Wednesday, 15 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 326-337

Employment Rights

Questions (326)

Jack Wall

Question:

326. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the regulations regarding an employment query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1546/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot give legal advice in the context of answering a Dáil question and the interpretation of the law is a matter for the Courts and relevant quasi-judicial bodies.

The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. Under the current reform programme NERA’s Information Unit has been restructured and expanded to form a new Workplace Relations Customer Service Section. This Section provides information in relation to employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations. It can be contacted at Lo-call:1890 80 80 90. The website http://www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights.

Where a person’s employment is terminated by reason of redundancy he/she may be eligible for a statutory redundancy payment, subject to the qualifying criteria. The Redundancy Payments legislation comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, and is administered by her Department. General information on Redundancy is also available on the Workplace Relations Customer Service information line at lo-call 1890 80 80 90. The Redundancy Payments Section of the Department of Social Protection can be contacted at: Floor 2, Block C, the Earlsfort Centre, Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2 or at lo-call 1890 800 699.

The circumstances in which an employee is entitled to minimum notice is set out in the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. Entitlements for any untaken annual leave are set out in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Information on these Acts is also available from the Workplace Relations Customer Services Section and on www.workplacerelations.ie.

Complaints under any of the legislation mentioned above may be made via downloading the “Single Complaint Form” from the website www.workplacerelations.ie.

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (327)

Tom Fleming

Question:

327. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs in Industrial Development Agency direct foreign investment firms at the end of December 2013 in the south west region; the number of jobs per county in the south west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1569/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on the numbers of jobs gained and lost in the enterprise development agencies’ client companies and shows that in 2013, there were 161,112 people employed in IDA Ireland client companies, the highest figure in IDA Ireland’s history.

In IDA Ireland’s South West Region, which consists of counties Cork and Kerry, there were a total of 28,922 people employed in IDA Ireland client companies,- 27,354 in Cork and 1,683 in Kerry.

In the South west Region, IDA focuses its attention on the Gateway city of Cork and the Hub locations of Mallow, Tralee and Killarney.

During 2013 there have been a number of IDA Ireland sponsored investment announcements in the Region. MYMIC Global announced that 22 jobs would be created in Valentia over three years. The jobs will be in the computer software industry in the medical and marine areas, with an initial staffing of 5 growing to a 22 over 3 years, working from offices in the former Cable station building on Valentia Island. In addition there will be a further 15 jobs in the construction phase.

In Cork during 2013 there were a number of announcements with the potential to create in excess of 700 jobs.

Enterprise Support Schemes

Questions (328)

Finian McGrath

Question:

328. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will examine and support the unemployed trades person who decides to set up as a self-employed sole trader with ambitions to grow the business and create jobs for others with more direct support. [1570/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Anyone interested in starting or expanding their own business should in the first instance contact their local County and City Enterprise Board (CEB). The CEBs support the indigenous micro-enterprise sector in the start-up and expansion phases and stimulate enterprise potential at local level. They are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and, in certain circumstances, grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. Contact details for the CEBs are available on www.enterpriseboards.ie.

Work is well underway to transform the support infrastructure for small and micro businesses, which will see the CEBs as presently constituted dissolved and re-formed as Local Enterprise Offices within Local Authorities working under the direction and guidance of the new Enterprise Ireland Centre of Excellence. This will ensure that Ireland has an enhanced, seamless and benchmarked support and progression pathway for small and micro business.

In addition, Microfinance Ireland is providing support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 available to start-up, newly established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal. Applications for the Microfinance Fund should be channelled through the local CEB.

Anyone who is thinking of creating new jobs should contact their Department of Social Protection local office with regard to JobsPlus, the new employer incentive, which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed.

IDA Jobs Data

Questions (329)

Michael Lowry

Question:

329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown by county of the number of Industrial Development Authority led jobs created in 2013; if he will indicate the amount of IDA jobs delivered in north Tipperary and south Tipperary in 2013; if he will provide information on the number of visits of potential investors or the IDA to north and south Tipperary in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1613/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Details on a county by county basis of:

(i) total employment in IDA Ireland client companies,

(ii) the number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies,

(iii) the number of such companies,

(iv) and the number of IDA sponsored site visits by potential investors during 2013 are set out in the following tabular statement.

In relation to the number of site visits, I am informed by IDA that site visits are tracked on a county basis only and it is not possible to provide a breakdown between Tipperary North and Tipperary South.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is key to Ireland’s economic recovery. IDA Ireland’s end of year results show that 2013 was another record year for investment wins and job creation, with over 7,000 net new jobs being created in the Agency’s client companies. This is the fourth year in a row for jobs growth and there are now over 161,000 people employed in IDA Ireland client companies, the highest ever number recorded in the history of the Agency.

Table shows total employment, number of new jobs created, number of site visits as well as the number of companies on a county by county basis in IDA client companies in 2013

County	No. of Companies	Total Jobs	New Jobs Created	Site Visits
Carlow	7	735	91	1
Cavan	7	1,135	15	2
Clare	13	1,340	15	5
Cork	144	27,354	2,143	31
Donegal	13	2,381	177	7
Dublin	565	66,323	6,862	180
Galway	60	13,615	1,098	15
Kerry	12	1,638	101	1
Kildare	25	10,172	276	1
Kilkenny	5	617	80	3
Laois	2	84	0	2
Leitrim	4	688	31	1
Limerick	44	7,284	560	23
Longford	6	701	25	0
Louth	23	2,299	595	4
Mayo	18	3,728	242	3
Meath	14	1,214	68	1
Monaghan	6	365	29	1
Offaly	11	896	21	1
Roscommon	6	906	28	4
Sligo	22	2,090	184	10
Tipperary Nth	3	312	21	*
Tipperary Sth	8	3,055	180	4*
Waterford	28	5,075	172	14
Westmeath	18	2,225	132	9
Wexford	15	2,437	149	2
Wicklow	19	2,443	72	1
Total	1,098	161,112	13,367	326

* Site visits are counted in County Tipperary as a whole.

IDA Jobs Data

Questions (330)

Joe McHugh

Question:

330. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs created in County Donegal in 2011 and 2012 by American multinational companies that are clients of the Industrial Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1624/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualised basis and is aggregated at county level. The information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. It is therefore not possible to provide information broken down by company.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that of the 13 IDA client companies in Donegal, 7 are American multinationals. Details of the number of new jobs created by IDA Ireland client companies in Donegal in each year from 2011 to 2013 are set out in the following tabular statement.

Donegal’s industry base is transforming from the clothing and textile industry to high tech, high skill activity. Companies such as Pramerica and UnitedHealth (PacifiCare), which have located in Donegal, are continuously growing and recruiting.

Table shows the number of Companies, new jobs created and total employment by IDA Ireland Client Companies in County Donegal for 2011, 2012, 2013.

-	2011	2012	2013
Number of Companies	13	14	13
New Jobs Created by IDA Client Companies in Donegal	277	164	177
Total Employment by IDA Client Companies in Donegal	2,106	2,228	2,381

Employment Rights

Questions (331)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

331. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that a company (details supplied) who provide services to Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, Eircom and others is adhering to industrial relations regulations; if any complaints have been raised in relation to this company; if he will detail precisely the enforcement regime in place to ensure compliance with employment law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1657/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The quasi-judicial and inspection bodies that operate in the Employment Rights and Industrial Relations area do so independently of me as Minister and details of complaints submitted to them are confidential to the parties involved. However, I understand that one complaint in respect of the company mentioned, that has yet to be heard, has been submitted to the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) under Unfair Dismissals legislation.

The system of industrial relations in Ireland is, essentially, voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests with the employer, the workers and their representatives. The State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms, the Labour Relations Commission, including the Rights Commissioner Service, and the Labour Court, to assist parties in their efforts to resolve disputes, if requested. It is expected that the parties availing of these services do so in good faith and with a view to accepting the outcome of the process.

The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) carries out inspections of employers records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights legislation. These inspections arise:

- In response to complaints received of alleged non-compliance with relevant employment rights legislation;

- As part of NERA inspections focusing on compliance in sectors where there is an identifiable risk of non-compliance and,

- As routine inspections, which act as a control measure.

Ireland’s body of employment rights legislation protects all persons legally employed in Ireland on an employer-employee basis. These protections relate to the statutory minimum rates of pay and conditions. A person who is working under a contract of employment on a full-time or part-time basis has the same protection under law as all other workers.

NERA aims to achieve voluntary compliance with employment law through the provision of education and awareness, inspection of employers’ employment records and enforcement where necessary. While every effort is made to secure compliance, some employers either refuse or fail to rectify the breaches identified and/or pay money due to their employees. These employers are referred for prosecution.

Where people have concerns that workers may be exploited or are receiving less than their statutory entitlement the matter should be reported to NERA for investigation. Information Officers of the Workplace Relations Customer Service phone service on 1890 80 80 90 also provide impartial information on a wide variety of employment rights legislation to both employees and employers by telephone, in writing and by email.

Should an individual believe that they have grounds to make a complaint in order to seek their statutory employment rights then a complaint may be made under the relevant legislation on the Single Complaint Form downloadable from the Workplace Relations website at – www.workplacerelations.ie.

Information on completion of this form is also available on this website as well as from the Workplace Relations Customer Service unit at 1890 80 80 90.

Should a complaint be successful an award which may involve monetary compensation or reinstatement may be made by the quasi-judicial body in favour of the employee.

It is my view that the current system of enforcement of employment rights awards is cumbersome, expensive and, accordingly, not "fit for purpose". Shortly after entering office, I committed to a fundamental reform of the State’s existing Workplace Relations Services. The overall objectives are to promote harmonious and productive employment relationships and to encourage early resolution of disputes, the vindication of employees’ rights and minimisation of the costs involved for all parties - employers, employees and Government - in terms of money, time and workplace productivity. To this end, I propose to establish a two-tier Workplace Relations structure which will involve two statutorily independent bodies replacing the current five. We will have a new single body of first instance to be called the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and a separate appeals body, which will effectively be an expanded Labour Court.

I am certain that we can deliver a workplace relations system that will be supported by proportionate, effective and efficient compliance and enforcement measures. 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.

Consumer Protection

Questions (332)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

332. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way the European Communities (Misleading Advertising) Regulations 1988 are employed here; the number of times the National Consumer Agency has referred anyone to the courts under these regulations; if he and the National Consumer Agency will agree to meet the Clinical Dental Technician Association to discuss the illegal practice of dentistry here with regard to the European communities (Misleading Advertising) Regulations 1988 and Consumer Protection Act 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1728/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The European Communities (Misleading Advertising) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 134 of 1988) were revoked in 2007. Misleading advertising directed at consumers is now regulated by the Consumer Protection Act 2007, while misleading advertising directed at traders and comparative advertising is regulated by the European Communities (Misleading and Comparative Marketing Communications) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 774 of 2007).

As the National Consumer Agency was established in 2007, the year in which the 1988 Regulations were revoked, it has never referred anyone to the courts under those Regulations. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, the Agency has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal in addition to prosecution through the courts. Details of all enforcement actions taken by the Agency are recorded in a Consumer Protection list which the NCA regularly publishes on its website, www.consumerhelp.ie. The Agency has no enforcement role under 2007 Regulations.

The Agency has advised me that it has recently received correspondence from the Clinical Dental Technicians Association of Ireland (CDTAI) expressing concerns about the practice of illegal dentistry and requesting a meeting. While concerns about the practice of illegal dentistry are a matter for the Dental Council, the Agency is willing to meet with the CDTAI to discuss matters relating to the advertisement of illegal dentistry that come within the scope of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 and will be in touch with that body in the coming days with a view to arranging a meeting.

Youth Unemployment Measures

Questions (333, 334)

Gerry Adams

Question:

333. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the report, Youth Unemployment in Ireland, the Forgotten Generation, by the National Youth Council of Ireland. [55216/13]

Gerry Adams

Question:

334. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has met with the authors of the report, Youth Unemployment in Ireland, the Forgotten Generation, by the National Youth Council of Ireland to discuss its findings. [55217/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) report referred to by the Deputy was published in 2010 and pre-dates the formation of the current government. However, I am aware of more up-to-date reports by the NYCI on the issue of youth unemployment, most notably their pre-Budget 2014 submission, which supports the introduction of a Youth Guarantee in Ireland, and their Youth Guarantee Fact Sheet. In addition, the NYCI have had an input into the formulation of the Youth Guarantee. Consultation with stakeholders was identified as a key aspect of the Department’s process for the formulation of a Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan for Ireland and consequently a stakeholders’ forum was convened in October 2013, where the NYCI played an active part and subsequently made a submission. The NYCI are also represented on the National Steering Group of the Ballymun Youth Guarantee Pilot.

I have had active engagement with NYCI during my tenure as Minister for Social Protection. I launched the NYCI book 'Creating a Future for Jobseekers' on 31 March 2011. I also met with the European Youth forum and NYCI on 31 January 2013. More recently, I met with representatives of NYCI on 19 December 2013.

Youth Unemployment Measures

Questions (335, 363, 374)

Simon Harris

Question:

335. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to specifically target the issue of youth unemployment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1044/14]

Simon Harris

Question:

363. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department's plans to implement the youth guarantee here; the amount of funding allocated for same in 2014; the tangible benefits she believes it will have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1041/14]

Tom Fleming

Question:

374. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the youth guarantee scheme regarding availability of education training and job experience for those eligible and the availability of required funds and resources to implement the scheme in a progressive manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1293/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 363 and 374 together.

The Government’s primary medium-term strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. Past experience suggests that youth unemployment, which tends to rise relatively rapidly in a downturn, can be expected to fall relatively rapidly during the recovery. There is evidence that this is already occurring – Eurostat estimates that the seasonally-adjusted rate of youth unemployment has fallen from almost 31% in late 2011 to just under 25% at the end of 2013

In addition to promoting medium-term economic recovery, the Government recognises the need for interim measures to support the young unemployed and keep young jobseekers close to the labour market. To this end, youth unemployment is being specifically targeted through our Youth Guarantee initiative. I will be publishing details of this initiative shortly.

In the meantime, work experience opportunities being provided to the under 25s, in the following table, outlines the expected provision and indicative costs associated with the provision of training and work experience opportunities for under 25s in 2014.

These costs will be funded, in the first instance, by the Irish Exchequer. However, it is expected that a number of these programmes will meet ESF eligibility criteria and will be included in the Youth Employment Initiative application for Ireland. This will permit EU funding to be drawn down in respect of expenditure in 2014 and 2015 to a level that should enable the full YEI allocation for Ireland of €68.1 million in current prices (with a further similar amount in ESF funding) to be taken up over those two years.

Given the way the funding is structured, in order to recoup these amounts from the EU in due course, it will be necessary that we spend, in the first instance, close to €100 million on relevant programmes each year, or close to €200 million in 2014-2015 overall.

As will be clear from the data in the table, it is anticipated that actual expenditure will be significantly in excess of that amount over the period concerned.

Expected participation, activation programmes, 2014

Programme	Average participation	Inflow of new participants	Expected inflow of young people	Indicative 2014 cost of youth provision (€million)
Youthreach/CTC	6,000	3,300	3,300	110.0
JobBridge (including planned reserve)	7,700	13,300	5,000	27.0
Tus	7,500	7,500	1,000	15.9
JobsPlus	4,000	2,000	1,500	4.5
Momentum*	6,500	6,500	2,000	6.1
BTEA (excl Momentum)**	18,500	9,300	3,300	60.0
BTWEA	11,000	5,500	200	4.1
VTOS	5,600	2,800	500	14.3
FAS/Solas	10,300	25,000	9,500	72.0
CEB youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports		700	700	1.0
CEB/MFI micro-loans for young people		150	150	2.5
International Work Experience and Training	250	250	250	2.5
Gateway	3,000	3,000	450	2.5
Community Employment	25,300	12,700	500	14.0
Total	105,650	92,000	28,350	336.4
Memorandum items: PLCs Apprenticeship	35,000 8,000	32,000 2,500	22,000 2,000	117.0 75.0

Vocational Third Level	It is estimated that at least 50% of the 41,000 entrants to third level each year are entering courses leading towards defined occupations	It is estimated that at least 50% of the 41,000 entrants to third level each year are entering courses leading towards defined occupations	It is estimated that at least 50% of the 41,000 entrants to third level each year are entering courses leading towards defined occupations	N/A
Overall total				528.4 (excluding vocational third level)

As part of the overall 2014 provision outlined above, and as an initial step towards preparing for implementation of the Guarantee, provision was made in the 2014 Budget for:

- Reducing the threshold (in terms of duration of unemployment) for JobsPlus eligibility from 12 months – to 6 months or less – in the case of persons aged less than 25 years

- 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 the Department of Social Protection

- The Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation making €2.5m available to young entrepreneurs via Micro Finance Ireland and other business start-up schemes.

In total, the provision across these headings in the 2014 Budget comes to €46 million.

National Internship Scheme Eligibility

Questions (336, 356, 409)

Tom Fleming

Question:

336. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in total who were recruited to the JobBridge scheme in 2013; if she will provide a breakdown on a county basis up to the end of 2013 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1286/14]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

356. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person on the Youthreach programme may take up a position on a JobBridge scheme without having to first claim jobseeker's allowance or benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55515/13]

Willie O'Dea

Question:

409. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason behind the requirement that a person be in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for a certain amount of time before being able to take part in the JobBridge national internship scheme; her views on whether this requirement prevents jobseekers from gaining the experience they need to improve their employment prospects simply because they are not in receipt of financial support from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1727/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 336, 356 and 409 together.

JobBridge provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors and at present is targeted at individuals who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days). Time spent on certain activation measures may count towards eligibility to participate on JobBridge, however an individual must have a live qualifying claim before commencing an internship placement. Further information on eligibility criteria is available on the JobBridge website at www.jobbridge.ie.

The eligibility to access JobBridge is based on the overall objective of labour market policy in ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those on the Live Register. JobBridge has been launched in this targeted way to allocate scarce exchequer resources fairly while ensuring that it does not replace or displace the normal operation of the labour market, which is an essential element of Ireland’s economic recovery.

The Department is determined to ensure that jobseekers are not disincentivised from seeking employment rather than internships. Internships, while an outstandingly positive addition to the Department’s labour market interventions, are not the only route into employment. Approximately 40% of people signing on the Live Register exit the Live Register within 3 months of signing-on, that is, before they are eligible for JobBridge. These criteria underpin the ethos of JobBridge and, for that reason, the Department does not allow for any exceptions in relation to these eligibility criteria.

The independent evaluation of JobBridge (conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants) found that 61.4% of former interns had progressed into paid employment within 5 months of completion of a JobBridge internship. These exceptionally high rates of progression into employment compare very favourably with similar schemes across Europe.

The Indecon evaluation clearly demonstrates that JobBridge is delivering for thousands of jobseekers by providing them with valuable opportunities to gain relevant work experience, knowledge and skills in a workplace environment

11,316 individuals started JobBridge internships in 2013. The following tabIe gives the breakdown by County.

Table 1 – JobBridge Starts in 2013

County	Finishers	Current	Total
CARLOW	55	90	145
CAVAN	74	107	181
CLARE	116	135	251
CORK	498	562	1060
DONEGAL	124	247	371
DUBLIN	1813	1930	3743
GALWAY	326	396	722
KERRY	139	200	339
KILDARE	162	230	392
KILKENNY	58	89	147
LAOIS	75	82	157
LEITRIM	21	36	57
LIMERICK	276	337	613
LONGFORD	33	42	75
LOUTH	131	161	292
MAYO	127	201	328
MEATH	99	163	262
MONAGHAN	78	131	209
OFFALY	62	90	152
ROSCOMMON	36	55	91
SLIGO	77	131	208
TIPPERARY	139	218	357
WATERFORD	159	198	357
WESTMEATH	125	146	271
WEXFORD	159	174	333
WICKLOW	91	112	203
Grand Total	5053	6263	11316

Community Work Initiatives

Questions (337)

Tom Fleming

Question:

337. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the Tús scheme; if she will further provide a breakdown of the number of participants on a county basis up to end of 2013 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1315/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Tús initiative currently provides work opportunities for those who are fully unemployed for 12 months or more. Overall responsibility for the Tús rests with the Department of Social Protection with day-to-day operations delivered by 50 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (implementing bodies). The sum of €119.6 million has been allocated for 2014 to maintain 7,500 placements and meet the costs of supervision and related costs. Table 1 gives a county breakdown of the participants employed on Tús at the end of December 2013. Table 2 gives details for the number of participant and supervisor employed to each Implementing Body at the end of December 2013.

Table 1

Tús Participation by County at end December 2013

County	Total Employed
Carlow	132
Cavan	120
Clare	169
Cork	860
Donegal	395
Dublin	1,421
Galway	406
Kerry	191
Kildare	254
Kilkenny	130
Laois	106
Leitrim	74
Limerick	305
Longford	85
Louth	215
Mayo	238
Meath	241
Monaghan	98
Offaly	166
Roscommon	120
Sligo	112
Tipperary	292
Waterford	297
Westmeath	127
Wexford	326
Wicklow	228
Total Wk 52/2013	7,108

Table 2

Tús – Persons Employed by Implementing Bodies at end December 2013

Implementing Body	Participants	Supervisors
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd.	122	6
Ballyfermot Partnership Co.	70	4
Ballyhoura Development Ltd.	126	5
Ballymun Partnership	23	2
Blanchardstown Area Partnership	110	6
Bray Area Partnership	35	2
Breffni Integrated Ltd.	117	6
Canal Partnership	172	9
Carlow County Develop. Partnership Ltd.	132	6
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta	253	14
Clare Local Development Co. Ltd.	170	9
Clondalkin Partnership	0	0
Co Wicklow Partnership	193	9
Comhar Chathair Chorcaí Teoranta	163	8
Co Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd	129	6
Co Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd.	112	6
Dodder Valley Partnership	0	0
Donegal Local Development Co. Ltd	215	11
Fingal Leader Partnership Co.	198	10
FORUM Connemara Ltd.	59	3
Galway City Partnership	85	5
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd.	207	10
Inishowen Development Partnership	120	6
IRD Duhallow Ltd.	133	7
Laois Community and Enterprise Dev. Co. Ltd.	107	6
Leitrim Integrated Development Co. Ltd.	76	4
Longford Community Resources	86	5
Louth LEADER Partnership	219	11
Meath Comm. Rural & Social Dev. Partn. Ltd.	238	12
Monaghan Integrated Development Ltd.	94	5
North & East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teo	108	6
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo.	86	5
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership	131	6
Northside Partnership	169	8
Offaly Integrated Local Development Co. Ltd.	168	8
PAUL Partnership	120	6
Rathmines Community Partnership	91	6
Roscommon Integrated Development Co. Ltd.	120	6
South and East Cork Area Development	219	11
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd.	66	4
South Tipperary Development Co. Ltd.	161	10
South West Mayo Development Co. Ltd.	122	8
Southside Partnership - Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	249	13
Tolka Area Partnership	85	4
Údarás na Gaeltachta	166	9
Waterford Area Partnership	152	7
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd.	144	5
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd.	161	8
West Limerick Resources	119	6
Westmeath Community Development Ltd.	126	7
Wexford Local Development	326	17
SDC South Dublin County Partnership	255	15
Totals	7,108