Thursday, 1 Oct 2015

Written Answers Nos. 97 to 107

Trade Missions

Questions (97)

Finian McGrath

Question:

97. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to host a trade mission to the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33666/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I am due to travel to the East Coast of the U.S. later this month. This visit will focus primarily on maintaining and encouraging foreign direct investment into Ireland. Since taking office in 2011, I have completed 28 major trade and investment missions. At the heart of our jobs plan has been growing employment in the exporting parts of the economy. Key to this has been growing the performance of companies supported by my Department through Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. In order to achieve this, we have put in place a range of new measures including doubling the number of Ministerial led trade missions, extra staff for Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in overseas markets along with tax incentives to make it easier for exporting Irish companies to grow their sales overseas.

IDA Portfolio

Questions (98)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

98. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry will be promoted to potential investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The property mentioned is not under the ownership of IDA Ireland. IDA Ireland is aware, however, of the availability of this property and has included it on its property database of available office and manufacturing properties in Co. Kerry. This database is used to identify possible properties which might be suited to potential client needs. In County Kerry as a whole there are 12 IDA Ireland client companies employing 1,874 people in full and part time employment.

We are determined that every region will benefit from the recovery. Growing both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and indigenous enterprise is key to Ireland’s economic recovery. In February, the Government announced details of the Action Plan for Jobs: Regional initiative which seeks to capitalise on the strengths and assets of each region to maximise enterprise growth and job creation. The initiative will build on the success of the National Action Plan for Jobs, and encourage regional stakeholders - including enterprise agencies, Local Authorities, higher education institutions, other public bodies and the private sector - to come forward with innovative ideas to boost job creation in their own region.

In addition to a €150 million property investment programme for the IDA, up to €100 million will be available to Enterprise Ireland to support entrepreneurs and enterprise growth in the regions. Three new competitive calls will be announced this year by Enterprise Ireland at regional level. The first will focus on community-driven enterprise initiatives, the second will focus on new ideas emerging from the LEOs and a third, broader, competitive regional call will support significant projects or initiatives to improve or leverage identified enterprise capability in the region.

Kerry has traditionally established itself as a centre for foreign manufacturing companies but has seen a number of downsizings/closures in recent years. It has however attracted a number of services companies (e.g. JRI America, Enercon, etc.) and has a strong cluster of well-established indigenous companies.

Earlier this year IDA Ireland launched its 5 year strategy for the period 2015 to 2019 which aims to create 80,000 new jobs in the economy over the period and increase investment into each region by between 30% and 40%.

As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Action Plans for each of the regions, including the South West Region, which was launched on 3 July 2015. Counties Kerry and Cork make up the South West Region.

Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications Data

Questions (99)

John McGuinness

Question:

99. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding allocated to Irish business from Microfinance Ireland; the number of firms that have secured loans from this source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33800/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

As of 28th September 2015 Microfinance Ireland (MFI) has approved 683 applications to the value of €10.5m supporting 1,554 jobs. All the figures that the Deputy has requested are available in the quarterly and yearly progress reports which are published on my Department’s website www.djei.ie. The progress report detailing the analysis and performance up to the quarterly period ending 30 June 2015 is available on the Department’s website. I will shortly receive the quarterly report for the period up until 30 September 2015 and I will publish on my Department’s website shortly afterwards.

Agricultural Colleges Courses

Questions (100)

Martin Heydon

Question:

100. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to deal with the large number of individuals who have expressed interest in attending green certificate distance-learning courses, but who have no available courses to attend and require green certificates to operate certain parts of their business; if it is envisaged that additional distance-learning courses will be introduced in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33870/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Teagasc is the main provider of further education in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies. The Teagasc Green Cert course has been developed to meet the training requirements for full-time or part-time farmers. The course covers subjects such as the environment, farm safety and animal welfare as well as modules dealing with production agriculture, farm business management and succession. It is offered at Teagasc Regional Education Centres and Agricultural Colleges as a distance learning option. It is Teagasc policy to accommodate all farmers that require places on the Green Cert course. Interest is currently exceptionally high due to the education requirements of the Young Farmers Scheme and the National Reserve. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, approved the appointment of 20 temporary teachers in 2014 to meet the Green Cert demand. It enabled Teagasc to substantially increase intake from a normal level of 500 annually to 1,500 enrolees, a threefold increase. Teagasc was recently granted approval to hire a further 20 temporary teachers bringing the overall allocation to date to 40. It will enable Teagasc to provide an additional 1,000 Green cert places this autumn.

My Department continues to work closely with Teagasc to explore all available options to maximise participation in the Green Cert.

Harbours and Piers

Questions (101)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

101. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recent lettings in Howth Harbour in 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will indicate how upcoming vacancies and tenders were advertised and how the competition for rental of these premises was conducted by his Department and by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33652/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned and managed by my Department under Statute. Responsibility for the management of the Fishery Harbour Centres’ property portfolio is solely under my Department’s remit and the Office of Public Works has no role in this regard. The property portfolio in Howth encompasses a range of diverse properties reflecting its remit as a working fishery harbour and its unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective.

The selection of properties for leasing is based on factors such as availability, potential income, interest level, the potential benefit to the harbour itself and prevailing economic conditions.

Properties are, when appropriate, offered for tenancy under lease agreement by means of open competitive tendering process in accordance with normal public procurement guidelines. Maintaining a fair and transparent process where all interested parties are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in such competitions is a priority.

On Monday 15 June 2015 my Department offered two properties for tenancy under lease agreement at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre by competitive public tender. The competitions were advertised on my Department’s website, in a national and local newspaper and within the harbour and were open to all interested parties. Both competitions followed the same format which was developed in conjunction with my Department’s legal advisors. The format was included in the published Tender Documents which are still available on my Department’s website. The successful and unsuccessful Tenderers for these competitions have been notified and the finalisation of the lease agreements is well advanced.

There was no competitive tendering process undertaken in 2014 for Fishery Harbour Centre property, including Howth.

Harbours and Piers

Questions (102)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

102. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all tenancy agreements in Howth Harbour have been brought up to date; if he will provide a list of the tenancies in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33653/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The six Fishery Harbour Centres, including Howth, contain a diverse property portfolio reflecting their role as working fishery harbours and as the location for a broad range of other marine activities. The majority of Fishery Harbour Centre properties are leased by my Department to a variety of public and private sector tenants which support this range of activities, which is vital economically and socially, to the coastal communities the Fishery Harbour Centres serve. There are a total of 70 properties/sites in the Howth Fishery Harbour Centre property portfolio,10 of which are occupied by commercial entities without current documented lease agreements in place, of these 10 only 4 are in arrears of rent. Progress is being made to regularise all these property arrangements. I am not in a position to provide details of the individuals concerned for confidentiality reasons.

Since taking over responsibility for the management and operation of the Fishery Harbour Centres my Department has established a dedicated Property Unit to manage the property portfolio. In addition my Department worked closely with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to increase the legal capacity resource for progressing the often complex and protracted legal aspects relating to outstanding property cases. An additional solicitor was employed by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office at my Department’s request to deal exclusively with Fishery Harbour Centre property portfolio, the cost of which is being met from the Department’s Fishery Harbour Centre Fund.

Harbours and Piers

Questions (103)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

103. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total of rent arrears in all tenancies of State property in Howth Harbour on 1 September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33654/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There are 70 properties in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre of which 13 are in rental arrears to the total amount of €603,395. The issues associated with the property portfolio are by and large legacy problems. On taking over responsibility for the management and operation of the Fishery Harbour Centres my Department established a dedicated Property Unit to manage the property portfolio. My Department worked closely with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to increase the legal capacity resource for progressing the often complex and protracted legal aspects relating to outstanding property cases. An additional solicitor was employed by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office at my Department’s request to deal exclusively with Fishery Harbour Centre property portfolio, the cost of which is being met from the Department’s Fishery Harbour Centre Fund.

In addition, a dedicated Debt Recovery Unit was established in October 2009 to address the debt that had developed in the harbours predating my Department. In 2013, my Departments Management Advisory Committee set up a Debtor Review Group comprising of representatives from Accounts, Finance and Legal Services Divisions to assist and give direction to debtor divisions in the area of debt management. A Central Debt Management Group has been formed to monitor compliance and debt levels.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Questions (104)

Noel Harrington

Question:

104. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payment of a single farm payment for 2014 and 2015 to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33677/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes. The 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Area’s Scheme application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the scheme this resulted in no payment in respect of the 2014 Single Payment Scheme and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments. The person named was notified of this decision on 11 December 2014.

The person named sought a review of this decision and the outcome was to uphold the original inspection decision. The person named was notified of this outcome on 25 June 2015. The person named submitted an appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office on 25 September 2015. The Agriculture Appeals Office will notify the applicant of the outcome on completion of the appeals process.

The 2015 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraint application of person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are currently being processed. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (105)

Michael Ring

Question:

105. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment under the areas of natural constraints scheme; and if he will clarify why the Department did not make contact with the herd owner to indicate that there was an error on the file prior to payments commencing, given that the delay is causing undue hardship. [33704/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment /Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 29 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. Advance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence issuing to eligible applicants from 16 October 2015.

The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (106)

Michael Ring

Question:

106. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33714/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for greater amounts than actually paid by the participants. Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly from the National Exchequer. There is a requirement and obligation to ensure that the expenditure claimed by scheme participants reflects the reality of what took place. For that reason my Department wrote to participants requesting alternative proof that the amounts claimed were in fact the amounts paid.

The person named was written to on 15 June 2015 regarding the non-productive capital investment claim that he had submitted. This letter requested the submission of alternative verifiable proof to support one of the invoices that was included in the claim. A reply to this letter was received on 7 July. My Department officials are now examining this case and a decision will issue to the person-named shortly.

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (107)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

107. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments in relation to the areas of natural constraint scheme and to the basic payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33715/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment /Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 19 March 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. Advance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence issuing to eligible applicants from 16 October 2015.

The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payment due under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.