Written Answers Nos. 56-73
56. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Taoiseach to set out the number of employees on the minimum wage; the number of employees on the minimum wage who are male and the number who are female; the number of employees on the minimum wage who are under 25 years of age and the number over 25 years of age. [35518/14]
View answerThe Earnings, Hours and Employment Costs Survey (EHECS) collects quarterly information from enterprises with 3 or more employees. While gender and age are not collected and are therefore not available, there were an estimated 68,100 employees earning the minimum wage of €8.65 or below in Q1 2014.
57. Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Taoiseach to set down the fees payable to a person (details supplied) for work undertaken by him regarding the completion of the Guerin report; and the moneys paid to him to date. [35519/14]
View answer58. Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Taoiseach to outline the back-up assistance provided to a person (details supplied) for the work undertaken by him and for the typing up and completion of the Guerin report; and if he will detail any expenses incurred in respect of same. [35520/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
My Department did not provide any backup assistance to Sean Guerin SC for the work undertaken by him or for the typing and completion of his Report.
No invoice has been received in my Department in respect of the Report and no monies have been paid in relation to fees or expenses incurred.
59. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach to detail the total value of the bonus payments made to staff under the aegis of his Department in 2013 and to date in 2014. [35524/14]
View answerNo bonus payments were made to staff under the aegis of my Department in the time frame identified by the Deputy.
60. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the working group examining the issue of drinks industry sponsorship of major sporting events; and when he expects this working group to issue their report. [35551/14]
View answerThe Interdepartmental Working Group on Alcohol Sponsorship of Major Sporting Events is continuing its work, including assessing the responses to a consultation process.
The Group has been asked to report its findings to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Sector Reform by the end of the year.
61. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the payments received from the Office of the Chief State's Solicitor to each solicitor and barrister in 2013 and to date in 2014; the amount each individual received for their services. [35627/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy, in respect of 2013 and 2014 (up to 19 September 2014), is set out in the following tables.
2014 Expenditure
(up to 19 September 2014)
|
Counsel Name |
Amount |
|
David Conlan Smyth B. L. |
€234,554.95 |
|
Sinead Mc Grath B.L. |
€159,908.69 |
|
Robert Barron S.C. |
€141,639.29 |
|
Siobhan Stack S.C. |
€126,529.79 |
|
Anthony Moore B. L. |
€118,987.57 |
|
Mary O' Toole S.C. |
€116,824.03 |
|
Fiona O' Sullivan B. L. |
€114,734.85 |
|
Eugene Regan S.C. |
€108,241.27 |
|
Feichin Mc Donagh S.C. |
€100,480.77 |
|
Emily Farrell B.L. |
€94,077.02 |
|
Frank Callanan S.C. |
€84,911.35 |
|
Eoin Carolan BL |
€74,973.66 |
|
Cindy Carroll B. L. |
€71,104.48 |
|
Cathleen Noctor B. L. |
€70,143.21 |
|
Denise Brett B. L. |
€65,789.76 |
|
Patrick Dillon-Malone B. L. |
€65,646.82 |
|
David Dodd B.L. |
€65,460.60 |
|
Alex Finn B. L. |
€63,908.83 |
|
Ben O Floinn B. L. |
€58,490.93 |
|
Nap Keeling BL |
€57,494.74 |
|
Daniel Donnelly B.L. |
€57,142.74 |
|
Aileen Donnelly S.C. |
€55,845.69 |
|
Remy Farrell B. L. |
€55,538.46 |
|
Elva Duffy B. L. |
€55,439.79 |
|
Shane Murphy S.C. |
€53,789.13 |
|
Grainne O Neill B.L. |
€53,474.63 |
|
Eoin Mc Cullough S.C. |
€53,137.11 |
|
Elizabeth Cogan B. L. |
€52,383.24 |
|
Eileen Barrington S.C. |
€51,686.42 |
|
Lisa Dempsey B. L. |
€50,474.66 |
|
Paul Mc Garry S.C. |
€50,058.29 |
|
Anthony M. Collins S.C. |
€48,582.54 |
|
Kathleen Leader B.L. |
€47,530.85 |
|
Clíona Kimber B. L. |
€47,115.65 |
|
Anthony McBride BL |
€46,331.83 |
|
Denis Mc Donald S.C. |
€46,034.23 |
|
Ann Harnett O Connor B.L. |
€45,920.53 |
|
Maurice Collins S.C. |
€45,088.08 |
|
Barry O Donnell BL |
€44,686.16 |
|
Mark J. Dunne B.L. |
€41,371.94 |
|
Asim Sheikh B. L. |
€41,225.54 |
|
Maeve Brennan BL |
€41,075.14 |
|
Ronan Kennedy B. L. |
€40,740.06 |
|
Fiona Murphy B. L. |
€40,613.37 |
|
Conor Power B. L. |
€40,353.84 |
|
Anthony Aston S.C. |
€40,041.17 |
|
Nuala Butler S.C. |
€39,433.80 |
|
Paul Anthony Mc Dermott B. L. |
€39,288.27 |
|
David Hardiman S.C. |
€38,864.09 |
|
Tony McGillicuddy B.L. |
€38,814.92 |
|
Paul Carroll B. L. |
€38,743.77 |
|
Jonathan Newman B.L. |
€37,594.95 |
|
Ailbhe O'Neill B.L. |
€37,155.84 |
|
Henry Murphy S.C. |
€36,791.76 |
|
Aoife Carroll B.L. |
€35,725.35 |
|
Barry Doherty B.L. |
€35,257.40 |
|
John Cheatle B.L. |
€34,993.50 |
|
Laurence Masterson B.L. |
€34,761.03 |
|
Sara Moorhead S.C |
€33,073.39 |
|
Brian Kennedy S.C. |
€32,422.80 |
|
Melanie Greally B. L. |
€31,847.16 |
|
Stephen Byrne B. L. |
€31,810.25 |
|
Vincent Heneghan B. L. |
€30,828.72 |
|
Siobhan Ni Chulachain B. L. |
€30,649.09 |
|
Andrew Beck, B. L. |
€29,752.18 |
|
Joanne Williams BL |
€29,098.63 |
|
Genevieve Coonan BL |
€28,411.77 |
|
Catherine Duggan B.L. |
€28,040.88 |
|
Brendan Grehan S.C. |
€27,981.27 |
|
Patrick Mc Grath S.C. |
€27,830.70 |
|
Eilis Brennan B.L. |
€27,702.04 |
|
Seamus Woulfe S.C. |
€27,646.71 |
|
Cathy Smith B.L. |
€27,476.66 |
|
Diarmaid Mc Guinness S.C. |
€27,457.44 |
|
Patrick Leonard B.L. |
€27,230.97 |
|
Dermot Manning B.L. |
€26,945.53 |
|
Kilda Mooney B. L. |
€25,133.82 |
|
Douglas Clarke B. L. |
€24,655.08 |
|
Marguerite Bolger S.C. |
€24,464.70 |
|
Caroline Cummings B. L. |
€24,457.40 |
|
Paul Greene S.C. |
€24,425.34 |
|
Grainne Gilmore B.L. |
€24,399.51 |
|
James Connolly S.C. |
€24,245.76 |
|
Anthony Kerr B. L. |
€22,963.93 |
|
Peter Shanley B.L. |
€22,401.32 |
|
Roisin Lacey B. L. |
€22,157.22 |
|
Micheal D. O Connell B. L. |
€21,987.48 |
|
Jim Benson B.L. |
€21,797.32 |
|
Michael Mc Dowell S.C. |
€21,783.30 |
|
Conor J. Maguire S.C. |
€21,698.43 |
|
Tom O' Connell S.C. |
€21,213.44 |
|
Gerard Humphreys B. L. |
€20,982.57 |
|
Ciaran Toland B.L. |
€20,541.00 |
|
Liam Dockery B.L. |
€20,095.74 |
|
Leo Mulrooney |
€19,906.32 |
|
Paul O' Neill B. L. |
€19,628.99 |
|
Stephen Boggs B.L. |
€19,468.44 |
|
Shelley Horan B.L. |
€19,373.73 |
|
Colm Smyth S.C. |
€18,351.60 |
|
Michael Mac Grath S.C. |
€18,131.02 |
|
Glen Gibbons BL |
€17,479.53 |
|
Noel Whelan B. L. |
€17,232.30 |
|
Tara Burns B. L. |
€16,094.82 |
|
John D. Fitzgerald B. L. |
€15,553.35 |
|
Una Ni Raifeartaigh S.C. |
€15,018.30 |
|
Peter Ward SC |
€14,991.24 |
|
Tony O'Connor SC. |
€14,929.74 |
|
Noel J Travers B.L. |
€14,543.52 |
|
Úna Tighe B.L. |
€14,506.90 |
|
Joan Kelly BL |
€14,033.07 |
|
Michelle Carey B.L. |
€13,978.83 |
|
John Healy B.L. |
€13,399.62 |
|
John Hannan B. L. |
€13,092.12 |
|
Conor Dignam S.C. |
€12,767.95 |
|
William Maher BL |
€12,555.07 |
|
Michael Binchy BL |
€12,485.73 |
|
Shane Costelloe B. L. |
€12,443.91 |
|
Mervyn Hickey B.L. |
€12,305.56 |
|
D. J. Hegarty S.C. |
€12,261.87 |
|
Michael J. Bowman B. L. |
€12,175.77 |
|
Adrienne Egan S.C. |
€11,702.22 |
|
Denis Mc Cullough S.C. |
€10,750.20 |
|
Ciaran Donal Craven B. L. |
€10,653.87 |
|
Esther Earley B.L. |
€9,947.01 |
|
Gareth Robinson B.L. |
€9,696.69 |
|
Caroline Costello S.C. |
€9,623.13 |
|
Anne Rowland B. L. |
€9,612.15 |
|
Garrett Simons S.C. |
€9,491.66 |
|
Colm O' Hoisin S.C. |
€9,407.04 |
|
Marcus Dowling B.L. |
€9,202.28 |
|
Michael Hourican BL |
€9,193.02 |
|
Suzanne Fleury BL |
€9,188.10 |
|
Joe Jeffers B.L. |
€8,764.77 |
|
Donnchadh McCarthy B.L. |
€8,653.45 |
|
John F. Brennan B. L. |
€8,620.56 |
|
Shane O'Callaghan BL |
€8,617.38 |
|
Hugh Mohan S.C. |
€8,585.70 |
|
Murray Johnson B. L. |
€8,295.63 |
|
Niamh Hyland S.C. |
€8,233.79 |
|
David Lennon B.L. |
€8,218.86 |
|
Grainne Mullan BL |
€8,039.28 |
|
John McGuiggan BL |
€8,004.84 |
|
Paul O'Reilly B.L. |
€7,607.00 |
|
Michael Cush S.C. |
€7,591.79 |
|
Mark O' Connell B. L. |
€7,591.56 |
|
Mary Rose Gearty S.C. |
€7,488.24 |
|
Patrick F. O' Reilly S.C. |
€7,345.56 |
|
Niall Nolan, B. L. |
€7,232.48 |
|
Fintan Valentine B.L. |
€6,991.32 |
|
Luan O' Braonain S.C. |
€6,917.52 |
|
Niall O Driscoll B.L. |
€6,767.46 |
|
Margaret Nerney S.C. |
€6,721.95 |
|
Jane Hyland B. L. |
€6,646.92 |
|
William Fitzgerald BL |
€6,611.25 |
|
Byron Wade BL |
€6,565.74 |
|
Pearse Michael Sreenan B. L. |
€6,455.14 |
|
Jeananne McGovern B.L. |
€6,427.63 |
|
Robert Kearns BL |
€6,401.00 |
|
Mark William Murphy B.L. |
€6,280.84 |
|
Rory Mulcahy B. L. |
€6,223.80 |
|
Eithne Casey B. L. |
€5,905.23 |
|
Diane Duggan BL |
€5,828.97 |
|
Aoife Goodman B. L. |
€5,658.00 |
|
David Fennelly BL |
€5,627.25 |
|
John P. Redmond & Co. |
€5,566.00 |
|
Sarah Fennell B.L. |
€5,516.55 |
|
Geri Silke B. L. |
€5,448.90 |
|
Gerry Kelly S.C. |
€5,384.94 |
|
Niamh McGowan BL |
€5,344.35 |
|
John R. Finlay S.C. |
€5,318.52 |
|
Cathy Maguire B. L. |
€5,201.67 |
|
Gerard Durcan S.C. |
€5,092.20 |
|
Niall O' Hanlon B. L. |
€4,895.40 |
|
Robert Haughton S.C. |
€4,892.94 |
|
Hugh O Flaherty B.L. |
€4,789.62 |
|
Robert D O' Neill B. L. |
€4,644.48 |
|
Garrett Baker B. L. |
€4,457.07 |
|
Aideen Collard, B. L. |
€4,420.62 |
|
Bridget Bermingham |
€4,275.48 |
|
Lorcan Connolly BL |
€4,244.73 |
|
Andrew Whelan BL |
€3,949.53 |
|
Patrick R. O'Brien BL |
€3,813.00 |
|
Grainne M. Clohessy SC |
€3,621.12 |
|
Alexander J. Owens S.C. |
€3,548.55 |
|
Tim O' Connor B. L. |
€3,457.53 |
|
Richard Lyons S.C. |
€3,389.80 |
|
John F. Kiely B. L. |
€3,382.50 |
|
Silvia Martinez Garcia BL |
€3,345.60 |
|
Michael O' Scanaill S.C. |
€3,281.64 |
|
Derek Sheahan B.L |
€3,259.50 |
|
Nuala Jackson B. L. |
€3,259.50 |
|
Brendan P Ryan BL |
€3,209.00 |
|
Alexander Caffrey BL |
€3,205.38 |
|
Michael J. Durack S.C. |
€3,089.76 |
|
Brendan Gogarty B. L. |
€3,051.44 |
|
Karl Dowling B.L. |
€2,953.23 |
|
Michael Carson S.C. |
€2,920.02 |
|
Patrick Mc Cann S.C. |
€2,868.36 |
|
Deirdre Murphy S.C. |
€2,829.00 |
|
Michael F. Collins B. L. |
€2,821.38 |
|
James Bridgeman BL |
€2,767.50 |
|
Emma Doyle B.L. |
€2,747.82 |
|
John Trainor S.C. |
€2,715.84 |
|
Patrick K. McMorrow BL |
€2,715.84 |
|
Michael Cooney B. L. |
€2,683.86 |
|
Derry Hand B.L |
€2,659.26 |
|
Michael Wall BL |
€2,499.36 |
|
Roderick Maguire B.L. |
€2,447.38 |
|
Emma Keane BL |
€2,391.12 |
|
Colm McCarvill BL |
€2,371.68 |
|
Dr Suzanne Kingston BL |
€2,337.00 |
|
Karen O' Connor B. L. |
€2,263.20 |
|
Patricia Hill B.L. |
€2,236.14 |
|
Mark Finan BL |
€2,156.19 |
|
Rosemary Healy B.L. |
€2,113.14 |
|
Ronan Murphy S.C. |
€2,093.46 |
|
Dan Boland B. L. |
€2,091.00 |
|
Rossa Fanning B. L. |
€1,948.32 |
|
Donal Fallon B.L. |
€1,934.72 |
|
Tom Fitzpatrick B. L. |
€1,899.12 |
|
Thomas Rice B. L. |
€1,885.59 |
|
Deirdre Browne B. L. |
€1,848.30 |
|
Garrett Cooney B.L. |
€1,776.12 |
|
David Holland S.C. |
€1,760.50 |
|
Paul Murphy BL |
€1,700.00 |
|
Brian Murray S.C. |
€1,673.72 |
|
Richard Humphreys S.C. |
€1,658.04 |
|
Reg Jackson B. L. |
€1,568.25 |
|
Aillil O Reilly B.L. |
€1,549.80 |
|
Martin T. Collins BL |
€1,519.00 |
|
Elizabeth Maguire B. L. |
€1,476.00 |
|
Eoghan Fitzsimons S.C. |
€1,357.92 |
|
Philip Sheahan,B.L. |
€1,353.00 |
|
William Penrose B. L. |
€1,244.64 |
|
Adrienne Cawley B. L. |
€1,230.00 |
|
John Ferry BL |
€1,217.70 |
|
Dermot Flanagan S.C. |
€1,173.42 |
|
Donal Keane B. L. |
€1,137.75 |
|
Niall J O' Neill B. L. |
€1,120.46 |
|
Patricia McLaughlin B.L. |
€1,076.25 |
|
Patrick E. Keane S.C. |
€1,045.50 |
|
Robert Beatty B. L. |
€1,045.50 |
|
Dympna Glendenning B. L. |
€1,000.00 |
|
Angus Buttanshaw B. L. |
€982.77 |
|
Sean Guerin B. L. |
€922.50 |
|
Kenneth Togher B.L. |
€905.28 |
|
Mary Mac Murrough Murphy B. L. |
€905.28 |
|
Elma Sheahan B. L. |
€883.14 |
|
Caroline Biggs B.L. |
€873.30 |
|
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú B.L. |
€847.47 |
|
James Devlin S.C. |
€819.17 |
|
Grainne Larkin B.L. |
€805.65 |
|
Ted Harding B.L. |
€799.50 |
|
Blathna Ruane S.C. |
€778.03 |
|
Charles Meenan S.C. |
€745.40 |
|
Carol O' Farrell B. L. |
€698.64 |
|
Mark Sanfey S.C. |
€678.96 |
|
Fergal Foley B. L. |
€644.52 |
|
Eve Bourached BL |
€569.49 |
|
Miriam Reilly B. L. |
€531.36 |
|
Emile Daly B. L. |
€493.23 |
|
Elizabeth Murphy BL |
€476.74 |
|
Cian P. Kelly BL. |
€452.64 |
|
Cliona Cassidy BL |
€452.64 |
|
Elaine Power BL |
€452.64 |
|
Faye Revington BL |
€452.64 |
|
James Egan |
€452.64 |
|
Johanna Ronan Mehigan B. L. |
€452.64 |
|
Lily Buckley, B. L. |
€396.06 |
|
Simon P Vaughan B.L. |
€368.00 |
|
Michael C O' Connor B. L. |
€356.70 |
|
Colm P. Condon B.L. |
€278.30 |
|
Veronica Gates B. L. |
€254.61 |
|
Grainne Fahey B.L. |
€246.00 |
|
Paul Burns S.C. |
€246.00 |
|
Padraic Lyons B.L. |
€226.32 |
|
Elaine Finneran B.L. |
€184.50 |
|
James Mc Cullough B. L. |
€184.50 |
|
Simon Kearns BL |
€98.40 |
|
Viv Lavan B.L. |
€83.49 |
|
Total |
€5,612,953.38 |
62. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if it is the practice of his Department to employ an archivist to examine records and archives once records are deemed appropriate for archiving to determine the quality of the records, the importance, the estimated care and attention needed to preserve the records and so on; if not, if he will consider this option to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage. [35707/14]
View answerMy Department has a designated member of staff who is responsible for the management of the Department’s records and a designated National Archives Certifying Officer who is charged with responsibility for compliance with the National Archives Act, 1986. Departmental records are stored in secured locations which may be accessed by authorised officials only.
It is not the practice of my Department to employ an archivist. However, the National Archive Records Acquisition and Description Division assist my Department with work relating to the transfer of Departmental records to the National Archives. Additionally, as part of its remit, the National Archives maintains on-going contact with my Department, as it does with all bodies subject to the National Archives Act, 1986, to identify records worthy of permanent preservation and secure transfer to archival custody.
63. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach to detail the number of public sector employees under his remit who are subject to a freeze on their increment payment in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35800/14]
View answerThe Haddington Road Agreement provides for a range of increment and related balancing measures depending on relevant earnings. Under the terms of the Agreement, those earning under €35,000 will have a three month increment pause during the lifetime of the Agreement. For those on salaries between €35,000 and €65,000, two three month increment pauses will apply (a total of a six month pause), and for those earning above €65,000 to the maximum of the Principal (Higher) scale or equivalent, two six month pauses will apply over the course of the Agreement. Finally, incremental progression is suspended for three years for those on salary scales starting over €100,000. Based on the best available data available, the number of civil servants in my Department who will have an increment paused or frozen in 2014 is 23.
64. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Taoiseach to set out the number of public servants and semi-State employees in his Department on career break at the time of the Haddington Road agreement who lost their right to return to their old position; of these, the number who have since been offered redeployment opportunities; the number who availed of suitable redeployment opportunities; the number who terminated their employment; the number who have been accommodated with supernumerary positions after being on redeployment lists of over one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35801/14]
View answerTwo officers who were on career break from my Department at the time of the Haddington Road Agreement sought to return to work.
Both officers were offered and accepted suitable redeployment opportunities within the civil service.
66. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach to set out the increase in the number of persons aged 15 and over here from outside the EU, based on the national quarterly household survey between quarter 2 of 2013 and quarter 2 of 2014; the reason for this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35812/14]
View answerThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of labour force estimates in the State and the data also provides information on persons classified by nationality. The CSO does not collect information in QNHS on the reason for immigration of persons.
The Q2 2014 estimates are the most recent QNHS figures available.
The following table shows the estimated number of persons aged 15 years and over classified by nationality in Quarter 2 2013 and 2014 and the year on year change.
Estimated number of persons aged 15 years and over classified by nationality, Quarter 2 2013 and 2014
|
'000 |
-Q2 13 1 |
Q2 14 |
Year on year change |
|
Irish nationals |
3,114.1 |
3,113.1 |
-1.0 |
|
Non-Irish nationals |
472.2 |
480.7 |
8.6 |
|
of which: |
- |
- |
- |
|
United Kingdom |
103.3 |
105.1 |
1.7 |
|
EU15 excl. Ireland and UK |
39.9 |
34.6 |
-5.2 |
|
EU 15 to EU 28* |
186.5 |
187.4 |
0.9 |
|
Other |
142.4 |
153.6 |
11.2 |
|
Total persons |
3,586.3 |
3,593.9 |
7.6 |
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.
1 EU27
* Results for Q2 2014 include Croatia for the EU15 to EU28 classification and this should be borne in mind when comparing year-on-year changes
Note: Persons whose nationality is not stated are included with Irish nationals.
67. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach to detail the remuneration package for each chief executive officer of State or semi-State organisations under the aegis of his Department; the changes made to such remuneration in the past two years; the remuneration package for each acting CEO, if such exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35954/14]
View answerThe Director of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), the only body under the aegis of my Department, is paid at Assistant Secretary level. His 2014 salary is €136,496. This is a reduction from €170,546 in 2012 and €161,610 in 2013, as he no longer receives an allowance in lieu of pension having joined the pension scheme for Non-Established State Employees, as well as reflecting changes provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement.
68. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of a 1% increase in weekly social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35894/14]
View answerThe cost of a 1% increase in the rate of all weekly social welfare payments is estimated at €145.89 million in a full year. The cost includes a proportionate increase, where applicable, in the qualified adult rate of payment.
69. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35219/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 8th July 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take over 10 weeks to process an application for DCA.
71. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the up-to-date figures relating to the number of persons participating on the Gateway scheme by council and the number of persons whom have had their payments discontinued for a period following a call-up for the Gateway scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35232/14]
View answer72. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the number of persons who have voluntarily left the live register as a result of being called up to participate on the Gateway scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35233/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
Gateway is a work placement initiative provided by county and city councils with the support of the Department of Social Protection. The initiative aims to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. Responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with individual county and city councils. Sufficient resources are available to provide for 3,000 placements in 2014.
The process of identifying work opportunities for Gateway participants and consulting the all the relevant stakeholders, including relevant unions, is a matter for the county and city councils. A variety of tasks have been identified and are being made available to Gateway participants, including a mixture of new opportunities and opportunities to work in services that have not been provided by county and city councils due to the pressure of scarce resources. The types of projects being considered are varied and include village enhancement schemes, landscaping, tourism ambassadors and working in libraries.
Participants are primarily selected by a random process conducted by the Department of Social Protection from those persons in receipt of a jobseekers allowance payment for 24 months or more. Jobseekers may also access Gateway by applying to their local Council or by contacting the Department and, in this context, the Deputy should note that up to 20% of the total cohort may be selected in this manner.
The number of persons participating on Gateway as of 19 September 2014 is set out in the following table. Work is on-going with the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government and the County and City Management Association to ensure that the target of 3,000 placements will be filled by the end of 2014.
Data collected in respect of 9,433 jobseekers selected to date for Gateway indicates that seven jobseekers were subject to sanctions resulting in the temporary disallowance (up to a maximum of 9 weeks) of their jobseekers’ payments for failure to engage with the initiative. A further 99 jobseekers claims have been closed following engagement between Departmental officials and jobseekers. In some of these cases, a different DSP payment was deemed more appropriate to the individual’s circumstances. Overall, the Deputy should note that no jobseeker will be compelled to take up a Gateway position that would result in a decrease in the value of their family income or impose other hardships. Review processes are ongoing in a number of other cases of jobseekers who have not taken up the offer of engagement on Gateway.
Table 1: Numbers engaged on Gateway as of 19 th September, 2014
|
County or City Council |
Placements filled at 19.09.14 |
|
Carlow Co Co |
14 |
|
Cavan Co Co |
15 |
|
Clare Co Co |
2 |
|
Cork City Co |
17 |
|
Cork Co Co |
14 |
|
Donegal Co Co |
10 |
|
Fingal Co Co |
81 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Co Co |
15 |
|
Dublin City Co |
15 |
|
Galway City Co |
15 |
|
Galway Co Co |
30 |
|
Kerry Co Co |
15 |
|
Kildare Co Co |
11 |
|
Kilkenny Co Co |
20 |
|
Laois Co Co |
10 |
|
Leitrim Co Co |
25 |
|
Limerick Co Co |
85 |
|
Longford Co Co |
0 |
|
Louth Co Co |
34 |
|
Meath Co Co |
56 |
|
Monaghan Co Co |
23 |
|
Mayo Co Co |
84 |
|
Offaly Co Co |
17 |
|
Roscommon Co Co |
22 |
|
Sligo Co Co |
10 |
|
South Dublin Co Co |
5 |
|
Tipperary Co Co |
35 |
|
Waterford City Co |
0 |
|
Waterford Co Co |
27 |
|
Westmeath Co Co |
31 |
|
Wexford Co Co |
25 |
|
Wicklow Co Co |
19 |
|
TOTAL |
781 |
