Written Answers Nos. 387-400
387. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the start-up grants available in the case of a business in County Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41988/14]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the micro-enterprise sector. They pull together all the players – other Government Departments and Agencies - to support everyone with a good business idea and strengthen the enterprise sector in the local area. The LEOs are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and, in certain circumstances, grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. Contact details for the LEOs are available at www.localenterprise.ie.
The LEOs themselves provide a range of financial and non-financial supports to help enterprises at start-up or during business expansion phases. It should be noted that the LEOs generally only grant assist enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, which over time can develop into strong export entities and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio. However, there are other potential supports available and the LEO staff can advise appropriately.
For example, the LEO can advise clients about the Department of Social Protection JobsPlus Scheme, which is an incentive aimed at encouraging and rewarding employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed. Grants up to €10,000 are available to qualifying employers to offset wage costs where they engage jobseekers from the Live Register.
In addition, any business can use the LEOs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland (MFI), 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 available to MFI has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal. Applications for the microfinance fund should be channelled through the local LEO. Further information can be found on www.localenterprise.ie.
Businesses can also access the new online search tool for SME business supports that was launched last May. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. By answering the eight questions in the Tool, a small business will, in one location be able to:
- Find out which of the over 80 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them
- obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit
- identify their nearest Local Enterprise Office where they can discuss the outcomes of the guide further
- download all these filtered results into a document for their further use.
The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is available at: www.localenterprise.ie/smeonlinetool.
388. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on concerns at the number of Industrial Development Agency visits made to County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42017/14]
View answerThe final decision as to where to visit and ultimately where to locate is taken in all cases by the investor.
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 and South East regions, 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.
Additionally IDA Ireland is in the process of preparing a new corporate strategy for the years 2015 to 2020 which will be launched early next year and I am working closely with IDA Ireland on this.
389. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the financial resources and supports available to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; the number of staff it will have; the powers it will have to investigate anti-competitive practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42189/14]
View answerThe Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established on 31 October 2014 through the amalgamation of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency as provided for in the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014.
The combined budget of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority for 2014 is €12.287m. The combined Employment Control Framework figure for both organisations is 106.
A suite of additional enforcement powers was already provided to the Competition Authority in 2012 under the Competition (Amendment) Act 2012 and additional staff were also allocated to it to strengthen competition law enforcement in the context of the EU/IMF Financial Programme for Ireland. The Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 maintains the original powers ascribed to both legacy organisations and also gives additional powers to the new Commission by extending the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2011 and the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 to serious competition law offences. In addition, some elements of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 related to the use of the taped-evidence at witness-interviews have been incorporated into the powers of the new Commission.
390. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the regulations in place for recruitment agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42246/14]
View answerThe main provisions governing employment agencies are set down in the Employment Agency Act 1971 and regulations made thereunder. Under that Act an employment agency must hold a licence in order to carry on its business. The Act and Regulations made thereunder regulate the issuing of the licence. A licence must be renewed on a yearly basis at an annual fee of €500.
An applicant for a licence must, in the opinion of the Minister, be a person of good character and repute and this verified by means of two independent references vouching for the good character of the applicant. An applicant is also subject to a vetting report from An Garda Síochána confirming that there is nothing in their records that would render the applicant unsuitable to hold an employment agency licence.
An employment agency which has premises in the State must conform to the standards of accommodation prescribed by Regulations under the Employment Agency Act 1971 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Applicants are required to complete a self-certifying ‘Health & Safety Requirements Statement’.
It is an offence under the Act for an employment agency to carry on business without an employment agency licence and a person guilty of an offence under the Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €2,500 and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding €1,000 a day.
391. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of quangos set up since 2011 in his Department; the number of members of same; the cost and expense incurred to date including details of the briefs that they cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42517/14]
View answerThere is a substantial programme of reform underway within my Department in relation to agencies and public bodies. This will see a reduction in the number of agencies or bodies under the remit of this Department fall by 41. This includes the dissolution of 35 City and County Enterprise Boards, the merging of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency, the integration of Forfás into the Department, the integration of Shannon Development into a new Shannon Group and the consolidation of the five workplace relations bodies into two.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which was established on 31st October, has 5 members and has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law and will build on the work of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to protect and strengthen competition, empower consumers to make informed decisions and protect them from harmful business practices.
The transfer of enterprise functions from Shannon Development to IDA, EI and tourism functions to Bord Fáilte took place during the last quarter of 2013. The legislation to merge Shannon Development and Shannon Airport into a new commercial state company, State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014, was enacted on 27 July 2014. Responsibility for the newly formed Shannon Group PLC rests with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
As the Deputy may be aware, on 15th April this year, the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards were dissolved under the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act, 2014. On the same date, 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established. Under the legislation, the functions, assets and liabilities were transferred to Enterprise Ireland, and these functions are now being delivered on behalf of EI by the LEOs within the Local Authority structure.
Forfás was integrated into my Department with effect from 1st August 2014 under the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act, 2014. As part of this integration the functions of the Irish National Accreditation Board were transferred from Forfás to the Health and Safety Authority.
A Reform Programme also underway will deliver a two tier Workplace Relations structure by merging the activities of the National Employment Rights Authority, the Labour Relations Commission, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court into a new Body of First Instance, to be known as the Workplace Relations Commission. The appellate functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal will be incorporated into an expanded Labour Court.
There will be savings made as a result of shared services and abolition of Boards but, more importantly, the new streamlined structures will provide a quicker, simpler and improved service for the taxpayer. The detailed nature of the costs and expenses savings are a day-to-day operational matter for the agencies in question.
392. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi scéim na limistéar faoi mhíbhuntáiste do 2014 le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [40972/14]
View answerRinne an duine ainmnithe iarratas faoi Scéim na hAoníocaíochta/na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste an 1 Bealtaine 2014. Próiseáladh an t-iarratas le déanaí agus eiseofar an íocaíocht dhlite go gairid, díreach chuig cuntas bainc ainmnithe an duine ainmnithe.
393. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a site inspection will take place regarding a single farm payment appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40975/14]
View answerA review of the land parcels declared by the person(s) named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared by the person(s) named contained ineligible features. Following a request for a review from the person(s) named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. The person(s) named will be advised of the outcome of this verification visit shortly. If they are not satisfied with the outcome of the review, the applicant(s) can appeal the decision to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeals Committee.
394. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41001/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 29 April 2014. Processing of the Disadvantaged Areas application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 30 October 2014.
395. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the positive initiatives in the budget for young farmers to inherit land and the top-up agreed for the new CAP for single payment entitlements for young farmers, his plans to increase places for farmers to pursue the Teagasc green certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41007/14]
View answerUnder the Agricultural (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education and training programmes to the agriculture sector.
It is a matter for Teagasc to prioritise activities in the delivery of education services and to allocate resources in accordance with these priorities. They work in partnership with other education stakeholders including Universities and Institutes of Technology to deliver quality-driven education courses in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies.
The configuration of the new Single Farm Payment Scheme to prioritise support for young farmers has resulted in additional applications for part time and distance Teagasc Green Cert courses this autumn. My Department in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has agreed that Teagasc can recruit 20 temporary teachers to enable young farmers undertake the Green Cert and thus qualify for payment. Teagasc is committed to maximising the number of available places for the Green Cert and is exploring other options to meet demand including the use of education sub-contractors to deliver specific course modules. In addition to the above posts, my Department has approved a number of other mission critical appointments in the Teagasc education function to maximise participation in agricultural education.
396. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the disadvantaged area based scheme for 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be made; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41038/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 8 April 2014. Processing of the Disadvantaged Areas application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
397. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department intervened with local authorities or other organisations to secure fresh water supplies for a company (details supplied) to deal with an acute outbreak of disease in its salmon in south Connemara; and if his Department lobbied any organisation for favourable terms for the delivery of such fresh water. [41039/14]
View answerMy Department did not intervene with Local Authorities or other organisations to secure fresh water supplies for the company referred to by the Deputy in relation to the company’s operations in South Connemara.
My Department received an application from the company in question for a foreshore licence to facilitate the delivery of fresh water supplies to a marine finfish site. As part of the application assessment process my Department sought clarification from Galway County Council as to the status of the planning permission in respect of this project.
398. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he proposes to take in relation to the fact that a charity (details supplied) has had 49 staff leave since May 2013, and the fact that well over €100,000 has been paid out in legal fees; and the reason the warnings about the organisation were not thoroughly investigated when complaints were made. [41045/14]
View answerThe matters relating to the charity referred to by the Deputy are governance issues and come within the Charities Act legislation and the Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA).
The organisation in question provides an important service in delivering much needed care to animals in distress and has received funding from my Department to assist in its work in this area. This animal welfare charity is among 136 such bodies that received funding from my Department in 2013 and each recipient of aid, including the organisation in question has been provided with a Code of Practice which sets out recommendations to promote sound welfare and management practice to be adhered to.
399. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates on which felling licences pursuant to the Forestry Act 1946 were granted to the National Roads Authority for tree felling along the N7 in the Counties Laois and Kildare. [41053/14]
View answerFelling licences were not granted by my Department to the National Roads Authority for tree felling along the N7 in the Counties Laois and Kildare. Under the Roads Act, 1993 (as amended by the Roads Act, 2007) the National Roads Authority is not obliged to obtain a felling licence under the Forestry Act, 1946, where it is responsible for felling trees in the course of performing its functions under the Roads Act.
400. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislative provisions under which the National Roads Authority is exempted from the requirement to obtain a licence for tree felling pursuant to the Forestry Act 1946. [41054/14]
View answerThe National Roads Authority is not exempt from the requirement to obtain a licence for tree felling pursuant to the Forestry Act, 1946. However, the Roads Act, 1993 ( as amended by the Roads Act, 2007) facilitates the felling of trees by the National Roads Authority under the following legislative provisions:
S. 19 of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended) states:
(1) "The Authority may, in relation to national roads or proposed national roads, do all or any of the following
a) prepare, or arrange for the preparation of—
(i) designs for construction or improvement works
(ii) programmes of maintenance works, or
(iii) schemes for the provision of traffic signs
b) secure the carrying out of construction or maintenance works, or the provision of traffic signs
(c) secure the provision of facilities for the parking of vehicles
( d ) allocate moneys and make payments in relation to construction or maintenance works, or in relation to any other function assigned to it by or under this Act;
( e ) specify standards in relation to construction or maintenance works;
( f ) carry out, arrange to have carried out or assist the carrying out of, training, research or testing activities in relation to any of its functions;
( g ) provide any amenity, structure or thing (including, without limitation, service areas, rest areas or lay-bys) for the safety and convenience of road users
( h ) undertake landscaping, planting or any similar activities in the interests of amenity and the environment; or
( i ) provide artistic features
(2) The Authority shall, as far as possible, arrange that the functions referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1) shall be performed on its behalf by the relevant road authority but, in any case where the Authority considers that it would be more convenient, more expeditious, more effective or more economical that the function concerned should be performed by it, it may decide accordingly.
(7) Where a decision is made by the Authority under subsection (2) or under section 20 (5) (a) to perform a particular function otherwise than through a road authority, the following provisions shall have effect
a) the Authority shall be empowered (notwithstanding any other enactment) to perform the function , including the acquisition of land for that purpose, and to do any other thing which arises out of or is consequential on or is necessary for the purposes of or would facilitate the performance of the function;"
Therefore, while the National Roads Authority is not exempt from the requirement for a felling licence under the Forestry Act, 1946, by virtue of the provisions of section 19 of the Roads Act, as amended, it is not required to obtain tree felling licences in order to perform its functions .
