Written Answers Nos. 81-91
81. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the development of the regional jobs plan for the south-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19026/15]
View answerThe aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support enterprise growth and job creation in every region of the country. In relation to the South West Region, good progress has been made since the launch of the national Action Plan for Jobs process four years ago where the rate of unemployment in the South West Region has fallen from 13.5% in 2011 to 10.6% in Q4 2014.
Over 3,200 jobs were lost by Enterprise Ireland and IDA supported companies in the period 2008 – 2010 in the South-West Region, Since 2011, over 10,600 extra jobs have been created in EI and IDA supported companies in the South-West region. The Action Plan for Jobs for the South-West will build on the progress which has already been made.
The 2015 Action Plan for Jobs includes a Disruptive Reform to develop the potential of the regions to support enterprise growth and job creation. A key element of this Disruptive Reform involves the development of Regional Action Plans for Jobs, to include actions to be taken across a range of Departments and agencies to ensure that all regions of the country can fulfil their enterprise and jobs potential.
The Action Plan for Jobs for the South West Region is about building on the capabilities and strengths of the region, covering counties Cork and Kerry, to develop a more dynamic, internationally competitive and sustainable enterprise economy that can provide well paid jobs and secure sustainable full employment over the long term.
A public sector Project Delivery Group has been established in the South West Region, convened by the IDA Ireland Director in the region and working with senior officials in my Department.
To date two regional stakeholder consultation meetings have been held in the South West Region, in Kerry and Cork respectively. There were over 240 attendees engaged in the process at the two meetings, from enterprise, business representative organisations, further and higher education bodies and local authorities, together with the representatives of EI, IDA, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Local Enterprise Offices and ConnectIreland among others. Officials from my Department have also briefed the members of the Southern Assembly.
Tomorrow morning I will host another stakeholder meeting in Killarney as part of the development of the South West plan.
Following the stakeholder meetings, my Department has also received inputs and submissions from a number of bodies. All of these inputs are to be considered at a joint Project Delivery Group and Enterprise Stakeholders meeting on 15 June 2015.
To support the Regional Action Plan for Jobs Process, my Department through EI and IDA, will provide €250m in additional funding over five years to support the implementation of the Regional Action Plans:
- €150m for IDA Ireland to roll out a 5-year €150 million capital investment programme, which will act as a ‘property magnet’ to help attract more multinational jobs into each region; and
- €100m to support and encourage regional stakeholders in working together on best practice initiatives, provided by DJEI through Enterprise Ireland and a series of competitive calls.
The development of the South West Action Plan for Jobs is on track for completion over the coming weeks.
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the provision of an advance facility at Kerry Technology Park, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19034/15]
View answerAt the launch of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs in February this year, the Government announced that an additional €150m over 5 years would be made available to IDA Ireland for a capital investment programme to help attract more multinational investment and jobs into each region.
The programme will build on the recent investment by IDA Ireland in facilities in Athlone and Waterford and will include investments over the coming years in construction of advance manufacturing and office facilities in Sligo, Tralee, Castlebar, Galway, Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone, Carlow and Waterford. Tralee is one of the locations chosen for the 2015 investment programme with others scheduled to follow in subsequent years.
In relation to the facility to be constructed in Tralee, I am informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency is currently in the process of appointing a design team for the facility and is finalising the specific site location for the new building development.
This is a positive development for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into regional locations in particular, allowing these locations to compete more aggressively with competitor locations internationally. It will also give regional locations access to modern, turnkey property solutions, which when combined with a strong local talent pool and existing FDI cluster, will give these locations an enhanced proposition to offer international investors.
83. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will be studied by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland for the way it has attracted and retained domestic and foreign direct investment, and large employers; if the area will be promoted as a success story, in an effort to attract further jobs and investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19035/15]
View answerKillorglin is a shining example of a strong rural town that has a strong economy primarily due to a handful of great companies at its core. Having Fexco which employs approximately 850 people is the real source of this success.
The employment performance in Killorglin is down to the overall calibre and number of successful companies based in the town, some of which have been in the town for decades and is complemented in turn by a number of other companies, some of which are spin-outs of Fexco.
It is to be welcomed that Fexco, one of the most successful indigenous financial services companies, started in the town over twenty years ago and has remained there, and that a number of other local businesses have thrived on the back of good economic activity generated by this company. The two IDA Pharma Companies in the town, i.e. Astellas and Temmler also play a significant role. There is also a number of engineering companies which have been based in the area for twenty years.
In promoting Kerry as a location for investment, IDA Ireland relies strongly on the success of reference companies - both overseas and indigenous in a region to promote it as a location to prospective investors. In the case of Kerry, the Agency actively includes reference companies including Astellas, Temmler and Fexco. In addition, other companies throughout the county are also profiled as part of efforts to promote Kerry.
The retention and attraction of large numbers of young people in Killorglin and the greater Mid-Kerry area has been a major economic boost to other businesses in the area such as shops, pubs, restaurants, builders, etc., which has in turn increased overall employment.
As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its Agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Regional Action Plans including the South West Region, which will be published in the near future. Counties Kerry and Cork make up the South West Region.
84. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding plans for a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19036/15]
View answer85. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding plans for a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19037/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.
I am informed by IDA Ireland that neither the former Pretty Polly building in Ballyspillane nor the former Amann facility in Tralee are in the ownership of the agency.
The Pretty Polly building, which is in the region of 25,000 sq ft in size, has been available since 2009. The premises were formerly a manufacturing facility and the options for the building in its present form are limited. However, should a potential investor have a property requirement similar to the facility, IDA Ireland would promote it with a view to winning an investment for Kerry. IDA Ireland has details on this building on its Private Property database.
With regard to the former Amann facility, I understand from IDA Ireland that the facility is owned by Bioatlantis, an indigenous Irish company, who occupy approximately 70,000 sq. ft. of it for their own manufacturing requirements. The remaining 75% of the building is available for lease. I am informed by IDA Ireland that the agency has recently promoted the facility to two specific FDI clients. The Agency assures me that it will continue to work with Bioatlantis to promote the facility as appropriate.
86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the new investment aid status for County Kerry has been availed of by any company, since becoming available on 1 July 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19038/15]
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 European 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 comes 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. This means that the full range of Regional Aid assistance options are now available in Kerry.
The Guidelines specify the grant aid rates for Regional Aid projects. The Deputy is correct in acknowledging an improvement in the aid rate applicable for eligible projects in Kerry. This specifically relates to the aid rate for large companies, which has increased from 0% to 10% for the period 2014-2020. The Regional aid rates for Kerry and other areas designated under the 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines are a maximum of 30% for small and micro enterprises, 20% for medium-sized enterprises and 10% for large enterprises.
The Regional Aid Map changes which came into effect on 1 July 2014 impact on Capital and Employment support. Since July 2014, four Enterprise Ireland companies have been approved Regional Aid support, in Kerry, amounting to €5,327,740 through both Capital and Employment support grants.
During 2014, there were no public investment announcements of IDA Ireland projects for County Kerry. However, it should be noted that not all companies agree to announce their investments and as a result, this does not truly reflect the level of investments won or the performance of FDI in a county in a particular year. In this respect, IDA Ireland clients had a very positive employment performance in County Kerry with a net increase of 236 jobs in 2014, compared with 2013.
Kerry Local Enterprise Office continues to work with its micro enterprise client base in Kerry.
87. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support a proposal (details supplied) regarding the Howth Maritime Museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18919/15]
View answerI am aware of the proposal to locate a Maritime Museum in Howth, my Department has met with the Committee in relation to this issue.
With regard to the availability of property within Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, I would inform the Deputy that properties located in the Fishery Harbour Centres are, when appropriate, offered for tenancy under lease agreement by means of an open competitive tendering process in accordance with good practice and public procurement guidelines.
My Department is currently preparing properties in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre to be made available shortly by means of Public Tender Process. The specific property of interest to the Committee will not be in this first tranche of tenders, but will be made available following some planning clarifications and decisions on the necessity of works on the existing roof of the building. These tenders will be publicly advertised and are open to all interested parties including the Friends of Howth Maritime Museum Committee.
88. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Internet service provider system is up and running again; if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has received payments under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18911/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011.
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.
As part of the LPIS review checks carried out in this case, it was established that two AEOS Natura parcels had their reference area reduced to zero. A letter issued from Single Payment Section informing the applicant of this on 12 June 2014. This issue has now been resolved and payment in respect of 2013 will issue without further delay. Following finalisation of the 2013 payments, the contract will then be processed for 2014 and subject to passing the 2014 checks, payment for the 2014 scheme year will issue as soon as possible.
89. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Irish red grouse is not included as a priority bird species under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18924/15]
View answerMy Department followed the advice of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in designing the Bird actions under GLAS. The Red Grouse is not one of the birds listed as a specific environmental priority asset but as a bird of the uplands, it will benefit from the grazing management plans introduced for commonages. On areas outside of commonages where the National Parks and Wildlife Services have designated Grouse habitat as Special Protection Areas, a Sustainable Management Plan must be prepared and submitted for the area as part of the GLAS application which must in turn take account of the needs of the bird.
90. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current regulatory framework is sufficient to prevent uncontrollable wild fires on Annex 1 habitats on commonages, 80% of which are Natura sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18925/15]
View answerThe regulatory framework governing restrictions applying to cutting or burning of vegetation is the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I understand that she has initiated a review of the legislative controls set out in Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 governing the control of burning with a view to ensuring the on-going effectiveness of those controls.
My Department has also previously made public announcements warning against inappropriate burning and highlighting the risk to people and property.
91. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the competent statutory authority, was consulted prior to the decision to re-allocate over €400 million in 2009, originally earmarked for NATURA land under Measure 213 in the last round of the Common Agricultural Policy; if the National Parks and Wildlife Service approved same in writing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18926/15]
View answerUnder the initial Financial Plan for the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 (RDP) an indicative amount of €528m was originally allocated to Natura 2000. The Natura measure provides for compensation to farmers for disadvantages in their farming activities arising out of 3 Directives – the Habitats Directive, the Wild Birds Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Under the 2007-2013 RDP, Natura 2000 forms an integral part of the REPS and AEOS agri-environment schemes and applicants with Natura designated land are prioritised under AEOS.
Participation in agri-environment schemes, including Natura, is voluntary on the part of farmers and expenditure is therefore demand led. Actual demand under the Natura measure during the 2007 – 2013 Programme proved to be significantly less than had been provided for. Therefore, the financial provision for Natura was revised to reflect the actual spend. This involved the reallocation of funds across the agri-environment and Less Favoured Areas schemes in Axis 2 of the RDP without changing the overall spend under that Axis.
The members of the Rural Development Programme Monitoring Committee were informed of the proposed amendments in April 2013 and asked for observations. The issue was included on the agenda of a RDP Monitoring Committee meeting July 2013, where the issue was discussed and the amendments agreed by those present. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is a member of this Monitoring Committee. Amendments made to the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 were processed in full accordance with the regulatory and legislative process in place.
While money was transferred from the Natura measure, it should be noted that expenditure under the agri-environment budget measures in the 2007-2013 RDP also complemented and incentivised farmers with Natura land to engage with the agri-environment scheme. In the new 2014-2020 RDP, Natura land is deemed a Priority Environmental Asset under the recently launched GLAS agri-environment scheme and thus expenditure on Natura lands will be continued and enhanced in the new programming period.
