Wednesday, 21 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 110-117

Departmental Funding

Questions (110)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

110. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department carries out any ongoing evaluation of the per cent for art scheme; if his Department gathers statistics in relation to the number of State aided capital projects to which the scheme applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

My Department is responsible for setting the overall allocations (both capital and current) across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. Within the overall allocations set by my Department, individual Ministers and their Departments allocate funds across various projects and programmes and monitor performance in line with their Department's priorities.

My Department does not carry out any ongoing evaluation of the Per Cent for Art Scheme nor does it gather statistics in relation to the number of state-aided capital projects to which the scheme applies.  The promotion of the scheme is the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, of whom a similar question has been asked.

Trade Missions

Questions (111)

Seán Kenny

Question:

111. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the trade missions he will undertake over the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2899/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

While some details are yet to be finalised, I am currently proposing to undertake trade and investment missions during the first half of the year to the Gulf Region, India, China and within Europe. This programme includes a mix of established and developing markets. Missions are also planned during the year to the US, UK, Germany, France, a number of other EU Member States, the UAE, South Africa and West Africa. There will be more than one mission in respect of a number of countries. A number of these missions will be led by other Ministerial colleagues who will confirm their respective programmes in due course, and will be supported by relevant agencies in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, as appropriate.

Jobs Data

Questions (112)

Clare Daly

Question:

112. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 15 January 2015 in relation to Industrial Development Agency supported employment in each of the years 2008 to 2014, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of those jobs that were created and lost here. [2954/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The following tabular statement gives a breakdown on a county-by-county basis of the number of jobs created and lost in IDA Ireland client companies in respect of each of the years 2008 to 2014 inclusive. Data in relation to jobs created and lost in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies are tracked in the Annual Employment Survey, formerly known as the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. Data is gathered on an annualised basis and aggregated at county level. Information is supplied by clients on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only.

Table of IDA Ireland Jobs created and lost from 2008 to 2014 as per the Annual Employment Survey 2014

County		2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Carlow	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	89	32	87	197	132	91	44
Carlow	Gross Losses	-78	-53	-224		-1	-1	-38
Cavan	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	14	30	92	5	10	15	27
Cavan	Gross Losses	-49	-70	-71	-28	-54	-8	-26
Clare	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	654	360	309	397	316	240	436
Clare	Gross Losses	-616	-904	-499	-463	-518	-324	-309
Cork	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	2,075	1,587	2,676	2,187	2,395	2,139	2,312
Cork	Gross Losses	-1,877	-3,098	-1,183	-1,189	-1,113	-1,003	-1,166
Donegal	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	61	98	281	277	164	183	247
Donegal	Gross Losses	-68	-46	-252	-25	-42	-24	-22
Dublin	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	5,081	2,819	6,282	7,208	8,438	7,961	7,149
Dublin	Gross Losses	-4,764	-7,386	-6,009	-3,522	-4,302	-2,444	-3,430
Galway	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	476	198	1,209	1,922	938	969	1,099
Galway	Gross Losses	-1,460	-1,189	-821	-114	-230	-394	-745
Kerry	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	75	53	51	171	120	101	247
Kerry	Gross Losses	-110	-445	-126	-187	-12	-68	-11
Kildare	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	138	32	1,443	352	546	339	637
Kildare	Gross Losses	-742	-1,631	-352	-628	-575	-477	-475
Kilkenny	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	9		78	1	125	80	124
Kilkenny	Gross Losses	-11	-119	-3	-14		-35	-25
Laois	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)		17	14	2		22	9
Laois	Gross Losses	-23	-9	-1	-27	-24		-28
Leitrim	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	131		77	24		276	4
Leitrim	Gross Losses	-44	-63	-81	-197	-189	-298	-83
Limerick	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	357	161	282	308	562	570	756
Limerick	Gross Losses	-2,086	-2,978	-378	-144	-67	-292	-285
Longford	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	27	26	22	6	44	25	10
Longford	Gross Losses	-88	-91	-126	-67	-6	-20	-61
Louth	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	117	37	111	264	426	778	494
Louth	Gross Losses	-222	-308	-351	-75	-56	-91	-33
Mayo	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	116	105	94	152	96	242	294
Mayo	Gross Losses	-130	-210	-42	-106	-73	-51	-90
Meath	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	111	38	50	88	53	83	69
Meath	Gross Losses	-313	-159	-66	-32	-119	-58	-46
Monaghan	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	7	7	45		7	29	13
Monaghan	Gross Losses	-40	-18	-17	-66	-11	-12	-103
Offaly	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	97	4	26	41	54	21	44
Offaly	Gross Losses	-40	-173	-344	-76		-26	-50
Roscommon	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	40	5	5	96	59	28	21
Roscommon	Gross Losses		-96	-80	-4			-129
Sligo	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	92	58	84	187	163	184	65
Sligo	Gross Losses	-73	-122	-257	-61	-215	-351	-86
Tipperary NR	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	19		16	22	1	22	16
Tipperary NR	Gross Losses	-65	-325	-98	-2	-8	-3	-3
Tipperary SR	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	300	254	63	25	67	180	48
Tipperary SR	Gross Losses	-48	-142	-165	-301	-69	-518	-59
Waterford	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	376	166	246	144	117	172	351
Waterford	Gross Losses	-599	-635	-455	-1,066	-284	-120	-329
Westmeath	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	205	107	208	161	177	132	285
Westmeath	Gross Losses	-255	-517	-27	-68	-38	-177	-37
Wexford	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	126	10	285	111	100	149	176
Wexford	Gross Losses	-69	-127	-54	-110	-136	-86	-106
Wicklow	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	150	61	172	84	105	73	35
Wicklow	Gross Losses	-393	-295	-210	-265	-105	-57	-106
Total	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	10,943	6,265	14,308	14,432	15,215	15,104	15,012
Total	Gross Losses	-14,263	-21,209	-12,292	-8,837	-8,247	-6,938	-7,881

The following revised reply was received on 29 January 2015

The tabular statement gives a breakdown on a county-by-county basis of the number of jobs created and lost in IDA Ireland client companies in respect of each of the years 2008 to 2014 inclusive. Data in relation to jobs created and lost in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies are tracked in the Annual Employment Survey, formerly known as the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. Data is gathered on an annualised basis and aggregated at county level. Information is supplied by clients on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only.

Table of IDA Ireland Jobs created and lost from 2008 to 2014 as per the Annual Employment Survey 2014

County		2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Carlow	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	89	32	87	197	132	91	44
Carlow	Gross Losses	-78	-53	-224		-1	-1	-38
Cavan	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	14	30	92	5	10	15	27
Cavan	Gross Losses	-49	-70	-71	-28	-54	-8	-26
Clare	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	654	360	309	397	316	240	436
Clare	Gross Losses	-616	-904	-499	-463	-518	-324	-309
Cork	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	2,075	1,587	2,676	2,187	2,395	2,139	2,312
Cork	Gross Losses	-1,877	-3,098	-1,183	-1,189	-1,113	-1,003	-1,166
Donegal	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	61	98	281	277	164	183	247
Donegal	Gross Losses	-68	-46	-252	-25	-42	-24	-22
Dublin	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	5,081	2,819	6,282	7,208	8,438	7,961	7,149
Dublin	Gross Losses	-4,764	-7,386	-6,009	-3,522	-4,302	-2,444	-3,430
Galway	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	476	198	1,209	1,922	938	969	1,099
Galway	Gross Losses	-1,460	-1,189	-821	-114	-230	-394	-745
Kerry	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	75	53	51	171	120	101	247
Kerry	Gross Losses	-110	-445	-126	-187	-12	-68	-11
Kildare	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	138	32	1,443	352	546	339	637
Kildare	Gross Losses	-742	-1,631	-352	-628	-575	-477	-475
Kilkenny	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	9		78	1	125	80	124
Kilkenny	Gross Losses	-11	-119	-3	-14		-35	-25
Laois	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)		17	14	2		22	9
Laois	Gross Losses	-23	-9	-1	-27	-24		-28
Leitrim	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	131		77	24		276	4
Leitrim	Gross Losses	-44	-63	-81	-197	-189	-298	-83
Limerick	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	357	161	282	308	562	570	756
Limerick	Gross Losses	-2,086	-2,978	-378	-144	-67	-292	-285
Longford	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	27	26	22	6	44	25	10
Longford	Gross Losses	-88	-91	-126	-67	-6	-20	-61
Louth	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	117	37	111	264	426	778	494
Louth	Gross Losses	-222	-308	-351	-75	-56	-91	-33
Mayo	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	116	105	94	152	96	242	294
Mayo	Gross Losses	-130	-210	-42	-106	-73	-51	-90
Meath	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	111	38	50	88	53	83	69
Meath	Gross Losses	-313	-159	-66	-32	-119	-58	-46
Monaghan	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	7	7	45		7	29	13
Monaghan	Gross Losses	-40	-18	-17	-66	-11	-12	-103
Offaly	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	97	4	26	41	54	21	44
Offaly	Gross Losses	-40	-173	-344	-76		-26	-50
Roscommon	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	40	5	5	96	59	29	80
Roscommon	Gross Losses		-96	-80	-4			-129
Sligo	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	92	58	84	187	163	184	65
Sligo	Gross Losses	-73	-122	-257	-61	-215	-351	-86
Tipperary NR	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	19		16	22	1	22	16
Tipperary NR	Gross Losses	-65	-325	-98	-2	-8	-3	-3
Tipperary SR	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	300	254	63	25	67	180	48
Tipperary SR	Gross Losses	-48	-142	-165	-301	-69	-518	-59
Waterford	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	376	166	246	144	117	172	351
Waterford	Gross Losses	-599	-635	-455	-1,066	-284	-120	-329
Westmeath	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	205	107	208	161	177	131	226
Westmeath	Gross Losses	-255	-517	-27	-68	-38	-177	-37
Wexford	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	126	10	285	111	100	149	176
Wexford	Gross Losses	-69	-127	-54	-110	-136	-86	-106
Wicklow	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	150	61	172	84	105	73	35
Wicklow	Gross Losses	-393	-295	-210	-265	-105	-57	-106
Total	New Jobs Created (Gross Gains)	10,943	6,265	14,308	14,432	15,215	15,104	15,012
Total	Gross Losses	-14,263	-21,209	-12,292	-8,837	-8,247	-6,938	-7,881

Consumer Protection

Questions (113)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

113. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce legislation to ensure that no one can solicit business on a doorstep without a licence. [2971/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I have no plans to introduce legislation to require door-to-door traders to be licensed. The administrative burden on legitimate door-to-door traders, and the cost to the State, that would result from such a requirement would, in my view, outweigh the potential benefits. Given the informal nature of a sizeable proportion of door-to-door trading, such a requirement would also be difficult to enforce effectively. My Department is aware of only 3 of the 28 European Union Member States, which have a licensing requirement for door-to-door traders.

The European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 which came into operation in June 2014 have significantly strengthened the protections for consumers purchasing goods or services on a doorstep or off-premises basis. As well as giving consumers enhanced information rights, the Regulations increased from 7 to 14 days the cooling-off period within which off-premises contracts can be cancelled by the consumer, and extended the right of cancellation to contracts concluded following solicited as well as unsolicited visits to the consumer’s home or place of work. Contracts commenced but not fully performed during the cooling-off period can now also be cancelled by the consumer subject to pro-rata payment for services provided up to the point of cancellation.

Job Creation

Questions (114)

Frank Feighan

Question:

114. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the regional enterprise strategy for the west, which includes counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway, will be rolled out; if he has specific job creation targets for counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway respectively as part of this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2974/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

While employment has increased nationally by approximately 80,000 since the start of the Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012, not all regions are yet fully experiencing the benefits of economic recovery. The Unemployment Rate for the Midlands and South East regions, for example, stand at 14.5% and 13.7% respectively. This compares to the national average of 11.1% in the latest Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) published by the Central Statistics Office. The Unemployment Rate for the West in the QNHS, which relates to the third Quarter of 2014, was 11.4%.

The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs contained a number of commitments to support competitive regions, including the development of a framework for Regional Enterprise Strategies. This framework, which has been developed by my Department, provides a model which will be used to produce action-oriented plans to maximise the jobs potential of each region through a coordinated approach across Government Departments and other public bodies.

I have previously indicated that the first two Regional Enterprise Strategies to be developed will cover the Midlands and the South East regions respectively. Following a consultation process in the Midlands, my officials are currently finalising the preparation of the Regional Enterprise Strategy for that particular region. Consultation with stakeholders on the Strategy for the South-East region will commence in February.

The order in which subsequent Regional Enterprise Strategies are to be developed has not yet been finalised, but the decision will be informed by factors such as regional unemployment levels. It is my intention that each plan is drafted and published by July of this year.

It is not intended that specific job creation targets will be set for each county in the Regional Enterprise Strategies, but, rather, that the Strategies will identify measures that can be taken to enable the region as a whole to realise its economic potential and create jobs, building on its existing competitive strengths.

Last week, the Government set out its ambition to achieve full employment by 2018. Achieving this objective will be supported by each region realising its economic potential.

Company Closures

Questions (115)

Ciara Conway

Question:

115. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the set up and financial supports that were provided to a company (details supplied) in County Waterford to locate in the city; if the company was placed under any obligation to stay in County Waterford for a set period of time; if he is satisfied that the company fulfilled all the terms and conditions of its contract before making the decision to leave; if the company will be subjected to any penalties as a result of failing to adhere to any of the aforementioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I am very disappointed that this company, which was established in Waterford only a few months ago, is now closing.

IDA Ireland approved a grant assistance package for the company. However as no grants were paid, there is no liability attaching to the agreement with the IDA. In all instances where financial assistance is approved by the IDA for a company, the Agency and the client enter into a legal and binding contract, the terms of which must remain confidential. The company are not in breach of the terms of that contract and it is not feasible to specify minimum operational periods.

The company had planned to increase employment to 30 staff in their new International Operations Centre over the next two to three years, and at the time of the closure announcement last week, staff numbers had reached nine, who were engaged in shared services activities, including finance and supply chain management.

Unfortunately for the Irish operation, a recent change of strategic policy by the company, involving a restructuring of its worldwide operations, resulted in a decision that its European facilities would be consolidated in Amsterdam, where the company has a major Centre of Excellence. Consequently a decision was made to close the Waterford operation by mid- year.

I would like to emphasise that the vast majority of Foreign Direct projects secured by IDA Ireland, remain here and, indeed, thrive in Ireland. Waterford is home to several major corporations which have embedded themselves in the local and national economy, with solid employment growth since their establishment. However, the strategic policy of multinationals sometimes means that decisions are made which have an adverse impact on their Irish operations and this has been the case on this occasion. I have asked both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to ensure that they continue to make every effort to drive job creation in the South East and Waterford itself. It is heartening that the latest unemployment figures for the South East region show the unemployment figure having fallen again and now stands at 13.7%, down from 19.4% two years previously, with almost 20,000 additional jobs now in place over that period. While much more needs to be achieved, we have made significant progress in the region over a short period.

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Questions (116)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

116. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the annual fees mandated by the Irish Tax Institute that can in some cases cause severe financial hardship for smaller and solo CTA operators; if, in view of the Government's objective to support small and medium enterprises, he will raise this matter with the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3002/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Addressing the cost of doing business is an area that Government is working to improve across the economy, in particular through the actions and initiatives in the Action Plan for Jobs. The membership fees of independent bodies do not fall within my area of responsibility. The ambition of Government generally is to get back to a top five competitiveness ranking. In this context, the Action Plan for Jobs as a multi-annual strategy initiated in 2012 sets out a range of actions, including in relation to costs, to ensure a cross-government approach to optimising the environment for enterprise, such that a net additional 100,000 jobs will be created by 2016.

I am pleased to report that good progress is being made on the implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and my Department is currently completing the preparation of the 2015 Action Plan.

GLAS Administration

Questions (117)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it will be a condition of the GLAS scheme traditional hay meadow option that farmers will have to top the meadows by 15 March each year; his plans to allow any leeway on this in years of adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3048/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Farmers opting for the traditional hay meadow action under the proposed new GLAS scheme will be required to respect the management requirements set out in the Agri-Environment Specifications. One of the requirements is that parcels declared for this action must not be topped after the 15th March. As has been my practice in the past, should adverse weather conditions occur I will consider the matter at the appropriate time.