Written Answers Nos. 91 - 100
91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a site (details supplied) in County Kerry; when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20768/14]
View answerSubstantial conservation works are underway at Ballymalis Castle, necessitated by the need to remove inappropriate cement and concrete from the structure and to resolve a range of structural issues. The building is in fragile condition currently and needs significant stabilisation works.
Work on the project commenced over a year ago when scaffolding was erected. This facilitated the collection of samples so as to devise a suitable historic mortar and the identification of appropriate sources of stone. The access facilitated by the scaffolding also enabled the survey and planning work necessary for such a significant and intricate project and was necessary in order to complete the required application for Ministerial Consent required under the National Monuments Acts for such works. Detailed assessment had to be carried out with recording on each floor as part of the documentation for Consent.
Works to the Castle are now underway but currently most of the activity is internal, on the ground floor. This is a substantial undertaking and it is anticipated that the project will take up to a further five years to properly complete. When complete, the works will facilitate much improved and safe access for the public.
I accept the points raised in relation to signage at and on the approach to the site. The Office of Public Works (OPW) will erect a sign at the start of the fenced public access path alerting potential visitors that the castle cannot be accessed as works are ongoing but that they can if they wish go as far as the end of the access path. The OPW will also move the information plaque to just outside the site so that it can be read whilst looking at the Castle should any visitors choose to go and view the Castle from a short distance.
92. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will set out in tabular form the number of proposed merger transactions examined by the Competition Authority in each year since 2003; the number that the authority has prevented from proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20625/14]
View answerInformation on merger transactions is publicly available from Annual Reports of the Competition Authority and is set out as follows for the years in question.
|
Year |
Notified Mergers |
Mergers that were not permitted to be put into effect |
|
2003 |
47 |
0 |
|
2004 |
81 |
1 |
|
2005 |
84 |
0 |
|
2006 |
98 |
1 |
|
2007 |
72 |
0 |
|
2008 |
37 |
1 |
|
2009 |
27 |
0 |
|
2010 |
46 |
0 |
|
2011 |
40 |
0 |
|
2012 |
33 |
0 |
|
2013 |
37 |
0 |
|
Total |
602 |
3 |
|
- |
% blocked |
0.50 |
It should be noted that a proportion of the mergers cleared to be put into effect were subject to conditions, specified by the Competition Authority, being complied with. Over the same period, 3,284 merger notifications were made to the European Commission and of those 0.18% were not allowed to be put into effect.
93. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will set out in tabular form for each county the amount of its population resident in areas included in the Ireland regional aid map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20626/14]
View answerAs I announced on 25 April, areas accounting for 51.28% of Ireland’s population will be eligible for assistance under the Regional Aid Guidelines. This represents a substantial increase from the 25% originally proposed by the Commission, and an increase from the 50% under the 2007-2013 Map.
The proposals from my Department on areas to be designated are currently going through inter service consultation with the EU Commission, and should be formally approved later this month. The new Regional Aid Map will then come into place on 01 July 2014. My Department is currently working on drafting a comprehensive map which will be published as soon as formal notification has been received. It is important to note that all of the Country, including those areas not entitled to Investment Aid, can qualify for other forms of State support e.g. Research & Development Aid, SME Investment Aid, Training Aid, and Aid for Environmental protection etc.
94. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Industrial Development Agency Ireland has plans for building further advanced technology facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20627/14]
View answerAs part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, we are bringing a particular focus to regional job creation and are delivering a range of measures to support this goal. One such measure is that IDA Ireland will commence building new advanced manufacturing facilities in Waterford and Athlone and office space in Letterkenny.
I announced in April that IDA Ireland had agreed contracts for the delivery of two advanced technology buildings in Athlone and Waterford, which will be suitable for future IDA client investment from a number of potential sectors. The Athlone building will be located in the IDA Garrycastle Business & Technology Park, on the Dublin Road. The development will consist of an advanced technology building of approximately 2,674 m2, part two storey and part double height single storey, with associated infrastructure. The Waterford building will be constructed at the IDA Business & Technology Park, Butlerstown, Cork Road, Waterford. This development will comprise of an advanced technology building of approximately 2,348 m2, part two storey and part double height single storey, with associated infrastructure.
Both buildings have been designed to high standards. The building layout has taken account of the requirement of potential end users for flexibility by creating front of house open plan offices areas with the potential for subdivision. The rear open plan production area offers flexibility for large scale open plan of again the potential to subdivide or introduce cellular spaces. The proposed buildings will be of high quality environmental design which will achieve the globally recognised U.S.G.B.C. LEED "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" silver standard. Employment across the two projects will be in the region of 160 to 180 over the construction cycle.
In the case of the office units in Letterkenny, I am informed by IDA Ireland that a developer led solution is in progress at the IDA Business &Technology Park in Letterkenny to deliver a 23,000 sq. ft. office building by the end of 2014. In the current economic climate coupled with the limited availability of funding for all capital projects, investment must be targeted to potential investment wins and associated job creation opportunities. IDA Ireland has assured me that it will continue to assess the requirements in other regional locations on an ongoing basis.
95. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed in Shannon Development supported enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20628/14]
View answerIn accordance with the Government decision of November 2012, Shannon Development is being merged with Shannon Airport to form a new entity with a commercial mandate in public ownership. As part of the restructuring of Shannon Development, the enterprise support functions have transferred to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. This will ensure the continuation of support to both FDI and indigenous enterprises in the region. The vision for the new Shannon Group is for a revitalised Shannon Airport encompassing not only the airport and its airline activities but also a broad-based aviation industry cluster centred on the airport and on the adjacent Shannon Free Zone lands. The new Shannon Group will work closely with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland on developing an International Aviation Services Centre in the region.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey 2013 took account of these changes in responsibility and the employment figures for companies who were former clients of Shannon Development are now included in the overall employment figures for IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. In this regard, the IDA Ireland total employment figure of 166,184 includes over 5,000 employees in 55 FDI companies in the Shannon Free Zone.
96. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has sought the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission in relation to the dispute regarding staff transferring from county enterprise boards to local enterprise offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20629/14]
View answerMy Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, the Local Government Management Agency, the City and County Managers Association and Enterprise Ireland recently concluded an independently-chaired Facilitation Process with IMPACT on a number of issues of concern to staff of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) in the context of the dissolution of the CEBs and the establishment of the Local Enterprise Offices.
Following that process, my Department received a letter from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) informing us that IMPACT had sought a conciliation conference to discuss certain matters further. My Department sought clarification on the matters which IMPACT wished to discuss, but prior to any practical arrangements being put in place for the conciliation conference IMPACT referred the matter to the Labour Court. My Department remains available and willing, along with the other relevant Parties, to meet with IMPACT officials to discuss their concerns and to explore how these concerns can be alleviated.
97. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the regional aid programme in which Athy, County Kildare has now been included can provide funding for initiatives in the area of heritage and tourism; if funding will be provided to support ongoing work of Athy Heritage Centre and Museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20719/14]
View answerThe Regional Aid Guidelines enable the State to grant State Aid, at enhanced rates, to businesses in order to support new investment and new employment in productive projects in Ireland's most disadvantaged regions. This helps the convergence of these regions with the more advantaged regions of the Union. Regional aid is also provided under schemes for tourism grants, marine tourism, urban and rural renewal and other tax-based development schemes. All such aid come from the exchequer, i.e. there is no EU or other external funding.
The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines enter into force on 01 July 2014. The Guidelines apply to almost all sectors of economic activity, including heritage and tourism. Therefore, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and their respective agencies will be able to provide State Aid to beneficiaries under the Regional Aid Guidelines if they wish.
As I announced on 25 April, areas accounting for 51.28% of Ireland’s population will be eligible for assistance under the Regional Aid Guidelines. This represents a substantial increase from the 25% originally proposed by the Commission, and an increase from the 50% under the 2007-2013 Map. This means that Kells and Arklow can be added to the areas designated under the current map, and the full range of Regional Aid assistance options will also now be available in Kerry.
Athy has also been added to the upcoming 2014-2020 Regional Aid Map, with the exception of one Electoral District which was excluded from the designated map in order to ensure Ireland adhered to its overall allocated national coverage of 51.28% of population. It is important to note that all of the Country, including those areas not entitled to Investment Aid, can qualify for other forms of State support e.g. Research & Development Aid, SME Investment Aid, Training Aid, and Aid for Environmental protection etc.
98. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the implications for the PRSI system from the introduction of universal health insurance; if citizens will continue to pay PRSI in the same fashion when UHI is introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20635/14]
View answerContributions paid under Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) by employers, employees, the self-employed and voluntary contributors are paid into the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). The social insurance (PRSI) system is mandatory and insures nearly all workers and the self-employed for a range of contingencies such as old age, ill health, maternity and unemployment. The range of contingencies covered is dependent on the Class of PRSI paid.
The White Paper on Universal Health Insurance sets out a proposed framework of a Universal Health Insurance model for Ireland and was published by the Department of Health on 2 April 2014. The Department of Social Protection, along with other Departments, individuals, groups, organisations and other bodies, is currently engaged in consultation with the Department of Health on this paper. This process is ongoing.
99. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for carer's allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20636/14]
View answer101. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for invalidity pension applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20638/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 101 together.
The average time to award carers' allowance and invalidity pension applications at the end of March was 35 and 40 weeks respectively. New applications for carer’s allowance are currently decided upon inside 12.5 weeks on average and invalidity pension claims are currently decided upon within 8 weeks of receipt. The overall average processing times reflect appeals in the system.
100. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for carer's allowance appeals to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20637/14]
View answer102. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for invalidity pension appeals to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20639/14]
View answer103. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for supplementary welfare allowance appeals to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20643/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 102 and 103 together.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average times taken to process carer's allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 32.7 weeks and 36 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The current average times taken to process invalidity pension appeals decided by summary decision is 31.2 weeks and 42.2 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The current average time taken to process supplementary allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 15.2 weeks and 21.3 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing.
The workload of the appeals office has increased dramatically in recent years. Up to 2009 the average number of appeals received was 15,000 per annum, whereas in 2012 the number of appeals received peaked at 35,484, reducing to 32,777 appeals in 2013. This has placed considerable pressure on the office.
Significant effort and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeals process to manage this increased workload, reduce backlogs and improve appeals processing times for appellants, while, at the same time, recognising the need to ensure that quality and fairness are not compromised. An additional 15 Appeals Officers have been assigned to the office over the past three years, in addition to 10 former Community Welfare Service Appeals Officers who joined the appeals office in 2011, bringing the total number to 41. In addition, a new operating model has been introduced in the appeals office.
These measures have achieved significant improvements. The number of appeals cases processed in 2013 increased by 18%, to over 38,400. The average processing time for appeals peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 the average time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks and the time for a summary decision increased slightly to 27.8 weeks. This overall improvement has continued in 2013 with the processing time reducing to 33.9 weeks for an oral hearing and 25.8 weeks for a summary decision, and in 2014 with the processing time reducing to 29.7 weeks for an oral hearing and 22.6 weeks for a summary decision.
Appeal processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation and include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer and further investigation or medical examination, if deemed necessary.
In addition to improvements in processing times, the measures which have been introduced in the appeals office have also led to a significant increase in the number of appeals finalised in recent years from 17,787 in 2009 to 38,421 in 2013. An additional 5,863 appeals were finalised in 2013 compared to 2012. Good progress also continues to be made in reducing the number of appeals on hands from 20,414 at 1 January 2013 to 13,374 at 6 May 2014.
