Written Answers Nos. 335-350
335. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 7 July 2015, his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29027/15]
View answerAs indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 166 of 7th July, the Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme is expected to be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shortly for Confirmation i.e. statutory approval under the Arterial Drainage Acts, once the necessary documentation has been finalised by Cork County Council's consultants. The Confirmation process includes an independent review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Scheme.
On the 29th June, the Council, as the Contracting Authority for the Scheme, forwarded a tender report to the Office of Public Works (OPW) requesting approval to award the contract. The Scheme will have to be Confirmed by the Minister before the contract can be awarded. For the OPW to submit the scheme all the required Confirmation documentation must be provided by the Council's consultants. The documentation is still awaited and the OPW understands that the Council is working with its consultants to ensure that this is finalised to the required standard and submitted to the OPW without further delay. Until the Scheme is formally Confirmed, the OPW cannot approve the request from Cork County Council for the appointment of the civil works contractor. Contrary to what the Council has indicated, once the Scheme has been submitted to the Minister for Confirmation then the process is outside of the control of the OPW and the matter rests with the Minister.
The OPW remains fully committed to the Scheme and has included for its costs in its financial profiles between 2015 and 2018.
336. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware that some Departments and agencies are setting down inordinate search fees in response to precisely formulated and subsequently refined Freedom of Information Act 2014 requests, and then using them as the basis for the denial of such requests; if instructions have been issued, or signals provided, to officials to carry out exhaustive searching far beyond the immediate information fields sought; the way applicants are expected to make and refine requests, in the absence of information required under section 58.2 (d) of the Act; if he will re-affirm that the purpose of the Freedom of Information Acts is to make requests for information easier rather than more difficult; if he will issue guidelines to the effect that the level of searching should be proportionate and responsive to the information requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/15]
View answer337. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of the practice whereby Government bodies under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 effectively deny, through substantial redaction, freedom of information requests to them, concerning funding applications by voluntary and community organisations, on the basis that any such information could reasonably be expected to result in a material financial loss or gain to the organisations, or could prejudice the competitive position of those organisations in the conduct of their business; if such denials are in accordance with the intentions of the Act; if he will reconcile such denials with the requirements of the Charities Acts for voluntary organisations to be fully transparent in their financial operations; if he will issue guidance to bodies covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2014, that it is improper to rely on such arguments to deny such requests made under the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29030/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together.
I am not aware of the details of specific cases to which the Deputy's question refers.
In light of the objectives of the FOI reform legislation, it would clearly be a matter of concern if the circumstances set out by the Deputy pertained in practice in relation to any FOI request.
However, it is important to recognise that in practical terms given the volume of records that may exist in relation to any specific issue, their dispersal across different areas of the public body, and also on account of the priority that a public body will inevitably attach to seeking to ensure that all records that could potentially fall under a FOI request are retrieved, it is likely to be the case in certain circumstances that broad and extensive searches need to be undertaken by public bodies in response to particular requests, notwithstanding that the request may be regarded by the requester as precisely formulated.
In relation to the search, retrieval and copying charges issue, the Deputy will be aware that the FOI Act 2014 resulted in the abolition of the upfront FOI application fee and a significant re-design of the search and retrieval fees regime allowing for up to five hours search, retrieval and copying time at no charge and cap of €500 on the amount of such fees that can be charged.
There is a further upper limit on estimated search, retrieval and copying charges of €700 called the "overall ceiling limit" above which an FOI body can refuse to process a request, unless the requester is prepared to refine the request to bring the charges below the limit. Alternatively a public body can decide to process such a request but full charges will then apply (no benefit of appropriate maximum ceiling available if charges attaching to the records actually released exceeds €700). There is a requirement under Section 27(12) that, before a request can be refused on this basis, the requester must be given the opportunity to refine his/her request so that it comes within the overall ceiling limit.
Requesters may be asked to refine their requests, however it should be noted that requesters may also submit a number of different requests. It is important to note that requesters will be charged only for the documents or information they receive on foot of a request, and if a public body's estimate of the costs and the deposit paid by the requester exceeds the actual cost, the public body will repay the difference to the requester.
Section 27(2) of the FOI Act 2014 sets out parameters as to what may be deemed to be classed as search and retrieval. This includes time spent by the FOI body determining whether it holds the information requested; locating the information or documents containing the information; retrieving such information or documents; extracting the information from files, documents, electronic or other information sources containing both it and other material not relevant to the request; and preparing a schedule specifying the records for consideration for release. There is of course an onus on requesters to ensure that their requests contain sufficient particulars in relation to the information sought to enable the records sought to be identified by the taking of reasonable steps.
My Department's attention has not been drawn to any specific problems for FOI users relating to the new reformed FOI fees regime. Indeed, the change in fees has been received favourably by requesters. If the Deputy has been made aware of problems in this area and if she provides me with details of same, I will ask my officials to examine the matter and I can advise the Deputy of the outcome.
In relation to use of exemptions under the Act to redact material, I provided a new section 11(3) in the Act which sets out that in performing functions under the Act, FOI bodies must have regard to the need to achieve greater openness in the activities of FOI bodies and to promote adherence by them to the principles of transparency in government and public affairs; and the need to strengthen the accountability and improve the quality of decision-making of FOI bodies.
That said, each request is dealt with on a case-by-case basis and there are specific exemptions set out in the Act which each FOI body will assess to see if they are relevant or applicable. I have no role in reviewing the decisions made under the Act. As the Deputy will be aware, the Act provides the requester with recourse to appeal internally if he/she is not satisfied with the initial decision. Once a decision on Internal Review has been received by the requester, he/she may appeal to the Information Commissioner if he/she is dissatisfied with that decision.
As regards the provision of guidance, the FOI Central Policy Unit (CPU) in my Department has responsibility for formulating policy and issuing guidance in relation to FOI matters. The publication of the Code of Practice for FOI is a positive step in that it promotes best practice in the operation of FOI and seeks to bring about greater efficiency and consistency throughout public bodies in dealing with FOI requests.
The FOI CPU website has been redeveloped and is an important resource for public bodies and the general public. In addition to the provision of manuals on the processing of requests, the CPU has issued notices on a range of topics, including on the application of search, retrieval and copying charges. Such Notices also provide practical guidance on how to process requests and how the various exemptions should be interpreted and used by the decision maker. This information is all available on the FOI website. In addition, the CPU, in conjunction with the Office of Government Procurement, has also put in place a single FOI Training Framework which provides a panel of trainers from which FOI bodies can procure quality-assured training in a consistent and cost-effective manner and which covers all aspects of processing requests.
Finally, work is almost completed on the development of a model publication scheme for FOI which I propose to make this year. Publication Schemes will bring about more proactive publication of information by public bodies.
I believe that, taken together, the new FOI Act, the new fees regime, the publication schemes once in place and other transparency initiatives including the Open Data Initiative and other Open Government Partnership (OGP) actions currently being implemented, represent a fair and equitable balance between maximising the level of access to information for citizens while maintaining the ability of public bodies to deliver services, including FOI services, in an efficient and effective manner.
338. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that there is a legal obligation under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 for persons based outside of the jurisdiction, but engaged in lobbying activities on a relevant matter as defined under the Act, to register their activities and adhere to the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29112/15]
View answerThe Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 sets out arrangements for bringing transparency to lobbying activities through a web-based register.
The Act does apply to lobbying activities which take place within the State even though the lobbyist is based abroad. Foreign lobbyists who run a lobbying campaign aimed at Irish officials within the State cannot assume that their activities are exempt from the Act.
As regards lobbying activities which take place outside of the State, in line with the objectives of the Act, I would hope that a person or organisation who is based outside the State and is lobbying an Irish Designated Public Official outside the State would register such communications on the new web-based register from 1 September next. However, they would not legally be obliged to do so as there are practical and legal difficulties in terms of the extra-territorial application and enforcement of Irish law. Notwithstanding the issues in relation to the extra-territorial application and enforcement of the Act, I would expect such communications to be registered as each person or organisation lobbying would need to take into account reputational issues if they fail to register relevant lobbying communications with Irish designated public officials.
I have ensured in the legislation that there will be a review of the operation of the Act one year after commencement. I intend to keep this aspect of the legislation under review during that period including any need for appropriate protocols for designated public officials when operating abroad.
339. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current average age of permanent staff employed within his Department; and the agencies under his Department's remit; the way this varies from the end of 2008 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29202/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the current average age of staff in my Department and the bodies under my aegis including variations from 2008 and 2011.
|
|
2008 |
2011 |
2015 |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
* |
47.1 |
43.48 |
|
The State Laboratory |
44 |
45 |
45 |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
48.17 |
44.41 |
48.56 |
|
The Public Appointments Service |
38 |
44 |
42 |
|
The Valuation Office |
** |
** |
45 |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
42.2 |
45.1 |
44.96 |
|
Special EU Programmes Body |
34.7 |
36.11 |
40.6 |
|
The Office of Public Works |
46.83 |
47.88 |
49.09 |
|
The Office of Public Works - State Industrial Employees |
48.16 |
49.54 |
50.55 |
*DPER was established in July 2011
** No comparable information available
I am aware of the age profile of staff across my Department and acknowledge that potential challenges do exist for the years ahead in terms of retirements and the associated loss of corporate knowledge and experience. This is an issue that is already being monitored by management in my Department and steps have already been taken to mitigate any risk to operational effectiveness.
I was able to announce an end to the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service as part of Budget 2015 and this will give my Department greater flexibility around recruitment in the years ahead which will help us to manage the transition as staff retire. Workforce planning is now firmly established as a key element of the Department's HR processes. The primary purpose of workforce planning is to support senior management in ensuring we have the right number of people, with the right skills in the right place at the right time. This process will ensure that a more proactive approach is taken to addressing workforce needs in the years ahead and as financial circumstances continue to improve my department will be able to recruit new staff with the skillsets that we require to help us meet our ambitious expenditure and reform objectives.
340. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the expert group on future skills needs will complete its detailed assessment of the workforce skills and competency requirements for the Irish hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28525/15]
View answerIt is anticipated that the research by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) on Assessment of Future Skills Requirements in the Hospitality Sector in Ireland, 2014-2020 will be completed in September 2015.
The Hospitality sector requires a skilled and professional workforce in order to deliver the highest standards of service. Approximately 160,000 people are employed in this sector – representing 7% of total employment.
The focus of the EGFSN study is on assessing the skills demand needs arising within the Hospitality sector in Ireland – in accommodation and food services in hotels, restaurants and bars, canteens and catering.
The study will assess skills demand at successive NFQ levels, with a particular focus on career progression opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings.
The Study will assess the demand (both expansion and replacement) for relevant occupations arising both within the Hospitality sector and across other sectors of the economy. It will include an assessment of the scale and nature of seasonal/contract nature work in the sector; available wage/salary levels information particularly for lower level skills; and the level of job turnover in the sector and reason(s) for this.
The aim is to ensure that there will be the right supply of skills – quantity, quality and diversity, to help drive domestic Hospitality sector business and employment growth, including through (a) the further education and higher education provision; (b) upskilling/reskilling (c) continuing professional development; and (d) talent recruitment and retention practices.
341. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the expert group on future skills needs will complete its detailed assessment of the workforce skills and competency requirements for the Irish hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28536/15]
View answerIt is anticipated that the research by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) on Assessment of Future Skills Requirements in the Hospitality Sector in Ireland, 2014-2020 will be completed in September 2015.
The Hospitality sector requires a skilled and professional workforce in order to deliver the highest standards of service. Approximately 160,000 people are employed in this sector – representing 7% of total employment.
The focus of the EGFSN study is on assessing the skills demand needs arising within the Hospitality sector in Ireland – in accommodation and food services in hotels, restaurants and bars, canteens and catering.
The study will assess skills demand at successive NFQ levels, with a particular focus on career progression opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings.
The Study will assess the demand (both expansion and replacement) for relevant occupations arising both within the Hospitality sector and across other sectors of the economy. It will include an assessment of the scale and nature of seasonal/contract nature work in the sector; available wage/salary levels information particularly for lower level skills; and the level of job turnover in the sector and reason(s) for this.
The aim is to ensure that there will be the right supply of skills – quantity, quality and diversity, to help drive domestic Hospitality sector business and employment growth, including through (a) the further education and higher education provision; (b) upskilling/reskilling (c) continuing professional development; and (d) talent recruitment and retention practices.
342. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown of the State funding that his Department has awarded to foreign private companies and to indigenous private companies, in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28678/15]
View answer343. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown of the State funding that his Department has awarded to foreign private companies and to indigenous companies, in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28726/15]
View answer363. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department compiles a centralised list of all public funding that is provided to foreign private companies and to indigenous private companies, each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28723/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 342, 343 and 363 together.
The total grants paid to IDA’s foreign owned client companies in each of the years from 2011 to 2014 are as follows: In 2011, €96,757,220; in 2012, €89,326,201; in 2013 €87,951,297 and in 2014 a total of €88,439,463 was paid.
Grants paid to IDA Ireland companies for 2015 to date will not be available for publication until auditing is complete in due course.
The total grants paid by Enterprise Ireland’s client companies, the vast majority of which are indigenous but include a very small number of foreign companies in the food and drink sector, in each of the years from 2011 to 2014 are as follows:
In 2011, €105,577,468 was paid; in 2012, €103,029,340; in 2013 €89,401,304 and in 2014, €91,249, 803. Payments made to date in 2015 amount to €35,526,447.
It should be noted that these payments by Enterprise Ireland exclude payments to Employment Subsidy Scheme recipients, Infrastructural clients, Shannon Free Zone Transfers and Community Enterprise Centres.
Information in relation to the amount of State funding in the form of direct grant aid and training supports awarded to indigenous private companies by the County Enterprise Boards/Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) from 2011 to 2014 is as follows:
In 2011, a total of €18,134,754 was paid; in 2012, €18,775,750; in 2013, €18,180,500 and in 2014 a total of €18,459,500 was paid. Details in respect of LEO payments for 2015 to date are not yet to hand.
In relation to payments by all these bodies, it should be appreciated that Grants paid in a particular year are not necessarily linked to either the investments won or the jobs created in that year.
While there is no formal centralised list of all such funding, composite details of these payments are published by the bodies concerned in their individual Annual Reports and therefore readily available.
344. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department keeps a record of the total cost of public spending provided to private companies in the form of direct aid, subsidies and tax breaks by his Department per year; if so, the total cost to the taxpayer in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28727/15]
View answer364. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department keeps a record of the cost of corporate welfare or public spending provided to private companies in the form of direct aid, subsidies and tax breaks by his Department; if so, for details of the cost to the taxpayer in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28724/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 364 together.
My Department promotes a wide range of direct and indirect supports to business and many of these are administered via the Department’s enterprise development agencies (Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland) or via the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). It should be noted that, while the LEOs are not Agencies or Bodies of my Department, they receive an annual budget allocation from my Department for expenditure on grant aid and supports to businesses in the micro-enterprise sector. It should also be noted that other agencies, eg the National Standards Authority of Ireland provide both commercial services, public good services and other supports to private companies.
The enterprise development supports are critical to economic development, as a whole, and are aimed at increasing employment, improving competitiveness, growing exports and developing businesses generally.
The total grants paid to IDA’s foreign owned client companies in each of the years from 2011 to 2014 are as follows:
In 2011, €96,757,220; in 2012, €89,326,201; in 2013 €87,951,297 and in 2014 a total of €88,439,463 was paid. Grants paid to IDA Ireland companies for 2015 to date will not be available for publication until auditing is complete in due course.
The total gross payments to Enterprise Ireland’s client companies in each of the years from 2011 to 2014 are as follows:
In 2011, €105,577,468 was paid; in 2012, €103,029,340; in 2013 €89,401,304 and in 2014, €91,249, 803. Payments made to date in 2015 amount to €35,526,447. These payments include equity investment in client companies which generate returns to the Agency.
Information in relation to the amount of State funding in the form of direct grant aid and training supports awarded to indigenous private companies by the County Enterprise Boards/Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) from 2011 to 2014 is as follows:
In 2011, a total of €18,134,754 was paid; in 2012, €18,775,750; in 2013, €18,180,500 and in 2014 a total of €18,459,992 was paid. Details in respect of verified LEO payments for 2015 to date are not yet to hand. In some cases a portion of grants is made on a repayable basis.
In relation to payments by all these bodies, it should be appreciated that Grants paid in a particular year are not necessarily linked to either the investments won or the jobs created in that year.
While there is no formal centralised list of all such funding, composite details of these payments are published by the bodies concerned in their individual Annual Reports and therefore readily available.
Information in relation to taxation arrangements is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
345. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to include the new Eircode postcode in all schemes and administrative roles operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28318/15]
View answerMy Department supports the Eircode postcode initiative. The Deputy may be aware that, the Companies Registration Office (CRO), one of the Offices under the aegis of my Department is one of the members of the Public Sector Bodies Implementation Group and is one of the “early adopters” of the initiative and as such has begun the integration of Eircodes into its systems and registers.
It is anticipated that there will be some ICT development work and associated costs to integrate and validate the Eircodes into my Department’s differing registers and systems. This will be carried out in the normal course of business in conjunction with system developers as the need arises.
346. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation without prejudice to the ongoing public consultation in relation to the planned consumer rights Bill, his plans to include robust protection of consumers in the area of the sale of deliberately-contaminated fuel such as stretched petrol or laundered diesel; his further plans to include a financial compensation aspect in his promised legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28332/15]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the proposals published by my Department on 25 May are contained in the Scheme of a Bill issued for public consultation and not in a Bill that has been submitted to and approved by Government. The Scheme of the proposed Bill deals with the rights of consumers and the obligations of traders in contracts for the supply of goods, digital content and services. Under Irish law, the enforcement of contractual rights has been, and will remain, a matter primarily for the parties to the contract. That is why it is important that the rights of consumers and the remedies available to them if those rights are breached are set out in a manner that is clear and comprehensible. Though the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission cannot act directly on behalf of individual consumers in contractual disputes, it has an important public enforcement role in ensuring that traders do not apply contract terms which contravene the provisions of consumer legislation or engage in practices contrary to this legislation. In the case of a contract for the supply of goods, such as for petrol or diesel, the Scheme provides that the consumer would, among other remedies, have a right within a period of 30 days after the supply of the goods to terminate a contract and receive a full refund of the price where goods are not in conformity with the specified quality and other requirements. The statutory remedies provided for in the Scheme are expressly said to be without prejudice to the right of the consumer to pursue other remedies, in particular damages. Under section 74 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007, a consumer aggrieved by a misleading or other practice prohibited by the Act has a separate right of action for damages, including exemplary damages, against a trader who commits or engages in a misleading or other prohibited practice. Where a trader is convicted of an offence under the Act, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission may, on behalf of an aggrieved consumer, also apply to the court for a compensation order requiring the trader to pay the consumer an amount of money that the court considers appropriate in respect of any loss or damage to the consumer resulting from the offence.
347. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of prosecutions of fuel traders under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 for breaches of the Act in supplying contaminated fuel such as stretched petrol or laundered diesel, since the enactment of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28333/15]
View answerThere have been no prosecutions of fuel traders under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 for breaches of the Act in supplying contaminated fuel such as stretched petrol or laundered diesel. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission which is responsible for the enforcement of the Act is, like its predecessor the National Consumer Agency, independent in the exercise of its enforcement role - a role over which I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct statutory function.
348. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the communication held between his Department with the Law Society regarding the effect of the services directive or of Statutory Instrument 533/2010 in implementing the services directive, on the current laws and regulations restricting commercial communications by solicitors, including their continued enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28457/15]
View answer349. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any provision has been made or recommended by his Department for either this year or a coming year for claims against the State for losses arising from a failure by the State to fully or correctly bring all its existing laws and restrictions on commercial communications by legal professionals into compliance with the provisions of the services directive; if so, the sum that has been estimated as appropriate, in view of the 1,650% increase in such investigations initiated by the Law Society between 2012 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28458/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
While my Department has general coordination responsibility for the Services Directive, matters that concern the implications of the Services Directive for specific sectors are dealt with by the Department that has sectoral responsibility for that specific area. Consequently, the implications of the Services Directive on the law governing commercial communications by legal professionals, including solicitors, are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
Accordingly, there have not been any communications between my Department and the Law Society in this context, and it would not be necessary for my Department to make any provision in respect of claims against the State in this regard.
350. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide, by county, the number of jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland on 31 December 2014 and on 30 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28560/15]
View answerEnterprise Ireland’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership, and competitiveness with the ultimate objective of job creation. Employment data for Enterprise Ireland is collected annually as part of the Annual Employment Survey which measures the number of jobs in Agency assisted clients. The latest available data is for 2014. The 2015 data will be available in December 2015.
Enterprise Ireland-supported companies created 19,705 new jobs in 2014, resulting in a net increase of 8,476 in the number of people employed within their client base. Significantly, clients recorded the lowest level of job losses since 2000. Overall direct employment (full and part-time) in Enterprise Ireland client companies reached 180,072, of which 156,202 were full-time jobs and 23,870 were part-time and other jobs.
Companies supported by Enterprise Ireland now, directly and indirectly, account for more than 300,000 jobs in the Irish economy – equating to 16% of Ireland’s total workforce. Their total spend in the Irish economy reached €22.9bn in 2014.
Table 1 sets out the total employment (permanent full time and other) by county in Enterprise Ireland supported companies and the new jobs created (job gains) in each county for 2014.
“Other jobs” refer to employees who are part-time, temporary, short-term contract and agency workers employed on a part-time or short-term basis or employed on contracts of less than nine months and exclude those based permanently in overseas Offices
Table 1 – Total employment (permanent full time and other) by county in Enterprise Ireland supported companies and new jobs created (job gains) in each county for 2014.
|
County |
2014 PFT |
2014 Other |
2014 PFT job Gains |
2014 Other job Gains |
|
Carlow |
2,472 |
219 |
292 |
53 |
|
Cavan |
4,048 |
615 |
394 |
249 |
|
Clare |
2,789 |
482 |
354 |
131 |
|
Cork |
20,266 |
2,343 |
2,277 |
506 |
|
Donegal |
2,582 |
720 |
156 |
67 |
|
Dublin |
51,147 |
10,056 |
4,702 |
1788 |
|
Galway |
5,930 |
893 |
532 |
183 |
|
Kerry |
3,627 |
687 |
321 |
109 |
|
Kildare |
7,086 |
426 |
827 |
113 |
|
Kilkenny |
3,314 |
291 |
370 |
26 |
|
Laois |
1,036 |
143 |
98 |
50 |
|
Leitrim |
689 |
33 |
138 |
6 |
|
Limerick |
6,321 |
692 |
583 |
106 |
|
Longford |
1,984 |
376 |
258 |
129 |
|
Louth |
4,797 |
637 |
305 |
99 |
|
Mayo |
3,286 |
498 |
220 |
164 |
|
Meath |
5,686 |
972 |
510 |
178 |
|
Monaghan |
4,170 |
369 |
382 |
65 |
|
Offaly |
3,145 |
307 |
248 |
89 |
|
Roscommon |
1,436 |
124 |
129 |
39 |
|
Sligo |
1,612 |
241 |
101 |
39 |
|
Tipperary |
4,139 |
778 |
277 |
195 |
|
Waterford |
4,635 |
425 |
663 |
96 |
|
Westmeath |
3,047 |
389 |
223 |
141 |
|
Wexford |
4,008 |
476 |
327 |
49 |
|
Wicklow |
2,950 |
678 |
186 |
162 |
|
TOTAL |
156,202 |
23,870 |
14,873 |
4,832 |
