Written Answers Nos. 224-229
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if job creation will focus on youth employment over the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16316/16]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government's key instruments to support job creation. Since the launch of the first Plan in 2012, 155,000 more people are in employment. This surpasses the original target to have an extra 100,000 at work by the end of 2016.
Unemployment has declined significantly from its peak of 15.1% in 2012 to 7.8% in May 2016. Youth unemployment is also declining. In May 2016, the rate of youth unemployment was 15%, down from 20.8% in 2015.
We will continue to work with colleagues across Government to develop initiatives to help our young people to meet their full potential in a fast-changing world. The Action Plan for Jobs complements Pathways to Work, developed by the Department of Social Protection, which sets out specific measures for young people, under the Youth Guarantee and Youth Activation Charter, to help them access the labour market and new job opportunities. We will provide a diverse range of choices on leaving secondary education, which is regarded as a key success factor in countries with low levels of youth unemployment. The Programme for Government commits to double the number of apprenticeships to 31,000 places by 2020 and significantly increase the number of traineeship places.
We will continue to build on the progress to date through the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work to ensure that more employment opportunities are available to young people who are seeking work.
225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has identified the positive and negative aspects of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with a view to maximising economic opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16317/16]
View answerThe EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement will be the world’s largest bilateral trade and investment deal, and a successful pact is expected to benefit Ireland more than any other EU Member State. It is very important to Ireland as it will build on our already rewarding economic relationship with the US and create new opportunities to stimulate growth, create employment and continue to grow our economy. An independent study commissioned by my Department, carried out by Copenhagen Economics, found that almost half (49%) of Irish exports outside of the EU end up in the US, compared to the combined average of 16% for all Member States, and 25% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland comes from the US.
Given our historic economic and cultural ties, Ireland’s enterprises are particularly well placed to take up opportunities to trade more easily with the US. The study estimates that the benefits in Ireland will be proportionally greater than in the EU as a whole. It suggests a boost to GDP of 1.1%, growth in Irish exports of almost 4%, increases in investment of 1.5%, and an increase in real wages of 1.5%. It estimates somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 additional export related jobs. The study predicts new opportunities for many Irish industry sectors including pharmaceuticals and chemicals, Agri-food (notably dairy and processed food), insurance and machinery.
The findings are backed up in a recent comprehensive interim independent report contracted by the EU Commission, carried out by Ecorys Consultancy and published on 13th May 2016. The report estimates that a comprehensive EU-US trade agreement would boost Irish GDP by 1.4%.
The EU-US trade negotiations herald the start of a new style of trade agreement that not only covers tariffs, trade and investment but also includes regulatory coherence and cooperation. An EU-US trade agreement will tackle a whole range of issues to make business with the US easier. A comprehensive and ambitious agreement would remove customs duties, increase access to public contracts, open-up services market, and offer predictable conditions for investors.
I will continue to work at securing the best deal for Ireland by the end of these negotiations, bearing in mind our defensive interests, in sensitive areas such as the beef sector. This was identified in the Copenhagen Economic study. This trade and investment agreement will build on the deep economic and wider relationship we have with the US, and will create jobs by opening up further opportunities in the US market for Irish business.
226. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the effect of the adjustment to the minimum wage and employers' pay related social insurance measures introduced in budget 2016 on employment creation in the retail sector in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15795/16]
View answerThe national minimum hourly rate of pay increased to €9.15 per hour on January 1st this year following Government acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation of July 2015 to increase the rate from €8.65 per hour.
In Budget 2016 a number of measures were introduced to ensure that the benefit of the increase was not lost to taxation for the employee and that the effect of the increase to €9.25 per hour on employer’s liability to PRSI was mitigated.
The Wholesale and Retail Sector is an important part of the domestic economy and accounts for the largest share of employment in the economy. It employs almost 275,000 people in Ireland. This represents about 12.5% of the workforce. The sector provides employment in every community in the country and is an important part of every locality. The Sector also indirectly supports jobs in other areas, such as logistics and distribution.
A Retail Consultation Forum was established under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 to provide a platform for structured engagement between the sector and relevant Government Departments.
The Forum meets on a quarterly basis and I am looking forward to Chairing the next meeting which takes place on June 24th.
227. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children on the waiting list for a special care placement; the average waiting time for placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16360/16]
View answerThe latest information available shows that on the 6th April 2016 there were 5 young people waiting for a placement in a Special Care unit. One new referral was being processed. The average waiting time is approximately 4 weeks. I have requested updated information from the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and will revert to the Deputy when this is to hand.
Special Care units differ from general residential care as the child is detained by an order of the High Court, for the child's own safety. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but for their own safety and welfare. The units are secure, and offer high staff ratios. There is also on-site education and specialised input such as psychology services through the Assessment, Counselling and Therapeutic Service known as ACTS. Services provided include assessment and focused interventions for children and young people with complex clinical needs and high risk behaviours.
Children are admitted to Special Care following a successful application to the Child and Family Agency's Special Care Referrals Committee and then to the High Court for a special care order, in line with the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. The criteria for admission to a special care unit are the age of the child, the concerns and risk assessment of the child, and a risk management plan. The age range for admission is 11 to 17 years.
228. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase funding for youth workers. [16361/16]
View answerI am committed to the principle of fairness, and would very much wish to allocate additional resources next year to the youth sector as the economy recovers. Any additional amount available will depend on the Budgetary process in 2017. I will be closely involved in the decisions to be taken by Government in this regard.
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth sector, to young people throughout the country. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people. The voluntary youth sector involves approximately 1,400 paid staff, including youth workers and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
Budget 2016 provided an additional €1.1m in current youth funding to my Department bringing the total allocation for the youth services to €51m in 2016. This additional funding was a 2.5% increase over 2015. It will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.
This week, I expect to announce details of youth work projects that are to receive funding under the new €600,000 Youth Employment Initiative. This initiative and other supports for vulnerable young people are priorities in my plans for the further development of youth work services in line with the Programme for Government. It will target those young people aged 15- 24 yrs who are most at risk of unemployment and who are not in education, employment or training. It will be provided to voluntary youth services to support the provision of innovative programmes for their young people to enhance their employability skills and competencies. All of my decisions on funding for youth services will be informed by the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020.
229. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care without an allocated social worker; the reason for the high number; and the steps she is taking to address this, by age bracket and by county, in tabular form. [16368/16]
View answerThe latest figures I have to hand from the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, indicates that on 31st March 2016, there were 6,405 children in care. Almost 93% of children in care were in a foster care setting. Of all children in care, over 93% (5,941) had an allocated social worker. Tusla's policy is that all children coming into care and those in high risk placements have an allocated social worker. Subsequent gaps may be attributed to a number of factors including maternity leave, vacancies and competing priorities.
Where a child is awaiting the allocation of a social worker, his/her needs are responded to by a social work duty team on a risk management basis. During this time, work with the child and their family may be undertaken by the social work team leader or social workers in the duty system. Some of these children may have had an allocated social worker, but due to a social worker leaving, they are reclassified as awaiting a social worker. Tusla has been provided with additional funding of €38m in Budget 2016, including funding of over €6 million to reduce the number of cases awaiting allocation of a social worker. As part of its Business Plan for this year, Tusla has committed to a number of key targets to be achieved by the end of 2016. These targets include ensuring that all children in care have an allocated social worker. Tusla has made progress in its targets.
My officials have engaged with Tusla regarding local areas with a higher than average number of children in care without an allocated social worker, and steps are being taken, as a priority, to remedy this situation.
The following table represents the data available on the number of children in care with and without an allocated social worker broken down by Tusla administrative area, as at the 31st March 2016. This data is not available by age, or by county.
|
Area |
No. of Children in Care on 31/03/2016 |
No. of Children in Care with an All. Social Worker |
No. of Children in Care without an All. Social Worker |
% of Children in Care without an All. Social Worker |
|
Dublin South Central |
401 |
383 |
18 |
4% |
|
Dublin South East Wicklow |
302 |
302 |
- |
0% |
|
Dublin South West Kildare West Wicklow |
457 |
375 |
82 |
18% |
|
The Midlands |
377 |
354 |
23 |
6% |
|
DUBLIN MID LEINSTER |
1,537 |
1,414 |
123 |
8% |
|
Dublin City North |
627 |
577 |
50 |
8% |
|
Dublin North |
329 |
298 |
31 |
9% |
|
Louth Meath |
401 |
398 |
3 |
1% |
|
Cavan Monaghan |
164 |
164 |
- |
0% |
|
DUBLIN NORTH EAST |
1,521 |
1,437 |
84 |
6% |
|
Cork |
908 |
864 |
44 |
5% |
|
Kerry |
149 |
149 |
- |
0% |
|
Carlow Kilkenny South Tipperary |
378 |
365 |
13 |
3% |
|
Waterford Wexford |
438 |
390 |
48 |
11% |
|
SOUTH |
1,873 |
1,768 |
105 |
6% |
|
Midwest (Clare, Limerick & North Tipperary) |
599 |
503 |
96 |
16% |
|
Galway Roscommon |
413 |
402 |
11 |
3% |
|
Mayo |
141 |
141 |
0% |
|
|
Donegal |
213 |
168 |
45 |
21% |
|
Sligo Leitrim West Cavan |
108 |
108 |
- |
0% |
|
WEST |
1,474 |
1,322 |
152 |
10% |
|
NATIONAL |
6,405 |
5,941 |
464 |
7% |
