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Wednesday, 5 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 82-88

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Questions (82)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

82. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the applications received by his Department from Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in respect of flooding damage including the amount requested; if he will further provide a list of the proposed remedial works and details of the damage done to the areas for which funding was sought. [11167/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy's question has been taken to refer to damage caused during the storms this Winter. Please see the table below which lists the relevant details on the coastal storm flooding damage applications the Office of Public Works has received from Fingal County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme

Coastal Storm Flooding Damage applications

Fingal County Council

Location

Damage Details

List of Proposed Remedial Works

Amount requested

South Strand Rd, Skerries

Existing rock armour dislodged/ moved.

Repair work and additional sections to existing rock armour.

€18,000

Portrane Beach/Road

Almost 3 metres of open space lost, which was posing an immediate threat to the public road serving Seaview Park

and Tower Heights Estates.

The works were completed in late January and comprised installation of rock armour to protect the public road.

€19,000

Portmarnock Beach

Breach of foundations of existing flood defence wall.

Repair to timber sleeper revetment and concrete slabs at Portmarnock Beach.

€31,500

Strand Rd, Sutton

15m section of sea wall collapsed.

Repair of Sea Wall.

€18,000

Barnageeragh Seawall

Damage to existing retaining wall.

Repair to existing retaining wall.

€18,000

Portrane/Donabate

Coastal erosion.

Dune management system including dune re-profiling, matting and planting in conjunction with sand fencing.

€180,000

Total

€284,500

The OPW understands that the only area in Dublin City subjected to direct damage by the storms is located at Stella Gardens, Ringsend where there was a Breach of foundation of a flood defence wall. Dublin City Council has indicated that an application for funding will be submitted in relation to remedial works at that location.

Job Creation

Questions (83)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his expectations in relation to the creation of short to medium term employment in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11133/14]

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Written answers

The Quarterly National Household Survey, which was published by the Central Statistics Office on 27 February, showed that the number of people in employment increased by 61,000 year-on-year in the fourth Quarter of 2013, net of a reduction of 5,500 people in the public sector. This was the fifth quarter in succession where employment has grown year-on-year.

There are now 1.909 million people at work, compared to 1.847 million at the start of the Action Plan for Jobs process. We are now creating jobs faster than any other economy in the EU or the OECD, at a rate of 4.5% per annum in the private sector.

In the final Quarter of 2013, employment increased in 10 of the 14 economic sectors, including Agriculture, Tourism, Professional and Scientific activities – all areas of focus for the Action Plan for Jobs.

These figures suggest that we are seeing sustained progress in our efforts to support employment creation through the Action Plan for Jobs. However, with our unemployment rate still above the EU average at 12.1%, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must continue the process of improving our competitiveness and helping companies to start up, grow and create more jobs.

The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs was published by the Government on 27th February and builds on the 2012 and 2013 Action Plans. This year’s Plan includes targets for the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the new Local Enterprise Offices to support a total of 30,500 direct new jobs during 2014.

Enterprise Ireland will target the creation of 13,000 new full-time permanent jobs and target €17.5 billion in exports by client companies in 2014.

IDA Ireland will also target 13,000 new gross jobs in 2014 and work to win another 155 new FDI investment projects, with 20% of those from growth markets. In addition, a further 10,000 jobs (6,000 direct and 4,000 indirect) will be created over a five year period through the recruitment of extra staff for IDA overseas.

The work of the enterprise agencies will be supplemented by our efforts, under the Action Plan, to support the recovery of the domestic economy in areas such as Construction, Retail and Tourism, where there is potential for significant jobs growth as the economy recovers.

Enterprise Support Schemes

Questions (84)

Derek Nolan

Question:

84. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will review State funding for new or existing enterprises in the service industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11013/14]

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Written answers

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 grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand their 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). It should be noted that Enterprise Ireland is also legally precluded under its remit from providing direct financial assistance to retail enterprises.

Any start-up can also 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 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.

The Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 3 2013 employment figure showed continued growth in the Accommodation and Food Service Activities sector which now employs almost 138,000 people. The Republic of Ireland attracted almost 7 million overseas visits in 2013, an increase of 7.2% compared to 2012. This continued strong performance was aided by the Government’s decision in 2011 to introduce a temporary reduced VAT rate of 9% for tourist-related services. The introduction of the 9% VAT rate has helped to create and retain jobs in the Accommodation and Food Service sector where employment has increased by 16,600 between Quarter 3 2011 and Quarter 3 2013. While the 9% rate was due to expire in December 2013, Budget 2014 confirmed the retention of the 9% rate for hotel and catering services.

Irish Language

Questions (85)

John Deasy

Question:

85. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years. [11052/14]

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Written answers

The total expenditure incurred by my Department and its Offices in translating and printing Irish language publications over the last three years was €98,323. The following table provides a breakdown of this amount by the categories requested.

Within my Department arrangements are in place whereby staff members who are competent in Irish have volunteered their services with regard to the translation of documents into Irish. This facilitates the reduction of costs in this area.

Total Expenditure Incurred by Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in Translating and Printing Irish Language Publications

2011 - 2013

Type of Expenditure

2011

2012

2013

Printing of publications, documents and notices

€12,510

€2,938

€2,366

Translation

€33,059

€20,143

€10,544

Advertisements

€7,128

€1,310

€1,811

Bilingual Signage

€510

-

€6,004

Total Expenditure Incurred by Year

€53,207

€24,391

€20,725

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Questions (86)

Robert Troy

Question:

86. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the project, opportunity in a million, which was initiated by a group in Athlone who have in the region of 40 company owners-SNR executives mentoring new projects who can avail of the Athlone enterprise investment fund for start up seed capital; his view on this initiative; and if there is anyway in which his Department may be in a position to facilitate-support such an initiative. [11080/14]

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Written answers

I am aware of the initiative launched by my colleague Minister Brian Hayes on November 29, 2013. Local initiatives can play a central role in alleviating unemployment and supporting entrepreneurship. This voluntary initiative is a prime example of how communities can work together to support business development and job creation.

The regionally based Enterprise Ireland team are aware of the initiative and have had discussions with Athlone Community Task Force. Where companies fall within the legislative remit of Enterprise Ireland the agency stands ready to assist.

I understand that Westmeath County Enterprise Board (CEB) also actively promotes the OiM Initiative. The CEO of Westmeath CEB has met with the Committee, the Chair of the Evaluation Committee and the Coordinator of OiM on separate occasions and has agreed to meet the Committee again to explore options to promote the initiative.

The Government is fully committed to supporting local business development initiatives such as OiM and, in particular through the local County Enterprise Board, can provide advice, training, mentoring and in some instances, financial support to business ideas that might evolve through OiM. I would urge the promoters of the initiative to continue to work closely with Westmeath CEB.

Joint Labour Committees Agreements

Questions (87)

Martin Heydon

Question:

87. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in reorganising the JLC structures with particular reference to the agricultural workers JLC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11110/14]

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Written answers

On 28 January last, I signed Orders to give effect to recommendations of the Labour Court Review of the ten existing Joint Labour Committees, which I had published in October 2013.

The Orders provide for:

- The abolition of 2 Joint Labour Committees:

- Dublin Hotels

- Law Clerks

- Amendments to the existing Establishment Orders in respect of:

- Contract Cleaning

- Hairdressing

- Hotels (non-Dublin and Cork)

- Security

As the Agricultural Workers JLC was established under primary legislation, effecting the recommendation of the Labour Court Review will require an amendment to primary legislation. In this regard my officials are engaged with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to see how this can be implemented as early as possible.

Legal advice obtained during the drafting of the proposed Order for the Retail Grocery JLC indicated that it would not be appropriate for me to proceed with amending the scope of the Retail Grocery JLC as recommended by the Labour Court. The effect of this is that the existing Establishment Order governing the Retail Grocery sector remains in place.

With regard to the two catering JLCs, I accepted the recommendation that the existing scope and structures remain in place and that one person be appointed to chair both JLCs. Accordingly, it was not necessary for me to make Orders in these instances.

Industrial Relations Officers of the Labour Relations Commission have now been appointed the positions of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of seven JLCs, excluding Agriculture.

It is now a matter for the Labour Court, under the Industrial Relations Act 1946, to ensure that equal numbers of representatives of workers and employers in the relevant sectors are on each of the JLCs.

Tourism Employment

Questions (88)

Dara Calleary

Question:

88. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether there is a shortage of skilled staff in the hotel and catering sector; the actions that he proposes to address this shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11121/14]

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Written answers

The economic downturn had an adverse effect on the Hospitality sector with many establishments forced to close or scale back and implement a range of cost cutting measures. In 2011, as part of the Jobs Initiative the Government reduced the VAT rate to 9% for those in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors to boost economic growth and cost competitiveness. The combined effects of this initiative have been to lower prices and increase output and employment. These moves, along with the successful running of the Gathering, have seen visitor numbers increasing in 2013.

The National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, which comes under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, is the lead agency responsible for encouraging, promoting and supporting the recruitment, training and education of people for the tourism industry.

The latest information from the Quarterly National Household Survey is that there are now 136,000 employed in the accommodation and food services activities compared to 118,000 one year previously – representing a 15% increase in employment.

On foot of these improvements in the business outlook of the hospitality sector, the Irish Hotels Federation has expressed concerns of a skills shortage in the hotel and catering sector, particularly for entry level workers. At present, Fáilte Ireland, mainly funds a range of courses in Institutes of Technology in Hospitality and Tourism at the higher level 6 to level 8. However, they are no longer providing entry level training which is required (FETAC 4 & 5).

This is an important sector with promising job prospects. I understand that SOLAS, the Education Training Boards, Institutes of Technology, Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotel Federation have recently met to discuss how these improvements at entry level can be put in place.

As part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs are to commence an assessment of the workforce skills and competency requirements for the hospitality sector in Ireland up to 2020, to ensure that there will be the right skill base – quantity, quality and diversity of skills to help drive domestic hospitality sector business and employment growth. A particular focus of the study will be on providing development opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to enable them to fill anticipated job openings.

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