Written Answers Nos. 301-321
301. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following on the recent conclusion of the multi-annual financial framework in the European Parliament, the level of funding that will be provided by the Government towards the Peace IV programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50807/13]
View answerOn 20 November the European Parliament in Strasbourg agreed proposals for a new round of Structural Funds. The agreement reached will see Ireland’s share of Structural Funds increase to just over €1 billion which will be used to support a range of projects to promote jobs and growth. Political agreement on four of the six regulations approved by the European Parliament had been reached under the Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
The next round of Structural Funds will include a special allocation of €150 million for a new cross-border PEACE programme. In addition the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has announced, in the context of the Building a Prosperous and United Community Pact, an additional €50m UK funding for PEACE IV.
The total funding for the Programmes will be decided as part of the Programme planning process. The SEUPB continues to develop 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 EU-funded PEACE Programmes have made an important contribution to supporting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Irish border region and I am glad that support for this valuable work will continue in the 2014-2020 period.
302. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding that will be provided in 2014 in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50808/13]
View answerDrumlane Church and Round Tower, Co. Cavan is a National Monument in the care of the OPW National Monuments Service. Following recent inspections, it is apparent that there are concerns regarding the stability of the east gable wall of the Church and that certain works may be needed to address the issue. Planning of the survey process necessary to determine what works are required has begun. It is not possible to say at this stage of the project what the likely cost will be. Funding for the project will be included in the OPW's operational budget in 2014.
303. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; and if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department. [50137/13]
View answerThe value of services provided by my Department to the public, in respect of which a charge is applied under a merchant agreement relating to the use of debit or credit cards, is as follows:
|
Office of DJEI |
Value of services provided to the public by DJEI and entities reporting to DJEI, where a payment is accepted by debit or credit cards in 2012 € |
% of charge applied to transactions under the merchant agreement |
Total value of charge in 2012 € |
Portion of charge accrued by D/JEI € |
|
Companies Registration Office |
1,127,431.50 |
2.7% |
30,440.65 |
0 |
|
Patents Office |
7,776,011.00 |
1.52% This represents an average figure due to the multiplicity of cards used |
118,524.50 |
0 |
Charges applied to transactions under the merchant agreement are paid by my Department directly to the merchant services provider. They are borne by my Department and are not passed on to customers. Any payments accepted by debit or credit card by the Agencies under my remit are an operational matter for the Agencies concerned, for which I have no direct function.
304. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the various different types of funding available for start-up business and specifically targeted funding for new enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50173/13]
View answerThe main sources of direct support through my Department are Enterprise Ireland and the City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs). Entrepreneurs can access a range of pre-investment supports from Enterprise Ireland which enable them to investigate the viability and potential of a business idea and to help accelerate their business development. These supports are accessible to entrepreneurs who come forward with strong innovative business ideas. Within this there is a programme focus on the promotion of female-led and regional start-up enterprise creation. When companies have reached the stage where they are investor ready, they can access Competitive Start Fund Funding which is awarded through a competitive call for applications, or Enterprise Ireland’s “High Potential Start Up” offer which provides equity investment to support the implementation of company business plans.
In addition to taking direct equity stakes in companies, the State through, Enterprise Ireland has invested heavily in stimulating and facilitating Business Angel investment through the Business Angel HALO programme and in providing access to finance for new and established enterprises through the Seed & Venture Capital Schemes, the Development Capital Schemes and Innovation Fund Ireland. I launched the Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2013-2018 this year and this should further increase the availability of capital in the market. In recent months I launched the new €20m Frontline VC fund and had the opportunity to announce the MML €125m Development Capital Fund targeted at investing in more established businesses.
All CEBs provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. Their primary role is to support individuals and firms in achieving commercial viability, with priority given to those engaged in manufacturing and internationally traded services. CEBs can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. The forms of financial assistance available cover a range of business costs, subject to certain restrictions and conditions, and comprise of, Priming Grants, Business Expansion / Development Grants, and Feasibility / Innovation Grants.
Micro Finance Ireland is also a source of capital to new companies and entrepreneurs seeking to establish new businesses. MFI lends between €2,000 and €25,000 for commercially viable proposals that have been declined bank credit. This scheme was specifically designed to alleviate the challenges for entrepreneurs establishing businesses who found they could not get bank source bank debt. My Department continues to work through the Action Plan for Jobs with its agencies and other government departments to increase the availability for funding for entrepreneurs and SMEs.
305. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has plans, through the Companies Bill 2013, to ensure the mandatory disclosure of the beneficial ownership of each incorporated entity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50264/13]
View answerNeither the Companies Bill 2012 nor the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 include provisions on mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership of Irish companies. There are developments elsewhere on this issue. Firstly, in February 2013, the European Commission adopted a Proposal for a Directive on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing. That Proposal contains provisions regarding the disclosure of beneficial ownership and the Minister for Finance is taking the lead on the Irish position. Moreover, the Lough Erne Declaration of the G8, adopted last June, is expected to lead to concrete proposals in due course.
In the meantime, section 67 of the Companies Bill 2012 (as initiated) was amended at Committee Stage [Dáil] to expressly prohibit private companies from issuing bearer shares i.e. shares that do not have registered owners as ownership is based on physical possession of the share certificate.
306. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created per month over the past 24 months broken down per sector and per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50274/13]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office does not compile statistics on jobs created on a monthly, sectoral or county basis. Appendix 1, accompanying this reply, sets out details of persons over 15 years of age employed in the main economic sectors throughout the country.
As regards the Enterprise Development Agencies which operate under the aegis of my Department, I have provided in Appendices 2, 3, and 4, accompanying this reply, the employment details, including jobs created, since 2011 in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards. As these figures are compiled on an annualised basis, the figures for 2013 will be available in the early part of 2014. The latest Central Statistics Office figures show that employment increased by 3.2% or 58,000 in the year to Quarter 3 2013, bringing total employment to 1,899,300. We have now moved from a situation where the private sector was losing over 7,000 jobs per month before this Government came to office, to the present situation where it is creating close to 3,000 jobs per month.
As I highlighted in my Budget 2014 , Press Release on 15 October, I expect that more than 48,000 new jobs will be created in 2014 as a result of support from my Department to the Enterprise Development Agencies. Enterprise Ireland and IDA are targeting the creation of a total of 24,000 gross new jobs in supported companies during 2014 as a result of financial supports allocated under today’s Budget. Based on a conservative calculation of standard multiplier effects, this will result in the creation of more than 20,000 additional jobs elsewhere in the economy through supply companies and support services. The CEBs/LEOs are expected to support the creation of a further 4,500 jobs in 2014.
Through the implementation of the Government’s annual Action Plan for Jobs process, I am determined to continue the transition to a sustainable economy, through growing our exports, and creating the jobs we need. Central to the Action Plan is ensuring greater access for Irish companies to real opportunities to break into new markets, grow their exports and create much needed jobs for this economy. I am currently preparing the 2014 Action Plan on behalf of the Government and we will continue, through that process, to build on the success of the actions we have taken over the last two years.
Appendix 1
Persons aged over 15 employed by Sector
Person aged 15 years and over in Employment (Thousand) by Sex, NACE Rev2 Economic Sector and Quarter
|
Both sexes |
2011Q3 |
2011Q4 |
2012Q1 |
2012Q2 |
2012Q3 |
2012Q4 |
2013Q1 |
2013Q2 |
2013Q3 |
|
All NACE economic sectors |
1,845.6 |
1,847.7 |
1,825.0 |
1,836.2 |
1,841.3 |
1,848.9 |
1,845.6 |
1,869.9 |
1,899.3 |
|
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) |
82.4 |
80.3 |
80.5 |
87.1 |
85.6 |
90.0 |
96.2 |
103.4 |
110.6 |
|
Construction (F) |
108.5 |
107.8 |
103.3 |
99.6 |
101.1 |
103.2 |
96.3 |
102.7 |
105.4 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) |
276.5 |
270.5 |
271.3 |
268.2 |
272.7 |
273.4 |
274.1 |
271.5 |
273.3 |
|
Transportation and storage (H) |
96.7 |
92.6 |
90.2 |
90.9 |
90.3 |
89.0 |
88.8 |
86.0 |
88.2 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities (I) |
121.1 |
119.9 |
117.6 |
120.0 |
123.1 |
118.3 |
120.3 |
129.6 |
137.7 |
|
Information and communication (J) |
77.1 |
77.7 |
78.5 |
81.2 |
78.2 |
83.2 |
77.4 |
80.4 |
82.0 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities (M) |
96.6 |
96.2 |
98.0 |
102.6 |
100.4 |
102.2 |
103.9 |
108.0 |
111.3 |
|
Administrative and support service activities (N) |
69.4 |
65.3 |
62.5 |
63.0 |
66.6 |
63.2 |
59.5 |
58.0 |
64.7 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security (O) |
99.3 |
102.3 |
99.5 |
99.6 |
99.7 |
96.0 |
95.2 |
95.1 |
96.1 |
|
Education (P) |
137.2 |
144.5 |
146.6 |
146.3 |
140.6 |
145.3 |
147.5 |
150.3 |
140.8 |
|
Human health and social work activities (Q) |
243.5 |
242.8 |
239.6 |
244.4 |
245.0 |
245.7 |
247.5 |
244.6 |
243.6 |
|
Industry (B to E) |
238.9 |
244.5 |
236.0 |
231.7 |
231.1 |
237.2 |
238.0 |
238.4 |
242.0 |
|
Industry and Construction (B to F) |
347.4 |
352.4 |
339.3 |
331.3 |
332.1 |
340.4 |
334.3 |
341.1 |
347.3 |
|
Services (G to U) |
1,412.1 |
1,412.3 |
1,403.3 |
1,416.0 |
1,420.8 |
1,415.3 |
1,413.5 |
1,424.2 |
1,439.2 |
|
Financial, insurance and real estate activities (K,L) |
99.1 |
104.1 |
101.0 |
99.3 |
102.3 |
102.8 |
99.7 |
98.9 |
101.5 |
|
Other NACE activities (R to U) |
95.5 |
96.3 |
98.5 |
100.6 |
101.9 |
96.2 |
99.8 |
101.8 |
99.9 |
|
Not stated |
3.8 |
2.7 |
.. |
.. |
2.8 |
3.2 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
Appendix 2 – List of Full and Part Time Jobs in Enterprise Ireland supported Companies
|
County |
Data |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Carlow |
Full Time Jobs |
2,106 |
2,137 |
|
Carlow |
Full Time Gains |
253 |
152 |
|
Carlow |
Full Time Losses |
-99 |
-121 |
|
Carlow |
Full Time Change |
154 |
31 |
|
Carlow |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
204 |
190 |
|
Cavan |
Full Time Jobs |
4,021 |
4,151 |
|
Cavan |
Full Time Gains |
369 |
374 |
|
Cavan |
Full Time Losses |
-273 |
-244 |
|
Cavan |
Full Time Change |
96 |
130 |
|
Cavan |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
366 |
396 |
|
Clare |
Full Time Jobs |
1,552 |
1,580 |
|
Clare |
Full Time Gains |
94 |
133 |
|
Clare |
Full Time Losses |
-160 |
-105 |
|
Clare |
Full Time Change |
-66 |
28 |
|
Clare |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
270 |
194 |
|
Cork |
Full Time Jobs |
17,784 |
18,629 |
|
Cork |
Full Time Gains |
1,997 |
1,663 |
|
Cork |
Full Time Losses |
-624 |
-818 |
|
Cork |
Full Time Change |
1,373 |
845 |
|
Cork |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
2,144 |
2,199 |
|
Donegal |
Full Time Jobs |
2,784 |
2,655 |
|
Donegal |
Full Time Gains |
301 |
180 |
|
Donegal |
Full Time Losses |
-179 |
-309 |
|
Donegal |
Full Time Change |
122 |
-129 |
|
Donegal |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
722 |
706 |
|
Dublin |
Full Time Jobs |
49,477 |
50,159 |
|
Dublin |
Full Time Gains |
3,938 |
4,097 |
|
Dublin |
Full Time Losses |
-3,320 |
-3,415 |
|
Dublin |
Full Time Change |
618 |
682 |
|
Dublin |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
11,854 |
11,612 |
|
Galway |
Full Time Jobs |
5,901 |
6,063 |
|
Galway |
Full Time Gains |
855 |
572 |
|
Galway |
Full Time Losses |
-448 |
-410 |
|
Galway |
Full Time Change |
407 |
162 |
|
Galway |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
908 |
1,119 |
|
Kerry |
Full Time Jobs |
3,230 |
3,318 |
|
Kerry |
Full Time Gains |
232 |
194 |
|
Kerry |
Full Time Losses |
-94 |
-106 |
|
Kerry |
Full Time Change |
138 |
88 |
|
Kerry |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
503 |
478 |
|
Kildare |
Full Time Jobs |
5,160 |
5,450 |
|
Kildare |
Full Time Gains |
1,082 |
534 |
|
Kildare |
Full Time Losses |
-372 |
-244 |
|
Kildare |
Full Time Change |
710 |
290 |
|
Kildare |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
655 |
632 |
|
Kilkenny |
Full Time Jobs |
2,869 |
3,089 |
|
Kilkenny |
Full Time Gains |
150 |
320 |
|
Kilkenny |
Full Time Losses |
-201 |
-100 |
|
Kilkenny |
Full Time Change |
-51 |
220 |
|
Kilkenny |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
570 |
580 |
|
Laois |
Full Time Jobs |
991 |
929 |
|
Laois |
Full Time Gains |
158 |
76 |
|
Laois |
Full Time Losses |
-226 |
-138 |
|
Laois |
Full Time Change |
-68 |
-62 |
|
Laois |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
107 |
182 |
|
Leitrim |
Full Time Jobs |
536 |
574 |
|
Leitrim |
Full Time Gains |
46 |
54 |
|
Leitrim |
Full Time Losses |
-47 |
-16 |
|
Leitrim |
Full Time Change |
-1 |
38 |
|
Leitrim |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
71 |
62 |
|
Limerick |
Full Time Jobs |
6,048 |
6,279 |
|
Limerick |
Full Time Gains |
289 |
684 |
|
Limerick |
Full Time Losses |
-354 |
-453 |
|
Limerick |
Full Time Change |
-65 |
231 |
|
Limerick |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
693 |
745 |
|
Longford |
Full Time Jobs |
1,529 |
1,557 |
|
Longford |
Full Time Gains |
86 |
116 |
|
Longford |
Full Time Losses |
-132 |
-88 |
|
Longford |
Full Time Change |
-46 |
28 |
|
Longford |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
121 |
120 |
|
Louth |
Full Time Jobs |
4,225 |
4,328 |
|
Louth |
Full Time Gains |
389 |
299 |
|
Louth |
Full Time Losses |
-411 |
-196 |
|
Louth |
Full Time Change |
-22 |
103 |
|
Louth |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
741 |
681 |
|
Mayo |
Full Time Jobs |
3,127 |
3,054 |
|
Mayo |
Full Time Gains |
716 |
197 |
|
Mayo |
Full Time Losses |
-531 |
-270 |
|
Mayo |
Full Time Change |
185 |
-73 |
|
Mayo |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
343 |
362 |
|
Meath |
Full Time Jobs |
4,450 |
4,771 |
|
Meath |
Full Time Gains |
362 |
615 |
|
Meath |
Full Time Losses |
-200 |
-294 |
|
Meath |
Full Time Change |
162 |
321 |
|
Meath |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
772 |
597 |
|
Monaghan |
Full Time Jobs |
3,311 |
3,463 |
|
Monaghan |
Full Time Gains |
391 |
294 |
|
Monaghan |
Full Time Losses |
-275 |
-142 |
|
Monaghan |
Full Time Change |
116 |
152 |
|
Monaghan |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
361 |
408 |
|
Offaly |
Full Time Jobs |
2,731 |
2,699 |
|
Offaly |
Full Time Gains |
173 |
139 |
|
Offaly |
Full Time Losses |
-172 |
-171 |
|
Offaly |
Full Time Change |
1 |
-32 |
|
Offaly |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
199 |
193 |
|
Roscommon |
Full Time Jobs |
1,165 |
1,119 |
|
Roscommon |
Full Time Gains |
108 |
29 |
|
Roscommon |
Full Time Losses |
-134 |
-75 |
|
Roscommon |
Full Time Change |
-26 |
-46 |
|
Roscommon |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
125 |
106 |
|
Sligo |
Full Time Jobs |
1,332 |
1,508 |
|
Sligo |
Full Time Gains |
140 |
247 |
|
Sligo |
Full Time Losses |
-89 |
-71 |
|
Sligo |
Full Time Change |
51 |
176 |
|
Sligo |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
191 |
130 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
Full Time Jobs |
2,293 |
2,162 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
Full Time Gains |
127 |
49 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
Full Time Losses |
-55 |
-180 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
Full Time Change |
72 |
-131 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
273 |
317 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
Full Time Jobs |
2,187 |
2,151 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
Full Time Gains |
123 |
81 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
Full Time Losses |
-577 |
-117 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
Full Time Change |
-454 |
-36 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
359 |
383 |
|
Waterford |
Full Time Jobs |
4,217 |
4,063 |
|
Waterford |
Full Time Gains |
909 |
692 |
|
Waterford |
Full Time Losses |
-611 |
-846 |
|
Waterford |
Full Time Change |
298 |
-154 |
|
Waterford |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
455 |
414 |
|
Westmeath |
Full Time Jobs |
2,181 |
2,352 |
|
Westmeath |
Full Time Gains |
340 |
275 |
|
Westmeath |
Full Time Losses |
-310 |
-104 |
|
Westmeath |
Full Time Change |
30 |
171 |
|
Westmeath |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
231 |
240 |
|
Wexford |
Full Time Jobs |
3,793 |
3,881 |
|
Wexford |
Full Time Gains |
191 |
385 |
|
Wexford |
Full Time Losses |
-340 |
-297 |
|
Wexford |
Full Time Change |
-149 |
88 |
|
Wexford |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
481 |
521 |
|
Wicklow |
Full Time Jobs |
3,122 |
3,339 |
|
Wicklow |
Full Time Gains |
204 |
410 |
|
Wicklow |
Full Time Losses |
-219 |
-193 |
|
Wicklow |
Full Time Change |
-15 |
217 |
|
Wicklow |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
518 |
424 |
|
Total |
Full Time Jobs |
142,122 |
145,460 |
|
Total |
Full Time Gains |
14,023 |
12,861 |
|
Total |
Full Time Losses |
-10,453 |
-9,523 |
|
Total |
Full Time Change |
3,570 |
3,338 |
|
Total |
Contract/Part Time Jobs |
24,237 |
23,991 |
Appendix 3 – IDA Ireland Employment Statistics
|
County |
Employment Data |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Cavan |
Total New Jobs Created |
-3 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
Job Losses |
-22 |
-39 |
|
Cavan |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-25 |
-39 |
|
Louth |
Total New Jobs Created |
225 |
390 |
|
Louth |
Job Losses |
-58 |
-45 |
|
Louth |
Total Net Change in Employment |
167 |
345 |
|
Monaghan |
Total New Jobs Created |
19 |
6 |
|
Monaghan |
Job Losses |
-82 |
-10 |
|
Monaghan |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-63 |
-4 |
|
Donegal |
Total New Jobs Created |
274 |
140 |
|
Donegal |
Job Losses |
-22 |
-18 |
|
Donegal |
Total Net Change in Employment |
252 |
122 |
|
Leitrim |
Total New Jobs Created |
26 |
-37 |
|
Leitrim |
Job Losses |
-199 |
-152 |
|
Leitrim |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-173 |
-189 |
|
Sligo |
Total New Jobs Created |
177 |
86 |
|
Sligo |
Job Losses |
-51 |
-138 |
|
Sligo |
Total Net Change in Employment |
126 |
-52 |
|
Laois |
Total New Jobs Created |
2 |
-1 |
|
Laois |
Job Losses |
-27 |
-23 |
|
Laois |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-25 |
-24 |
|
Longford |
Total New Jobs Created |
-11 |
31 |
|
Longford |
Job Losses |
-50 |
0 |
|
Longford |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-61 |
31 |
|
Offaly |
Total New Jobs Created |
53 |
55 |
|
Offaly |
Job Losses |
-78 |
-1 |
|
Offaly |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-25 |
54 |
|
Roscommon |
Total New Jobs Created |
84 |
64 |
|
Roscommon |
Job Losses |
-12 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
Total Net Change in Employment |
72 |
64 |
|
Westmeath |
Total New Jobs Created |
147 |
318 |
|
Westmeath |
Job Losses |
-56 |
-30 |
|
Westmeath |
Total Net Change in Employment |
91 |
288 |
|
Galway |
Total New Jobs Created |
1,898 |
993 |
|
Galway |
Job Losses |
-169 |
-297 |
|
Galway |
Total Net Change in Employment |
1,729 |
702 |
|
Mayo |
Total New Jobs Created |
149 |
162 |
|
Mayo |
Job Losses |
-87 |
-58 |
|
Mayo |
Total Net Change in Employment |
62 |
20 |
|
Clare |
Total New Jobs Created |
70 |
66 |
|
Clare |
Job Losses |
-40 |
-28 |
|
Clare |
Total Net Change in Employment |
30 |
29 |
|
Limerick |
Total New Jobs Created |
242 |
592 |
|
Limerick |
Job Losses |
-133 |
-99 |
|
Limerick |
Total Net Change in Employment |
109 |
502 |
|
Tipperary North |
Total New Jobs Created |
23 |
-1 |
|
Tipperary North |
Job Losses |
-3 |
-6 |
|
Tipperary North |
Total Net Change in Employment |
20 |
-7 |
|
Cork |
Total New Jobs Created |
1,791 |
2,208 |
|
Cork |
Job Losses |
-870 |
-991 |
|
Cork |
Total Net Change in Employment |
921 |
1,217 |
|
Kerry |
Total New Jobs Created |
166 |
114 |
|
Kerry |
Job Losses |
-182 |
-8 |
|
Kerry |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-16 |
106 |
|
Carlow |
Total New Jobs Created |
197 |
132 |
|
Carlow |
Job Losses |
0 |
-1 |
|
Carlow |
Total Net Change in Employment |
197 |
131 |
|
Kilkenny |
Total New Jobs Created |
-8 |
133 |
|
Kilkenny |
Job Losses |
-5 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-13 |
133 |
|
Tipperary South |
Total New Jobs Created |
3 |
153 |
|
Tipperary South |
Job Losses |
-279 |
-155 |
|
Tipperary South |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-276 |
-2 |
|
Waterford |
Total New Jobs Created |
-152 |
20 |
|
Waterford |
Job Losses |
-764 |
-186 |
|
Waterford |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-916 |
-166 |
|
Wexford |
Total New Jobs Created |
18 |
52 |
|
Wexford |
Job Losses |
-47 |
-106 |
|
Wexford |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-29 |
-54 |
|
Dublin |
Total New Jobs Created |
7,160 |
6,763 |
|
Dublin |
Job Losses |
-3,066 |
-3,059 |
|
Dublin |
Total Net Change in Employment |
4,094 |
3,704 |
|
Kildare |
Total New Jobs Created |
385 |
115 |
|
Kildare |
Job Losses |
-377 |
-489 |
|
Kildare |
Total Net Change in Employment |
8 |
-374 |
|
Meath |
Total New Jobs Created |
84 |
36 |
|
Meath |
Job Losses |
-28 |
-103 |
|
Meath |
Total Net Change in Employment |
56 |
-67 |
|
Wicklow |
Total New Jobs Created |
65 |
137 |
|
Wicklow |
Job Losses |
-243 |
-110 |
|
Wicklow |
Total Net Change in Employment |
-178 |
27 |
Appendix 4
Table 1: County Enterprise Boards Employment Statistics 2012
|
CEB |
Full Time Employees |
Part Time Employees |
Full Time Gains |
Full Time Losses |
Net Full Time Gains/ Losses |
|
Carlow |
1258 |
415 |
254 |
-94 |
160 |
|
Cavan |
1071 |
436 |
138 |
-131 |
7 |
|
Clare |
1255 |
599 |
200 |
-120 |
80 |
|
Cork City |
796 |
114 |
52 |
-52 |
0 |
|
Cork North |
400 |
77 |
59 |
-30 |
29 |
|
Cork South |
1089 |
256 |
179 |
-108 |
71 |
|
Cork West |
638 |
350 |
83 |
-77 |
6 |
|
Donegal |
1578 |
856 |
131 |
-311 |
-180 |
|
Dublin City |
2067 |
552 |
382 |
-364 |
18 |
|
Dublin Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
1802 |
839 |
337 |
-64 |
273 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
1237 |
491 |
240 |
-205 |
35 |
|
Dublin South |
1076 |
441 |
168 |
-113 |
55 |
|
Galway County/City |
1556 |
169 |
124 |
-165 |
-41 |
|
Kerry |
1236 |
749 |
316 |
-369 |
-53 |
|
Kildare |
800 |
313 |
133 |
-160 |
-27 |
|
Kilkenny |
775 |
204 |
84 |
-155 |
-71 |
|
Laois |
652 |
344 |
69 |
-99 |
-30 |
|
Leitrim |
340 |
183 |
35 |
-45 |
-10 |
|
Limerick City |
654 |
270 |
100 |
-151 |
-51 |
|
Limerick County |
1058 |
192 |
73 |
-81 |
-8 |
|
Longford |
831 |
265 |
79 |
-100 |
-21 |
|
Louth |
866 |
441 |
148 |
-177 |
-29 |
|
Mayo |
1000 |
329 |
43 |
-50 |
-7 |
|
Meath |
1107 |
341 |
175 |
-94 |
81 |
|
Monaghan |
902 |
386 |
120 |
-155 |
-35 |
|
Offaly |
742 |
294 |
75 |
-90 |
-15 |
|
Roscommon |
612 |
258 |
81 |
-106 |
-25 |
|
Sligo |
813 |
475 |
117 |
-87 |
30 |
|
Tipperary(NR) |
365 |
160 |
41 |
-125 |
-84 |
|
Tipperary(SR) |
706 |
325 |
53 |
-17 |
36 |
|
Waterford City |
665 |
265 |
76 |
-106 |
-30 |
|
Waterford County |
590 |
204 |
110 |
-105 |
5 |
|
WestMeath |
1022 |
379 |
130 |
-218 |
-88 |
|
Wexford |
1193 |
445 |
269 |
-163 |
106 |
|
Wicklow |
678 |
653 |
184 |
-115 |
69 |
|
Grand Total |
33430 |
13070 |
4858 |
-4602 |
256 |
Table 2: County Enterprise Boards Employment Statistics 2011
|
CEB |
Full Time Employees |
Part Time Employees |
Full Time Gains |
Full Time Losses |
Net Full Time Gains/ Losses |
|
Carlow |
1098 |
324 |
190 |
-138 |
52 |
|
Cavan |
1062 |
392 |
154 |
-124 |
30 |
|
Clare |
1175 |
668 |
56 |
-33 |
23 |
|
Cork City |
796 |
109 |
41 |
-108 |
-67 |
|
Cork North |
371 |
77 |
57 |
-105 |
-48 |
|
Cork South |
1018 |
214 |
164 |
-139 |
25 |
|
Cork West |
632 |
364 |
77 |
-94 |
-17 |
|
Donegal |
1758 |
700 |
310 |
-316 |
-6 |
|
Dublin City |
2062 |
478 |
293 |
-186 |
107 |
|
Dublin Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
1063 |
414 |
159 |
-117 |
42 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
1202 |
512 |
98 |
-84 |
14 |
|
Dublin South |
1006 |
389 |
122 |
-82 |
40 |
|
Galway County/City |
1597 |
136 |
250 |
-711 |
-461 |
|
Kerry |
1289 |
918 |
348 |
-368 |
-20 |
|
Kildare |
830 |
345 |
106 |
-208 |
-102 |
|
Kilkenny |
846 |
255 |
151 |
-147 |
4 |
|
Laois |
682 |
319 |
136 |
-160 |
-24 |
|
Leitrim |
336 |
184 |
61 |
-117 |
-56 |
|
Limerick City |
743 |
253 |
174 |
-140 |
34 |
|
Limerick County |
1033 |
205 |
190 |
-135 |
55 |
|
Longford |
852 |
248 |
117 |
-130 |
-13 |
|
Louth |
895 |
447 |
255 |
-241 |
14 |
|
Mayo |
1007 |
328 |
63 |
-163 |
-100 |
|
Meath |
1026 |
254 |
358 |
-163 |
195 |
|
Monaghan |
937 |
363 |
111 |
-121 |
-10 |
|
Offaly |
760 |
327 |
224 |
-95 |
129 |
|
Roscommon |
654 |
278 |
107 |
-94 |
13 |
|
Sligo |
783 |
444 |
121 |
-101 |
20 |
|
Tipperary(NR) |
449 |
147 |
88 |
-48 |
40 |
|
Tipperary(SR) |
667 |
321 |
77 |
-251 |
-174 |
|
Waterford City |
590 |
226 |
178 |
-186 |
-8 |
|
Waterford County |
589 |
174 |
59 |
-80 |
-21 |
|
WestMeath |
1111 |
418 |
188 |
-211 |
-23 |
|
Wexford |
1088 |
478 |
167 |
-255 |
-88 |
|
Wicklow |
607 |
591 |
81 |
-250 |
-169 |
|
Grand Total |
32614 |
12300 |
5331 |
-5901 |
-570 |
307. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created and-or lost in each of the past three years to date in Counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50309/13]
View answerTables 1 - 3 below set out the number of jobs created and lost in counties Longford and Westmeath in respect of client companies of: IDA Ireland; Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards (CEB’s) over the past three years, i.e. 2010, 2011 and 2012. IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Longford and Westmeath County Enterprise Boards are all working to promote enterprise development in Counties Longford and Westmeath. IDA Ireland is charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions while Enterprise Ireland has responsibility for the development and promotion of Ireland’s indigenous business sector. The role of Longford and Westmeath County Enterprise Boards is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level.
Counties Longford and Westmeath form part of IDA’s Midland Region along with Counties Laois, Offaly, and Roscommon. The locations of emphasis for IDA in these counties are the National Spatial Strategy Gateway towns of Athlone, Tullamore, and Mullingar. In addition, IDA actively promotes the county towns of Longford, Portlaoise and Roscommon.
Counties Longford and Westmeath have traditionally been centres of manufacturing for foreign direct investment, but in recent years it has proved challenging to maintain and attract overseas manufacturing companies into the Counties as much of this investment globally is going to low cost destinations. Nevertheless, Westmeath is developing itself as a location for high value FDI.
At present there are eighteen IDA Ireland supported companies in Westmeath employing 2,444 people and six IDA supported companies in Longford employing approximately 680 people.
In addition to seeking new investment into the region, IDA Ireland also continues to work with the existing client base in the area encouraging them to embed and grow their operations in the Region. IDA Ireland works closely with educational institutions in the Region, in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment. IDA is also working with SOLAS to provide guidance in developing the skill sets needed by those already in the workforce who are interested in upskilling.
IDA has also invested in the physical infrastructure required to attract today’s FDI to the Region. This included investing €3.5m in a quality flagship Business Park in Athlone which is now an integral part of the agency’s international marketing programme.
In 2012, 1,557 people were employed on a full time basis in Enterprise Ireland client companies in Co. Longford and 2,352 people were employed on a full time basis in EI client companies in Co. Westmeath. In 2012, €1.33m was paid by EI to companies in Co. Longford and €1.01m was paid to companies in Co. Westmeath for job creation and retention and business development purposes. To date in 2013, EI has held/launched: an Export Awareness Event in Athlone through its new Potential Exporters Division; a Call for Proposals under the Midlands Competitive Feasibility Fund. Nine applicants – including one from Co. Longford and four from Co. Westmeath - were successful in winning funding and are currently progressing with their start-ups. This new Fund provides funding of up to €25,000 per project. The 2013 New Midlands Frontiers Programme is currently underway. 14 start-up companies participated in the 2012 Programme receiving targeted financial support of €15k per start-up.
County Longford and County Westmeath Enterprise Boards created a total of 307 and 484 full time jobs, respectively, over the past three years.
An important Government action, in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, is the creation of a “First-Stop-Shop” at local level for the support of small and micro business which will bring local enterprise support into an integrated national network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The LEO’s will deliver enterprise policy to the highest standards, offering seamless progression for small business with potential to the existing national programmes run by EI, such as the Midlands Competitive Feasibility Fund. Pending the introduction of the LEOs, Longford and Westmeath CEBs will continue to support Enterprise Development in their areas and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level.
Table 1: 1DA
|
County |
Full time jobs |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Longford |
New jobs created |
4 |
0 |
24 |
|
Longford |
Jobs Lost |
127 |
50 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
New jobs created |
128 |
194 |
252 |
|
Westmeath |
Jobs Lost |
40 |
56 |
30 |
Table 2: Enterprise Ireland
|
County |
Full time jobs |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Longford |
New jobs created |
74 |
86 |
116 |
|
Longford |
Jobs Lost |
192 |
132 |
88 |
|
Westmeath |
New jobs created |
154 |
340 |
275 |
|
Westmeath |
Jobs Lost |
245 |
310 |
104 |
Table 3 : County Enterprise Boards (CEBs)
|
County |
Full time jobs |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Longford |
New jobs created |
111 |
117 |
79 |
|
Longford |
Jobs Lost |
135 |
130 |
100 |
|
Westmeath |
New jobs created |
166 |
188 |
130 |
|
Westmeath |
Jobs Lost |
144 |
211 |
218 |
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey is the source for the enclosed data.
308. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures in place to help persons with a disability in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50352/13]
View answer309. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific measures in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs that will improve the employment opportunities of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50353/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.
The Action Plan for Jobs is a whole of Government programme, with individual actions for completion by all Government Departments and 46 State bodies. The aim of the Action Plan is to create a supportive environment for the enterprise sector in order to allow employment to grow across all sectors and for people of all abilities.
Apart from the measures which are aimed at increasing employment across the economy as a whole, Action 240 of the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs is specifically aimed at promoting the employability of groups that have experienced labour market disadvantage, including those with a disability. This action is being progressed by the Equality Authority, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter T.D.
The Department of Social Protection also provides a range of labour market services for people with disabilities, including training and employment programmes. In more general terms, many of the schemes which have been introduced by the Government to help people progress into employment - such as the new JobsPlus scheme and the national internship programme, JobBridge - are open to people with disabilities.
In addition, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Kathleen Lynch T.D., is responsible for the development of a ten year comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities, which is a key element of the Government’s National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan.
I am currently preparing the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs on behalf of the Government and I would be happy to include in that Plan specific actions that Government Departments or agencies may wish to commit to in order to further support the employment of people with disabilities.
310. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the negative effect high commercial rates has on job creation in small business. [50446/13]
View answerThe levying and collection of commercial rates is a reserved function of the Local Authorities which come under the policy remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D. The Annual Rate of Valuation (ARV) is decided by the elected members of each Local Authority in their annual budget. The monies raised by Local Authorities through payment of rates fund vital local services for enterprises, including roads, street lighting, maintenance programmes and the provision of advice on a wide range of issues under the remit of local authorities. Conscious of the pressures on businesses at the present time, in 2013, 87 out of the 88 rating authorities have either reduced their ARV or kept it at the same level as 2012.
This Government is committed to making Irish businesses keenly competitive in increasingly challenging global markets. In order to help SMEs to be competitive, we are striving to keep all costs on businesses as low as possible. Government actions to support small and medium sized businesses in the domestic economy have been set out in the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 and 2013, and work will continue in this respect in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014.
Significant progress has been made in a number of areas, including the introduction of new financing models for SMEs, for example, the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Microenterprise Loan Fund scheme; tackling the issue of late payments through the transposition of the EU Late Payment Directive into Irish legislation; the introduction of the JobsPlus scheme that provides an employment subsidy to employers who recruit a person who has been unemployed for 12 months or more; reform of the County Enterprise Boards through the establishment of new Local Enterprise Offices, which is well advanced within my own Department; reductions in the administrative burden on business. To date, my own Department has achieved a 25% reduction in its administrative burden on business, amounting to a potential annual saving for business of over €207 million.
Budget 2014 also contained a number of additional initiatives to support SMEs. These include an increase in the cash receipts threshold for VAT, which will improve cash-flow for businesses, and a new subsidised Financial Training programme for SMEs.
These are just some of the measures which the Government has taken to support the SME sector. The Action Plan for Jobs 2014, which I am currently preparing for the Government, will seek to build on the progress already made and is set to deliver a further suite of actions to support enterprise. SMEs will continue to be a key focus of this process.
311. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will target assistance to the local small and medium enterprises sector in relation to job creation. [50448/13]
View answerThe Government recognises the jobs challenge facing Ireland at this time, most particularly for small and medium sized business. SMEs make up over 99% of businesses in the enterprise economy in Ireland and account for almost 70% of people employed. That is why within the Action Plan for Jobs process Government has ensured that there is a particular focus on supporting small businesses and work will continue with this focus in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014.
The Deputy will be aware that significant progress has been made in a number of areas, including improving access to finance through the credit guarantee scheme and the microenterprise loan fund scheme; tackling the issue of late payments through the transposition of the EU Late Payment Directive into Irish legislation; development of a single licensing application portal; reform of the County Enterprise Boards through the establishment of new local enterprise offices; and improving access to examinership for small companies through the Companies Bill.
The Action Plan 2014 will seek to build on this progress and is set to deliver a further suite of actions to support enterprise. SMEs will continue to be a key focus. In addition to work under the Action Plan for Jobs, further measures to support SMEs were recently announced in Budget 2014, which include: retention of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector – to support and encourage growth in small businesses in the tourism sector; capital gains tax relief to encourage investment in new business; removal of the employment and investment incentive from the higher earners restriction, to incentivise higher levels of investment in SMEs; increasing the threshold for the credit review office from €500,000 to €3 million; supporting cash-flow in the small business sector by increasing the VAT cash threshold from €1.25 million to €2 million; and a package of improvements in the R&D tax credit aimed particularly at small Irish companies.
312. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will examine an entrepreneur local scheme to assist the setting up of small business. [50449/13]
View answerThe County and City Enterprise boards provide support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. Their primary role is to support individuals and firms in achieving commercial viability, with priority given to those engaged in manufacturing and internationally traded services. CEBs can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to entrepreneurs. The forms of financial assistance available cover a range of business costs, subject to certain restrictions and conditions, and comprise of priming grants, business expansion or development grants, and feasibility or innovation grants.
The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability training and development programmes, e-Commerce training initiatives, etc. Anyone interested in starting or expanding their own business should in the first instance contact their local County and City Enterprise Board (CEB). Contact details for the CEBs are available on www.enterpriseboards.ie. In Budget 2014, the Government has provided a total of €18.5 million for CEBs to support enterprise development, an increase of €3.5 million on the Budget 2013 Estimate.
I should also point out that the Government established Micro Finance Ireland in 2012 with a view to improving access by small business to loan finance. MFI provides support in the form of loans for up to €25,000, available to start-up, newly established, or growing microenterprises employing fewer than ten people, with viable business propositions, that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks.
313. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 28 February 2013, if he will provide an update on whether the Industrial Development Agency Ireland has delivered on assurances which his Department received from IDA Ireland that it will in 2013 seek to target more than 130 new investments, secure €500 million of research and development expenditure and create 13,000 new jobs in its client companies; if he will clarify the element of new investment, research and development expenditure and new jobs that relate to County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50571/13]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that IDA Ireland’s mid-year results, announced in July last, showed that foreign direct investment into Ireland was very strong in the first half of this year. In the first six months of 2013, there was an increased number of investments, with approximately 7,000 associated jobs to be created as companies implement and complete their investment plants. This trend represents a continuation on the strong performance announced by IDA Ireland at the end of 2012, during which year, in excess of 12,000 jobs were created by multinational companies. The 2012 results represented the third consecutive year of growth in net employment in IDA Ireland client companies.
Work in winning new investments has been continuing steadily in the second half of 2013 and, on the basis of the trends so far, I am confident that the targets set out for IDA Ireland in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, of winning more than 130 new investments, securing €500m in R&D and creating 13,000 jobs in IDA client companies, will be achieved. Among the companies who announced job creation plans or fresh investment plans to date in 2013, were: Ebay, EMC, McAfee, Pfizer, Sanofi, Symantec, Zurich, Huawei, Yahoo, Facebook, Vistakon, Guidewire, Squarespace, Groupon, Qualcomm, Novartis, Nypro, AOL FireEye, and Deutsche Bank.
In terms of specific investments in County Donegal, employment data for the county will not be available until the 2013 Forfás Employment Survey has been completed. However, the county continues to benefit from investment by key employers such as United Health, Pramerica and Abbott Diagnostics who together employ approximately 1,500 people in Letterkenny.
314. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether the change to maternity leave, sick pay, and return to higher rate of PRSI for minimum wage workers will inhibit job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50618/13]
View answerPolicy responsibility for maternity benefit, illness benefit and PRSI is a matter for the Minster for Social Protection. Changes to these schemes were announced as part of Budget 2014. The change to the illness benefit scheme means that the number of days a person must wait before receiving illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection is being increased from three days to six days. The minimum and maximum rates of maternity benefit are being standardised at €230 per week for new applicants. In general, the changes being introduced to the maternity benefit and illness benefit schemes will not directly impose costs on business, as it is employees themselves who have the entitlement to the benefits.
The halving of employer’s PRSI in respect of staff earning up to €356 per week was introduced on a temporary basis in the Government’s jobs initiative of 2011. It was intended to stimulate job creation in a very difficult operating environment for business and was scheduled to terminate at the end of this year. We are now seeing signs of an upturn in the economy, with almost 5,000 jobs per month being created in the private sector.
Social protection expenditure remains the largest single area of public spending, accounting for almost 40% of gross current expenditure. As the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform pointed out in his budget speech, this area of expenditure cannot be excluded from savings in the context of the need to balance public expenditure.
The changes announced represent small adjustments that were considered appropriate to contribute to the social welfare savings that have to be found in 2014. The changes must also be seen in the context of a reforming Budget that included a €500 million stimulus package to support enterprise growth and job creation.
The pro-jobs measures in Budget 2014 will allow us to continue to deliver the Action Plan for Jobs process. From my own Department’s perspective, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are targeting the creation of a total of 24,000 gross new jobs during 2014. This will result in the creation of more than 20,000 additional jobs elsewhere in the economy through supply chains and support services. The CEBs – which will become the new Local Enterprise Offices in 2014 - are expected to support the creation of a further 4,500 jobs in 2014.
315. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether there is any additional scope to give Connect Ireland a broader mandate to compete with the Industrial Development Agency for investment in regions or states in America that the IDA has not proven successful in achieving investment or is under-resourced; if he will consider giving free rein to Connect Ireland on a pilot basis for such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/13]
View answerThe Succeed in Ireland Initiative, which was launched in March 2012, was one of the key Q1 commitments in the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. The initiative aims to create 5,000 jobs over five years. The project is being administered by Connect Ireland, a subsidiary of the Taxback Group, under a contract with IDA Ireland. The scheme is designed to complement, not compete with, the work of IDA Ireland.
This is a completely new and unique initiative, which uses “referral marketing” techniques in the area of foreign direct investment. Referral marketing is being used by IDA Ireland for the first time to generate leads and create sustainable employment and to open up an alternative avenue to attract new companies, mainly from the SME sector, to set up in Ireland for the first time. The initiative provides for the payment of a “finder’s fee” to anybody who acts as an “introducer” to a foreign company which subsequently establishes an internationally traded service in Ireland. The reward scheme provides that IDA Ireland will pay up to €4,000, ex VAT, per sustainable job created. A sustainable job is defined as a job that has been in place for two years. The aim of the initiative is to generate projects from small and medium sized enterprises, who may not be reached through IDA Ireland’s marketing and networking structure, and ideally have the potential for rapid international growth.
The initiative, which is still in a pilot phase, focuses on key sectors, identified in consultation with IDA, which offer the most positive opportunities for Ireland, based on infrastructure and skills availability - high end manufacturing, global services, including financial services, and research development and innovation - and aims to deliver jobs into the regions. Connect Ireland has funded a significant marketing campaign to raise awareness of the initiative.
As the initiative is still in the pilot phase, its workings are under constant review by both IDA Ireland and officials of my Department. There is a constant level of engagement at very senior level between my Department, IDA Ireland and Connect Ireland. An evaluation of the scheme will be carried out in the first quarter of 2014 and following completion of that evaluation, I will bring a further memorandum to Government on the Initiative. To date, 298 jobs have been announced from 11 approved projects.
316. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of requests his Department received from the Industrial Development Agency Ireland in 2012 requesting permission to appoint additional staff; the number of these requests that have been approved, pending or refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50819/13]
View answerOverall staffing levels for Departments and associated non-commercial State agencies are currently subject to annual employment control framework limits set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Against that backdrop, exemptions to the moratorium on the filling of vacancies in the public service are subject to the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Individual requests for exemptions to the moratorium are examined on a case by case basis and sanction may or may not be granted. During 2012, IDA Ireland made nine separate requests for the filling of what they determined were mission-critical posts. All of these requests were granted subject to the Agency’s overall staffing complement being maintained within its ceiling for that year under ECF.
317. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the progress of the preparation of the policy statement on entrepreneurship; the number of submissions received as part of the consultation process; and if he will confirm whether the policy statement will contain specific actions to be taken within a defined timeframe for promoting entrepreneurship. [50833/13]
View answerSuccessful entrepreneurship is critical to Irish economic development, and consequently, supporting entrepreneurship is a central part of our Action Plan for Jobs. 67% of all new job-creation comes from businesses in the first five years of existence. A continuous and steady flow of new business start-ups plays a crucial role in creating jobs and sustainable economic growth and will be central to Ireland emerging out of its current problems
To assist entrepreneurial activity, work is ongoing to deliver a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement for Q4 of 2013. This new policy statement will be focussed on entrepreneurship in terms of start-up companies and aims to ensure that the overall environment is conducive to increasing the levels of people starting up new businesses across all industry sectors, both domestically trading and export-oriented. Within this statement there will also be a focus on youth entrepreneurship.
To support the development of the policy statement, I have been keen to take suggestions and advice from people who have actually taken the entrepreneurial route, have direct experience of the challenges facing entrepreneurs and can provide a relevant insight into the responses needed in the current economic environment. Therefore, I established an entrepreneurship advisory forum, chaired by entrepreneur and investor Sean O’Sullivan in May 2013 to draft appropriate policy conclusions and recommendations which will support business start-ups, sustainable growth and long term job creation. The Forum’s Report is to be presented to me shortly.
In advance of the work of the forum and to ensure that the forum had information on the latest views of the entrepreneurial community, my Department held a public consultation in May of this year inviting interested parties to submit written views and suggestions to support the development of a national entrepreneurship policy statement. A total of 74 written submissions were received and these have been very useful in concentrating the work on the key areas of importance. I also had my officials organise a number of face to face meetings throughout the summer and autumn with various entrepreneurs and stakeholders to ensure that the work remained focused on the relevant issues.
The findings and recommendations arising from the entrepreneurship forum, the public consultation submissions and the stakeholder discussions will all feed into the drafting of a national entrepreneurship policy statement which I hope to complete shortly. Following the publication of the policy statement, a number of specific actions, incorporating both commitments from the Government policy statement, and the entrepreneurship forum’s recommendations will be included for immediate implementation in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014.
318. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for a person (details supplied) in County Longford to withdraw from their private pension in view of a change in their circumstances. [50276/13]
View answerThe conditions which attach to a pension scheme are a matter for the rules of a particular scheme and perhaps may form part of the employment contract. This is not a matter which I can comment on. The person concerned should be advised to contact her employer/trustee of the pension scheme.
319. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons classified as unemployed in Counties Longford and Westmeath in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50310/13]
View answerI have attached, for your information, a table which sets out the number of persons signing on the live register at local offices in Counties Longford and Westmeath in December 2011, December 2012 and October 2013. It should be noted that a local office may serve customers from adjacent counties as well as the county in which the local office is located, particularly if the office is located close to the border between two counties.
LIVE REGISTER
|
County |
December 2011 |
December 2012 |
October 2013 |
|
Longford |
5,121 |
5,072 |
4,788 |
|
Westmeath |
10,240 |
10,244 |
9,836 |
320. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the 20,000 additional places, referred to by her in media statements, available and reserved for young unemployed persons for which she is responsible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50345/13]
View answer358. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the 90,000 places available for unemployed persons referred to by her in media statements; if she will provide a breakdown of the 20,000 additional places available and reserved for young unemployed persons referred to in her media statements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50344/13]
View answer374. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 466 of 5 November 2013, if she will provide further details on the 10,000 training places for young unemployed persons including the budget associated with this training; the length of the training courses; the location of these training courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50422/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 358 and 374 together.
In order to develop and implement a plan to give effect to the EU recommendation for a Youth Guarantee in Ireland, the Department of Social Protection has set up an interdepartmental Youth Guarantee Implementation Group with officials and programme managers from the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The terms of reference for this group are to review the current range of youth employment services in Ireland, to assess what measures are appropriate to deliver the Youth Guarantee in Ireland and to develop an implementation plan for approval of Government and transmission to the EU before the end of the year.
As an initial step towards preparing for implementation of the guarantee, provision was made in the 2014 Budget for hanging the eligibility criteria for Jobs Plus to make it easier for young people to qualify for the scheme; an additional intake of 1,500 young people on to the very successful JobBridge scheme; ensuring that 1,000 places on the Tús scheme are targeted at young people; developing a pilot programme to support young unemployed people to take up opportunities under schemes such as Your First EURES Job; ring-fencing a minimum of 2,000 training places for under-25s by the Department of Education and Skills, under a follow-up to the successful Momentum programme that operated in 2013, with income support for participants being provided by my Department; the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation making funds available to young entrepreneurs via Micro finance Ireland and other business start-up schemes.
In addition to these provisions in Budget 2014, young people will continue to benefit from places already available under schemes such as the Back to Education Allowance scheme, JobBridge, VTOS and Youthreach, as well as the provision of training programmes for unemployed people funded by Solas.
In total it is expected that these activation programmes will provide over 91,000 opportunities for new participants in 2014 of all ages. Of these places just over 20,200 are specifically earmarked for young people. However, the actual level of participation by young people is expected to exceed this – reaching at least 27,500. A breakdown of these figures by programme is presented in tabular form below.
Estimated expected participation, activation programmes, 2014
|
Programme |
Estimated Average participation |
Estimated Inflow of new participants |
Estimated Expected inflow of young people |
|
Youthreach/CTC |
6,000 |
3,300 |
3,300 |
|
JobBridge (including planned reserve) |
10,000 |
13,300 |
5,000 |
|
Tus |
7,500 |
7,500 |
1,000 |
|
JobsPlus |
4,000 |
2,000 |
1,500 |
|
Momentum |
6,500 |
6,500 |
2,000 |
|
BTEA (excl Momentum) |
18,500 |
9,300 |
3,300 |
|
BTWEA |
11,000 |
5,500 |
200 |
|
VTOS |
5,600 |
2,800 |
500 |
|
FAS/Solas |
10,300 |
25,000 |
9,500 |
|
MFI for young people |
150 |
150 |
150 |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
250 |
250 |
250 |
|
Gateway |
3,000 |
3,000 |
400 |
|
Community Employment |
25,300 |
12,700 |
500 |
|
Total |
108,100 |
91,300 |
27,600 |
321. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the findings in the recent OECD economic survey of Ireland which found that a comprehensive national strategy to tackle the very high unemployment rates among the young is lacking, that youth policy is fragmented, with several Departments taking individual action, and its recommendation that a more co-ordinated and tailored approach to the youth unemployment problem is required; the action she will take on foot of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50412/13]
View answerIn order to develop and implement a plan to give effect to the EU recommendation for a Youth Guarantee in Ireland, the Department of Social Protection has set up an interdepartmental Youth Guarantee Implementation Group with officials and programme managers from the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The terms of reference for this group are to review the current range of youth employment services in Ireland, to assess what measures are appropriate to deliver the Youth Guarantee in Ireland and to develop an implementation plan for approval of Government and transmission to the EU before the end of the year.
The Department has retained the OECD to provide input and advice on the framing of the plan; the OECD is also providing assistance to a number of other countries. In particular the OECD has been asked to identify best international practice and how it might best be applied to implementation of the youth guarantee in Ireland. A delegation from the OECD has already met with stakeholders at the aforementioned forum as well as with a range of relevant public bodies. The OECD is due to produce a report with recommendations for the Department by the end of November, the findings of which will feed into the final design of the implementation plan.
