Brendan Smith
Question:113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Peace IV Programme will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40319/13]
View answerPeace and Reconciliation Programme
Questions (113)
Written answers
The SEUPB is currently involved in drafting the Operational Programme for the PEACE IV Programme in close consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland.
The first consultation with stakeholders across the eligible regions including the Border Region of Ireland and Northern Ireland for the PEACE IV Programme ran from 28 August until 20 November 2012. Almost 1,000 people attended these consultation events.
Once drafting of the Operational Programme has concluded a second public consultation process will be held in late 2013 and will invite all stakeholders to offer their views on the draft Programme.
It is anticipated that the draft Operational Programmes for PEACE IV will be presented to the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government in early 2014. Formal submission to the EU Commission will take place following the agreement of the two Governments.
Significant progress was made by the Irish Presidency on the Cohesion Legislative Package. However, negotiations are continuing with the Council and European Parliament to finalise the package. Until such time as agreement is reached, operational programmes cannot be agreed with the European Commission.
Question No. 114 withdrawn.
Job Creation Data
Questions (115)
Robert Troy
Question:115. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated number of full-time permanent jobs which Westmeath County Enterprise Board, Westmeath Community Development, Industrial Development Authority (Midlands) and Enterprise Ireland (Midlands) has been involved in supporting in each of the main employment sectors, in the years from 2008 to date in 2013. [40152/13]
View answerWritten answers
Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Westmeath County Enterprise Board operate under the aegis of my Department. Westmeath Community Development falls under the remit of my colleague, Mr Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Employment data for Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland is collected annually as part of the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. Therefore, figures for 2013 will not be available until early 2014. Full time employment figures in respect of Agency assisted companies in the main employment sectors in the Midlands Region, for the years 2008 to 2012 inclusive, are outlined in Table 1 accompanying this reply.
The estimated number of full-time jobs associated with the financial and non-financial supports provided by Westmeath County Enterprise Board (CEB) for 2010, 2011 and 2012 are set out in Table 2 accompanying this reply. Statistical information for the CEBs is collated on an annual basis so details in relation to 2013 are not yet available.
Prior to 2010, CEBs could report only on the number of jobs existing in CEB supported companies and the measurement of job creation was whether this figure had increased or decreased since the previous year.
Table 1 – Full Time Employment in Agency Assisted Companies in the Midlands Region
|
- |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
9,558 |
7,791 |
7,516 |
7,433 |
7,538 |
|
Manufacturing |
8,741 |
7,221 |
6,885 |
6,712 |
6,750 |
|
International Services |
335 |
282 |
258 |
234 |
243 |
|
Other |
482 |
288 |
373 |
487 |
545 |
|
IDA Ireland |
4,202 |
3,787 |
3,502 |
3,510 |
3,765 |
|
Manufacturing |
3,378 |
2,947 |
2,567 |
2,480 |
2,586 |
|
International Services |
824 |
840 |
935 |
1,030 |
1,179 |
Table 2 - Westmeath County Enterprise Board
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
No. of Jobs |
166 |
188 |
130 |
Question No. 116 withdrawn.
Public Relations Contracts Expenditure
Questions (117)
Colm Keaveney
Question:117. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to the Department since the current Government came into office; the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40223/13]
View answerWritten answers
The names and business addresses of the providers of public relations services used by my Department and the Offices of my Department, the details of the services supplied by each and the expenditure on each since 9 March 2011 to date are as follows:
|
Year |
Name and Address of PR Services Provider |
Details of Services Supplied |
Cost |
|
2011 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating & Associates, 19 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2. |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content). |
€18,770 |
|
2012 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating & Associates, 19 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2. |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content). |
€5,268 |
|
YTD 2013 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating & Associates, 19 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2. MRPA Kinman Communications trading as MKC Communications Limited, The Archway,4A Lower Pembroke Street,Dublin 2. |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content). To provide the Department with Press and Media Relations Services for the Irish Presidency of the EU. (This was a once off exercise/expenditure due to Presidency events) |
€2,076 €76,480 |
Employment Appeals Tribunal
Questions (118)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:118. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to any difficulties regarding the enforcement of decisions made by the Employment Appeals Tribunal, particularly relating to the payment of money owed; the penalties for employers who refuse to abide by the decision of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and if these penalties are enforced; if he is willing to take action to strengthen the remit of the Employment Appeals Tribunal relating to the enforcement of decisions made against employers, particularly with regard to enforcing the payment of wages and entitlements owed to employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40258/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the difficulties experienced on occasion by workers in seeking to enforce awards that have been made in their favour by all of the Employment Rights bodies including the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT).
In terms of the enforcement of EAT awards the holder of an award or their trade union may seek to enforce the award themselves through the Circuit Court or they may seek, in most cases, the assistance of the Minister to have this process carried out on their behalf. This involves the use of the Enforcement Services Unit of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) to have such awards enforced if appropriate through the civil courts.
In practice upon receipt of a request, NERA will endeavour to engage with the employer to seek compliance with the relevant determination. Should the employer refuse to comply with a determination, NERA may initiate legal proceedings, in the Minister’s name. In deciding whether or not to intervene, NERA has regard to the amount of the award, the potential for achieving a favourable outcome for the claimant and the scale of the costs likely to be incurred in doing so. The enforcement of a Circuit Court order in these circumstances is the responsibility of the relevant County Sheriff and my Department has no capacity to intervene.
Where an employer is legally insolvent (liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy etc.) the employee may be entitled to seek redress, through payment of such an award, from the State under the Insolvency Payments Scheme which is operated by the Department of Social Protection. Specifically, in respect of EAT determinations in cases of Redundancy Appeals, where an employer fails to pay the amount awarded; an employee has recourse to the Social Insurance Fund.
I acknowledge that the system of enforcement of awards that has developed over the years has become complex and in some cases involves very long delays. In this context and in relation to industrial relations and employment rights generally I have initiated a root-and-branch reform with the objective of establishing a world-class Workplace Relations Service.
I believe that for a workplace relations system to have credibility it must be supported by proportionate, effective and efficient compliance and enforcement measures. The current system of enforcement of employment rights awards is cumbersome, expensive and not fit for purpose. For this reason, I am proposing to make provision in the Workplace Relations Bill for a range of enhanced compliance measures, including the use of Compliance Notices, Fixed Charge Notices and a new mechanism for enforcing awards of the WRC Adjudicators and Labour Court Determinations. I am confident that the introduction of these measures will provide for more proportionate, efficient and effective enforcement of employment law.
Question No. 119 withdrawn.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (120)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:120. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers, political and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40706/13]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to 2011 and currently in 2013 is as set out in tabular format below. However, in the time available to my Department, it has not been possible to assemble the information in respect of 1981. I will, of course, arrange to supply the Deputy with the 1981 information as soon as possible.
|
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
Currently in 2013 |
end-2011 |
|
1 Special Adviser |
1 Special Adviser |
|
|
1 Press Adviser |
1 Press Adviser |
|
|
1 Parliamentary and Policy Adviser |
1 Parliamentary and Policy Adviser |
|
|
1 Personal Secretary |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
|
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
2 Civilian Drivers |
2 Civilian Drivers |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
|
1 Personal Secretary |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
|
Minister of State for Research & Innovation |
2 Civilian Drivers |
2 Civilian Drivers |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
|
1 Personal Secretary |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
|
Minister of State for Small Business |
2 Civilian Drivers |
2 Civilian Drivers |
Question No. 121 withdrawn.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Questions (122)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Question:122. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40131/13]
View answerWritten answers
An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 17th June 2013. The application was disallowed as it was considered that the child does not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 19th July 2013 advising of the decision.
In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the decision to be reviewed or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within twenty one days.
Social Welfare Appeals Issues
Questions (123)
Michelle Mulherin
Question:123. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 695 of 18 September 2013, the additional documentation that is outstanding in order to process this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40137/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the representations submitted by the Deputy have been accepted as grounds of appeal in respect of the person concerned. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question 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 appeal hearing.
It is open to the person concerned to submit any additional information that will assist his appeal which will be brought to the attention of the Appeal Officer who is assigned this case.
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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Job Initiatives
Questions (124)
Michael McGrath
Question:124. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of jobs created to date under the jobsplus scheme; the cost of the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40143/13]
View answerWritten answers
JobsPlus which was launched on 8th July 2013, is a new incentive to encourage employers to recruit and employ persons who have been unemployed for long periods. This incentive replaced this Department’s Employer Job PRSI Incentive Scheme and Revenue’s Job Assist Scheme. Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and creating a full-time position, employers will receive a direct cash incentive over two years if the person they hire has been unemployed for a prolonged period. The level of payment is higher where a person who is recruited and retained has been unemployed for a longer period.
Up to Friday 20th September 2013, the Department had received and processed applications from 1,121 employers. Over the same period, applications from 2,125 jobseekers have been received. Of these, 1,577 applications have been deemed eligible with 1,029 qualifying on the basis of being 24 months unemployed and, therefore, attracting a payment to an employer of €10,000 paid over two years. The remaining 548 applications are eligible for a payment of €7,500 over two years, having been unemployed for between 12 and 24 months.
At present, 400 eligible employers and eligible jobseekers have been matched. Of these, 250 employment contracts commenced in July and August and grant payments in respect of 236 cases will be made before the end of September. The projected outlay for these contracts is expected to cost under €400,000 in 2013. The initiative is expected to operate on a pilot basis initially, with €21.25 million allocated to cover costs over three years.
Further information regarding the scheme can be found at www.jobsplus.ie.
Job Initiatives
Questions (125)
Michael McGrath
Question:125. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the reduced rate of PRSI as part of the 2011 jobs initiative in each year since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40145/13]
View answerWritten answers
The following are the projected costs at the time of the implementation of the measures in July 2011:
|
Measure |
Yield/Cost 2011 €m |
Yield/Cost Full Year €m |
|
Halving of the lower rate of PRSI until end 2013 on jobs that pay up to €356 per week |
-85 |
In 2012: -190 In 2013: -183 In 2014: -15 |
|
Abolition of employer PRSI on share based remuneration |
-9.5 |
-17.7 in each year thereafter. |