Written Answers Nos. 286-317
286. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of agencies or State bodies under the aegis of his Department that have been abolished since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32245/14]
View answer287. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of new agencies or State bodies that have been established under the aegis of his Department since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32260/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together.
The Public Service Reform Plan aims to secure €20 million in enhanced service efficiencies and value-for-money from the rationalisation programme; a target that will be achieved. The bulk of the savings are derived from a reduction in the number of public servants working in the merged entities and from other administrative efficiencies.
From the outset I have maintained that the lasting and most important benefit from the rationalisation of State bodies will be a less crowded administrative landscape, resulting in greater democratic accountability, less duplication of effort and clearer lines of responsibility for the citizen. Moreover, the rationalisation programme needs to be understood as just one of a package of reform measures that will allow for the continued delivery of critical services against the backdrop of reducing public service numbers. There will of course be other cash savings realised over time as organisations, financial systems, office accommodation etc. are rationalised into leaner, more coherent structures. These savings, some of which will be once-off, will be factored into the overall budgetary framework as they arise.
Within my own area of control the Commission on Public Service Appointments was merged into the Office of the Ombudsman with effect from October 2012. Arrangements are also currently underway for the merger of the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey Ireland; and the measure concerning the State Laboratory and the Forensic Science Laboratory is progressing. No new State bodies or agencies have been created in my Department since the formation of the Government.
A full list of all State agencies and organisations under my remit includes:
Office of the Ombudsman
Public Appointments Service
State Laboratory
Valuation Office
Valuation Tribunal
An Post National Lottery Board
Institute of Public Administration
Special EU Programmes Body
288. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total value of bonus payments made to staff under the aegis of his Department in 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32275/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no bonus payments were made to staff under the aegis of my Department in 2013 or to date in 2014.
289. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of appointments to State boards since March 2011 under the aegis of his Department; the total number of appointments that have been advertised on his Department’s website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32305/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members. Under the new arrangements Departments now invite expressions of interest on their websites from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or geographical location to apply for appointment to these vacancies.
I am satisfied that the new arrangements introduced by the Government in 2011 have significantly improved transparency in the making of appointments to State boards compared with the making of appointments in previous years.
Since the formation of this Government 22 members have been nominated to State boards under my remit. In the context of the sale of the National Lottery licence, I have considered it appropriate to re-appoint two of the ministerial nominees to the An Post National Lottery Board; Mr. Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh has been re-appointed twice and Mr. Oliver Wilkinson has been re-appointed once. Consequently, recourse to advertising the positions publicly did not arise.
The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice and Equality) should appoint members of the Board of the Public Appointments Service.
The Public Appointments Service Board is meant to be representative of our client base. The majority of the board are therefore civil or public servants, nominated by the relevant Minister. There is also a union representative nominated by ICTU. The two external members were appointed by the Minister because of their expertise in strategic change and public service recruitment respectively.
In view of these statutory procedures for the appointment of members of the boards, there is limited scope to advertise these positions. The following tables give a breakdown of positions filled on State boards under my remit since March 2011:
|
Board Name |
Year |
No. of Appointments made |
No. of Positions Advertised |
|
An Post National Lottery Board |
2011 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
2 |
||
|
2013 |
6 |
||
|
Public Appointments Service Board |
2011 |
9 |
0 |
|
2012 |
2 |
||
|
2013 |
3 |
||
|
Total |
22 |
0 |
290. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of his Department since March 2011 who have appeared before the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32320/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no chairperson appointed to State Boards under the aegis of my Department since March 2011 has appeared before their relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee.
291. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of retired public servants who have been awarded temporary or term-time posts in his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [32335/14]
View answerIn the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, there were no retired public servants awarded temporary or term time posts in my Department. In 2014, two retired public servants were awarded temporary contracts through open competition with the Public Appointment Services.
292. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the unvouched amounts paid to Independent TDs under the heading of leaders’ allowance from their election to the 31st Dáil to 1 July 2014; if these payments were entirely tax free; the changes now put in place to stop unvouched claims under this heading and to reduce claims; if every eligible current Independent TD claimed the absolute maximum available under the leaders’ allowance until the Government changes were enforced; if any eligible current Independent TD ever returned any of the money involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/14]
View answer293. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gross amount a PAYE worker would need to earn in a year to take home the cumulative amounts paid to Independent TDs under the heading of leaders’ allowance from their election to the 31st Dáil to 1 July 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32340/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
I refer to my reply to Question No. 283 (25340/14) of 17 June, 2014.
The Parliamentary Activities Allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a "qualifying party", or the equivalent independent member, to pay for expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party or member as appropriate.
The Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 1938, as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2014 provides that it is not liable to income tax. As the net take home pay from the gross salary of any PAYE worker reflects his or her personal circumstances, including applicable allowances, any personal pension contribution and whether he or she works in the public service or private sector, it is not possible to give a definitive gross annual salary equivalent.
294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding that has been drawn down by Kerry County Council and spent directly by the Office of Public Works for works associated with the damage caused by the 2013-14 winter storms; if details of each job will be provided; if more funding will be provided to County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32358/14]
View answerThe Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG) wrote to Kerry County Council indicating, based on the estimate submitted by the Council to that Department, that up to €1,226,920 is available to the Council to undertake the necessary repair works to damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure.
The Council submitted an overall programme of works to the DoECLG detailing how it proposes to spend the total allocation and submitted the relevant elements of its programme to the Office of Public Works. OPW reviewed these having regard to related guidance issued by the DoECLG to the local authorities.
OPW confirmed to the Council on 22 May that the funding allocation of up to €1,226,920 is available from this Office for the coastal protection repair works as set out in its programme. Kerry County Council has not drawn down any of the allocated funding to date.
Please see below in tabular form details of the projects for which OPW has allocated funding to the Council.
Table 1: Projects for which OPW funding only involved.
|
Damage Location |
Description of damage and remedial works |
|
Fahamore |
Coastal protection repairs- reinstatement of damage coastal protection. |
|
Bunanear |
Beach access repairs – repair of damaged coastal protection to beach access. |
|
Ceann Trá |
Coastal protection repairs. |
|
Kenmare |
Repairs to coastal protection. |
|
Kenmare |
Repair to pier area sea walls. |
|
Cromane Lower |
Repairs to coastal embankment. |
|
Cockleshell Road |
Repairs to coastal protection. |
|
Barrow |
Repairs to coastal protection. |
Table 2: Projects for which OPW funding and funding from another Department is involved.
|
Damage Location |
Description of damage and remedial works |
Agencies |
|
Kells Beach |
Coastal protection and car park repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Renard |
Pier road and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Valentia Island |
Road and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
White Strand Ballycarbery |
Road and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Waterville |
Promenade and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Coonanna |
Pier access road and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Ballinskelligs |
Pier access road and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Cooscrome |
Road, car park and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Bunavalla |
Car park and coastal protection repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Brackaharagh |
Road repairs and Coastal Protection. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Cush |
Road, Car Park and sea wall repairs |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Maulagullane |
Road repairs and reinstate coastal protection. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
R573 Coast Road |
Road and sea Wall Repairs. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
|
Rossbeigh |
Road, Car park and Coastal Protection repairs. |
OPW and DTTAS |
|
Fenit |
Promenaded repair and Coastal Protection repair. |
OPW and DoEHLG |
The cost to date of the repairs to OPW infrastructure on the Rivers Maine and Feale which was damaged during the storms is €875,206. The locations where repair works by OPW have been undertaken to date in Co. Kerry are: Garrane East, Callinafercy West, Annagh, Ballymacandy, Ardcanaght, Castledrum, Laghtacallow, Roscullen in the River Maine Catchment and Derryco, Muckenagh and Rahoonagh in the River Feale Catchment.
295. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular format the commitments under the programme for Government which his Department is responsible for; the progress made to date with regard to each commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32400/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, in the table below I have provided an update on the status of my Department's commitments under the Programme for Government. As can be seen from this update significant progress has been made in my Department.
The progress identified to date clearly shows that the Government has focused its attention on the decisions and reforms needed to achieve economic and financial stability, which provide a platform for economic recovery. My Department is determined to continue to implement our Programme for Government commitments to restore the public's confidence in our economy and to achieve a strong and sustainable economy.
Many of the reforms in the Programme are ambitious and need careful sequencing and expertly executed delivery plans. Some may take the whole lifetime of the Government to complete.
Programme for Government Commitments Department of Public Expenditure and Reform July 2014
|
Commitment |
Current Status |
|
We will draw up a new National Development Plan that reflects Ireland's changed economic circumstances, covering the seven-year period 2012-2019. The plan will be based on a comprehensive study of Ireland's public investment priorities over that period. |
Completed |
|
In the initial years, when resources will be most heavily constrained, we will prioritise investment in school building, non-national roads, healthcare, and in job-creation. |
Completed |
|
We will insist that major capital projects are subjected to proper cost-benefit analysis and evaluation, improving future productivity and growth prospects, and that the value-for-money obtained is significantly enhanced compared to the most recent period. |
Completed |
|
The new NDP will be based on traditional exchequer capital spending, plus other resources to be invested from the National Pension Reserve Fund, on the basis of obtaining a return on investment and that does not impact the Government Balance Sheet. |
In Progress |
|
In developing the new NDP, we will re-examine the investment programmes of the semi-state companies to ensure that they are in line with new economic circumstances. |
Completed |
|
In order to ensure that public enterprise plays a full role in Ireland's economic recovery, we will create a holding company to manage the state's holdings of the semi-states, and to co-ordinate investment in key priority areas identified by the Government, including energy, water and forestry. |
Completed |
|
Over time, we also propose to finance the investment programme from the sale of certain state assets. We will target up to €2 billion in sales of non-strategic state assets drawing from the recommendations of the McCarthy Review Group on State Assets when available. Assets will only be sold when market conditions are right and when adequate regulatory structures have been established to protect consumer interests. |
In Progress |
|
Re-prioritise capital funding for smaller projects that deal with specific immediate problems. Smaller projects are more labour intensive and more likely to be carried out by local contractors increasing short-run domestic economic impact. Investment priorities will include education, health and science and technology. |
Completed |
|
Conduct a Comprehensive Spending Review to examine all areas of public spending and to assess effectiveness of spending programmes and value for company. |
Completed |
|
Accelerate capital works that are 'shovel ready' and labour intensive including schools and secondary roads. |
Completed |
|
We will reform public procurement to become a tool to support innovative Irish firms and to allow greater access to Irish small and medium sized businesses. |
Completed |
|
We will introduce new legislation to protect all small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. |
Completed |
|
A referendum to amend the Constitution to reverse the effects of the Abbeylara judgement to enable Oireachtas committees to carry out full investigations. |
Completed |
|
A referendum to protect the right of citizens to communicate in confidence with public representatives. |
Completed |
|
All appointments at Principal Officer level and above will be open to external competition and at least one-third of such appointments will be reserved for candidates from outside traditional civil service structures for a 5-year period. |
In Progress |
|
Pin down accountability for results at every level of the public service from Ministers down with clear consequences for success and failure. Ministers will be responsible for policy and procurement and public service managers for delivery. |
In Progress |
|
Where appropriate, agency boards will be scrapped and agency managers will report directly to Ministers and their Departments on performance against targets. |
Action Required |
|
Put in place a Whistleblowers Act to protect public servants that expose maladministration by Ministers or others. Restore Freedom of Information. |
Completed In Progress |
|
There will be no more "golden handshakes" for public servants that have failed to deliver. |
Completed |
|
Overhaul TLAC (Top level Appointments Commission), with the chairperson and the majority of members drawn from outside the public sector. |
Completed |
|
Introduce a reformed incentive system for all grades within core Government departments to reward cross-departmental teams that deliver audited improvements in service delivery and cost effectiveness. |
Action required |
|
Go beyond the recommendations of An Bord Snip to rationalise core processes that are duplicated across the public service, by establishing shared back-office operations for information technology, human resource management, payments and entitlement applications, business inspections and procurement. |
In Progress |
|
Review the Local Government Efficiency Review as part of our Comprehensive Spending Review. |
Completed |
|
Make substantial cuts to the number of State bodies and companies. |
Completed |
|
Instigate a Government-wide review to identify and eliminate non-priority programmes and outsource, where appropriate, non-critical functions. |
In Progress |
|
Rather than giving fixed budgets to traditional public service providers like the HSE, VECs and FÁS, we will put resources into the hands of citizens to acquire services that are tailored to better suit their needs and less expensive for the taxpayer. |
In Progress |
|
Establish a new model of financing social interventions called Social Impact Bonds that share audited exchequer savings with charitable and voluntary organisations. |
In Progress |
|
Where appropriate we will open up the delivery of public services to a range of providers. |
In Progress/ Ongoing Implementation |
|
We will give schools, hospitals and other public service bodies new freedoms within strict budgets and new accountability systems to set their own staffing needs, automate routine processes and adapt work practices to local staff and customer needs. |
In Progress |
|
We will legislate for a reformulated code of laws, replacing both the Ministers and Secretaries Acts and the Public Service Management Act, which will spell out the legal relationship between Ministers and their civil servants and their legal accountability for decisions and for management of Departments. |
In Progress |
|
The system of implied general delegation of a Minister's statutory powers to civil servants will be abolished and replaced by a fixed and determined system of delegation of specified powers to specified officers. |
In Progress |
|
Where a responsibility is delegated through several civil service grades, each grade will be held accountable for their element of it and departmental officials giving evidence to Oireachtas committees will be obliged to speak on their own behalf for their delegated responsibilities and, where appropriate, defend themselves and their actions. |
In Progress |
|
Delegation orders will spell out the functions of the Minister in supervising the exercise of delegated powers: the Minister will be responsible for ensuring that adequate standards are maintained; outputs are delivered as determined or agreed; and procedures are in place to provide the Minister with the necessary and correct information to enable him or her to respond to problems of administration and to give an account of those problems, and of any necessary corrective action, to the Dáil and to the public. |
In Progress |
|
We will bring to an end the unacceptable executive practice where no record is kept of ministerial involvement with an issue and resulting decisions. |
In Progress |
|
We will review the grading structure of the civil service and public service and reduce number of management grades.Public service managers will be given greater autonomy in deciding how they use staffing budgets and resources to achieve agreed outcomes. |
In Progress |
|
We will remove barriers to mobility across the public service. As part of this we will create a new tier of senior public service management structures, where senior officials are rotated across the public sector to nurture the collaborative culture needed to tackle the biggest cross-cutting social and economic challenges. |
Completed |
|
High level strategic goals will be reflected in individual goals, in a new performance management and development system for staff. Staff recognition schemes will be developed and devolved, with particular emphasis on team awards. Staff will be encouraged to put forward suggestions for improving service delivery and organisation efficiency and effectiveness. |
In Progress |
|
Government services websites, public offices, telephone services, and helplines will be reconfigured to facilitate access to a broad range of government services through a single point of contact. |
In Progress |
|
Ministers' salaries will be reduced, political expenses vouched for and severance payments for ministers axed. |
Completed |
|
No political pensions will be paid to sitting TDs and in future no retired politician will get a political pension until the national retirement age. Politics must be about service to the public, not financial gain for politicians. |
Completed |
|
Amend the Constitution to Give Dáil committees Full Powers of Investigation: The Abbeylara Supreme Court decision currently limits the ability of Dáil committees to hold investigations into crucial issues of public concern, such as the banking crisis. |
Completed |
|
A statutory duty on anybody established by or under statute, or with a majority ownership or funding by the State, to submit to the same parliamentary questions regime as applies to Government departments. This will involve a liability to provide answers to written questions within a specified number of Dáil sitting days. (We will however recognise the special position of bodies with a commercial mandate operating at arm's length from Government). |
In Progress |
|
We will amend the rules to ensure that no senior public servant (including political appointees) or Minister can work in the private sector in any area involving a potential conflict of interest with their former area of public employment, until at least two years have elapsed after they have left the public service. |
In Progress |
|
Restrictions on the nature and extent of evidence by civil servants to Oireachtas committees will be scrapped and replaced with new guidelines for civil servants that reflect the reality of the authority delegated to them and their personal accountability for the way in which it is exercised. |
In Progress |
|
The Committee would be the formal channel of consultation and collaboration between the Oireachtas and the Ombudsman, responsible for receiving and debating her annual and special reports and for ensuring that her criticisms and recommendations are acted upon. For that purpose, she would attend as a regular witness before the committee. |
In Progress |
|
We will legislate to restore the Freedom of Information Act to what it was before it was undermined by the outgoing Government, and we will extend its remit to other public bodies including the administrative side of the Garda Síochána, subject to security exceptions |
In Progress |
|
We intend to end the heavy dependence on a very limited pool of extremely expensive private solicitors firms providing legal services to the State and agencies, look at ways to require agencies to seek legal advice from the CSSO and not from the private sector in order to save costs, and ensure that legal work at the bar for the State is spread more equitably rather than confined to a very limited pool as at present. |
In Progress |
|
We will progress the Statute Law Revision Project in order to enhance public accessibility to the statute book. |
In Progress/Ongoing Implementation |
|
We will extend Freedom of Information, and the Ombudsman Act, to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered. |
In Progress |
|
We will introduce Whistleblowers legislation. |
Completed |
|
We will introduce a statutory register of lobbyists, and rules concerning the practice of lobbying. |
In Progress |
|
We will abolish the additional pay for Ministers who leave office. We will restrict the payment of pensions to politicians so that in future a member can only qualify for a pension at the national retirement age (currently 65) and upon leaving public life. We will cap taxpayers' subsidies for all future pension schemes for politicians (and indeed for everybody) that deliver income in retirement of more than €60,000. |
Completed |
|
We will legislate and change Dáil standing orders to ensure the absolute confidentiality of information entrusted to members of the Dáil by their constituents or informants, and ensure that such information cannot be compulsorily disclosed through the legal process except with the consent of the informant. |
Completed |
|
Every public body will set out clear and unambiguous long, medium and short term strategic priorities, which will be clearly communicated to public service and citizens. Strategic priorities will be translated into high level goals for all Departments, on a 'whole of government' basis, and in consultation with Ministers. |
Completed |
|
Performance indicators will be identified to monitor progress on high level priorities. Annual reports of departments and agencies will include output statements and audited financial accounts prepared on generally accepted accounting principles. The performance information provided in output and outcome-focused measurement will feed into the decision making process for future plans at political and senior management level. |
Completed |
|
The reform process will provide for increased delegation of budgets, subject to detailed plans, relevant performance reporting and audited accounts compiled in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
In Progress/Ongoing Implementation |
|
Detailed business cases will be required for major projects, with review and reporting requirements built in to the plan. Sanctions will be imposed at an early stage for significant overruns. |
Completed |
|
We will change the current emphasis on performance reporting to performance management. All medium to long-term projects that involve significant public spending will be subject to cost benefit analysis, and to on-going evaluation. The results of programme evaluations will be published and programmes not meeting their objectives will be wound down. |
Completed |
|
Performance and progress will be published in a new, audited annual Public Service Delivery Reports. Oireachtas Committees will expose any failure to hit milestones and targets. Each sectoral Committee will take on new powers, similar to those wielded by Public Accounts Committee, to hold Ministers and public servants to account for value for money. This will feed into Oireachtas consideration of the next Budget. |
In Progress/Ongoing Implementation |
|
Where appropriate, agency boards will be scrapped and agency managers will be accountable directly to Ministers. |
Action Required |
|
We will bring forward the annual Estimates cycle, so that it becomes more timely and relevant. It will in future start at the beginning of the preceding year and conclude by the summer. |
Completed |
|
The annual Estimates will in future distinguish between monies being allocated to maintaining the existing level of service for existing programmes and money to support new programmes or policy decisions. |
Completed/Ongoing Implementation |
|
The Book of Estimates will be accompanied by a detailed performance report on what the previous year's spending had achieved. It will also give details of the level of performance achieved by agencies under service delivery agreements with Government. |
In Progress |
|
Oireachtas members will be given, from within existing resources, dedicated resources for the proper scrutiny of the Estimates. |
In Progress |
|
We will give the Comptroller and Auditor General the extra powers needed to carry out value-for-money audits of State programmes. |
In Progress |
|
We will publish cost-benefit analyses for major infrastructure proposals and "tax expenditures" in advance of Government approval. |
Completed |
|
Public sector bodies will be required to publish balance sheets and to move to accruals from cash-flow accounting. |
In Progress |
|
Every Purchase Order by a Government Department or agency for more than €20,000 will be published online. We will give the Comptroller and Auditor General and Oireachtas Committees the extra powers needed to carry out value-for-money audits of State programmes. |
Completed |
|
Public bodies will be required to openly compete for budget resources by publishing pre-budget spending requests, and what they would deliver in return for such allocations to help deliver Programme for Government. |
Completed |
|
We will conduct a Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) to examine all areas of public spending, based on the Canadian model, and to develop multi-annual budget plans with a three-year time horizon. This plan will be presented to the Dáil for debate. It will assess effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes, and value for money. |
Completed |
|
The CSR will examine the number, range and activities of bodies funded significantly from public purse, including at local government level, and reduce numbers where appropriate. In future, when proposing a new agency, it will be necessary to prove that the proposed new functions cannot be carried out within the existing framework. |
Completed |
|
We will, subject to there being no compulsory redundancies and to the protection of front line services: Reduce the total number of public sector employees by between 18,000 and 21,000 by 2014, compared to the total number at the end of 2010. Reduce this number by a further 4,000 by 2015. |
Completed/Ongoing |
|
We will extend the remit of Ombudsman to third level institutions. |
Completed |
|
Review existing tendering processes for legal services by Government and State and semi-State agencies to ensure value for money and end anti-competitive practices. The Government directed that a robust analysis be carried out to evaluate how to give effect to a beneficial merger of Coillte with Bord na Mona to create a streamlined and refocused commercial state company operating in the bio-energy and forestry sectors |
In Progress In Progress |
296. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form a detailed breakdown of the name and number of ministerial special advisers in his Department; their annual remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32751/14]
View answerI currently have two special advisers in my Department. Their details are set out below.
|
Name |
Title |
Salary (per annum) |
|
Anne Byrne |
Special Adviser (D/PER) |
€84,706 with effect from March 2014 |
|
Ronan O'Brien |
Special Adviser (D/PER) |
€106,880 with effect May 2014 |
297. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gender quota targets for the boards of State bodies and agencies under their remit; the level reached to date; and their future plans to meet and maintain the targets. [32766/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members. Under the new arrangements Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or geographical location to apply for appointment to these vacancies.
I am satisfied that the new arrangements introduced by the Government in 2011 have significantly improved transparency in the making of appointments to State boards compared with the making of appointments in previous years.
Since the formation of this Government 22 members have been nominated to State boards under my remit, 23% of which were female. In view of the statutory procedures for the appointment of members of the Civil Service Arbitration Board and the Public Appointments Service, there is limited scope for me to take a factor such as gender into account when I make such appointments.
I would like to make it clear that it is my intention in the limited number of appointments I have to make to increase the number of women appointees over the lifetime of the Government. The following table gives a breakdown of the gender balance of positions filled on State boards under my remit from 2011 to date:
|
Board Name |
Year |
No. of Appointments made |
No. of Positions Advertised |
Male |
Female |
No. of Current Vacancies |
|
An Post National Lottery Board |
2011 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
2012 |
2* |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
2013 |
6* |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Public Appointments Service Board |
2011 |
9 |
0** |
10*** |
4*** |
0 |
|
- |
2012 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
2013 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total |
- |
22 |
0 |
17 |
5 |
1 |
* Re-appointments in light of the sale of the National Lottery licence.
** The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice and Equality) should appoint members of the Board of the Public Appointments Service.
The Board is meant to be representative of our client base. The majority of the board is therefore civil or public servants, nominated by the relevant Minister. There is also a union representative nominated by ICTU. The two external members were appointed by the Minister because of their expertise in strategic change and public service recruitment respectively.
*** The CEO of PAS is appointed to the Board on an ex officio basis.
298. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his priorities for the remainder of his term in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32781/14]
View answerIn answer to the Deputy's question my priorities for the remainder of my term in office are consistent with the priorities outlined in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 published by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton on Friday 11 July last.
In the area of responsible and sustainable management of the public finances in addition to working towards maintaining the current stable economic environment my Department will complete a comprehensive review of expenditure ahead of this year's Budget in order to prioritise expenditure allocations for the coming years.
A capital review will also be carried out in advance of the budget to ensure that the available resources focus on the key social and economic priorities of the Government.
To aid and assist the rebuilding of trust in politics and public institutions my Department has already introduced significant political reforms. To further this my Department will complete the enactment of the Freedom of Information legislation. Additionally my Department intends to enact the Lobbyists Bill by year end and to publish legislation to consolidate local and national ethics requirements and give effect to the recommendations of the tribunals.
My Department will also assist the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the analysis and development of financial options in the area of social housing.
The process of civil service reform and renewal will also be a priority for me in the coming months. The ongoing process of public service reform also remains a priority for me and my Department.
My Department and I will continue to work towards protecting and enhancing peace in Northern Ireland and will continue to develop the North-South institutions.
In addition to the above I intend to continue to progress the relevant commitments under the Programme for Government for which my Department is responsible.
299. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a copy of the briefing he has received upon entering office from his Department; if he will publish the briefing; and if so, when the briefing will be published. [32796/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question as I continued as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform there was no requirement for the Department to produce any briefing following the recent reassignment of portfolios.
300. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the disposal of the old Garda station in Ardagh, County Longford. [32803/14]
View answerThe property has been put on the market for disposal. However, I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the matter is still under consideration.
301. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address the anomaly of established public servants who are required to retire at age 65 but whose State pension entitlement does not arise until age 66; and the steps he will take to address this problem. [32830/14]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 94 (27770/14) of 26 June, 2014.
302. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons who have to date received payments under the Connect Ireland initiative; the total amount that has been paid out; the largest payment to an individual; if he will provide details of the estimated number of jobs that have been created under the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32192/14]
View answerThe “Succeed in Ireland” initiative has been in existence since March 2012. The initiative launched by the government, is managed by IDA Ireland and executed under contract by Connect Ireland.
Connect Ireland on IDA’s behalf, markets, promotes and implements the ‘Succeed in Ireland’ initiative in the international marketplace. Under the contract, operational arrangements between Connect Ireland and IDA work to convert potential leads identified by ‘Connectors’ into investments and job creation in Ireland.
Up to 15 July there have been 20 projects approved by IDA under the initiative that have the potential to create 498 jobs.
Under the agreed terms of the ‘Succeed in Ireland’ initiative contract Connect Ireland have covered all start-up costs associated with their establishment. The scheme provides a financial reward of up to €4,000 excluding VAT to Connect Ireland / Connectors per sustainable job created. Payments will be made on a phased basis by IDA Ireland on behalf of the Government for each sustainable job in place for a period of over 2 years. As we have yet to reach that period of time for any of the projects approved to date there have been no payments made under the initiative by IDA Ireland.
303. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the support available for proposed health and fitness business (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32048/14]
View answerAnyone interested in starting their own business should in the first instance contact their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEOs 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 and guidance for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business.
The LEOs are required to give priority to 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.
In addition, any start-up can use the LEOs 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 can be channelled through the local LEO.
Also, locally trading businesses, including start-ups, can avail of non-financial assistance from their LEO 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 internet marketing, ideas generation and negotiation skills. The LEO service also includes a referral service to the range of supports available from other State organisations, such as Revenue, Department of Social Protection, Skillnets, etc.
The LEOs are also running a new competition to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. The competition has a €2 million investment fund and targeted business supports on offer and each Local Enterprise Office has an investment fund of up to €50,000 with an overall national winner’s fund of up to €100,000.
There are three categories to the competition;
- best new idea (not yet established)
- best start-up business (up to 18 months)
- best established business with new add-on (over 18 months)
The competition is open to anybody under 30 with an idea/commercial venture for a start-up or existing business in any sector and the aim of the initiative is to encourage and support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Ireland, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage the establishment and development of new innovative businesses by Ireland’s young entrepreneurs. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31 July 2014. Further details are available on the competition website at www.ibye.ie.
Accordingly, I would advise the person in question to contact the LEO Westmeath for more detailed information and assistance regarding the supports available. The contact details for LEO Westmeath are: LEO Office, Westmeath County Council, County Buildings, Mount Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Phone: 044-933 8945,
email: localenterprise@westmeathcoco.ie.
304. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to increase employment opportunities in Counties Longford-Westmeath in the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32099/14]
View answerAs you know, the Forfás Strategy for the Manufacturing Sector, which I commissioned and which was published last year, identified that an additional 20,000 jobs can be created in the sector by 2016. To this end, the enterprise agencies and other relevant players have been tasked with working to enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing in Ireland by working with companies and implementing the recommendations in the strategy. That sector lost 50,000 jobs in the years up to 2010 but at the end of 2013, there were a total of 215,900 people directly employed in the sector, which was an increase of 10,000 on the numbers identified at the time the Strategy was published. This sector also supports a similar number of jobs indirectly.
In order to progress the recommendations contained in the Forfás Strategy, I established a Manufacturing Development Forum, comprising industry practitioners. One of the key results from the work of the Forum is a National Step Change initiative aimed at strengthening Ireland’s manufacturing base across all firms and sub sectors, redressing perceptions of the sector as a career choice and removing barriers to the competitiveness of the sector in Ireland.
The Strategy does not identify specific locations around the country for the expansion of the sector. However, a particularly attractive feature of manufacturing in Ireland is the fact that many of the present jobs are not in the main urban areas, but dispersed into regional locations, thereby providing a valuable employment focus in areas where alternative jobs are scarce. The further development of the sector will, of course, build on this key feature.
The Action Plan for Jobs contains a series of actions to develop the manufacturing sector including a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. I intend that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the Midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of this Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation.
The work of the enterprise agencies already focuses on developing the manufacturing sector. Enterprise Ireland runs many initiatives to help sustain existing jobs and to create new jobs in the Midlands and provides funding to the Institute of Technology in Athlone to build the research capabilities in the Region. Enterprise Ireland offers a suite of grants to companies to uplift their technological capacities, innovation and skills capabilities and export potential. The recently established LEOs are required to give priority to 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.
In addition, IDA Ireland positions the Midlands as having a strong cluster in Medical Technologies and Life Sciences with big names such as Abbott, Covidien and recently Jazz Pharmaceuticals in Monksland, outside Athlone and American Medical Systems in Athlone announcing significant investments in their manufacturing facilities.
I believe that the Forfás Strategy actions and the agency activities outlined above will serve to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness and help create good quality, sustainable jobs in manufacturing.
305. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported in Counties Longford-Westmeath by the competitive start up fund operated by Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32100/14]
View answerEnterprise Ireland offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to assist companies through all stages of the business development cycle. Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start fund is aimed at accelerating the development of High Potential Start-Up companies (HPSUs) and creating a strong pipeline of HPSUs. Enterprise Ireland piloted the Competitive Start Fund in 2011 which aims to provide early stage companies with critical funds to test the market for their products and services and progress their business plans for the global marketplace.
Under the terms of the Competitive Start Fund, start-ups receive an equity investment of €50,000 for a 10% ordinary equity stake by Enterprise Ireland matched by €5,000 of promoter’s equity. In addition to funding, each start-up is provided with an experienced business mentor to provide support. The application process has been designed and improved to be fast and efficient to allow the new start-ups to concentrate on validating their business concept and getting to market entry stage as quickly as possible.
The Competitive Start Fund is an early stage proof of concept fund and is designed to help companies reach key commercial and technical milestones, for example, it allows companies to:
- Build prototypes and develop market entry plans or identify suitable channels to international markets.
- Evaluate overseas market opportunities and reach firm conclusions regarding the viability of the proposed business.
- Secure partnership deals or strategic alliances.
- Get to “product-market-fit” stage by validating the sustainability of the business proposition.
- Get to “investor ready”, stage where the company is in a position to secure third party investment through, for example, Seed Fund, Venture Capital and business angels.
Of the 237 projects supported through the Competitive Start Fund to date, five are from County Westmeath but there has not been a successful project from County Longford as yet. Because projects supported under this fund are at a very early stage and, in many cases, still have to prove that there is a scalable business opportunity Enterprise Ireland does not track the number of jobs supported. When projects reach the next stage of development and are designated as “High Potential Start-ups” Enterprise Ireland then collects data on the number of jobs supported.
306. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Retired Aviation Staff Association will provide a model for the way pensioner groups may be organised and allowed access to the State's industrial relations machinery overcoming one of the potential difficulties pinpointed previously in relation to this issue. [32143/14]
View answerThe industrial relations system in Ireland is voluntary in nature both as regards access to the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. Any change to that principle would alter fundamentally the conduct of industrial relations. Mandatory attendance at conciliation would clearly affect potential for agreed outcomes compared to situations where the parties attend voluntarily.
I understand that, as part of its process of engagement with stakeholders, the expert panel established to examine issues relating to the Aer Lingus/DAA pensions dispute met with representatives of pensioner members as represented by the Retired Aviation Staff Association, as well as representatives of the IASS Deferred Pensioners Committee.
In this context, I understand that the panel explained to both parties that the process was an industrial relations one, consistent with their terms of reference, and that the responsibility for dealing with both the pensioner members and deferred members of the scheme rested with the IASS Trustees.
Active members of pension schemes (through their Trade Unions) regularly engage with the employer to attempt to reach a common position as regards changes to pension schemes whether as a result of a crisis in the scheme or otherwise. In all such cases the outcome of that engagement can only be a collective agreement which cannot, of itself, change the pension scheme. Changes to the scheme are effected via the mechanisms set out in the trust deeds and rules of the scheme and are at the discretion of the parties so designated in the rules/deeds of the scheme.
Any consideration of a restructure of pension scheme benefits under section 50 of the Pensions Act must comply with the provisions in the Pensions Act and with guidance issued by the Pensions Board. This guidance makes provision for the notification of all pensioners in advance of any application to the Pensions Board to restructure scheme benefits. In such circumstances a pensioner 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.
It should be pointed out that the trustees of the scheme are required by law to act in the best interests of all the members. On that basis the trustees have to take account of the interests of the deferred and pensioner members in any proposals they make.
307. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of agencies or State bodies under the aegis of his Department that have been abolished since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32243/14]
View answer308. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new agencies or State bodies that have been established under the aegis of his Department since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32258/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.
The following is the position in relation to State agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department which have been abolished since 2011.
309. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total value of bonus payments made to staff under the aegis of his Department in 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32273/14]
View answerThere were no bonuses paid to any of the staff of my Department and Offices on the years in question.
Salaries paid by agencies to staff are subject to contracts which, in latter years, have been subject to specific clearance by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I have asked all agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any instances of bonus payment in 2013 and to date in 2014 and I will communicate that information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
310. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of appointments to State boards since March 2011 under the aegis of his Department; the total number of appointments that have been advertised on his Department’s website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32303/14]
View answerSince coming to Office in March 2011, I have made 41 appointments to the boards of agencies under my Department’s remit within my discretion. Appointments and reappointments were also allocated under legislation to Department representatives, social partners, nominees of other Ministers, nominees of prescribed bodies and appointments on an ex officio basis and were not appropriate, therefore, for public advertisement.
Of the 41 new appointments made at my discretion, 28 (68%) were selected from those who sent an Expression of Interest in response to a publicly advertised process administered by the Public Appointments Service in conjunction with the personnel unit in my Department. Since coming to Office, the Public Appointments Service has administered this process eleven times in response to vacancies that have arisen across a variety of agencies within my Department’s remit. The processes generated a very strong response in terms of both the number and quality of the Expressions of Interest received.
Towards the end of 2013, I adopted what I believe is a more efficient approach to the public invitation of Expressions of Interest. To avoid duplication of effort and to ensure the timely availability of a pool of suitably qualified candidates, I asked the Public Appointments Service to administer a single Expressions of Interest process in respect for vacancies arising in 2014 on the Boards of all agencies under my Department’s remit. This has produced a pool of over 200 candidates, collectively comprising a wide variety of skills and attributes that have already informed a number of board appointments I have made this year.
I am satisfied that the involvement of the PAS in this process has assisted me in appointing appropriately skilled and experienced people required for membership of State Boards and accords with the spirit of the Government decision in this regard.
311. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of his Department since March 2011 that have appeared before the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32318/14]
View answerThe following chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of my Department since March 2011 have appeared before Joint Oireachtas Committee as follows:
March to December 2011
|
Name of Chairperson |
Name of State board |
Title of Oireachtas Committee |
Date of Appearance |
|
No appearance by Chairpersons before Joint Oireachtas Committees in 2011 |
- |
- |
- |
January to December 2012
|
Name of Chairperson |
Name of State board |
Title of Oireachtas Committee |
Date of Appearance |
|
Brendan Walsh |
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
18 December 2012 |
January to December 2013
|
Name of Chairperson |
Name of State board |
Title of Oireachtas Committee |
Date of Appearance |
|
Julie O’Neill |
NSAI |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
2 July 2013 |
|
Terence O’Rourke |
Enterprise Ireland |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
23 July 2013 |
|
Adrienne Murray |
Microfinance Ireland |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
12 November 2013 |
|
Michael Horgan |
Health and Safety Authority |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
19 November 2013 |
|
Ann Riordan |
Science Foundation Ireland |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
3 December 2013 |
|
Frank Ryan |
IDA Ireland |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
19 December 2013 |
1 st January to 15 th July 2014
|
Name of Chairperson |
Name of State board |
Title of Oireachtas Committee |
Date of Appearance |
|
Dermot Divilly |
Personal Injuries Assessment Board |
Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
15 July 2014 |
In addition, the Chairperson of the Competition Authority, Ms Isolde Goggin, appeared before the Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Committee on 24 July 2012. Ms Goggin was appointed on 1 October 2011 following an open recruitment process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service. The Competition Authority does not have a board structure.
312. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of retired public servants who have been awarded temporary or term-time posts in his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [32333/14]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are set out in tabular format. In the period nine retired public servants were engaged on temporary contracts by my Department including two civilian drivers engaged by one of the Ministers of State.
|
Grade |
Period of Employment |
Reason for Temporary Hire |
- |
- |
- |
Remuneration |
Notes |
|
- |
- |
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 to date |
- |
|
Former public servant, now Civilian Driver |
- |
- |
€631.75 pwk |
€631.75 pwk |
€631.75 pwk |
€631.75 pwk |
- |
|
Former public servant, now Civilian Driver |
- |
- |
€631.75 pwk |
€631.75 pwk |
€631.75 pwk |
€631.75 pwk |
- |
|
Accountant Grade 1 (Assistant Principal equivalent) |
Retirement date 12/11/13. Retained to 20/12/13 |
retained to complete outstanding work |
N/A |
N/A |
€80,140 per annum pro rata |
N/A |
Pension deferred for the period of the appointment. |
|
Former Assistant Principal at DJEI, temporary rehire at AP grade |
01/10/12 - 31/07/13 |
EU Presidency 2013 |
N/A |
N/A |
€61,966 per annum pro rata. Total cost to DJEI €51,856.69. |
N/A |
Pension deferred for the period of the appointment. |
|
Former Principal Officer at DJEI |
- |
Irish Government representative and Deputy Chair of the Board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) based in Helsinki, Finland. |
€8,426.51 |
€7,350.81 |
€7,043.50 |
€3,879.88 |
Paid on a fee per day basis in respect of each Board meeting that he attends and also for attending meetings of the Board Sub-Committee which he chairs. (All monies including expenses are claimed by way of invoice). |
|
Former Principal Officer at DJEI |
From 1 March 2012 to completion of Interdepartmental Committee Report in February 2013. |
Establish facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries |
N/A |
€1,889 |
€8,678 |
Nil |
Pension abatement N/A. Payment is below the rate of pay the pensioner would have received if he had continued to serve in the former post. |
|
Former Director of Corporate Enforcement |
29/02/12 - 27/08/12 |
Acting Director of Corporate Enforcement |
N/A |
€146,191 per annum pro rata. |
N/A |
N/A |
His pension is abated for the period that he remained on in his post in an acting capacity. |
|
Former Secretary General, Department of Transport |
16/6/2010 - Quarter 2 2014 |
Chair of DJEI Audit Committee |
€3,150 less PAYE, PRSI, USC (in respect of 2010 and 2011) |
€1,800 less PAYE, PRSI, USC |
€1,800 less PAYE, PRSI, USC |
€450 |
In line with centrally agreed procedures for external audit committee members in the Civil Service, a fee of €450 per meeting is paid, subject to a max. of €1,800 per annum. Pension abatement N/A (i.e. fee plus pension did not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would have received if he or she had continued to serve in the former post). Ended Q2 2014. |
|
Former Assistant Secretary DJEI |
Retired 2007. Appointed to Board 2008. |
NERA Advisory Board |
€516.58 in respect of Travel and Subsistence |
€281.25 in respect of Travel and Subsistence |
€87.71 in respect of Travel and Subsistence |
N/A |
Pension abatement N/A. The only payments made for participation on the Advisory Board are Travel and Subsistence payments in accordance with the Department of Finance rates for civil servants. |
*N/A = Not Applicable
313. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits to County Kerry by prospective Industrial Development Agency companies to date in 2014; the details of these visits; his views on this level of visitation; the action he will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32350/14]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that to date in 2014 there has been one IDA sponsored site visit by potential investors to County Kerry.
There are many complex factors influencing investor location decision-making such as the increasing preference of investors globally for cities of scale with 1 million plus population, significant challenges from lower cost locations in the UK and Eastern Europe and attractive regional aid.
At the end of 2013 there were 12 IDA Ireland supported companies in Kerry employing 1,638 people. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with all these companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites. The primary opportunity for regional locations is in respect of the existing client base and potential further investment opportunities from same. Approximately 70% of all FDI investments won by IDA Ireland are from the existing client base. IDA Ireland works closely with third level educational institutions in the region so that the skill-sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the Region are being developed.
When marketing Kerry for new inward investment IDA Ireland particularly focuses on the ICT (incl. software), International Financial Services and Globally Traded Business sectors.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the Midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of my own Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops. The aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.
IDA Ireland has assured me that it will continue to promote Kerry as part of its marketing efforts, in response to specific client queries and also on an opportunistic basis for the purpose of winning FDI projects for the county. We must also remember that it is the investor in all cases who decides where to invest and an investment win for Ireland regardless of the location has to be seen as a plus for the country as a whole.
314. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular format the commitments under the programme for Government which his Department is responsible for; the progress made to date with regard to each commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32398/14]
View answerThe timeline for delivery of commitments under the Programme for Government is over the lifetime of this Government. The position in relation to progress under each commitment, within the remit of my Department, is set out in the table.
Commitments in Programme for Government
|
Ref. |
Commitment |
Progress to Date |
|
1.2.4 |
Reverse the cut in the minimum wage |
Cut reversed on July 1st 2011 |
|
1.2.6 |
Implement a number of sectoral initiatives in areas that will create employment in the domestic economy |
Through the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ), a number of sectoral initiatives have been developed or are in progress, including in the following areas: -Green Economy -Manufacturing -Construction -Retail -Health/Life Sciences -Digital Games Details of progress on each of these initiatives are contained in the quarterly progress reports on the APJ which are published on the Department's website www.djei.ie. Progress is ongoing in relation to each of these sectors. |
|
1.4.2 |
We will create a new ‘Home to Export’ programme to share the expertise of exporting companies with firms currently reliant on domestic markets. |
Commitment Met. Enterprise Ireland has an ongoing range of services to encourage new exporters, including online support and mentoring. In 2012, Enterprise Ireland established the Potential Exporters Division. Its role is to stimulate greater activity within companies across all regions and to reorient those demonstrating growth potential from the domestic to the international marketplace. |
|
1.4.3 |
A ‘Source Ireland’ portal will be developed to market Irish goods and services abroad |
Commitment Met. A ‘Source Ireland’ portal has been developed to market Irish goods and services abroad. It is continuously updated and expanded. |
|
1.5.2 |
We will support our indigenous digital game industry by reforming R and D supports available to the industry, setting aside funding from Innovation Fund Ireland for a seed capital scheme for Irish digital gaming start-ups, introduce a digital media component to Transition Year programmes and promote Ireland as digital gaming hub |
The Department has been working with the Digital Games Clustering Development Team for the purpose of assessing the suitability of the existing R and D tax Credit to the digital games sector. From this work a number of R and D supports workshop to promote awareness about available R and D supports were held. An enterprise friendly guide on R and D tax credits to include examples of relevance to games companies was also produced. The Department is also assessing the case for a new financial instrument/relief to incentives creative content development in the games sector. The intention is to complete this work in the timeframe for Budget 2014. Enterprise Ireland continues to invest seed and follow-on money in a range of software related projects including businesses in the digital game space. Enterprise Ireland has confirmed that a number of the existing venture capital funds, along with those new funds coming on stream, have and will continue to invest in a range of software related projects including businesses in the digital game space. EI’s Competitive Start Fund (€50K Equity) has had a significant impact on the early stage indigenous games sector since December 2010. Over this period, EI has completed 21 calls which have funded 24 Games companies. In addition Enterprise Ireland and the National Pensions Reserve Fund have made available up to €250m in equal amounts to attract investment by international venture capital funds in Ireland under the Innovation Fund Ireland . A number of Funds have received investment under the Innovation Fund Ireland Scheme. To date 5 Funds have been established and launched Polaris, DFJ Esprit, Soffinova, Highland, and Lightstone. 3 of these funds have investment strategies that will allow them invest in opportunities from the Digital Gaming Sector. The Department of Education and Skills has explained that schools design their own programmes for TY and, consequently, may be providing courses that address digital media. |
|
1.5.5 |
We will develop a National Intellectual Property (IP) protocol to give predictability about the terms on which business can access IP created in Higher Education Institutions and the wider digital sector |
The IP Protocol was published in June 2012, the purpose of which is to help the enterprise sector to access the research undertaken in Ireland’s universities, institutes of technology and other public research institutions. A key recommendation of the report centres around the establishment of a central Technology Transfer Office (ctto) to provide an effective interface between industry and the research community and to drive a world class technology transfer system in Ireland, ensuring it is responsive to the needs of both industry and academia. The ctto branded ‘Knowledge Transfer Ireland’ , was launched on 28 May 2014 along with a website offers businesses a searchable database of research and expertise available in Irish HEIs and access to opportunities to license new technologies and IP as well as access to a range of practical guides and model agreements all of which will help businesses to engage with the research sector. |
|
1.5.6 |
We will promote and support investment in technology research, development and commercialisation beyond basic research supported by Science Foundation Ireland, as well as removing barriers to innovation and accelerate exploitation of new technologies. |
The IP Protocol and Knowledge Transfer Ireland, referred to above, will support both industry parties and research performing organisations in making their commercial negotiations on the exploitation of new technologies and ideas faster, more consistent and more transparent. In 2013 SFI’s legal remit was extended to include applied research in areas of importance to Ireland’s economy to complement with its original mandate of funding oriented basic research. Extending the remit of SFI to fund applied research will also help bring the outcomes of research funded since the establishment of SFI closer to market. |
|
1.5.7 |
We will target key technology areas and sectors where innovation can be applied including but not limited to high value manufacturing, advanced materials, nanotechnology, bioscience, electronics, photonics and electrical systems and information and communication technology. |
The report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group recommended 14 areas of opportunity as well as underpinning technologies and infrastructure to support these priority areas which should receive the majority of competitive public investment in STI over the coming 5 years. Following publication of the report on 1st March 2012, the Prioritisation Action Group (PAG) was established, under the chairmanship and political leadership of the Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock TD, to drive implementation of research prioritisation under the broader authority of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs. Action Plans to drive implementation have been developed for each priority area and were approved by Government in June 2013 along with a detailed Framework of Metrics and Targets drawn up to measure the outputs and impact of public investment in STI including the impact of research prioritisation. The first annual report tracking progress on implementation of research prioritisation was published on 4 July 2014. |
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1.5.8 |
We will also focus on the application of technological innovation in established sectors of the economy like energy generation and supply, transport, creative industries, high-value services and architecture and construction by identifying challenges, establishing priorities and developing strategies which specify necessary actions to transition to more innovative approach. |
See 1.5.7 above in relation to Research Prioritisation |
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1.5.9 |
We will promote Ireland’s full engagement with the ‘Innovative Union’ proposals issued by the European Commission in October 2010 as one of the seven flagship initiatives under EU2020 Strategy, with the specific aim of refocusing R and D and innovation policy on major challenges and at turning inventions into products. |
The Irish EU Presidency completed negotiations on a political agreement on Horizon 2020, the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation which will focus EU research funding from 2014-2020 on major societal challenges. The Irish EU Presidency also focused on measures to progress the European Research Area, a key component of Innovation Union. Ireland will continue to engage fully with initiatives proposed by the European commission in support of the Innovation Union strategy. |
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1.5.10 |
We will establish a network of Technology Research Centres focused on applied technological research in specific areas, to be linked to appropriate higher-education institutions. The centres will accelerate exploitation of new technologies by providing infrastructure that bridges gap between research and technology commercialisation. We will initially establish 3 additional centres focusing on biotechnology, nanotechnology and high value manufacturing. Further centres from a number of other areas will be selected at a later time. |
Enterprise Ireland have established a network of 15 Technology Centres across a range of areas of direct relevance to enterprise research needs covering manufacturing and materials, cloud, analytics and learning technologies, energy, business processes and financial services as well as food and health. Over 300 companies are directly engaged with these 15 Technology Centres. |
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1.5.11 |
We will support the development of an International Content Services Centre to make Ireland world leader in managing intellectual property. |
A Feasibility Study was commissioned and finalised in January 2013. The study is still part of the deliberative process and consideration is being given to the findings and recommendations of the study in the context of development of broader FDI and Intellectual Property policy generally. |
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1.5.12 |
We will pioneer within the EU a model of ‘fair use’ in European Copyright Law, like in the USA, which effectively permits the use of portions of a copyrighted work so long as the normal economic exploitation of the originating work is not undermined. This will allow internet companies and other digital innovators to bring their services to market. |
The Independent Copyright Review Committee published their report “Modernising Copyright” at the end of October 2013 and the principle of "fair use" is addressed in the report. The report, aimed at identifying any barriers for innovation in the digital environment and developing proposals for reducing them, is currently being analysed by Government with a view to bringing forward legislative proposals in this area in 2014. |
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1.6.3 |
We will reform the Joint Labour Committee structure, beginning with the appointment of independent chairpersons to JLCs, who will retain a casting vote. Reform options will examine the rate of pay for atypical hours. |
Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012 came into effect on 1st August 2012*. The Act provided for a reform of the statutory wage setting mechanisms (JLCs and REAs), The Act provides, inter alia, that a review of each Joint Labour Committee be carried out by the Labour Court. That Review was completed in April 2013 and published in October 2013. In January 2014 Ministerial Orders to give effect to the recommendations were signed. Industrial Relations Officers of the Labour Relations Commission have been appointed to the positions of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the JLCs. * The Supreme Court judgment of May 9th 2013 in the McGowan case found Part III of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 to be unconstitutional thereby invalidating the registration of all REAs that were previously registered under the 1946 Act. Minister will bring proposals to Government shortly for a revised legislative framework to address matters arising from the Supreme Court ruling. |
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1.6.6 |
We will reduce the cost of Government imposed red-tape on business, in part by streamlining regulatory enforcement activities out of a merger and rationalisation of existing structures. We will create a Business Inspection and Licensing Authority that absorbs the existing business inspection activities of the Health and Safety Authority, and the National Consumer Agency. |
My Department coordinated the cross-Government 25% target for administrative burden reduction. To date, the Department, the CSO, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Transport have met or exceeded the 25% target. The overall reduction across Government is 20.4%; (€317m per annum). The Workplace Relations Reform Programme will deliver a simplified two-tiered structure, amalgamating the existing five Bodies and providing for a single body of first instance, the Workplace Relations Commission, and a single body of appeal, in effect an enhanced Labour Court. The Reform Programme will also provide a more efficient and effective framework for dealing with complaints and disputes and for enforcement and compliance generally. Significant progress has also been achieved to date in so far as the legislative, technological, structural, administrative and staffing changes required are concerned to underpin the workplace relations reform programme. The Government, at its meeting on 8th July, 2014, approved the publication of the enabling legislation while a single contact portal, e-complaint facility, staffing and structures plan, workplace relations website, early resolution service, adjudicator training and recruitment plans and enhanced technologies and processes are already in place. One of the Disruptive Reforms in the Action Plan for Jobs relates to the development of an Integrated Licensing Application System to help reduce the regulatory burden on the enterprise sector through the provision of a single portal for applying for, and renewing, a multiplicity of licences. The new licensing system will be developed for the retail sector in the first instance and rolled out to other sectors of the economy thereafter. A Request for Tender was issued through eTenders and in the EU Official Journal. The tender evaluation process is ongoing. Subject to the successful awarding of the services contract to an appointed provider, the System should be delivered in the Autumn 2014. Another initiative to help reduce the regulatory burden on business is www.businessregulation.ie, a portal where business can find relevant information on regulatory requirements quickly. This makes it easier for them to comply. Further, my Department has instituted a series of free business communication events called Taking Care of Business (TCOB), where business people can hear short presentations on regulation and available supports and interact with personnel from up to 30 agencies. Four events have been held to date and 1,150 business people have participated. Further, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has developed and launched a single licensing portal for occupational health and safety and chemicals licensing requirements. See - www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Business_Licensing_and_Notification_Requirements/ It has also developed “BeSMART” – a free online tool developed to help reduce costs for and the administrative burden on small business of meeting their legal obligations to prepare Risk Assessments and a Safety Statement under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 . Current estimates put potential savings for the SME sector as a whole in the region of €60-€65m. See http://www.besmart.ie/ Registered user numbers for BeSMART at end 2013 were ahead of predictions and this trend has continued with registrations expected to exceed 30k by end 2016. The work areas covered by BeSMART continues to expand with construction and agriculture to be included in the near future. |
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1.6.8 |
We will develop a Unique Business Identifier for use by all government departments and agencies that will facilitate the sharing of information within Government and reduce repetitive information requests from businesses. |
This will be considered in the context of legislation to facilitate data sharing. |
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1.6.10 |
We will introduce new legally binding voluntary commercial debt plan structures to allow small businesses to restructure debts without recourse to expensive court procedures. |
The Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 amends existing examinership provisions to provide the option for small private companies to apply directly to the Circuit Court to have an examiner appointed instead of having to apply to the High Court. This should lower costs and provide greater accessibility for small private companies to the examinership process. |
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1.7.1 |
We will implement a temporary, partial credit guarantee scheme that will provide a level of insurance to banks against losses on qualifying loans to job-creating firms to get banks’ lending again to industry and entrepreneurs. |
Fully implemented in Oct 2012. As take-up of the Scheme has not been as high as was initially planned for, the Minister commissioned an independent review of the Scheme which was submitted in Q3 2013. Since then the Department has worked with the Review Steering Group to determine the changes that can be made to the Credit Guarantee Act 2012, and the contents of a new Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), on foot of this review. The Minister will ensure that these changes to CGS are made in 2014 through the Action Plan for Jobs and the Department will implement the review recommendations, as appropriate, with a view to enhancing the up-take and impact of the Scheme as soon as possible. |
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1.7.2 |
We will construct a €100 million Microfinance Start-Up Fund that will provide start-up loans and equity that draws funding from the NPRF and private institutional funds. |
Fully implemented in Oct 2012. The operation of the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012 will be reviewed in 2014 pursuant to a legislative commitment. Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 this review has commenced with a view to enhancing the take-up and impact of the Scheme |
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1.7.3 |
We will support the development of a more dynamic, venture capital industry in Ireland by seeking to attract top tier venture financing and investment companies to Ireland, such as Silicon Valley Bank. |
The Seed and Venture Capital Scheme, the Development Capital Scheme, and Innovation Fund Ireland all form part of the suite of finance measures put in place through the Action Plan for Jobs to increase the availability of funding for SMEs. The Budget 2013 commitment of €175 million under the Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2013-2018 will leverage a further €525 million from the private sector, for investment in high potential start-up and scaling companies. The launch of the first call for expressions of interest under the Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2013-2018 was a key Action Plan for Jobs target for 2013 and was announced on May 31st 2014. The original timing of this call was designed to align with the end of the majority of investment periods of Funds supported under Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2007 – 2012. The Government through Enterprise Ireland has made commitments of €99.5m to a number of fund managers under the Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2013-2018. These funds are currently in the market raising money. Further calls for expressions of interest will be made under this Scheme in the near term targeting various sectors. The Development Capital Scheme was established to create funds that would invest between €2 million and €5 million in medium sized established companies by way of equity, quasi equity and/or debt. In 2013, a number of funds were launched under the Development Capital Scheme to provide a total of €225 million in funding to mid-sized indigenous firms, to target the development of a strong indigenous sector. The amount of leveraged capital far exceeded the initial targets (€375m was secured against an initial target of €150m). Each of these funds is actively engaging with the market to source investment opportunities. The Government through Enterprise Ireland and the National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) also established Innovation Fund Ireland (IFI). The objective of IFI is to attract international VCs to establish a presence in Ireland. A number of VC firms have established a presence in the Irish market and commenced investing with the most recent fund announcement being that of Lightstone Ventures which are establishing a presence in Ireland. |
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1.7.4 |
We will work to promote a greater appreciation of the co-operative model as a distinct form of organisation, ensure a level playing field between co-operatives and the other legal options for structuring enterprise activities, and provide a conductive framework for the full potential of the co-operative model to be realised, including in areas such as childcare, education, housing, energy retrofitting, environmental protection, transport and healthcare. This commitment goes across a number of Departments. |
The Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill was published in July 2013.The Bill introduces a number of regulatory improvements for co-operative societies (Industrial and Provident Societies) and it also makes other changes. The main purpose of the Bill insofar as co-operatives are concerned is to ease the regulatory burden on co-operative societies and to make it easier to start up and run a co-operative as an alternative form of enterprise organisation, thereby making the co-operative model more attractive for those wishing to use it. By introducing these legislative changes the Government is recognising the value of the co-operative business model to our economy, particularly at the present time. The primary objective of these legislative changes is to provide a regulatory environment that is supportive of the co-operative movement and of its capacity to contribute to economic and social well-being into the future. The Bill completed all Stages in the Oireachtas on 9 July 2014. The responsibility of my Department lies in the legislative provision for co-operatives in general. Any initiatives to facilitate or promote the development of co-operatives in particular sectors, for example group water schemes, renewable energy or agricultural co-operatives, would be a matter for colleagues in the respective Government Departments. |
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1.8.7 |
We will legislate to ban a number of unfair trading practices in the retail sector, such as ‘hello money’ from food suppliers. |
Legislation to give effect to this commitment will take the form of enabling provisions in the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill 2014 to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. The Bill completed Report and Final Stages in the Dáil on 2 July 2014 and completed Report and Final Stages in the Seanad on 15 July 2014. |
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1.8.25 |
We will seek to establish Ireland as a renewable manufacturing hub to attract international and domestic investment. |
In November 2012, the Government published a Policy Statement on Growth and Employment in the Green Economy which has the objective of attracting investment in the Green Economy in Ireland. A Consultative Committee on Jobs in the Green Economy has also been established to identify emerging opportunities for Ireland in the Green Economy, which I Chair. |
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1.9.1 |
The Government will promote the development of a vibrant and effective social enterprise sector. We will instruct agencies to view social enterprises as important stakeholders in rejuvenating local economies. We will continue support for social innovation projects for young people trough (sic) education, community and voluntary structures. |
In 2013, Forfás published a report on the potential of the Social Enterprise Sector in Ireland. Following publication of the report, an inter-departmental group was established to provide a coordinated Government approach to the development of social enterprise in Ireland and to examine the recommendations of the Forfás report in greater detail. A number of actions have been identified by the Group and are being progressed. |
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2.3.19 |
We will make good corporate governance the law, not an optional extra, and enact legislation to provide for binding code of practice for corporate governance, which will be obligatory for companies wishing to be listed on Irish stock exchange. DJEI is the lead only in relation to companies. |
The Companies Bill 2012 will consolidate and modernise the Companies Acts 1963-2013 into a single Act. One of the main provisions in that Bill is a consolidation and clarification of the duties of directors of companies. As the existing duties come from common law, case law and Statute, this will be the first time that all existing duties are clearly stated in one legislative instrument, making it clearer and easier for directors to know their obligations. Other aspects of corporate governance will be provided for too. The Bill has completed all Stages in the Dáil and completed Committee Stage in the Seanad on 17 June 2014. Report Stage is expected to be taken in the Autumn. |
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2.10.4 |
We will strengthen corporate governance legislation and enforcement. |
The Companies Bill 2012 will consolidate and modernise the Companies Acts 1963-2013 into a single Act. One of the main provisions in that Bill is a consolidation and clarification of the duties of directors of companies. As the existing duties come from common law, case law and Statute, this will be the first time that all existing duties are clearly stated in one legislative instrument, making it clearer and easier for directors to know their obligations. Other aspects of corporate governance will be provided for too. The Bill has completed all Stages in the Dáil and completed Committee Stage in the Seanad on 17 June 2014. Report Stage is expected to be taken in the Autumn. |
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3.37.2 See 1.2.4. above |
Reverse the recent cut in the national minimum wage |
Cut reversed on July 1st 2011. |
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3.41.6 |
We will reform the current law on employees’ right to engage in collective bargaining (the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001), so as to ensure compliance by the State with recent judgements of the European Court of Human Rights. |
Cabinet approval obtained on May 13th 2014 to develop legislative proposals to reform the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001 to give effect to commitment. Minister intends to submit draft Heads of Bill to Government shortly. |
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4.13.5 |
We will review and update Intellectual Property legislation currently in place to benefit innovation, develop a National Intellectual Property protocol to give clarity about terms on which business can access IP created in Higher Education Institutions, and clarify legislation relating to online copyright infringement and enforcement of rights relating to digital communications. |
Examination of the recommendations in the Copyright Report which relates to the current Copyright legislative framework and identifying any areas of the legislation that might be deemed to create barriers to innovation is underway (see ref. 1.5.12 above); Re: IP Protocol –see 1.5.5 and 1.5.6 above; Re: clarification of the law relating to online copyright infringement and enforcement of rights relating to digital communications, Regulations came into force in February 2012 that clarified the ability to seek injunctive relief against intermediaries whose services are used by a third party to infringe a copyright or a related right. |
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4.15.3 |
We will enact the Fair Trade Act, which will ban a number of unfair trading practices in the retail sector such as ‘hello money’ which suppliers have to pay to secure a place for their goods on supermarket shelves. |
Legislation to give effect to this commitment will take the form of enabling provisions in the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill 2014 to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. The Bill completed Report and Final Stages in the Dáil on 2 July 2014 and completed Report and Final Stages in the Seanad on 15 July 2014. |
315. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any special initiatives will be undertaken by his Department or the State's industrial promotion agencies to assist in the provision of much needed new employment opportunities in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32426/14]
View answer316. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any special initiatives will be undertaken by his Department or the State's industrial promotion agencies to assist in the provision of much needed new employment opportunities in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32427/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.
My Department and its agencies are working together to address the unemployment problem that is currently experienced in counties Cavan and Monaghan by implementing the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs which aims to create 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016.
Monaghan and Cavan are part of IDA Ireland’s North East Region along with county Louth. In the region as a whole, there are currently 36 IDA Ireland client companies employing almost 4,000 people. The main FDI clusters which have emerged in the North East Region are in international business services, mainly Financial Services, and consumer goods and manufacturing. While IDA Ireland always seeks to influence the client decisions on where to visit or where to locate, the final decision in all cases is made by the investor.
At the end of 2013 there were 7 IDA Ireland supported companies in Cavan employing 1,135 people with 6 IDA Ireland supported companies in Monaghan employing 365 people. IDA Ireland has formed strong relationships with these companies and, having regard to the fact that 70% approximately of all FDI investments won by IDA Ireland is from the existing client base, the agency continues to work closely with them in order to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites. IDA Ireland works closely with third level educational institutions in the region so that the skill-sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the Region are being developed.
During 2012, as part of its marketing activities, IDA Ireland began an online marketing initiative, “Connect and Invest”, to showcase the unique attributes of individual regions to international clients and this initiative continues to be implemented in 2014.
Enterprise Ireland works with and supports local entrepreneurs with commercial business plans and also provides preferential funding for entrepreneurs and companies, with detailed export plans, who are expanding or establishing a business in the County as part of the BMW Region.
Payments of over €1.8 million were made to companies in Cavan in 2013 and to date in 2014 over €9.9 million has been approved to Cavan companies. Similarly, payments of over €2.2 million were made to companies in Monaghan in 2013 and to date in 2014 over €6.2 million has been approved to Monaghan companies.
Enterprise Ireland works with both Cavan and Monaghan local enterprise offices in enhancing economic development within the County.
Innovation vouchers give small companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. These vouchers worth €5,000 can be used by the average small Irish company to bring in knowledge that is new to the company. Since the programme began in 2007, 71 vouchers to the value of €355,000 have been approved for companies in Monaghan and 62 vouchers to the value of €310,000 have been approved for companies in Cavan.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of my own Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops. The aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.
317. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total budget for local enterprise offices in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32499/14]
View answerA total of €29.4m (€10.9m on current expenditure and €18.5m for capital supports) was allocated for expenditure on County Enterprise Development via the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in 2014. Expenditure of this funding will be monitored using the agreed Service Level Agreement between Enterprise Ireland and each Local Authority.
The Capital budget €18.5m secured for the LEOs this year represents an increase of €3.5m on the original 2013 Capital allocation, which is a strong indication of the Government’s support for the micro and small business sector, at a time of pressure on public finances. In addition to normal grant aid funding, the 2014 Capital allocation is being used to fund the innovative Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, which was recently launched by the Taoiseach, and a new LEO Graduate Recruitment Programme.
