Written Answers Nos. 302-318
302. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the proposals the Industrial Development Agency Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have for projects in a town (details supplied) in west Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1187/16]
View answerThe IDA Ireland-owned lands in Skibbereen referred to are currently un-zoned. The Agency is actively seeking re-zoning of this area as part of the ongoing future proofing of its portfolio to ensure the availability of suitable property to potential FDI clients. An application to Cork County Council to have the lands re-zoned has already been made and a proposal is due before the Council Board this month.
Provisional results for 2015 show that client companies of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland that are based in Cork employ almost 56,000 people. In 2015, there were 148 IDA Ireland client companies based in the county. 19 micro-enterprises were also supported with grant aid by the West Cork Local Enterprise Office. Examples of local companies recently supported by the West Cork Local Enterprise Office include Zoe Scientific and Versadrones, both of which are in Skibbereen.
In November 2015, Spearline Labs, the world's largest toll and toll-free number testing provider, announced that it is hiring 20 people at its Skibbereen base as it looks to double its workforce over the next 18 months. The expansion is supported by my Department through Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland was also a lead sponsor of National Digital Week, which took place in Skibbereen last November and was involved – in conjunction with the Ludgate Group – in the promotion of entrepreneurship events and start-up initiatives. Companies such as West Cork Distillers and ICP Newtech have also been supported under Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start-Up funding programmes.
In October 2015, I launched the Action Plan for Jobs South West 2015-2017. The goal of this plan is to capitalise on regional strengths and assets to support businesses in the region and create employment. I am confident that the plan, which includes over 250 separate actions, can help the south-west unlock its full economic potential.
303. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the mandatory three hours of continuous work for employees. [1282/16]
View answerI take it that the Deputy is referring to one of the recommendations made by the University of Limerick (UL) in its study on the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts among Irish employers. It is important to point out that this is an independent study and the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made in the study are those of UL. Therefore, I considered it essential that the various stakeholders who contributed to the study and indeed other interested parties who may not have had an opportunity to engage with UL, were given an opportunity to consider and respond to the findings and recommendations in the UL report.
To this end, my Department sought submissions from interested parties by way of a Public Consultation. A large number of submissions were received by 4 January 2016, the closing date for receipt of such submissions. The responses contain a variety of views both for and against the findings and recommendations as made by UL, which will require careful consideration by my Department over the coming period. This will inform the policy response to be considered by Government arising from the study.
304. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions his Department has had with suppliers or service contractors to his Department or to agencies of his Department to ensure that employees of such suppliers and contractors are paid the living wage of €11.50 per hour; the cost of implementing this wage for these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1375/16]
View answerAlong with this pay floor all employers are required to confirm that they have taken account of their statutory and legal obligations relating to the employment protection and working conditions of their employees in the provision of goods and services sought for my Department through the eTenders website.
305. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there are definite guidelines in relation to grant assistance from local enterprise offices for a specific business sector (details supplied); if he will introduce a policy to support this emerging sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1386/16]
View answerFinancial assistance provided by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) is allocated to anyone wishing to start a new business or expand an existing business, subject to certain eligibility criteria. It should be noted that LEO grant assistance is provided primarily to microenterprises in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities.
There are three main categories under which direct financial assistance is provided – Priming, Feasibility and Business Expansion grants. The local LEO Evaluation and Approvals Committee is charged with the decision to approve applications for assistance based on the eligibility criteria, and as you will appreciate, I have no role in that process or in the day-to-day running of the LEOs.
306. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost to the Exchequer of the Low Pay Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1508/16]
View answerThe Low Pay Commission was launched on 26 of February 2015 with a budget of €500,000 (per calendar year). This is broken down on a pay (€270,000) and a non-pay basis (€230,000). Expenditure in 2015, the first year of operation of the Commission, was €155,500 (pay) and €95,100 (non-pay).
307. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the beef data and genomics programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46447/15]
View answerThe person named applied for the 2015 Beef Data and Genomics Programme on 5 June 2015.
Under the Terms and Conditions of this Programme the reference animals are based on the number of eligible suckler cows that produced a calf in 2014. However, there is a provision whereby applicants may be allowed to use 2015 as the reference year in exceptional circumstances. On 28 August the person named applied to use 2015 as the reference year for the Programme as he was a new entrant to suckling. On 21 September 2015 my Department wrote to the person named requesting details of the number of cows expected to produce a calf in 2015. To date, no reply has been received. Meanwhile an official of my Department has contacted the person named and has explained the position. The person named has been informed that 2016 cannot be used as the reference year under the scheme.
308. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of Bord Bia's involvement in the quality checking of milk (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46468/15]
View answerMy understanding is that the Deputy is referring to the requirements of the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) as implemented by Bord Bia. This same scheme seeks to underpin Ireland’s sustainability credentials in the area of dairy production and represents a key distinguishing factor for our export focused dairy products. Sustainability considerations are becoming an ever increasing factor in purchasing decisions among international buyers of dairy products.
The Bord Bia SDAS is a voluntary scheme and was developed in co-operation with milk producers, farm organisations, processors and regulatory authorities. It has been designed to assist in securing new and existing markets for Irish dairy produce as farmers look to increase milk production in a post quota era. It can therefore provide the necessary proof to customers of dairy products that milk has been produced under both Sustainability and Quality Assurance criteria.
The scheme is open to all milk producers with a valid herd registration, supplying milk processors in the Republic of Ireland. To apply for membership the producer will complete an application form which can be returned to Bord Bia via their milk purchaser or directly to Bord Bia. The application will then be evaluated and, as appropriate, a full independent audit of the milk producer may be carried out to evaluate the capability of the applicant to meet all the requirements of the Standard. When the producer is deemed to have complied with the requirements of the Standard, the herd will be considered for certification under the Scheme. When certified, the producer will be issued with a certificate for the herd which will be listed on the Bord Bia register/database.
In 2015 Ireland exported over €3.2 billion in dairy products to 130 different countries. The SDAS, as part of an overall approach to demonstrating our sustainability credentials which includes the Origin Green programme at industry level, assists in the process of giving Irish dairy products a competitive advantage in third country markets.
309. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a farmer (details supplied) in County Clare will receive payment under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46469/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May, 2015. Processing of this application has been finalised and payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
310. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46472/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May, 2015. Processing of this application has been finalised and payment has issued in two instalments to the nominated bank account of the person named.
311. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the areas of natural constraint scheme and basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46489/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 22 April, 2015. Payment under the ANC scheme has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
The application to the Basic Payment Scheme was submitted by a person other than the person named on 22 April, 2015. The herd number was then changed into the joint names of the person named and the second person on 20 May 2015 and an application under the Young Farmers' Scheme was submitted in the joint names. A ‘Transfer of Entire Holding’ application was submitted by the applicant to give effect to the change to the herd number following the date of submission of the Basic Payment Scheme Application in respect of the 2015 Scheme Year and to allow for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme to the joint names on the herd number. Payment under the Basic Payment Scheme issued on 21 December 2015. Work is ongoing in relation to the Young Farmers' Scheme application to take account of this change to the herd number with a view to the application being fully processed and payment issuing as soon as possible.
312. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a farm safety grant will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46492/15]
View answerThe Farm Safety grant payment issued to the applicant in November 2015.
313. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46508/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 22 April, 2015. Processing of this application has been finalised and payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
314. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a formal decision on an appeal under the single payment scheme which was the subject of an oral hearing in mid-November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46510/15]
View answerThe Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that an appeal was received from the person named. An oral hearing was requested and was held on 19 November 2015. All of the facts of the case are being fully considered by the Appeals Officer and a comprehensive decision letter will issue in writing, to the person named, within the next two weeks.
315. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider an application by a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46516/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 9 June 2015. The closing date for the receipt of applications was 29 May 2015. In general, applications received in the Department between 30 May and 23 June 2015 were also accepted subject to a late penalty of 4% for each working day in that period that the application was late. The penalty applied in this case is 24%.
The person named has submitted further documentation appealing the late penalty and his case is currently under review. An official from my Department will be in direct contact with the person named once this review is complete.
316. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of applications by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the area aid scheme and the suckler cow scheme. [46519/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint was received from the person named on 24 April 2015. Processing of this application has been finalised with payments issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named on 8 December and 22 September 2015, respectively.
The person named submitted an application for the 2014 Beef Data Programme on 24 March 2014. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme participants were required to complete various surveys by 30 April 2015 for animals born between 1 January and 31 October 2014 and for animals born between 1 November and 31 December 2014 (before those animals were six months old). All of the calves registered in this herd in 2014 were born before June 2014. As the required data were not received until 22 July 2015 the person named is not eligible for payment.
The person named sought a review of the decision on 27 October 2015 but the original decision was upheld. The person named was advised of his right to submit an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
317. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received outstanding grants and payments, specifically the payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46532/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 22 October 2015. This application was received after the application period for the 2015 scheme year had elapsed and was deemed to be 100% late resulting in no payments being due under the 2015 schemes.
A request for a review has been received and is currently being examined by the Department. To assist with the examination of this request the person named should immediately submit, to the Direct Payments Unit, DAFM, Old Abbeyleix Rd, Portlaoise, Co Laois, the express post/registered post receipt referred to in the review request, which was used to submit the initial 2015 application in May 2015. An official from my department will contact the person named to outline this requirement.
318. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farm payments to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46538/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 2 May 2015. Payment under the ANC scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 17 December 2015. The person named also submitted an application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. This application has been fully processed and payment on 7.04 entitlements will issue shortly.
In addition, my Department also received applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme from the person named. These applications are currently being processed and once finalised the applicant will be notified in writing of the decision with a view to payment shortly thereafter.
