Call for this Work Programme, PPI instruments will feature for the first time, in anticipation of their wide-scale use in Horizon 2020 to fund innovation procurement. So, while in theory this funding is available to Ireland, in order to be in a position to avail of it, Irish research organisations must have the capability to compete in this particular area and must be successful in the Call for Proposals procedure.
In regard to PPI in the FP7 ICT and CIP Programmes, since this is the first year that PPI instruments will be implemented in CIP ICT PSP, the actual funding awarded to Ireland will not be known until July/August 2013, when this year’s calls will have been evaluated. The total EU funding available, for all Member States and Associated Countries in ICT PSP, for PPI Pilots and PPI related activities, for the 2013 Call is €12 million. This is comprised of €10 million for PPI Pilots, and €2 million for Thematic Networks to prepare for PPI pilots.
CIP ICT Policy Support Programme is only one of three "pillars" of the overall CIP. Throughout 2013 Enterprise Ireland will also be engaging with CIP funding through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) which is the primary instrument for the CIP programme. As suitable calls arise, the EEN will be engaging with its client base. One very concrete benefit to Ireland and SMEs from this programme is its joint funding of the Enterprise Europe Network, which is in the region of €450,000 per year.
Ireland was not represented at the Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP) and Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI) Conference in Berlin, on 21 – 22 March, 2013 which was co-organised by the European Commission and the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and regional Ministries of North Rhine-Westphalia.
138. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to ensure that all job creation bodies, which seek to promote enterprises, do not pass on excessive cost to client companies. [18621/13]
View answerEnterprise Ireland does not levy direct charges on clients and at all times endeavours to keep costs to a minimum. However, where a client company elects to participate in knowledge events or to commission specific research in the field EI will charge a contributory fee. The fact that such activities are subsidised by Enterprise Ireland renders it a support to a business rather than a charge. Examples of events where Enterprise Ireland client companies contribute to overall costs include the following:
- Client Management Development – In partnership with international and Irish business schools, Enterprise Ireland has put in place a number of programmes that assist companies to builds skills and competencies, grow their businesses and develop their export potential. The general rule in these cases is that Enterprise Ireland will cover 70% of the costs of the company if it is an SME and 50% of the costs if it is a large company. The balance of the cost is covered by the company.
- Participation on an Outward/Trade Mission – A mission participation fee of €500 is sought per participating company. The fee represents a contribution toward receptions, group transport/transfers and administration. Additional costs may be levied directly to the client depending on the specifics of the trade mission.
- Participation at Trade Fairs – Enterprise Ireland seeks to recoup 50% of the total gross costs (floor space, design and construction costs and any additional costs of client companies’ participation on the stand) of the space they occupy or benefit from. Enterprise Ireland pays 100% of the space it occupies on the stand.
County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) support micro enterprises through direct grant aid and training and support measures - the latter being subsidised by the Boards. The Board may charge fees to clients for participation in their training or mentoring programmes. Whilst these charges are based on a number of factors - such as trainer costs - the CEBs will always consider the participant’s ability to pay. If the participant is unemployed, the Board may decide to waive the fee. CEBs also provide a facility to pay by way of installments. Fees for specific interventions such as the National Mentoring Scheme provide for a fixed rate of payment to the mentor. Management Development courses are usually offered through a package of interventions. These include various training elements at a set fee.
The two Enterprise Agencies who report to my Department and who have significant property portfolios, namely IDA Ireland and Shannon Development, have confirmed that, where businesses are in difficulties, they have, on a case by case basis, responded to and facilitated companies’ requests for reduced rent and will continue to do so. I can assure the Deputy that the Enterprise Development Agencies continually seek to keep fees to a minimum.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he expects to achieve targets in respect of job retention and job creation; if he has identified any particular issues likely to impact on performance in this regard; the degree to which he expects an increase in job creation in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18577/13]
View answerIn the Action Plan for Jobs, the Government has set an ambitious target of having 100,000 more people at work by 2016. As I have pointed out previously to the House, achieving this target requires a transformational change to our economy. This Government, when it came into office, was starting from a position where more than 250,000 private sector jobs had been lost in the previous three years. This was primarily the result of relying, for a number of years, on economic growth fuelled by a property price and construction sector bubble.
The new economy which we need to build must be based on enterprise, innovation and exporting. The transformation which we need to bring about will require progress on a number of fronts, including fixing our banking systems, reforming the public sector and embedding a jobs agenda across Government through the Action Plan for Jobs. Key areas which I have been working on directly to support job creation by enterprise include improving access to finance for businesses, reforming the statutory wage setting mechanisms, reducing other costs and administrative burdens for enterprise, improving our export performance, and supporting innovation. Details of progress on these measures are available in the Quarterly Progress Reports on the Action Plan for Jobs which are available on my Department’s website.
This is a huge task, but we are making progress. We are climbing back up the international competitiveness tables again; our exports are at record high levels, not even seen at the peak of the boom; IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland had their best years for jobs growth in 2012 for ten years and five years respectively and overall, the level of private sector employment is stabilising.
While these signs of recovery are welcome there is much more to be done to get more of our people back to work. That is why the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs is more ambitious than the 2012 Plan and it introduces the idea of Disruptive Reforms, seven significant projects that require cross Government collaboration that can make a real difference to enterprise and jobs. The goals attached to them are ambitious in nature and they have aggressive timescales in which they will be delivered. They will also require new ways of working.
We are making real progress, but I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge that still faces us. As a small open economy, we are influenced heavily by the challenging developments in international markets. However, the merit of the Action Plan for Jobs is that every year, each Department is required to focus on changes that can be brought about to make a practical contribution to the target of supporting the creation of 100,000 extra jobs in the economy by 2016.
141. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on his visit to Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18348/13]
View answerAs part of the Governments Ministerial-led St Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme, I undertook a 4-day, 4-city trade, investment and tourism mission to Germany. Germany is Europe’s largest economy and one of Ireland’s top-4 trading partners. In 2012 Irish goods exports to Germany, at over €7.5billion, were up 20% on 2011. Germany is also the world’s third-largest source of tourists to Ireland, with over 400,000 German tourists visiting Ireland in 2012.
My St Patrick’s Day programme focused on building on the strong relationships that exist already, further grow our exports and create the jobs we need. My programme included:
- 9 bilateral meetings with IDA and Enterprise Ireland target companies
- A trade/investment event with over 100 companies
- 5 Irish tourism/cultural events
- 2 Bord Bia events to promote Irish food exports
- Interviews with German media as part of the continuing drive to rebuild Ireland’s reputation
I am confident that this jobs focused trade and investment-related programme has helped Enterprise Ireland clients cement relationships with their German partners and win access to key decision-makers in target sectors which should facilitate employment growth. It has also helped German investors to continue to see Ireland as an attractive location for foreign direct investment and further expand operations and employment in Ireland.
142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in a tabular form for each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 the actual expenditure, and for 2013 the budgeted expenditure of the Director of Public Prosecutions together with the whole time equivalent posts. [18411/13]
View answerI am informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the table below outlines the details requested by the Deputy.
|
Year |
Wholetime Equivalent Posts |
Gross Expenditure €000 |
Appropriations in Aid €000 |
Net Expenditure €000 |
|
2007 |
194.29 |
€34,468 |
€135 |
€34,333 |
|
2008 |
196.40 |
€44,362 |
€117 |
€44,245 |
|
2009 |
196.00 |
€45,687 |
€901 |
€44,786 |
|
2010 |
191.00 |
€42,384 |
€1,031 |
€41,353 |
|
2011 |
196.00 |
€37,820 |
€1,043 |
€36,777 |
|
2012 |
192.00 |
€39,890 |
€1,043 |
€38,847 |
|
2013 |
189.50 |
(*) €38,389 |
(*) €975 |
(*) €37,414 |
Wholetime equivalent posts are shown as at 31 December for each of the years 2007 to 2012. Wholetime equivalent posts for 2013 are shown as at 31 March 2013.
(*) Estimated for 2013
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs created on a monthly basis in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18996/13]
View answerThe information the Deputy requested is not available on a monthly basis. Information on jobs created and jobs destroyed is only available for the business economy for the years 2006 - 2010 and this has been supplied in response to Questions 18997/13 and 18998/13.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs lost on an annual basis in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18997/13]
View answer145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs created on an annual basis in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18998/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
Information on jobs created and jobs destroyed is only available for the business economy for the years 2006 - 2010. The information supplied relates to all employing enterprises from key sectors of the business economy as classified by the standard European classification of economic activity i.e. NACE Rev2 B-N excluding activities of holding companies; K 64.20. The data source used for this analysis is based on linking the P35L returns from employers to the Revenue Commissioners with the CSO business register.
Job creation for an enterprise in a given year, say 2010, is measured as the difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in 2010 compared to 2009, if that difference is positive (otherwise, job creation is taken to be zero). Job creation in the business economy is then calculated by summing job creation for each enterprise in the business economy.
Job destruction for an enterprise in a given year, say 2010, is measured as the difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in 2010 compared to 2009, if that difference is negative (otherwise, job destruction is taken to be zero). Job destruction in the business economy is then calculated by summing job destruction for each enterprise in the business economy. Note when interpreting figures, job destruction in 2010 means that these jobs were identified in 2009 but not in 2010, as such, the jobs disappeared sometime during 2009.
Using this source job creation figures for the business economy were at there lowest in 2009 at 169,000 before recovering slightly in 2010 to 184,000. Job destruction figures peaked at 512,000 when 2009 was compared with 2008 before dropping back sharply in 2010.
Table 1 Job creation and job destruction figures for the business economy, manufacturing and the services sectors 2006 -2010
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
|
Business economy excluding activities of holding companies(NACE Rev. 2 Sectors B to N, excluding code 642) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
1,971,797 |
2,118,610 |
1,986,684 |
1,645,874 |
1,539,894 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
353,614 |
375,167 |
217,819 |
168,725 |
184,176 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
198,209 |
228,356 |
349,745 |
511,855 |
290,785 |
|
Industry (NACE Rev. 2 Sector B-E) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
309,351 |
317,276 |
300,694 |
255,709 |
230,430 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
34,591 |
35,355 |
20,861 |
19,173 |
18,619 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
22,508 |
27,430 |
37,443 |
59,151 |
33,869 |
|
Manufacturing (NACE Rev. 2 Sector C) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
279,919 |
285,944 |
269,392 |
226,714 |
203,879 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
31,375 |
31,976 |
18,136 |
17,020 |
16,977 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
20,496 |
25,951 |
34,688 |
54,998 |
29,992 |
|
Business economy services excluding activities of holding companies (NACE Rev. 2 Sectors G to N, excluding code 642) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
1,385,776 |
1,517,830 |
1,457,442 |
1,242,994 |
1,198,526 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
248,919 |
280,460 |
167,094 |
135,706 |
149,023 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
139,528 |
148,406 |
227,482 |
358,296 |
206,309 |
|
Source: Job Churn statistics, Central Statistics Office |
Detailed breakdowns are available at: http://cso.ie/shorturl.aspx/102.
Methodological notes are available at: http://cso.ie/shorturl.aspx/101.
146. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the information that was supplied by the Central Statistics Office arising from the Census of Population 2011 to the Department of Finance and or Revenue Commissioners to assist them in identifying properties and persons for the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18223/13]
View answerNo information arising from the Census of Population 2011 was supplied by the Central Statistics Office to either the Revenue Commissioners or the Department of Finance, to assist in identifying properties or persons for the Local Property Tax. Under the Statistics Act 1993 the CSO is forbidden by law from divulging identifiable information to any body or agency, including government departments.
147. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in a tabular format a list of all his special advisers' pay and that of his Minister of State, to include each salary and name of employee above principal officer standard scale salary rate; and if he will supply the total pay bill for all his special advisors for 2012. [18356/13]
View answer148. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of any and all pay increases awarded to special advisors in his Department over the past two years. [18357/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
There are five Special Advisers employed by my Department, four of whom are my Special Advisers and one of whom is Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip. The details requested in relation to their salaries is set out in the table below.
|
Name |
Position |
Current Salary |
|
Mark Kennelly |
Chief of Staff |
€168,000 |
|
Andrew McDowell |
Special Adviser |
€168,000 |
|
Paul O’Brien |
Special Adviser |
€86,604 |
|
Angela Flanagan |
Special Adviser |
€86,604 |
|
Mark O’Doherty |
Special Adviser to the Chief Whip |
€86,604 |
Mr. O'Brien, Ms. Flanagan and Mr. O'Doherty are on contracts which include incremental progression in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on remuneration for Special Advisers. The salary cost for special advisors employed in my Department in 2012 was €581,236. The comparative full year figure for Special Advisors employed in this Department in 2010 was €1,072,920.
149. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of new State bodies that have been established under the aegis of his Department since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18358/13]
View answerNo new State bodies have been established under the aegis of my Department since February 2011 and there are no plans to establish any.
The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only State Agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESDO was established under the NESDO Act 2006 and is the body corporate for the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). NESDO/NESC was one of the organisations to be critically reviewed as part of the programme of rationalisation of State agencies, announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011. My Department carried out the review. The review concluded that NESDO was no longer required and should be abolished and that the NESC should be maintained as the statutory body. These arrangements are in hand in my Department.
150. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach his plans for an official visit to Burma Myanmar; and if so, if he will outline the circumstances in which such plans were devised. [18403/13]
View answerI have no plans to make an official visit to Burma/Myanmar.
151. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the number of politicians under the remit of his Department who earn more than €500,000, between €400,000 and €500,00, €300,000 to €250,000, €250,000 to €200,000, €200,000 to €150,000, €150,000 to €100,000, €100,000 to €80,000, €80,000 to €60,000, €60,000 to €40,000 and Less than €30,000. [18877/13]
View answerThe table beneath provides the information requested by the Deputy in relation to myself, the Government Chief Whip, Paul Kehoe and Minister of State Lucinda Creighton.
|
Salary* |
Number under the remit of the Department |
|
More than €500,000 |
0 |
|
€400,000 and €500,00 |
0 |
|
€300,000 to €250,000 |
0 |
|
€250,000 to €200,000 |
0 |
|
€200,000 to €150,000 |
1 |
|
€150,000 to €100,000 |
2 |
|
€100,000 to €80,000 |
0 |
|
€80,000 to €60,000 |
0 |
|
€60,000 to €40,000 |
0 |
|
Less than €30,000 |
0 |
*Includes both Ministerial and T.D. salaries.
152. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an application for passports by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be expedited, in view of the urgent circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18247/13]
View answerThe parents of the person in question applied to the Department for a passport for their son on 21 March, 2013. The application was made through the Passport Express service which is a ten working-day service for properly completed applications. Under this service, the Department was obliged to issue a passport to the applicant no later than 5 April, 2013 if the application was in order. However, there were two problems with the application. The first of these related to the lack of documentation to demonstrate the child’s entitlement to Irish citizenship, which is a primary requirement under the Passports Act, 2008. The second concerned the incorrect completion of the declaration section of the application form by one of the applicant’s parental guardians.
The Department rang the applicant’s father on 5 April to inform him of these problems. He was advised of the additional documents which were needed to resolve the citizenship problem. He was also told that a new completed and correctly declared form and new witnessed photographs were required. These were brought to the Passport Office in Balbriggan on 12 April, 2013. The additional information and the new form were sufficient to issue a passport. However, there was not sufficient time to enter this new material into the automated passport system to produce a full passport that day. An emergency passport was, therefore, issued to the applicant in order to facilitate the family’s travel plan for 15 April, 2013.
In the meantime, the application has been finalised and a passport has been produced. The Passport Office in Balbriggan has made further contact with the applicant’s parents to arrange the return of the valid emergency passport for cancellation and the issue of the applicant’s full passport.
