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Thursday, 12 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 85-93

Departmental Agencies Staff Data

Questions (85)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

85. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding a public sector organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53438/13]

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Written answers

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has 17 managers within a current total staff complement of 142.5. NSAI has reduced its headcount by 29% since 2008 and has recently been informed that it has a new target of 134 for the end of 2014.

Such reductions, at all levels of the organisation, cause difficulties. The NSAI is responding to this challenge through restructuring and, where appropriate, partnering with the private sector, as well as making essential business cases for the introduction or maintenance of critical skill sets needed to ensure that the organisation continues to properly fulfil its remit.

IDA Site Visits

Questions (86)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

86. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he willl provide details of the number of Industrial Development Agency visits to a business park (details supplied) in County Kildare particularly bearing in mind that it is a large National Asset Management Agency managed land bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53478/13]

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Written answers

The management of IDA Ireland’s property portfolio, including the purchase of land and the development of business parks is a day to day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function.

I have been informed by IDA Ireland that on average, over the last 5 years, the Agency has delivered 3-5 site visits per year to Millennium Business Park in Osberstown. In 2013, there were 2 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to the park.

The Agency has assured me that it will continue to promote and market the Park in Naas to overseas clients wishing to invest in Co. Kildare.

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 Kildare, 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 26 IDA supported companies in Co. Kildare employing 10,167 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.

We must also remember that it is the investor in all cases who decides where to invest and an investment win for Ireland regardless of the location has to be seen as a plus for the country as a whole.

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Questions (87)

Jack Wall

Question:

87. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, through his Department or any of the State agencies funded by his Department funding has being supplied to a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53508/13]

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Written answers

Funding assistance to business, is delivered through the Enterprise Development Agencies which operate under the aegis of my Department, particularly IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards.

I have made enquires with these Agencies and I understand from IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Kildare County Enterprise Board that they have not provided funding to the facility in question.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (88)

John McGuinness

Question:

88. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal to have a domiciliary care allowance approval backdated to 2012 will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [53403/13]

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Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.

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.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Questions (89)

John McGuinness

Question:

89. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [53404/13]

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Written answers

An application for domiciliary care allowance was received in respect of the child concerned on the 18th September 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors whose opinion was that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 7th October 2013 advising of the decision to disallow the application.

The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case has been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied.

Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined and forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (90)

John McGuinness

Question:

90. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for a disability allowance will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [53405/13]

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Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the Disability Allowance appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 12th December 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. An Oral Hearing in respect of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance appeal for the person concerned will take place on 12th December 2013 also.

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.

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Questions (91)

Michael McNamara

Question:

91. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding East Clare Community Co-Op Society Ltd has received from her Department in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53409/13]

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Written answers

East Clare Community Co-Operative Society Limited has received funds under the Community Services for a number of years. The funds are provided as a contribution to the management and delivery of a range of services to the community of Scarriff and its environs. The Community Services Programme requires that those in receipt of funds operate on a community business or social enterprise model. Under the terms of the Programme, East Clare Co-operative is required to generate a significant proportion of the income needed to resource and develop its services from non-public sources. Grants to beneficiaries of the CSP are paid in the form of a contribution to wages. In 2010, €41,438 was paid to the co-operative, €41,520 was paid in 2011, €43,441 in 2012 and €39,878 has been paid thus far in 2013.

State Properties

Questions (92)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

92. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the existing FÁS premises in Gweedore, County Donegal is not used in place of rented accomodation. [53413/13]

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Written answers

The Deputy will appreciate that issues relating to the number, location and cost of premises rented by the Department in County Donegal is a matter for the Office of Public Works. I will address the use of the former FÁS premises in Gweedore.

The Department’s Intreo service is designed, where possible, to ensure that the individual needs of each client are assessed and provided for from one location. Intreo provides a personalised service, based on the person’s individual needs, including advice on education, training and personal development opportunities, job search assistance as well as information on, and access to, a range of income supports.

To achieve the one stop shop model in Dungloe, this will involve the relocation of services from the former FÁS premises in Gweedore into Dungloe.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (93)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress in respect of an appeal for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53429/13]

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Written answers

The person concerned was notified on 21 October 2013 by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that their disability allowance appeal was disallowed.

An Appeals Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence relevant to the period under appeal.

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