Written Answers Nos. 110 - 118
110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for job growth in County Wicklow; the number of Industrial Development Agency visits to the county in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the specific plans he or any of his agencies, national or local, has planned for Arklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52348/13]
View answerI have been informed by IDA Ireland that there were three agency sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Wicklow in 2011, six in 2012 and, to date in 2013, there have been two visits. These site visits were from new companies visiting the location for the first time and from senior executives of existing companies.
As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. In order to achieve economic regional development, IDA prioritises the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass (i.e. sufficient scale of population, skills, infrastructure, companies, business services etc.) and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways. With improvements in infrastructure and investment in one town in a region it has a positive effect on other towns in the region.
The East Region, which includes Wicklow, has been particularly successful in recent years in terms of attracting inward investment from FDI companies and employing 67,860 people. At present, there are 17 IDA supported companies in County Wicklow employing 2,267 people. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with these companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites.
Last year Wicklow CEB approved funding for 37 projects, with an associated job creation projection of 88. The Board provided training for 430 participants and 41 companies were assigned a mentor. So far in 2013, Wicklow CEB has approved funding for 24 projects, with an associated job creation project of 69. They have also provided training for 387 participants and 37 companies have been assigned a mentor. To date in 2013 over €1.9m has been paid to County Wicklow based companies by Enterprise Ireland and the agency currently has 177 client companies in Co. Wicklow employing in excess of 3,300 people.
The Department of Finance has recently produced improved employment forecasts for 2013 and 2014. 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 5,000 jobs per month.
While these are very encouraging signs for the economy, we must continue to build on this progress and support further job creation. 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.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which further options continue to be examined to resolve the issues at a company (details supplied) with particular reference to the need to retain the 107 jobs under risk; if all possible options are being pursued in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52403/13]
View answerIn this case, the company has excess capacity and four other such sites had already been closed worldwide by the company. This is the key determinant in their decision to initiate a process which is likely to cease production at the plant and to introduce a redundancy programme there, on a phased basis, over the next eighteen months. All 107 jobs will be lost in the process.
I have arranged that IDA and Enterprise Ireland will engage closely with the company regarding the proposed redundancies. They will arrange for a skills-base of the workers involved to be put together quickly in a bid to advertise both the plants and the availability of skills to possible third parties. Any upskilling required will also be assessed. I myself met the general manager of the company last week and we explored all options open to the company. I am confident that the company will do all it can to help the process of finding an alternative use for the facility.
112. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the registration of architects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52466/13]
View answerAs the policy responsibility for the registration of architects lies with my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, I have no direct function in this matter.
116. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department's annual report for 2012 has been published yet. [52278/13]
View answerThe 2012 Annual Report for the Department of Social Protection was published on 6 June 2013 and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the same date. The 2012 Annual Report is available for download on the Department of Social Protection website at http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/ar2012.pdf.
118. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection the action a person who cannot rent a house for the maximum rate allowed can take to secure a rented home. [52304/13]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.
Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme have come into force with effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. The new rent limits have been determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available. The Department currently funds up to 30% of the private rented sector so it is essential that the rent limits are kept under review. The new rent limits have been set using the 35th percentile ensuring that sufficient housing is available for recipients of the scheme.
Under the revised rent limits, there have been increases in the maximum rent limits in Dublin while there have been some reductions across a number of rural counties reflecting the conditions in the rental markets in those counties. Rent limits in County Kilkenny were maintained with the exception of the family with two children rate which reduced by €10 per month. In County Carlow there were reductions in some rent limit categories with the exception of the single person rate which increased.
As existing claims come up for review, or when an existing lease expires, they will be reassessed using the new limits. Where a claim is under review and the rent is above the new maximum limit the customer is being asked to contact the landlord to renegotiate the rent. Where a landlord does not agree to reduce the rent to the new rates departmental officials will discuss the options open to the tenant up to and including seeking alternative accommodation. Departmental guidance to the officers administering rent supplement states that where negotiation with the landlord fails then rent supplement may continue to be paid for a period of up to thirteen weeks at the higher rate. However, once the lease has expired the tenant will be expected to find suitable accommodation at below the new limits in force.
Analysis of the County Carlow and County Kilkenny rental market shows that there are a number of rental properties available within the prescribed limits. Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants will continue to ensure that their accommodation needs are met and that the residence is reasonably suited to their residential and other needs.
