Tuesday, 21 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 318-336

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (318)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

318. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy, the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 May 2011 and 31 December 2013 for all agencies under the aegis of his Department. [2383/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The payment of professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy, is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned for which I have no direct function.

I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any such professional fees between the dates concerned, and I will communicate that information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Departmental Reports

Questions (319)

Dara Calleary

Question:

319. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the report of the entrepreneurship forum will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2421/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Entrepreneurship is an explicit policy priority for Government and a key area of focus. In May 2013 I established an Entrepreneurship Advisory Forum to draft appropriate policy conclusions and recommendations aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and business start-ups. Membership of the Entrepreneurship Forum consisted of entrepreneurs and academics with representation also from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The Forum met six times over the summer and autumn of 2013, and was chaired by entrepreneur and investor Sean O’Sullivan.

The Report was presented to Government today and it will be launched later this week.

The rationale for establishing the Forum was 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. The set of recommendations put forward by the Forum are a valuable contribution to work currently being undertaken in my Department to develop a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement.

County and City Enterprise Boards Funding

Questions (320)

Billy Timmins

Question:

320. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown by county and town of the funding allocated to each county and town enterprise board; if he will provide a breakdown by county and town of the way this funding is spent-allocated on grants, pay and administration and other for 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2463/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Details of the allocations on pay, non-pay (administration) and capital grants (measures 1 and 2) for each of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) for 2011, 2012 and 2013 are set out in tables 1 to 3.

An Exchequer allocation is provided each year under the Estimates process for the funding of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). The allocation of funding to individual CEBs is conducted each year by the Central Coordination Unit (CCU) within Enterprise Ireland.

The Current funding allocations are made in respect of the estimated cost of salaries and administration for the year. The bulk of this non-capital allocation to each CEB pays the salaries of the Business Advisors and other staff who provide direct advice and mentoring to client companies. This represents a strong investment in the micro-enterprise sector, notwithstanding the additional level of demand on CEB services generated in the current difficult economic climate.

The Capital allocations are used to provide so-called “Measure 1” (direct grant assistance) and “Measure 2” (training and development) supports for micro-enterprises employing up to 10 staff. In determining the Capital allocations, a systematic approach is adopted by the CCU to ensure the maximum degree of objectivity and equity of treatment. This approach involves the provision of funding on the basis of a standard allocation to each CEB, as well as an extra allocation that is determined mainly by population but which also takes account of issues such as local unemployment trends, capacity to spend, existing commitments and regional spread.

As part of the CCU’s on-going management of available funding during the year, the Unit monitors CEB spending on a regular basis. Should any surplus funding become available, this surplus will be reallocated by the CCU to any Boards that are in a position to spend additional funds, subject to thorough assessment of the rationale and the justification for the level of funding being requested.

The Capital allocations include additional funding which was allocated to the CEBs in the final quarter of each of these years. The funding was secured from unused funding elsewhere within the Department.

Table 1: 2011

CEB	Exchequer Pay Allocation	Exchequer Non Pay Allocation	Exchequer Measure 1 Allocation	Exchequer Measure 2 Allocation
-	€	€	€	€
Carlow	237,968	110,913	231,524	173,008
Cavan	300,922	97,367	228,557	190,102
Clare	207,485	88,092	322,738	204,492
Cork City	272,247	110,485	227,100	208,892
Cork North	93,892	83,106	261,163	188,826
Cork South	281,679	163,210	508,069	320,302
Cork West	261,037	120,318	177,890	179,430
Donegal	307,031	117,420	341,442	248,359
Dublin City	303,501	140,096	726,328	419,844
Dublin South	239,035	96,644	359,781	275,141
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown	300,831	139,658	445,535	247,660
Fingal	260,007	106,021	444,204	281,534
Galway	154,708	117,234	614,918	267,211
Kerry	274,575	71,254	317,616	229,499
Kildare	255,464	105,165	316,567	243,658
Kilkenny	251,449	78,945	230,689	207,339
Laois	188,700	99,622	180,131	181,690
Leitrim	260,349	67,861	230,501	161,891
Limerick City	264,551	100,938	232,652	174,146
Limerick County	249,599	86,973	337,331	215,177
Longford	208,583	69,160	193,304	164,717
Louth	282,070	147,630	317,901	214,657
Mayo	117,986	80,817	254,377	211,189
Meath	317,673	89,300	469,461	231,446
Monaghan	234,804	70,870	174,433	175,942
Offaly	271,270	83,600	182,093	183,668
Roscommon	114,806	84,674	195,860	177,382
Sligo	276,953	88,026	251,955	178,487
Tipperary North	265,539	88,304	214,597	191,151
Tipperary South	266,903	81,548	188,455	190,086
Waterford City	105,127	111,434	169,154	170,618
Waterford County	115,803	63,470	307,635	194,172
Westmeath	269,838	112,157	298,959	198,073
Wexford	215,411	92,074	340,951	225,298
Wicklow	299,496	114,247	365,799	222,412
Total	8,327,294	3,478,628	10,659,666	7,547,500

Table 2: 2012

CEB	Exchequer Pay Allocation	Exchequer Non Pay Allocation	Exchequer Measure 1 Allocation	Exchequer Measure 2 Allocation
-	€	€	€	€
Carlow	123,160	105,367	231,585	250,380
Cavan	302,898	94,973	230,328	204,317
Clare	153,377	89,217	321,308	225,760
Cork City	204,907	110,900	202,274	241,748
Cork North	88,511	73,346	108,078	126,000
Cork South	277,892	144,923	672,427	511,187
Cork West	262,605	117,627	283,567	182,516
Donegal	302,645	111,844	422,302	367,219
Dublin City	305,930	127,965	759,668	454,794
Dublin South	239,037	63,565	414,996	278,012
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown	304,215	147,448	294,263	349,665
Fingal	260,007	107,372	375,751	426,850
Galway	175,378	123,142	385,021	270,882
Kerry	281,650	72,821	214,733	384,482
Kildare	155,388	83,410	305,674	251,107
Kilkenny	258,697	79,876	266,047	195,273
Laois	197,878	92,551	183,944	188,012
Leitrim	272,599	64,467	147,105	184,293
Limerick City	266,293	95,475	195,656	226,475
Limerick County	253,082	84,028	229,718	214,356
Longford	210,710	68,400	219,167	167,798
Louth	279,756	141,978	229,131	228,646
Mayo	124,308	76,325	292,823	232,419
Meath	306,156	105,545	233,317	238,478
Monaghan	233,817	67,973	194,427	178,285
Offaly	274,423	79,420	182,203	186,232
Roscommon	123,635	83,695	199,550	187,943
Sligo	263,709	78,851	201,704	200,612
Tipperary North	267,852	95,000	259,063	208,023
Tipperary South	171,427	72,523	227,745	211,898
Waterford City	139,359	114,528	247,874	241,587
Waterford County	126,089	64,520	177,509	231,435
Westmeath	263,348	105,335	382,567	218,693
Wexford	227,056	80,206	336,840	309,592
Wicklow	300,823	105,013	360,634	235,292
Total	7,998,613	3,329,627	9,989,000	8,810,262

Table 3: 2013

CEB	Exchequer Pay Allocation	Exchequer Non Pay Allocation	Exchequer Measure 1 Allocation	Exchequer Measure 2 Allocation
-	€	€	€	€
Carlow	119,449	101,841	171,585	257,266
Cavan	299,861	90,064	230,328	216,298
Clare	148,143	82,230	297,308	207,973
Cork City	180,444	94,715	202,274	208,971
Cork North	88,509	76,233	188,078	194,305
Cork South	277,892	135,573	660,427	389,049
Cork West	262,696	112,000	198,567	229,479
Donegal	300,530	104,187	318,302	309,662
Dublin City	319,904	118,600	556,035	489,147
Dublin South	242,418	65,000	371,996	281,001
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown	305,392	142,124	324,263	332,349
Fingal	252,457	105,372	275,751	424,880
Galway	178,505	113,573	435,021	273,795
Kerry	279,588	66,000	234,733	231,842
Kildare	165,464	79,396	245,674	253,807
Kilkenny	177,204	70,000	191,047	197,372
Laois	189,876	88,361	183,944	190,033
Leitrim	273,071	60,582	147,105	151,975
Limerick City	267,682	86,207	222,656	203,372
Limerick County	189,093	78,755	384,718	216,661
Longford	278,437	66,215	221,167	169,602
Louth	278,291	131,988	204,131	210,890
Mayo	132,641	75,000	327,823	244,703
Meath	286,692	103,000	313,317	241,042
Monaghan	240,355	62,284	174,427	180,202
Offaly	275,579	75,000	182,203	188,235
Roscommon	140,507	75,000	176,050	181,878
Sligo	267,939	75,000	282,704	217,554
Tipperary North	265,539	88,000	209,063	204,991
Tipperary South	186,003	78,837	187,745	213,961
Waterford City	124,110	100,970	167,874	219,932
Waterford County	127,696	60,000	267,509	233,386
Westmeath	218,750	105,335	436,567	202,743
Wexford	227,896	74,124	334,840	231,953
Wicklow	302,284	95,000	370,634	247,607
Total	7,870,897	3,136,566	9,695,866	8,447,916

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (321)

Clare Daly

Question:

321. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2480/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I have interpreted the Deputy’s question to relate to payments to Oracle and Accenture since I took up office on 9th March 2011. No payments have been made to Accenture since 9th March 2011.

The table details payments made to Oracle from 9th March 2011 to 31st December 2013.

-	9th March – 31st December 2011 €	2012 €	2013 €
Payments to Oracle	266,511.03	281,866.13	319,509.23

All of these payments relate to software licence renewal and support, while the figure for 2012 also includes an amount in the sum of €2,950 which relates to a training course.

Work Permit Application Numbers

Questions (322)

Michael Creed

Question:

322. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of work permits issued by his Department in each of the past three years to meat plants to employ non national meat boners; if his Department considers that there is a sustainable employment opportunity here for Irish workers; the efforts being made to establish appropriate training to meet this skills gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2519/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

It is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled, highly paid eligible employments and where a minimum starting salary of €30,000 is on offer. A range of categories of employment, such as Meat Deboners, which would fall under the category of “General Operative” are classified as ineligible for new employment permits.

The statistics for the number of employment permits issued to meat plants over the past 3 years bear this out and are as follows:

Year	Total Permits Issued
2011	106
2012	138
2013	25

Of these, 28% were Spousal/Dependant employment permits, which are available for spouses/dependants of Green Card holders and Researchers and are open to all employments.

The remaining 72% of employment permits issued in this area would be renewals – i.e. in respect of non-EEA nationals already in the State in this employment who are renewing their employment permits or applying for a new employment permit for a new employer.

I am strongly of the view that this sector offers vital opportunities to create sustainable employment in Ireland. The statistics speak for themselves. There are currently over 10,000 people directly employed in meat processing and in many Irish towns the meat processing sector is still the biggest employer. In addition, approximately 75,000 farmers are supplying the meat processing sector. My Department and the Department of Social Protection are working closely together to ensure that the employment permits system works in tandem with, and in support of, the Cross-Government initiatives in place to reduce unemployment in the State, in particular in the area of assessing labour market demands in the context of the Live Register.

I understand that a potential skills gap in this area is currently being considered by my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. In this context, Skillnets, the enterprise-led body funded through the National Training Fund (NTF) under the aegis of the Minister for Education and Skills, has been involved with two of its training networks in the development and provision of a range of knife skills courses for the beef, pork and poultry sectors. I understand that a boning and knife skills traineeship is under development for roll-out in 2014, following consultation with the meat industry and other stakeholders. Consultation with, and participation by, the meat industry in the development of such courses is vital in order to identify and address any skills gaps.

County and City Enterprise Boards Grants

Questions (323)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

323. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of all grants issued by each county enterprise board for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013, inclusive, giving details in each case of the recipient of the grant and the industry he or she operates in, the type of grant paid, and the total value of each grant. [2614/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The CEBs provide capital support grants primarily for business start-ups, business expansions and feasibility studies for micro-enterprises in the manufacturing and export sector. Details of the companies funded each year, including the sector and the amount of the grant, are published in the Annual Reports of the CEBs each year. These Reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas once the accounts are cleared by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Grant Payments

Questions (324)

Niall Collins

Question:

324. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the grant aid available for a purpose (details supplied). [2744/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Anyone interested in starting 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 grant support for anyone who wishes to start a business. Contact details for the CEBs are available on www.enterpriseboards.ie.

The CEBs generally only grant assist enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, which over time can develop into strong export entities and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio. Retail enterprises are ineligible for direct financial support from the CEBs due to concerns over displacement (where grant-assisted projects simply displace business from other players in the local market).

However, any start-up can use the CEBs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 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.

In addition, locally trading businesses, including start-ups can avail of non-financial assistance from their CEB in the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability training and development programmes, e-Commerce training initiatives etc. Training courses include such topics as start-your-own-business, taxation for beginners, internet marketing, ideas generation and negotiation skills.

The 2013 Action Plan for Jobs also included a number of measures designed to help the retail sector. These include a project to streamline the application process for business licences in the retail sector, and an initiative to encourage more businesses to trade on-line. Developments on these initiatives will be reported on a quarterly basis on my Department’s website, www.enterprise.gov.ie, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs Progress Reports.

The Deputy may wish to note that the system for delivery of State supports to micro and small enterprises is being reformed and that the 35 existing County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) will be dissolved and new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will be created. This reform will bring about a new level of engagement and interaction at both national and local level in relation to enterprise support and economic recovery and growth. The target date for the legal dissolution of the CEBs and the formal launch of the LEOs is mid-April, 2014.

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Questions (325)

Derek Nolan

Question:

325. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the positions of the CEO at Enterprise Ireland and the Industrial Development Agency were advertised and in which publications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2848/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The position of Chief Executive Officer at Enterprise Ireland was advertised by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) on its website www.publicjobs.ie. The advertisement was also published in the Irish Times on 24 May 2013 and in the Sunday Times on 26 May 2013. Julie Sinnamon was appointed to the position on 29 August 2013 following a competitive selection process undertaken by PAS.

The position of Chief Executive Officer of IDA Ireland has not yet become vacant. The current CEO, Barry O’Leary, has indicated his intention to step down from the post during the course of 2014. Accordingly, a process will be put in place to ensure that a suitable successor to Mr. O’Leary is recruited and appointed.

Corporation Tax Regime

Questions (326)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

326. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the input from his Department to the Department of Finance report, Principal Risks to Ireland’s Corporation Tax Strategy; if he has read the report; and his views on the report. [2951/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The policy responsibilities of the Minister for Finance include tax policy. The policy responsibilities of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation include foreign direct investment and jobs.

The Tax Strategy Group is the forum through which the impact of tax policy on foreign direct investment and jobs is deliberated on. The Tax Strategy Group is an inter-departmental group of senior officials and political advisors, chaired by the Department of Finance. The Tax Strategy Group meets regularly in advance of each Budget. The Department of Finance prepares the papers for discussion at each Tax Strategy Group meeting.

The Report referred to, Principal Risks to Ireland’s Corporation Tax Strategy, was an earlier version of a Corporation Tax paper presented to the Tax Strategy Group in advance of Budget 2014. The discussion of the Corporation Tax paper at Tax Strategy Group was part of the process of developing the Budget Day publication: Ireland’s International Tax Strategy. I fully support Ireland’s corporation tax Strategy as set out in the publication: Ireland’s International Tax Strategy.

Redundancy Rebates

Questions (327)

Jim Daly

Question:

327. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid to employees who worked in the small and medium enterprise sector under RP50 redundancy payments, including both the employers contribution and the rebate from the State, as a combined total for each of the past seven years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2328/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Expenditure on the redundancy payments scheme over the seven years 2007 to 2013 inclusive is set out in the table.

Expenditure on Statutory Redundancy Payments

Year	Rebates to Employers (€ million)	Lump sums to employees (€ million)	Total (€ million)
2013 (provisional)	49.5	76.6	126.1
2012	167.4	134.3	301.7
2011	185.3	126.7	311.96
2010	373.2	96.77	469.97
2009	247.9	87.96	335.86
2008	161.8	31.91	193.71
2007	167.4	15.93	183.33

All of this expenditure is from the Social Insurance Fund. It is not possible to determine what proportion of this expenditure relates to redundancies in the small to medium enterprise sector.

Exceptional Needs Payments

Questions (328)

Dara Calleary

Question:

328. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding and or grant options available to individual homeowners who suffered substantial damage to their homes during the recent storms and high tides; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2898/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the recent severe weather conditions under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA).

Under the SWA scheme, the Department can make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. This is to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. Examples of the main types of needs that may be met under this provision in respect of severe weather conditions includes assistance towards the purchase of household appliances, bedding, clothing and household repair and maintenance.

In addition to the payment of ENPs, SWA legislation also provides for assistance in the form of an urgent needs payment (UNP) which can be made to persons who would not normally be entitled to SWA. The person may be required to pay the money back in respect of a UNP at a later date, for example, if the person had significant capital or income or was later compensated by an insurance company.

In response to the recent weather events the humanitarian assistance scheme has been activated. The humanitarian assistance scheme, which is means-tested, is available to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repairs as a result of the flooding damage. The Government has not set a limit on the amount that can be paid to an individual household under this scheme. Levels of payment depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs ensuring that the funding is appropriately targeted. Humanitarian assistance does not cover risks that are covered by insurance policies or cover business or commercial losses.

Any person continuing to experience hardship as a result of the recent weather events should contact the Department’s local representative administering SWA who may be able to offer assistance.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (329)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

329. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a social protection payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2292/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an invalidity pension appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19th December 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

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.

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Questions (330)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

330. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if the decision will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2305/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

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.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (331)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

331. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 was refused carer’s allowance. [2327/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An application for carer’s allowance, by the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who was of the opinion that the person being cared for is not so invalided or disabled as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in carer’s allowance legislation.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 21st January 2014. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.

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.

Social Insurance Yield

Questions (332)

Jim Daly

Question:

332. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department collected in revenue under the PRSI scheme for each of the past seven years in tabular form. [2329/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

Social Insurance Fund PRSI Income from 2007 to 2013

Year	€,000
2007	€7,722,010
2008	€7,984,182
2009	€7,164,606
2010	€6,708,018
2011	€7,426,480
2012	€6,786,340
2013	€7,297,137*

* The amount stated for 2013 is provisional pending completion of the 2013 Social Insurance Fund Statutory Account which will be subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (333)

Frank Feighan

Question:

333. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for carer’s allowance in respect of person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2330/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 21st October 2013. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a decision on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome .

Question No. 334 withdrawn.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (335)

Barry Cowen

Question:

335. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by her Department, including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if she will provide the details of consultants employed; the name of each report and its status as published or ongoing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2367/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework.

The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) including the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. There has been no spending on external reports from my Ministerial allowances since February 2011. I am satisfied that the engagement of consultants provides valuable support to the Department and that the procurement of consultants is compliant with best practice in realising value for money.

Report	Name of Consultants	Commissioned	Publication Date	Amount spent since February 2011 to date (31/12/2013)
Investigation of odour/smells, Belmullet Local Office	Wright Environmental Services	Apr-11	Internal Management Report	€1,699
Report on electronic access to GRO Records for genealogy research	John Grenham	Apr-11	Internal Management Report	€3,557
Investigation of odour/smells, DSP Cobh	Employment Health Advisors Ltd	May-11	Internal Management Report	€2,023
Development & implementation of the National Employment & Entitlements Service	Accenture	June-11	Aug-11	€186,563
Report on Pension Charges in Ireland	PWC	Oct-11	Oct-12	€61,500
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report	Aidan Lloyd	Nov-11	Aug-12	€1,500
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research on Insurability Issues & Access to Legal Resources	Mel Cousins & Associates	2011	2011	€7,744
Review of Irish Pensions Policy	OECD	Jan-12	Apr-13	€130,000
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Deprivation 2012 programme leading to the following publications: 1.Work & Poverty in Ireland: An Analysis of CSO Survey on Income & Living Conditions 2004-2010 (2012 annual report) 2. Technical Paper on Poverty Indicators – [Appendix C of Report of the Review of the National Poverty Target] 3. Implications of Income Pooling & Household Decision-Making for Poverty & Deprivation (2012 technical paper)	ESRI	Jan-12	Dec-12 & Nov-12	€81,494
FÁS IS Applications Systems Review	Accenture	Jan-12	Internal Management Report	€44,772
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund	KPMG	Feb-12	Jun-12	€153,750
Evaluation of JobBridge (National Internship Scheme)	Indecon International Economic Consultants	Apr-12	Apr-13	€59,555
Developing system architecture for the National Employment & Entitlements Service	Compass Point	June-12	Internal Management Report	€4,600
Risk assessments regarding reception areas [Arklow, Tallaght, & Kings Inn, Dublin Local Offices]	Nifast	June-12	Internal Management Report	€1,845
Air Quality Investigation, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada	Wright Environmental Services	Aug-12	Internal Management Report	€3,383
Air Quality Investigation, Ballymun Local Office	Wright Environmental Services	Aug-12	Internal Management Report	€3,644
Report on Pension Priority Order	Mercer	Sep-12	Feb-13	€18,450
Contracted Employment Service Model	Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion	Nov-12	Internal Management Report	€140,989
Mobile Applications Opportunity Exploration	Accenture	Feb-13	Internal Management Report	€33,388
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report	Aidan Lloyd	Mar-13	Sep-13	€1,500
Diet Supplement Diet Costing’s Update	Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute	Apr-13	Q1-2014 (expected)	€4,000
Health & Safety Review of DSP premises, Upper Gardiner St, Dublin 1	CPL Training Ltd, trading as Nifast Health & Safety Training	April-13	Internal Management Report	€1,100
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion (AMPSE) 2013 programme leading to the following publications: 1. Social Transfers & Poverty in Boom & Recession (for 2013 annual report) 2. Indicators of Economic Strain in the Great Recession (for 2013 technical paper)	ESRI	June-13	1. Dec-13 2. Q1-2014 (expected)	€67,979
Delivery of Administrative Profiling Models to Identify those at Risk of Labour Market Disadvantage	ESRI	July-13	Q1-2014 (expected)	€16,873
A Review of In-work Supports for the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare	Mel Cousins	July 2013	Q4- 2014	€10,000
Advisory report on implementation of European Youth Guarantee in Irish circumstances	Organisation for Economic co-operation & Development (OECD)	Sept- 2013	Q1-2014 (expected)	€0*
Auto Enrolment & Applicability to Ireland (Pensions)	TOR Financial Consulting Ltd.	Mid 2013	Internal Management Report	€9,903
Report on Organisation Development	Axiom Consultants	Sept- 2013	Internal Management Report	€74,812
Survey Air quality in Nutgrove LO	Wright Environmental Services	Nov-13	Internal Management Report	€0**
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research into Revising Decisions	Mel Cousins & Associates	Dec -2013	Internal Management Report	€2,400
Evaluation Research (Back to Education Allowance)	ESRI	Nov 2013	Internal Management Report	€9,809

*Final invoice €50,000 yet to be processed.

**Final invoice €2,900 yet to be processed.

Pension Provisions

Questions (336)

Michael McGrath

Question:

336. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding deferred pensions of individuals in the context of pension schemes in difficulty under the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2386/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act 2013 amended the Pensions Act and changes the manner in which the assets of a defined benefit pension scheme are distributed in the event of the wind up of a pension scheme. It also extended the options available to trustees in any consideration of a restructure of scheme benefits under section 50 of the Pensions Act.

The change to the wind up rules provided for the application of different wind up rules depending on whether the employer is solvent or insolvent. This change enhanced the priority of deferred scheme member’s benefits in the event of the wind up of a pension scheme.

Prior to the recent change to the Pensions Act, the trustees of a pensions scheme could restructure active and deferred scheme member’s benefits and post retirement increases in pension benefits. The change to section 50 of the Pensions Act extends the categories of benefits which can be considered in a restructure of scheme benefits to include a portion of pensioner benefits. This change essentially provides for the sharing of the risk of scheme underfunding across all scheme members.

Any consideration of a restructure of pension scheme benefits under section 50 of the Pensions Act must comply with the provisions in the Act and with guidance issued by the Pensions Board. This guidance makes provision for the notification of all scheme members in advance of any application to the Pensions Board to restructure scheme benefits. In such circumstances, scheme members will have at least one month to make a submission to the trustees of the scheme in relation to such a proposal. The Pensions Board must be satisfied that all the provisions in the guidance are complied with before the Board will consider issuing a notice to restructure scheme benefits.

The issue of how these changes might be applied will be a matter for the trustees of the scheme who are required under trust law to act in the best interests of all scheme beneficiaries.