Written Answers Nos. 124-32
124. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure more staff within the public service are trained to use sign language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11014/15]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to note that the development of an overarching strategy for training across the civil service, including language training, is a key action under the Civil Service Renewal Plan and as such is a key priority for my Department. The Plan includes a commitment to establish a new shared model for delivering learning and development. As part of this action it is intended to develop a learning and development strategy based on future skill requirements and to establish a new shared model to deliver a suite of common learning and development programmes. The requirement for all language training including sign language training provided on a uniform basis across the civil service will be assessed in the course of this process. If the Deputy wishes to communicate any information that he may have available to him that could be of assistance in ascertaining the future requirement for sign language training in the civil service and should be factored into the shared service project for learning and development he should certainly communicate it to my Department.
125. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will request the National Employment Rights Authority to investigate the position of two company employees (details supplied) who have been owed wages by their employer since 2010; if it is considered that one employee has been constructively dismissed; if it is considered the other employee, who is on sick pay, is ill due to stress arising from non-payment of a regular wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10854/15]
View answerThe details as supplied have been forwarded to the relevant Inspector of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) for investigation in relation to wages stated to be unpaid since 2010. If an employee believes that he or she has been constructively dismissed within the meaning of the Unfair Dismissals Acts it is for the Rights Commissioners Service and/or the Employment Appeals Tribunal to adjudicate upon the matter in circumstances where a complaint has been made by an employee or their representative. The relevant form for the referral of a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Acts can be found on the Workplace Relations website at www.workplacerelations.ie. Complaints can be completed and submitted on-line.
Written notice of a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act must be made within six months of the date of the alleged dismissal which may be extended by a further six months if the Rights Commissioner or the Employment Appeals Tribunal is satisfied that the failure to present the complaint within the normal six month period was due to reasonable cause.
There is no statutory requirement for an employer to pay an employee while on sick leave. However conditions in relation to payment while on sick leave may have been agreed under a contract of employment. I am not in a position to comment on possible causes of illness.
126. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of the extension of the regional aid map to include Athy, County Kildare; if this has led to direct State aid to new or existing companies in the area to date; the efforts that have been taken to advertise this incentive for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10940/15]
View answerThe Regional Aid Guidelines enable the State to grant State Aid, at enhanced rates, to businesses in order to support new investment and new employment in productive projects in Ireland's most disadvantaged regions. This helps the convergence of these regions with the more advantaged regions of the Union. Regional Aid is also provided under Schemes for tourism grants, marine tourism, urban and rural renewal and other tax-based development schemes. All such aid come from the exchequer, i.e. there is no EU or other external funding.
The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines entered into force on 1 July 2014. Areas accounting for 51.28% of Ireland’s population are now eligible for assistance under the Regional Aid Guidelines. This represents a substantial increase from the 25% originally proposed by the Commission, and an increase from the 50% under the 2007-2013 Map.
Athy is included in the 2014-2020 Regional Aid Map for Ireland, with the exception of the Electoral District of Ballymore Eustace (population of 1,475). Ballymore Eustace was excluded from the designated map in order to ensure Ireland adhered to its overall allocated national coverage of 51.28% of population.
It is important to note that all of the Country, including those areas not entitled to Regional Aid, can qualify for other forms of State support e.g. Research & Development Aid, SME Investment Aid, Training Aid, and Aid for Environmental protection etc.
In respect of Athy, the Deputy is correct in acknowledging an improvement in the aid rate applicable for eligible projects. This specifically relates to the aid rates for Capital Employment support under the Regional Aid Guidelines of 10%, 20% and 30% for small medium and large companies for the period 2014-2020. All projects are subjects to assessment in terms of commercial, technical and market due diligence and should represent value for money in terms of the State’s investment. Five companies in the Athy region were approved payments by Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland also organised a presentation for the Athy Chamber in September 2014 with reference to the changes in the Regional Aid Map. For reasons of confidentiality, Enterprise Ireland does not give details of individual grants approved to clients.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the Counties covered by the Regional Aid Programme, including Kildare, are fully apprised of the Guidelines. All LEOs provide a signposting and referral service for their clients to supports available from other State Agencies and this would encompass information on the Regional Aid Schemes operated by Agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, etc.
In April 2014, IDA Ireland issued a press release welcoming the publication of the new Regional Aid Map and highlighting the new areas being encompassed, including Athy. Engagement with regional media followed, explaining how the scheme worked and its benefit as an added incentive. There was also engagement on the subject with a number of elected representatives in regions. It is to be expected that the change will take time to translate into direct State aid to either IDA client companies or to new companies in the new regions included. For reasons of confidentiality, IDA does not provide details of individual grants approved to companies. Grant aid has been provided to IDA client companies in County Kildare but not to date in Athy in the period since 1 July 2014.
127. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on specific examples of the IDA actively marketing the former AT Cross building in Ballinasloe, County Galway; the potential for a circa 54,000 sq. ft. facility on the same site with existing planning permission and another circa 25,000 sq. ft. building in Ballinasloe; if the agency is following any leads in respect of any or all three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11008/15]
View answer128. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to a previous parliamentary question, if he will specify the other circa 25,000 sq. ft. building in Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11009/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.
For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, IDA Ireland does not divulge the specific details of its marketing efforts in relation to any individual property other than to say that the property is being actively marketed by the Agency. Details of negotiations which the Agency may be engaged in or details relating to any prospective client are not released until such discussions have been successfully concluded and, even then, if the company involved does not wish for publicity then there is no publicity. Regarding the 25,000 sq. ft. building in Ballinasloe, which I mentioned in my response to Question Number 246 on 3 March, IDA Ireland has informed me that again for reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity it is precluded from giving any further information relating to the facility other than to say that is a high quality technology building, which would be suitable to facilitate potential projects from overseas investors should they require a property of this size and/or a facility Ballinasloe.
Competition for inward investment has never been as intense as it is today. IDA Ireland and its clients are very concerned lest information relating to a prospective investment gets into the public domain in advance of the conclusion of discussions with the Agency. Such premature disclosure could jeopardise negotiations on a project and could lead to the loss of a project even at an advanced stage in discussions. As the Deputy is aware not every investment won by IDA Ireland is publicly announced and many investments go ahead without being announced publicly. For example during 2014 IDA Ireland won a total of 197 new investments but there were only 66 investment announcements.
In the circumstances, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this matter.
129. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the job losses in the Cadbury plant, Rathmore, County Kerry, with regard to minimising the job losses; the efforts being made by Enterprise Ireland in providing alternative and substantial additional jobs in County Kerry; the support and assistance to be provided to the workers who may be departing the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11011/15]
View answerFirstly I should state that I fully understand the concerns of the workers and their families as they receive this very difficult news. All the supports of the State will be made available to support the workers, as and when needed, and for the creation of jobs in the area.
I should also point out that I had engaged with senior management of the company in question and urged them to reconsider the decision, and asked if there is anything the State or its agencies could do to mitigate its effects. However, due to a cost base which is significantly out of line with competitor countries, the company believed it had no alternative to a rationalisation at its Kerry plant. The company has pledged to support departing workers with placement services. The company has also said it will work closely with workers in an effort to ensure that the impact of its decision is minimised to the greatest extent possible and to discuss investment it will be making in Ireland in order to build a stronger business here for the long term.
In response to these developments, I have established an inter-agency group to co-ordinate the Government’s response to the job losses at the company. The group will be led by Enterprise Ireland and will seek to secure alternative employment for the areas affected. It will also ensure that departing workers have access to supports they need from State agencies for retraining, access to social welfare supports and access to advice on employment rights. The group will comprise representatives from Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Authority, Local Enterprise Office, Department of Social Protection and Solas.
In an effort to co-ordinate constructive cross-party action to support workers affected, I invited TDs and Senators from the areas affected, including Kerry, to a briefing in my Department on the situation last week.
In addition to the above, Enterprise Ireland has had an ongoing intensive engagement with the company with a view to mitigating the job losses across the group in Ireland. On foot of the company’s announcement of job losses in the company including its plant in Rathmore, Enterprise Ireland has met the management of the company and further meetings are scheduled in the coming days. In addition, Enterprise Ireland will continue to support entrepreneurs, enterprises and job creation in Kerry.
For workers who might consider starting their own business, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop for support to anyone wishing to start or expand a business, focussing on the micro-enterprise sector (10 employees or less). The LEOs can provide information, advice and guidance on the range of State supports to enterprise and signpost customers to the appropriate contacts across the various agencies that provide them. For businesses in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sectors, the LEOs can provide direct financial support to develop or implement a business idea. The LEOs can also provide access to loan finance through the Microfinance Ireland Scheme. For other sectors the LEO may be able to provide non-financial supports such as specific and tailored business training or mentoring to help a business to develop. Each LEO is also active in developing local networks and other activities and events that bring business people and entrepreneurs together as a means of supporting each other. Further information can be found on the LEO website at www.localenterprise.ie.
130. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a review under the single payment scheme 2013 in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10756/15]
View answerAs detailed in my reply to the previous Parliamentary Question on this case, the persons named failed to cooperate with a Bovine IDR inspection under the 2013 Single Farm Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas' schemes.
The inspection was arranged for 26 April 2013. On 25 April the person named contacted the inspecting officer to inform him that they would not allow the inspection to take place. In submitting an application under the Single Payment Scheme, applicants agree to permit officials of the Department to carry out farm inspection with or without prior notice. The person named was informed that failure to co-operate with the inspection would result in a nil payment. The person named continued to refuse to allow the inspection to be undertaken and as a result a 100% penalty was recorded against the relevant payments for 2013.
The persons named requested a review of this decision. The outcome of this review was to uphold the original decision and the persons named were informed of this decision on 29 May 2014.
The person named appealed this decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office. The outcome of this appeal, which was to uphold the Department’s original decision, was notified to the applicant on 28 November 2014. The person named was also advised that if they considered that they had been treated unfairly by that office they could raise the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
I note from the outcome of the appeal notification that the medical evidence provided by the person named was considered as part of the appeal process. However it was determined that there were no grounds on which this evidence could be accepted as a mitigating factor in the case, as it identified that the person named was admitted and discharged from hospital some 18 days prior to the date the inspection was scheduled to take place. In addition, no further medical evidence was provided to indicate that the person named was not in a fit state to facilitate the inspection on the day it had been scheduled to take place.
131. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the number of hectares planted and the total funding allocated under the native woodland scheme in each year from 2007 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10837/15]
View answerThe information requested for each of the years in respect of the Native Woodland (Establishment) Scheme is as follows:
|
- |
2007 |
200 8 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Ha. planted |
237.47 |
124.57 |
362.73 |
172.21 |
29.88 |
16.51 |
72.92 |
|
Expenditure €000 |
1,223.1 |
771.3 |
2,326.5 |
1,536.2 |
806.6 |
726.5 |
1,277.3 |
132. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants who were successful in receiving grant aid under the native woodland scheme in the years 2007 to 2013; the total number of successful applicants who qualified for the farmer premia rate; the total number who qualified for the non-farmer premia rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10838/15]
View answerThe following is the information requested in respect of the Native Woodland (Establishment) Scheme for each year:
|
- |
2007 |
200 8 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
No. of Applicants |
11 |
29 |
22 |
11 |
6 |
4 |
26 |
|
Farmer |
10 |
20 |
18 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
18 |
|
Non-Farmer |
1 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
_ |
8 |
