Written Answers Nos. 530-549
530. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital and operational funding allocated directly to the Football Association of Ireland in each of the years from 2002 to 2016 to date, not including individual clubs grant aided under the sports capital programme. [18424/16]
View answerDetails of all allocations under the sports capital programme are published on the Department's website dttas.ie.
In relation to operational funding, Sport Ireland, which is funded by the Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding for National Governing Bodies of Sport. As this is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred it to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
531. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 has been enacted and if not, why not. [18503/16]
View answerSection 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 was commenced on 22 July 1994 by S.I. 222 of 1994 - Road Traffic Act 1994 (Commencement) Order 1994.
532. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public service vehicle, PSV, licences active from 2009 to 2016 to date; the percentage of persons who passed the recently introduced PSV licence exam; if he has considered modifying the exam to help persons with a disability pass while not diminishing standards; his views that areas will be left without a taxi service as fewer people qualify for the job and people are prohibited from working in excess of eight hours consecutively; and the action he will take in conjunction with the Minister for Finance to tackle the high cost of insurance for the sector. [18527/16]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, so I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply as regards the SPSV regulatory aspects. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
In relation to the Deputy's query about insurance costs for the SPSV sector, he may recall that during a Dáil debate on a private members motion on motor insurance earlier this month, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Eoghan Murphy T.D., advised the House that the cost of insurance to taxi and hackney drivers will be included in the issues to be addressed by the task force established by the Minister for Finance to review policy in the insurance sector. That task force will examine all issues relating to insurance policy, in consultation with bodies such as the Central Bank, Departments, and other stakeholders, and the cost of insurance will be a particular focus of the review.
For my part, I am confident that the implementation of the actions set out in the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 will, over time, lead to a reduction in road traffic collisions, fatalities and injuries and should make an important contribution to reducing the cost of motor insurance. My Department has been pursuing for some time the establishment of a properly functioning motor insurance database with the insurance industry here to show who is insured and who is not. Such a database would facilitate enforcement by An Garda Síochána, and could make a significant contribution towards reducing the level of uninsured driving in Ireland, which costs the industry and insured drivers here €50 to €60 million approximately per annum.
533. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will meet staff at a company (details supplied); if she can ensure that staff will receive the best possible package available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18169/16]
View answer534. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she or the statutory agencies under the remit of her Department have had or propose to hold with the senior management in a company (details supplied) or with representatives of employees, given the recent announcement of redundancies in that company, to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to employees who may lose their jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18516/16]
View answer535. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had with senior management or representatives of employees in a company (details supplied), in view of the recent announcement of redundancies, to ensure that appropriate supports are provided without delay for employees who may lose their jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18517/16]
View answer547. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the 70 job losses at a company (details supplied); if there is anything that can be done to protect jobs in this sector; and her plans for job creation in County Cavan. [18168/16]
View answer552. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had or proposes to have with the senior management of a company (details supplied) on the need for this company to retain the maximum level of employment in County Cavan in view of its recent announcement regarding redundancies; if the statutory agencies under the remit of her Department have offered assistance to the company or its employees on employment retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18518/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 to 535, inclusive, 547 and 552 together.
I share the Deputies’ concern in relation to the recent developments at this company, where 70 job losses were announced last week from its operations in Cavan and Blanchardstown. I am very much aware that these redundancies follow a series of job losses in this company in recent years so this is a further blow, especially to the Cavan town operation.
This decision was made after a strategic internal review by the company. The priority for the Government now is to seek to retain the remaining jobs and work to create new jobs elsewhere in the region.
IDA is engaging with the company so that it can develop a skills profile of the affected workers and will aim to match them with other potential employers. In addition the IDA will continue to engage with the company to seek to influence corporate decisions and to broaden the scope of their operations here. One positive development is that the company’s project announced in 2013 for the eventual creation of 150 jobs in an IT project at their Blanchardstown operation currently employs 70 staff and remains on track to reach that employment target.
On the wider picture, I have asked both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to redouble their efforts to secure new projects and expand existing operations in Cavan, and to explore all opportunities to replace the jobs being lost there. Enterprise Ireland’s job creation work in County Cavan has been particularly successful in recent years with 300 and 190 net new jobs added in 2014 and 2015 respectively. In addition, the Local Enterprise Office in the County has been working to develop the micro-enterprise sector in Cavan and has helped to develop start up enterprises. That work will, of course, continue. The Regional Action Plan for Jobs for the North East and North West is now in place and will be a key instrument in driving job creation in the region.
As regards services for the staff who will, unfortunately, lose their jobs, my officials have been in touch with both the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and with the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The priority of DSP is to ensure that employees who are made redundant receive their statutory entitlements and jobseeker payments in a timely manner, and it will also proactively help them to access the opportunities for employment in their region.
Officials from that Department have already had preliminary discussions with representatives from the company and will provide information sessions to interested staff over the coming weeks. These sessions will provide staff with advice on jobseekers payments and other income supports. Information will also be provided on the employment supports which will be available to the employees to prepare them to return to work or explore appropriate education and training options. The employees based in Cavan will be advised to make contact with the Cavan INTREO Centre as soon as they have their leaving dates. They will then be provided with the earliest possible appointment to make their claim.
In relation to the local ETB, that body has already contacted the company with a view to offering support, advice and required education and training. The ETB has engaged successfully with Liberty and former staff on previous occasions and is eager to continue this level of engagement.
536. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to correct her Department’s claim in paragraph three of correspondence dated 20 February 2004 (details supplied) that the release of the approved grant was requested on 14 July 1997, whereas in fact that payment application had been withdrawn on 16 July 1997 and resubmitted on 11 September 1997 after her Department had checked and approved the unpaid invoices which, nevertheless, were later reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions as fraudulent solely by virtue of being unpaid. [17960/16]
View answer537. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in its formal statement to the fraud squad dated 26 April 1999, her Department fully informed An Garda Síochána that there was no prohibition on non-Government organisations using unpaid invoices to claim grant payments and that her Department had in August 1997 checked and approved the three unpaid invoices before the payment application was received and acted on (details supplied). [17961/16]
View answer538. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation why correspondence (details supplied) to her Department dated 29 January 1999 from a non-government organisation, which for the first time specifically questioned the validity of using unpaid invoices to claim European Union and European Social Fund grants and was the basis of the subsequent complaint to the fraud squad, remains unanswered. [17962/16]
View answer539. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department’s assertion that the application for payment had been made before it had seen the invoices, an assertion which is inaccurate, was the product of its six week internal investigation that it had agreed upon with a person (details supplied) in order to establish the facts. [17963/16]
View answer540. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to take note of the communications from persons (details supplied) and identify any ministerial response or parliamentary reply which specifically disclosed the truth, namely that there was no prohibition on the use of unpaid invoices by non-Government organisations to claim payment of European Union and European Social Fund grants. [17964/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 536 to 540, inclusive, together.
My Department, and previous Ministers, have been in receipt of correspondence from the individual concerned over many years in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy in her Questions. There have been a number of Departments and statutorily independent Offices involved in considering different aspects of the issues raised and insofar as my Department is concerned a complaint was lodged several years ago with the Ombudsman’s Office in relation to how my Department had handled the matter. The Ombudsman’s Office decided to close their file in this case without any adverse findings issuing against the Department. My Department has also repeatedly responded to Freedom of Information requests related to the questions raised and provided information to the individual concerned. The Information Commissioner, along with the Ombudsman, accepted after a lengthy and comprehensive investigation that my Department had acted appropriately with the individual concerned.
Insofar as European Social Fund Programmes from a decade and more ago are concerned, these have been deemed "closed" for some time by the European Authorities with all payments due from the EU Commission to Ireland fully reconciled.
I am further informed that An Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Francis Fitzgerald T.D., has decided to establish an inquiry under the terms of section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 into Garda actions in respect of allegations made against the person referred to by the Deputy. Accordingly, any specific queries on that inquiry might be raised directly with my colleague.
541. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Government has given UEFA a guarantee to enact legislation on the prohibition of the sale of match tickets by ticket touts in advance of the Euro 2020 championships and if such legislation is currently being prepared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18029/16]
View answerA commitment has been given to UEFA which relates to the introduction of legislative provisions to prevent the unauthorised transfer and use of tickets for matches during the Euro 2020 Championship, or at official events related to the Euro 2020 Championship. No decisions have been taken as yet on the detail of these provisions.
542. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to approve and sign a code of practice on the conduct of adjudications under section 9 of the Construction Contracts Act 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18030/16]
View answerThe Construction Contracts Act, 2013 will apply to certain construction contracts entered into after the 25th July 2016 in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 165 of 2016 entitled 'Construction Contracts Act, 2013 (Appointed Day) Order 2016'. The parties to an applicable construction contract entered into after the 25th July must therefore ensure that the contract conforms to the provisions of the new legislation.
I will publish a Code of Practice relating to the conduct of adjudications under section 9 of the Act in the coming weeks, following which there will be a public information campaign undertaken by my Department in relation to the commencement of the legislation.
543. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation why Ireland has not yet ratified the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 1980) despite previous recommendations in favour of ratification from the Law Reform Commission and the sales law review group; her plans to bring forward proposals enabling ratification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18031/16]
View answerIn order to enable the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 1980) to be ratified and come into force in Ireland, primary legislation will be required. This issue will be considered in the context of the reform of sale of goods law as it applies to contracts between businesses that my Department hopes to undertake after legislation to reform consumer law on the supply of goods, digital content and services has been finalised. While both the Law Reform Commission and the Sales Law Review Group recommended that Ireland accedes to the Convention, there are some specific issues that require examination, such as whether Ireland should avail of some, or all, of the derogations permitted by the Convention.
544. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of appeals to the Labour Court which it has considered as being out of time and has not heard as a consequence in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18047/16]
View answerThe time frame for the lodgement of appeals to the Labour Court is governed by statute.
An appeal against a recommendation of an Adjudication Officer under the Industrial Relations Act 1969 is governed by Section 13 (9) of the 1969 Act and Section 36 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act 1990. Section 36 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 provides that an appeal against a recommendation of an Adjudication Officer must be made within six weeks of the making of the recommendation. There is no provision in that section for an extension of time.
An appeal to the Labour Court under Employment Rights legislation is now governed by the provisions of Section 44 of the Workplace Relations Act, 2015 which commenced on 1 October 2015 and is applicable to appeals lodged after that date. Section 44(3) of this Act provides that an appeal shall be given to the Labour Court not later than 42 days from the date of the decision concerned. Section 44(4) provides that the Labour Court may allow an appeal that is lodged after this time frame if it is satisfied that it was due to exceptional circumstances.
The number of appeals to the Labour Court that it has considered as being out of time and therefore not heard in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date is set out below. From 1 October 2015 appeals that would previously have gone to the Employment Appeals Tribunal now go instead to an expanded Labour Court. Consequently, figures for 2016 will reflect this additional workload.
|
Year |
Total |
|
2016 (to date) |
29 |
|
2015 |
39 |
|
2014 |
22 |
|
2013 |
29 |
|
2012 |
38 |
|
2011 |
33 |
545. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of site visits made by IDA Ireland client companies to each county, on a county basis and in tabular form, in 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18104/16]
View answerIDA Ireland maintains statistics of site visits by potential investors on a quarterly basis. During quarter one of 2016, there were a total of 136 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to various locations throughout the country. The table sets out, on a county-by-county basis, the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits during this period.
It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. That is because approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies.
The true measure of FDI is reflected in IDA Ireland’s record 2015 results. IDA Ireland client companies created just under 19,000 (18,983) jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs.
While IDA Ireland does attempt to influence the choice of location, the final decision as to where to visit and ultimately locate is taken in all cases by the client company.
IDA Ireland Jobs Statistics 2015; Site Visits 2015 and Quarter 1 2016 by County
|
County |
No. of Companies |
Total Jobs |
New Jobs 2015 |
Site Visits 2015 |
Site Visits Q1 2016 |
|
Carlow |
7 |
768 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
7 |
1,165 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare |
68 |
6,599 |
646 |
12 |
3 |
|
Cork |
148 |
31,900 |
4,062 |
48 |
11 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
2,918 |
330 |
5 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
652 |
77,244 |
8,864 |
242 |
57 |
|
Galway |
60 |
14,297 |
1,267 |
41 |
10 |
|
Kerry |
12 |
1,931 |
89 |
6 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
22 |
10,313 |
679 |
7 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
650 |
9 |
10 |
4 |
|
Laois |
2 |
97 |
10 |
4 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
4 |
423 |
16 |
8 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
52 |
8,849 |
1,018 |
40 |
9 |
|
Longford |
5 |
686 |
46 |
2 |
1 |
|
Louth |
21 |
3,245 |
317 |
20 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
18 |
3,981 |
159 |
3 |
2 |
|
Meath |
17 |
1,571 |
89 |
7 |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
5 |
146 |
52 |
2 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
10 |
902 |
58 |
8 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
9 |
936 |
99 |
2 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
22 |
2,029 |
132 |
15 |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
12 |
3,518 |
95 |
12 |
4 |
|
Waterford |
33 |
5,662 |
536 |
31 |
4 |
|
Westmeath |
16 |
2,529 |
212 |
28 |
9 |
|
Wexford |
17 |
2,486 |
101 |
4 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
18 |
2,211 |
49 |
7 |
1 |
|
Total |
1,254 |
187,056 |
18,983 |
565 |
136 |
546. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA Ireland visits over each of the past ten years to Longford, Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18112/16]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that, for reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, the Agency collects data on site visits on a county basis only. The number of site visits for Longford, Offaly and Westmeath for the years 2006 to 2015 inclusive and the numbers for the first quarter of 2016 are following.
Since 2015 IDA Ireland has been working towards targets set out in their strategy “Winning - Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019”. For the first time, under this strategy, ambitious investment targets have been set on a regional basis whereby the Agency aims to increase the level of investment by between 30% to 40% in each region. The new strategy is already showing promise. In 2015, the number of site visits to all three counties, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, more than doubled when compared to 2014.
The Government is committed to achieving balanced regional development. Over the course of 2015 and early 2016, my Department published eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, including a plan for the Midlands. The key sectors in the regions targeted in the plan include manufacturing, tourism, food and energy. Actions to be delivered over the period 2015-2017 include:
- A series of actions to promote 25% more start-ups in the midlands, including extra funding, mentoring programmes and establishing new incubator spaces for entrepreneurs like Offaly Innovation Centre (The Junction) in Tullamore,
- A series of actions aimed at attracting at least 25 additional multinational investment projects to the region by 2019, including building two advance facilities for Athlone, Appointing an IDA Ireland Regional Manager for the Midlands,
- Ensuring that key Agency personnel overseas have enhanced knowledge and marketing plans for the region,
- Establishing a Midlands manufacturing technologies campus.
The first Progress Report on the implementation of the Plan, covering the period to end-June 2016, will be completed and published in Q3 2016.
Site Visits by County 2006-2015 – Longford, Offaly and Westmeath
|
County |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Longford |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
4 |
11 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
16 |
18 |
18 |
14 |
22 |
15 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
28 |
Site Visits by County Q1 2016 – Longford, Offaly and Westmeath
|
County |
Q1 2016 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
548. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is aware of an anomalous situation in the operation of the Labour Court (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18187/16]
View answer549. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of appeals the Labour Court rejected as a result of late submission, in tabular form; and if she will instruct its appeals office to supply the date for the last day of appeal on decisions in addition to the number of days before the appeal deadline. [18188/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 549 together.
I have brought these matters to the attention of the Labour Court. The court is independent in the carrying out of its statutory functions. I am informed that the number of appeals to the Labour Court that it has considered as being out of time and therefore not heard in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date is set out below:
|
Year |
Total |
|
2016 (to date) |
29 |
|
2015 |
39 |
|
2014 |
22 |
|
2013 |
29 |
|
2012 |
38 |
|
2011 |
33 |
The time frame for the lodgement of appeals to the Labour Court is governed by statute.
An appeal against a recommendation of an Adjudication Officer under the Industrial Relations Act 1969 is governed by Section 13 (9) of the 1969 Act and Section 36 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act 1990. Section 36(2) of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 provides that an appeal against a recommendation of an Adjudication Officer must be made within six weeks of the making of the recommendation.
An appeal to the Labour Court under Employment Rights legislation is now governed by the provisions of Section 44 of the Workplace Relations Act, 2015 which commenced on 1 October 2015 and is applicable to appeals lodged after that date. Section 44(3) of this Act provides that an appeal shall be given to the Labour Court not later than 42 days from the date of the decision concerned. The time limit starts to run from the date of the decision and the actual date on the decision counts as part of the six week period allowed in which to make an appeal. A decision of the High Court in 2013 on this point has upheld this legal interpretation.
In this regard section 18 (h) of the Interpretation Act 2005 states as follows:
"Periods of time. Where a period of time is expressed to begin on or be reckoned from a particular day, that day shall be deemed to be included in the period and, where a period of time is expressed to end on or be reckoned to a particular day, that day shall be deemed to be included in the period;".
