Written Answers Nos. 110-119
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the industrial cost base here compares favourably with other European Union and non-European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6557/15]
View answerThe Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, which is co-ordinated and developed by my Department since 2012, has set out a comprehensive set of measures to improve our competitiveness performance. Substantial progress has been made in terms of improving Ireland's competitiveness in recent years and we have climbed to 15th in the IMD competitiveness rankings. Cost competitiveness is an important aspect of Ireland's overall competitiveness.
The real Harmonised Competitiveness Indicator (HCI) is a measure of the trade-weighted exchange rate for Ireland, adjusted for relative price developments. In December 2014, Ireland's real HCI fell by 4.4 per cent year on year. A fall indicates an improvement in price competitiveness and leaves Irish-based firms better equipped to compete on the international market. Relatively low consumer price inflation over the last five years has meant that Irish price levels have fallen considerably relative to our euro area peers. A weaker euro has improved our cost competitiveness in non-euro area markets.
There has been a significant improvement in economy-wide cost competitiveness. The European Commission in its winter forecasts estimate that real unit labour costs in Ireland will fall by 2.0 per cent annually in 2015 compared with an increase of 0.3 per cent in the UK, and a fall 0.9 per cent in the euro over the same time period. Competitiveness has been achieved through wage moderation vis-à-vis trading partners as well as productivity improvements.
We continue to monitor Ireland's cost competitiveness on a regular basis. This is specifically required under the Action Plan for Jobs 2015. Action 247 requires the National Competitiveness Council to “Benchmark key business costs and publish a report highlighting areas where Irish enterprise costs are out of line with key competitors”.
The report concentrates on the costs that are largely domestically determined such as labour, property, energy, water, waste, communications and business services. The NCC note that Ireland’s cost base has improved across a range of metrics over the last four or five years. This has made Irish firms more competitive internationally and made Ireland a more attractive location for firms to base their operations in. However, despite these improvements, the NCC note that it is essential that we continue to focus on reducing costs that comprise a significant percentage of business costs and that are out of line with those in competitor countries.
Addressing Ireland’s international cost competitiveness, therefore, remains a key economic priority for Government.
112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which Enterprise Ireland has an adequate portfolio of industrial sites and buildings, available for leasing and letting through various entrepreneurs, in County Kildare; the extent to which enquiries continue to be made in respect of these sites and buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6560/15]
View answerEnterprise Ireland is the agency under my aegis with responsibility for the development of Irish enterprise, deepening Ireland’s footprint in world markets, and supporting employment creation in our economy. To support the delivery of property solutions for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises nationally, Enterprise Ireland, working with other enterprise partners such as the Local Authorities and other local community organisations, co-funds the establishment of Community Enterprise Centres across Ireland. Since the launch of the first of four Community Enterprise Centres (CEC) schemes in 1989, €46 million has been drawn on for the development of CECs across the country. There are 3 Community Enterprise Centres in Kildare (Athy Community Enterprise Centre; Allenwood Enterprise Park Naas; and Thompson Business Centre Clane). Enterprise Ireland does not have the management of a portfolio of industrial buildings available for leasing and letting within its remit. From an industrial development perspective, IDA Ireland is the lead agency nationally with responsibility for property solutions. IDA Ireland has a dedicated property unit which is best placed to offer insight into the type, mix and grade of commercial accommodation needed nationally, and is cognisant of the needs of Irish exporting companies in addition to foreign investors, in this regard.
Earlier today the Government announced details of its 5-year, €250 million Regional Strategy, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. Action Plan for Jobs - Regional - is based on the principle that the best way to support job-creation in towns and villages across the country is to support agencies and organisations within 8 regions, to build on the particular strengths and assets of their area and drive new job-creation strategies and projects.
The Strategy is based on the successful Action Plan for Jobs model of setting out lists of actions with timelines and responsibility allocated, and then monitoring implementation.
As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I will lead the initiative. Each of the 8 regions will develop its own Action Plan. It is my intention that all Regional Plans will be published or in development by July 2015.
Under the Strategy, Enterprise Ireland will launch a series of new competitive funding initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise infrastructure and job creation. The objective is to bring forward fresh collaborative initiatives to boost enterprise and job creation in the region. An initial fund of €50 million is to be made available for three competitive calls.
The first of these competitive calls, with a budget of €5 million, will focus on community-driven enterprise initiatives and how all the local players, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation.
The Community Enterprise Initiatives Fund call will be open to existing Community Enterprise Centres (CECs) and also to any other organisation or groups of organisations with innovative ideas to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation or enhance exports. It should be open to any credible and novel approach rather than simply replicating what has been done before.
The criteria in any such competition will be announced by Enterprise Ireland, but the typical criteria will include:
-Promoting a culture of entrepreneurship locally and regionally;
-Developing capacity to start up and scale companies; filling gaps in enterprise facilities;
-Building on existing strengths or opportunities, e.g. developing a sectoral opportunity where there is a competitive advantage;
-Devising a credible plan to deliver added value in jobs and start-ups and increased level of exporting / potential exporters;
-Commitment of matching finance;
-Bringing originality in approach, objectives, leverage of other stakeholders;
-Leveraging off other enterprise support (Mentoring, funding, networks);
-Promoting public and private partnership, e.g. alignment/collaboration with others players (e.g. LEO, ETB, HEIs, Chambers etc.)
I believe this is a significant challenge and a significant opportunity for the Community Enterprise Centres, in collaboration with others, to deliver new businesses and jobs in their locality.
114. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an agri-environment options scheme 3 payment for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6349/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment issued on 9 February 2015. The balancing 25% payment will follow shortly.
115. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment under the 2014 single payment scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6354/15]
View answerThe herdnumber was transferred to the person named on 2 April 2014, and the person named submitted a 2014 Single Payment application on 30 April 2014. However, the person named did not submit an application to transfer the Single Payment entitlements from the previous herdowner and consequently no payment has issued on these entitlements. The closing date for receipt of 2014 Transfer of entitlement applications was 15 May 2014. If there are extenuating circumstances which prevented the person named from submitting a transfer of entitlements application, the person named may contact my Department outlining these circumstances.
116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment under the disadvantaged area scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6360/15]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement to have had a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011. My Department wrote to all concerned applicants in August 2012 giving them the opportunity to seek derogation from this requirement. Following previous enquiries, an official from my Department arranged for the reissue of the derogation application to the person named. To date, my Department has no record of receiving a completed derogation application from the person named in this case.
117. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment options scheme and organic payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6369/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. The person named was also approved for participation in the 2013 Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) with effect from 1 June 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), must be completed before any payment can issue.
The 2014 AEOS payment is outstanding pending resolution of a LPIS review issue. My officials are actively pursuing resolution of this issue and payment will issue as soon as possible.
The 2014 OFS payment is currently being processed with the intention of issuing payment at the earliest opportunity.
118. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will qualify to apply for payments under the new scheme in view of the fact the person did not previously receive payment under the disadvantaged area scheme or the single payment scheme and did qualify for the rural environment protection scheme of the agri-environment options scheme. [6408/15]
View answerAll farmers who declared their lands in 2014 are eligible to submit an application for the Green Low -Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS). Approval into the scheme will be based on pre-determined criteria which will be outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
119. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a claim for payment under the single payment scheme for 2013 will be processed in respect of persons (details supplied), following the submission of proof of postage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6413/15]
View answerApplications under the 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme were received from the persons named on 10 October 2013. The closing date for submission of 2013 Single Payment Scheme application forms was 15 May 2013. The Single Farm Premium/Disadvantaged Areas Terms and Conditions clearly state that an Express post receipt or a Registered post receipt are the only acceptable forms of proof that an application was posted. The persons named submitted a certificate of postage as proof that the applications were posted, however in accordance with the scheme Terms and Conditions the applications were not accepted.
An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the persons named to clarify the position.
