Written Answers Nos. 95 to 112
95. 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 at the end of Quarter 3, 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35788/15]
View answerEnterprise Ireland’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs, Irish business and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership, and competitiveness. The ultimate objective is increased employment and prosperity in Ireland. 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 the Agency’s client base. The companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a vital source of employment, both direct and indirect, in every county in Ireland.
Employment data for Enterprise Ireland is collected annually as part of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Annual Employment Survey which measures the number of jobs in Agency assisted client companies, as permanent full time jobs and other jobs. The 2015 Annual Employment Survey is currently underway and it is expected that the results of this Survey will be available in December 2015.
98. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide, in tabular form, from 2003 to 2014, the number of research publications from researchers located here, based on the Web of Science Core Collection dataset; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35791/15]
View answerPlease see the data following, as requested. This is external data, not analysed or modified by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation or its agency, Science Foundation Ireland. This data was obtained by searching the Web of Science Core Collection, using the search term ADDRESS: Ireland.
|
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
2,630 |
2,868 |
3,001 |
3,076 |
3,194 |
3,492 |
3,766 |
4,300 |
4,075 |
3,804 |
3,403 |
2,929 |
Science Foundation Ireland’s work with the Small Advanced Economies Initiative has demonstrated significant improvements in both the quality and quantity of Ireland’s R&D outputs. For example, the percentage of articles published in Ireland in the top 5% of the world’s publications (measured by citations) has increased from 5% in 1999 to 7% in 2011 (source Elsevier, Scopus).
Ireland’s scientific ranking is 16th in the world – up from 20th in 2009 to 2013. This statistic illustrates the excellent quality of Ireland’s R&D outputs. (Based on scientific citations per paper – Source: Essential Science Indicators from Thomson Reuters).
99. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35194/15]
View answerI can confirm that an application for Tranche 1 of GLAS for the person named has been received by my Department. All applications received are currently being ranked and selected according to the predetermined selection criteria. This process is nearing completion and letters will shortly issue to all applicants informing them of the outcome of the selection process.
An application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme has also been received from the person named. Processing of the application under the ANC Scheme is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the ANC application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
The submission of a GLAS application on behalf of the person named has no bearing on the approval of his ANC claim.
100. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application under the areas of natural constraint scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35196/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2015. Application for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme is integrated into the Basic Payments Scheme application form. In order to apply for the ANC Scheme, applicants are requested to tick a box on the Basic Payments Scheme application form. The person named has declared land parcels containing areas of natural constraints, but has not applied for the ANC scheme via the tick box. The Department contacted the person named in early August indicating that he had not applied for the ANC Scheme and requesting clarification on his intentions in relation to applying for the Scheme. To date no reply has been received from the person named.
101. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are supports for farmers for land reclamation and drainage; and if that support extends beyond pipe drainage to alternative methods such a stone drainage. [35200/15]
View answerThere are no grant-aid schemes in place in my Department for either land reclamation or drainage works and I have no plans to introduce any such schemes at the present time.
102. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the area of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [35215/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment /Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 7 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. 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.
Advance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence issuing from 16 October 2015 to eligible applicants whose applications are fully processed.
103. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of complaints made against the management of the special investigations unit of his Department by staff under its supervision; if the chief veterinary officer and personnel division are aware of these complaints; if each complaint was investigated; if his Department accepted the validity of each complaint; if those who complained are satisfied with the outcome and the process; if action was taken against the staff who complained; if those persons who made complaints still hold their jobs, or if they were transferred to another job or location; the number of staff in the unit when the complaints were made; the number of staff under the superintendent's supervision when the complaints were made and the number now under the superintendent's supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35237/15]
View answerOne member of the SIU invoked the Civil Service Grievance Procedure in March 2012. The complaint was withdrawn in April 2015. From the details provided it would appear that the Deputy may be referring to the Cattle Movement and Monitoring System (CMMS) unit rather than the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Department.
Following the introduction of a new identification system for bovines which led to significant discrepancies in the early stages, the CMMS Unit was initiated as a support to the work of the local District Veterinary Offices.
For operational management purposes, staff assigned to the CMMS Unit were under the same line management as the SIU. The CMMS unit staff were not part of the SIU.
In 2009, a review of the District Veterinary Office (DVO) operational management within my Department was carried out in order to maximise efficiency. This review led to several significant changes at operational level. As the volume of discrepancies had decreased and there was, following the DVO operational management review, an increased capacity among local office staff to carry out such work, it was decided to discontinue the CMMS unit and to redeploy the CMMS Unit staff to other areas of my Department where vacancies existed. In Sept 2010, my Department met with the staff side’s representatives to discuss the redeployment of the staff that had been assigned to the CMMS unit. Following the announcement of the proposed transfers, the eleven staff of the CMMS Unit, in the period Sept-Oct 2011, lodged similar individual complaints regarding work issues against line management under the Civil Service Grievance Procedure. Mediation efforts were made on 2 occasions, namely July 2012 and Oct 2014. In the former case, the mediator withdrew from the process as he was of the view that the issues raised were not appropriate to the grievance procedure. In the latter case, the mediator made an offer, to bring closure to the issue and allow the parties to move forward. That offer was not accepted by the staff.
I would like to emphasise that no action was taken against any of the staff who complained. Ten of the eleven staff are presently employed by my Department in areas where vacancies existed and one member has retired.
At the time of the making of the complaints, there were 11 staff in the SIU of which 6 were technical staff reporting to line management. Following the retirement of a number of staff in the intervening years coupled with the embargo on staff recruitment, the number reporting to line management at this time is two.
I can confirm that the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Personnel Officer are aware of the complaints made.
104. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the salary scale for the different staff grades assigned to the special investigations unit of his Department for the past ten years; the travel and subsistence expenses paid to each officer from 1980 to date in 2015; the location the officers assigned to the unit were headquartered in each case; if the travel and subsistence expenses were paid to officers to attend at the headquarters for normal duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35238/15]
View answerThe salary scales of the different grades assigned to the Department’s Investigations Division (and in the former Special Investigations Unit) for the last ten years in respect of each grade will be provided under separate cover in tabular form.
The travel and subsistence for each individual will be provided for the period 2004 – 2015 inclusive. The data prior to 2004 is not readily retrievable as it is not available from the Department’s computer system. My Department will endeavour to establish if the data is available in other formats and will let the Deputy know the outcome.
With regard to headquarters location of staff assigned to the Division, for strategic operational reasons, some staff of the Investigations Division are headquartered at their homes. Three staff members are currently so headquartered. The remaining staff are headquartered in Backweston. When staff who are headquartered at home travel on official duties, travel and subsistence are paid at the normal rates. The details of amounts paid will be set out in a separate table. All tables mentioned will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
105. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Dexter cattle will be considered as a rare breed for the 2015 green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35244/15]
View answerThere is no change to the list of rare breeds eligible for support under GLAS, and this list includes Dexter cattle. In the case of Dexters, priority entry to GLAS is available to those who were registered with the relevant breed society and had stock in 2012 and/or 2013.
106. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received correspondence from Donegal County Council (details supplied) relating to concerns over the possible existence of containers off the County Donegal coast containing potentially toxic and hazardous material; his plans to investigate these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35270/15]
View answerMy Department’s records do not indicate receipt of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. If the Deputy can provide more detailed information, including the precise addressee for the correspondence I will be glad to arrange for a further examination of my Department’s records.
107. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments for 2014 under the agri-environment options scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35271/15]
View answerMy 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 11 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 24 June last. My Department officials are now examining this case and a decision will issue to the person named shortly.
108. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will amend his Department's policies and correct the anomalies therein relating to the fishing rights and licensing authority which has adversely affected individual cases, such as that of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; his views on the legislation and regulations relating to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35272/15]
View answerThe person referred to in the question has commenced legal proceedings against the State in relation to this matter. It would be inappropriate for me to deal with the detail of the case other than through the appropriate legal channels at this point.
The general position in relation to mackerel management policy is as follows. After extensive and lengthy consultations in 2009 and 2010, the then Minister introduced new management arrangements for polyvalent mackerel in November 2010. Mackerel allocations were made available to vessel owners based on track record from the two best years 2007, 2008, 2009.
The policy sets out that 13% of the national mackerel quota is available to the polyvalent segment as follows: 76.5% of the polyvalent mackerel quota is allocated to Tier 1 and 21% for Tier 2, the remaining 2.5% is available to cover the artisanal gill net fishermen and under 18m vessels with periodic boat catch limits set usually on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Vessels qualified for either of the Tiers on the basis of having caught more than 35% of the mackerel allocated to them in an average of 2 of the reference years. In order to qualify for Tier 1 allocations, a vessel had to have landed more than an average of 275 tonnes of mackerel per year. To qualify for a Tier 2 allocation, a vessel had to have landed more than 25 tonnes of mackerel per year. These quantities were chosen so as to ensure that there is no general loss of fishing opportunities to vessels with qualifying track record, based on fishing in the period 2007-2009.
Given the long and detailed consultation process which went into development of the mackerel policy in recent years, I consider this policy settled.
109. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a disadvantaged areas scheme payment by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35303/15]
View answerAn application under Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May 2015. Processing of the application has recently been finalised. Payment is now issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
110. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35305/15]
View answerAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 28 May 2015. Payment has not yet issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. Correspondence has recently been received from the Deputy in respect of this application. This documentation is currently being examined, and my officials will correspond with the person named upon the completion of this process.
111. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment of area aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35312/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments / Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 28 May 2015. Processing the ANC Scheme application has recently been finalised. Payment is now issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named. In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015.
112. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment of area aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35313/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May 2015. Processing of the application under the ANC Scheme is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the ANC application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date. In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015.
