Written Answers Nos. 695 - 710
695. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a statistical breakdown of economic activity from exports to Britain and Northern Ireland on an annual basis from 2014 to 2016 to date. [34604/16]
View answerEnterprise 2025, the Government’s long-term enterprise policy, is an ambitious strategy, with the objective of delivering growth over the next decade that is sustainable. The objective is to achieve strong export performance that is underpinned by innovation, productivity, cost effectiveness and competitiveness.
According to the latest CSO Trade Statistics, Merchandise exports overall grew by 21 percent to €112,209m from 2014 to 2015. Combined exports to Great Britain and Northern Ireland grew by 13 percent to €15,530m in the same year, indicating significantly higher growth in export markets beyond the UK. Overall, exports to Great Britain and Northern Ireland are falling as a proportion of total exports in the available data from 14.8 percent in 2014 to 12.6 percent in January to July 2016.
Looking at the data by sector of origin shows that from January to July 2016, 47 percent of agricultural exports and 31 percent of total Forestry and Fishing Produce went to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, indicating significant reliance on the UK market in these sectors. Alternatively, just 10 percent of total industrial produce was exported to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Industrial produce accounts for the vast majority (€61,468 billion, 93 percent) of total merchandise exports.
The latest Services Export data by country is only available to 2014. Quarterly Balance of Payments data to Q2 2016 is only released at the following geographic levels - all countries; EMU and non EMU countries. The 2014 data which is available shows that total services exports to the UK accounted for €20,176 million or 20 percent of total services exports. Sectors with relatively high dependency (higher than 30 percent) on the UK market are Transport (80 percent), Financial Services (33 percent) and Other Business services (32 percent).
Data from the Enterprise Agency Clients shows the following economic activity relating to exports to the UK. The data shows that:
- Irish companies supported by the agencies exported €6,489 million in exports to the UK in 2014, accounting for 41 percent of total exports of Irish owned firms.
- Sectors with a relatively high proportion of total exports to the UK include Agriculture (72 percent), Food Drink and Tobacco (45 percent), Textiles (57 percent), Wood and Wood Products (80 percent), paper and Printing (71 percent), Rubber and Plastics (62 percent), Non Metallic Minerals (80 percent), Metal Products (75 percent), Electrical Equipment (48 percent), Transport (51 percent), Energy (72 percent), Recycling and Waste (61 percent), Construction (over 47 percent) and Publishing and Broadcasting (43 percent).
- Foreign-owned companies supported by the agencies exported €13,127m in exports to the UK, accounting for 18 percent of total exports by foreign-owned firms.
Table 1 Total Merchandise Exports by Country (€m)
|
- |
2014 |
2015 |
Jan-July 2016 |
|
Total exports to Great Britain |
12,137 |
13,786 |
7,338 |
|
Tota exports to Northern Ireland |
1,605 |
1,744 |
931 |
|
Total merchandise exports |
92,616 |
112,209 |
65,864 |
|
GB and Northern Ireland as % of Total |
14.8% |
13.8% |
12.6% |
Source: CSO Trade Statistics July 2016 (published October 2016)
Table 2 Merchandise Exports by Broad Sector and Destination (€000’s)
|
- |
Agricultural Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Forestry and Fishing Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Industrial Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Not Classified (Euro Thousand) |
|
Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
3,270,400 |
212,100 |
20149,749,200 |
.. |
|
Other EU Member States |
2,332,000 |
294,500 |
34,351,600 |
.. |
|
All Countries |
6,644,900 |
687,900 |
84,541,500 |
741,400 |
|
GB and NI as % of total |
49% |
31% |
12% |
|
|
2015 |
Agricultural Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Forestry and Fishing Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Industrial Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Not Classified (Euro Thousand) |
|
Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
3,529,000 |
212,400 |
11,271,400 |
.. |
|
Other EU Member States |
2,283,500 |
324,300 |
41,473,100 |
|
|
All Countries |
6,899,800 |
724,600 |
104,017,600 |
765,400 |
|
GB and NI as % of total |
51% |
29% |
11% |
|
|
January to July 2016 |
Agricultural Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Forestry and Fishing Produce (Euro Thousand) |
Industrial Produce (Euro Thousand) |
|
|
Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
1,751,200 |
128,700 |
6,087,800 |
|
|
Other EU Member States |
1,281,700 |
191,100 |
24,062,100 |
|
|
All Countries |
3,703,200 |
413,800 |
61,467,700 |
507,700 |
|
GB and NI as % of total |
47% |
31% |
10% |
Source: CSO external trade statistics (statbank reference 10 November 2016)
Table 3 – Services Exports by Sector and Country (€m)
|
All countries and international organisations |
United Kingdom |
UK as % of total |
|
|
Services total |
101750 |
20176 |
20% |
|
Transport |
5193 |
4138 |
80% |
|
Tourism and travel |
3656 |
918 |
25% |
|
Communications |
567 |
.. |
|
|
Insurance |
9254 |
2143 |
23% |
|
Financial services |
8335 |
2736 |
33% |
|
Computer services |
47915 |
6130 |
13% |
|
Royalties/licences |
4776 |
311 |
7% |
|
All business services |
19095 |
3175 |
17% |
|
Business services: Merchanting |
.. |
.. |
|
|
Business services: Other Trade related services |
.. |
.. |
|
|
Business services: Operational leasing |
7843 |
545 |
7% |
|
Business services: Legal, Accounting and other professional services |
405 |
98 |
24% |
|
Business services: Advertising and market research |
94 |
.. |
|
|
Business services: Research and development |
1749 |
.. |
|
|
Business services: Architectural engineering and other technical services |
212 |
29 |
14% |
|
Business services: Management services between affiliates |
.. |
.. |
|
|
Business services: Other |
6331 |
2003 |
32% |
|
Business services: Trade related services |
2464 |
443 |
18% |
|
Other services not elsewhere stated |
1710 |
474 |
28% |
|
Repairs and processing |
1251 |
.. |
Source: CSO Balance of Payments Annual Data statistics (statbank reference 10 November 2016)
Table 4 Exports of Enterprise Agency Clients to UK Markets, 2014
|
- |
IRISH-OWNED |
Foreign Owned |
Total |
||
|
- |
2014 |
% total '14 |
2014 |
% total '14 |
2014 |
|
Manufacturing & Other Industry (including Primary Production) |
€ m |
% |
€ m |
% |
€ m |
|
Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry, Mining & Quarrying |
144 |
72% |
- |
0% |
144 |
|
Food, Drink & Tobacco |
2,792 |
45% |
952 |
14% |
3,744 |
|
Textiles, Clothing, Footware & Leather |
156 |
57% |
0 |
1% |
156 |
|
Wood & Wood Products |
180 |
80% |
164 |
66% |
344 |
|
Paper & Printing |
84 |
71% |
7 |
36% |
92 |
|
Chemicals |
96 |
25% |
2,186 |
7% |
2,283 |
|
Rubber & Plastics |
265 |
62% |
114 |
13% |
379 |
|
Non-Metalic Minerals |
294 |
80% |
12 |
5% |
306 |
|
Basic & Fabricated Metal Products |
364 |
75% |
88 |
12% |
452 |
|
Computer, Electronic & Optical Products |
62 |
15% |
701 |
8% |
763 |
|
Electrical equipment |
210 |
48% |
41 |
10% |
252 |
|
Machinery & Equipment |
226 |
32% |
116 |
9% |
342 |
|
Transport Equipment |
57 |
51% |
85 |
12% |
142 |
|
Medical Device Manufacturing |
15 |
15% |
305 |
4% |
319 |
|
Other Misc. Manufacturing |
78 |
37% |
50 |
20% |
128 |
|
Sub Total |
5,021 |
47% |
4,823 |
8% |
9,845 |
|
Energy, Water, Waste & Construction |
|||||
|
Energy |
11 |
72% |
11 |
||
|
Recycling & Waste |
26 |
61% |
26 |
||
|
Construction (Excl. EI Amendments) |
113 |
73% |
113 |
||
|
Construction (EI Amendments) |
157 |
47% |
157 |
||
|
Sub Total |
307 |
56% |
307 |
||
|
Information, Communications & Other Services |
0% |
||||
|
Publishing, Broadcasting & Telecommunications |
79 |
43% |
14 |
26% |
93 |
|
Computer Programming |
10 |
34% |
6,062 |
15% |
6,072 |
|
Computer Consultancy |
258 |
27% |
4,827 |
26% |
5,085 |
|
Computer Facilities Management |
14% |
1,334 |
27% |
1,334 |
|
|
Other IT & Computer Services |
86 |
32% |
626 |
9% |
712 |
|
Financial Services |
82 |
13% |
229 |
21% |
310 |
|
Business Services |
518 |
28% |
11 |
11% |
530 |
|
Education |
25 |
6% |
25 |
||
|
Other Services |
101 |
42% |
24 |
6% |
125 |
|
Sub Total |
1,160 |
26% |
13,127 |
18% |
14,287 |
|
Grand Total - All Sectors |
6,489 |
41% |
17,950 |
13% |
24,438 |
|
Dublin |
1,281 |
29% |
12,548 |
17% |
13,829 |
|
Rest of South & East |
2,777 |
41% |
4,298 |
9% |
7,075 |
|
BMW Area |
2,430 |
52% |
1,105 |
10% |
3,534 |
Source: DJEI Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact 2014
696. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an assessment has been carried out on the way import duty would impact on the trading of goods with Britain and Northern Ireland post-Brexit; and if import duty will be set at 23%. [34605/16]
View answer699. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a statistical breakdown on an annual basis of cross-Border trade and tourism in County Donegal since 2014; and if her Department has conducted research into the likely implications arising from Brexit on trade and tourism throughout the Border region. [34608/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 696 and 699 together.
Promoting cross-border trade in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for the Government as a whole.
It is, of course, hard to predict at this stage what the impact of Brexit will be for all of Ireland, including border counties such as Donegal. Much will depend on the nature of the deal that will be negotiated between the UK and the EU. This Government will seek, during that process, to highlight our unique economic ties with Northern Ireland.
It is clear that the cross-border market on the island is a particularly important one for SMEs, with nearly two thirds of Northern Ireland small firm exports going South and one sixth of Ireland’s small firm exports going North.
InterTrade Ireland is initiating a research project to examine the impact of differing trade regimes which may emerge in the post-Brexit environment. This study will include an analysis of tariff rates to look at the range of possible impacts for products currently traded between both jurisdictions.
I am engaged strongly with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to ensure that Irish jobs are maintained and created. I am in ongoing communication with these agencies, and chair a Brexit Coordination Group which includes the senior management of my Department and the CEOs of the agencies.
IDA Ireland will continue to work to implement its business development strategy for the North West, which includes Donegal, to help it maximise investment in the Region. Among its targets, this strategy will see the Agency seeking to secure potential “second site” investments from companies with existing operations in Dublin, as well as pursuing new investments for the region.
Enterprise Ireland is working with its 1,500 clients who export to the UK, looking at the individual challenges faced by companies in every county in Ireland and also on a sectoral level, as some sectors are more exposed than others.
From a strategic perspective Enterprise Ireland has a two pronged approach. It is working to assist companies to maintain and grow UK exports and extend their international reach. It is also supporting companies in enhancing their competitiveness to protect and grow Irish exports and jobs. In this regard, EI is assisting clients to improve their processes to drive efficiencies and cost reductions and undertake R&D and innovation with a view to improving existing products and processes or developing new ones.
697. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an assessment has been carried out into the future competitiveness of the SME retail sector post-Brexit, particularly the implications for imports and exports to and from Britain and Northern Ireland. [34606/16]
View answerIn terms of assessing the impacts of Brexit on businesses, I have tasked my Department officials with making Brexit their number one priority. I am establishing a new focused Brexit Unit within the Department, and a Brexit Senior Officials Group to monitor developments across the Department on a regular basis at official level.
As chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I am also very aware of the specific issues faced by the retail sector. The Forum provides a platform for my Department to engage directly with the concerns of retailers, and its work programme is focused on identifying opportunities and responses to challenges in a collaborative manner to maintain the competitiveness of the sector and support sustainable jobs growth in the retail sector across all regions.
Currently, the Forum’s work programme has four key areas of focus: reducing energy costs, maximising opportunities in the digital economy, identifying skills needs for the sector, and the revitalisation of town centres. These working groups are focused on maximising the benefit of concrete initiatives and funding streams, such as the fund of €10 million made available by the Government this year for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and further funding of €12 million in 2017. Effective use of funds such as this will be of particular support to small and medium retailers. Progressing the work areas of the Forum will provide support to the retail sector in facing Brexit-related challenges.
I will be chairing the next meeting of the Retail Consultation Forum on 21st November. Brexit is now a standing item on the agenda and members of the Forum will be briefed at this meeting by senior officials from the Department of the Taoiseach on the whole of Government response to the Brexit-related challenges. This will also provide retail members of the Forum with an opportunity to outline their concerns regarding the impact of Brexit on the sector.
At this stage, it is difficult to predict what the precise impact of Brexit will be on specific business sectors, and much will depend on the nature of the deal negotiated between the UK and the EU. This Government will ensure, during that process, to highlight our unique economic ties with both Britain and Northern Ireland.
As Minister, I have responsibility for supporting SMEs across the whole of the economy. I am making sure that I am armed with the detail of how Brexit impacts on each sector and each company type – be they SMEs, micro enterprises, or larger companies, before I finalise any proposals about specific measures. My Department is scoping out possible responses to the short term currency challenge and I expect to be in a position to announce more detail, based on actual company needs shortly.
698. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an assessment has been carried out to examine the implications for the cost of living for communities in rural and Border areas as a result of Brexit on the import and export of consumer goods; and the future implications for job creation in the region. [34607/16]
View answerAs Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, my focus is on improving Ireland’s competitiveness performance. Ensuring Ireland is a competitive location to establish and run a business is essential for job creation. Ireland’s competitiveness also impacts on the comparative cost of living between Ireland and other regions with which we compete, including between North and South of the Border on the island. Brexit means we must do more across a wide range of policy areas to enhance our attractiveness as a location to start and locate a business relative to the UK. The most recent data from the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business shows that Ireland is ahead of the UK in terms of ease of starting a business and paying tax but is behind the UK in the overall rankings.
Enterprise 2025, the Government’s long-term enterprise policy, is an ambitious strategy, with the objective of delivering growth over the next decade that is sustainable. The Regional Action Plans for Jobs are the key instrument by which we are seeking to deliver on the objectives of Enterprise 2025 at regional level. Implementation Groups have been established in the North East and North West Regions for their respective Action Plans and my officials have received the first reports on progress on the Action Plans and will consider with the stakeholders the next steps required.
I have also asked the Chairman of the National Competitiveness Council to review the competitiveness of Ireland versus the UK. I expect the work of the Council to be completed early in the new year.
In addition, InterTrade Ireland is actively developing a programme of information sessions and resources to support businesses through the challenging period of exchange rate volatility and I will be participating in their programme of engagements over the coming months to assess for myself the competitiveness issues for businesses and communities in the Border areas.
700. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of potential US inward investors that have conducted site visits in each IDA region in 2016, both before and after the Brexit referendum result in the UK. [34637/16]
View answerThe number of site visits for the first two quarters of 2016 is set out in the following table. The number of site visits to the end of the third quarter, which incorporates the period directly after the result of the EU-UK referendum, is also set out for comparison.
IDA Ireland operates in an environment of ever increasing worldwide competition for foreign direct investment. For competitiveness reasons, it is not possible for IDA Ireland to disclose details of the country of origin of prospective investors into Ireland.
IDA Site Visits by County to end of 2016
|
County |
Site Visits to end Q2 16 |
Site Visits to end Q3 2016 |
|
Carlow |
2 |
8 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
Clare |
7 |
13 |
|
Cork |
29 |
43 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
6 |
|
Dublin |
145 |
204 |
|
Galway |
23 |
33 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
3 |
|
Kildare |
6 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
8 |
10 |
|
Laois |
2 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
6 |
|
Limerick |
23 |
39 |
|
Longford |
3 |
5 |
|
Louth |
10 |
17 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
4 |
|
Meath |
4 |
7 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
7 |
13 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
8 |
|
Waterford |
6 |
15 |
|
Westmeath |
14 |
24 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
4 |
|
Total: |
315 |
489 |
701. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions her Department in conjunction with IDA and Enterprise Ireland have taken to replace the jobs in the midlands since the closure of a factory (details supplied) and the announcement from a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34939/16]
View answerIDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland (EI) and Westmeath Local Enterprise Office continue to work hard to mitigate the impact of the job losses in Westmeath caused by the closure of the company concerned. Good progress was made in this respect in 2015, with a total of 750 new jobs being created in the county.
IDA Ireland, for its part, is engaging with both current and prospective clients about investing further in Westmeath and the wider region. A good example of positive investment into the county was the announcement last year by Patterson Pumps of a 30-person expansion at its manufacturing facility there. I am hopeful that more investment will be secured in the time ahead.
In terms of enterprise development in the Midlands, and in Mullingar in particular, EI supports entrepreneurs who are setting up start-up companies in manufacturing and internationally traded services. EI also aims to create new jobs by working with its existing established companies in the Midlands. The Westmeath Local Enterprise Office provides an important service too by supporting those who are looking to start or grow a small business.
The Action Plan for Jobs for the Midland Region is another key tool to help boost employment in the area. Launched in June 2015, its core objective is the creation of an extra 14,000 jobs across the counties of Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois by 2020. The Plan includes a series of actions aimed at attracting at least 25 additional multinational investment projects to the region by 2019.
702. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 901 of 31 May 2016, if she has received the report of the Low Pay Commission on the sub-minimum rates of the minimum wage which was due by the end of October 2016; if so, when she plans to publish the report; if not, when she expects the report to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34940/16]
View answerFurther to my reply to the question referred to, the Commission submitted its Report to me on the matter on October 28 last, and I propose to publish it shortly. It may be noted however, that the Commission did not consider it appropriate to make recommendations at this time, in the absence of up-to-date data from the Central Statistics Office which is pending validation. The likely timescale for the validation of this data is not yet confirmed.
The Commission has undertaken to submit its recommendations in a supplementary report as soon as the data is validated.
703. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason no consultation was held with ISME prior to the signing of the Employment Regulation (Amendment) Order (Contract Cleaning Joint Labour Committee) 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35117/16]
View answerDeputy, you will be aware that I signed the Employment Regulation (Amendment) Order (Contract Cleaning Joint Labour Committee) 2016 on October 27 last. (https://www.djei.ie/en/Legislation/SI-No-548-of-2016.html)
The making of the Order follows a public consultation on draft proposals that were developed by the Contract Cleaning Joint Labour Committee for an amended Employment Regulation Order for the Sector. This process was undertaken in August of this year when notice of making of the proposals was advertised in national newspapers on 18 August. That notice invited observations on the proposals to be submitted by 16 September. Copies of the draft proposals were available from the Joint Labour Committees Secretariat and were also uploaded on the Workplace Relations website, https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/news-media/Workplace_Relations_Notices/Contract_Cleaning_JLC_Draft_ERO.html
The Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the Sector, made up of representatives of the main unions and employers in the sector, considered submissions made and submitted their final proposals for pay and other terms to apply to workers in the Sector, to the Labour Court for consideration. Amongst other things, the JLC must have regard to the legitimate financial and commercial interests of employers in the sector in question. In this instance the Labour Court adopted the proposals and sent them to me. Being satisfied that the provisions of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012 were complied with, I signed the Order to effect the proposals.
704. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her policy in respect of the IDA granting financial support by way of grants, credits, employment benefits and discounts to IDA supported companies that are already here to encourage them to relocate further aspects of their business to other locations here; if the same packages are available in these situations compared with a new company that the IDA brings to the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35135/16]
View answerIDA Ireland’s mission is to attract high-value foreign direct investment (FDI) to the country. The Agency achieves that by actively marketing Ireland as an investment location for international companies as well as supporting the growth and expansion of its client base already here. In furtherance of those goals, the Agency may provide grants to companies wishing to locate or expand their existing operations in Ireland. These include employment grants, capital grants and research and development grants.
All of the financial and non-financial supports used by IDA Ireland to attract new investors to the country are also available to existing clients here. It should be made clear, however, that the IDA does not actively encourage companies to relocate from one location within Ireland to another.
705. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the likely cost associated with changes specifically for small retailers with regard to proposals in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015; if she engaged with small retailers on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35145/16]
View answerAs chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I am very aware of the specific issues faced by the retail sector. The Forum provides a platform for my Department to engage directly with the concerns of retailers and its work programme is focused on maintaining the competitiveness of the sector. In so doing, we ensure that retail businesses are supported in identifying challenges that may impact on future competitiveness.
Currently, the Forum’s work programme has four key areas of focus: reducing energy costs, maximising opportunities in the digital economy, identifying skills needs for the sector, and the revitalisation of town centres. These working groups are focused on maximising the benefit of concrete initiatives and funding streams, such as the fund of €10 million made available by the Government this year for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Effective use of funds such as this will be of particular support to small and medium retailers.
In recent weeks, several members of the Forum have voiced concerns to me and publicly about the cost and compliance implications of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. Notwithstanding these concerns, it is important to note that these organisations are very supportive of the overall aims of the Bill, given the justified public health concerns around harmful drinking patterns in Ireland, and they take the issue of alcohol retailing very seriously. Many of their members are also members of RRAI (Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in Ireland), an organisation which has also raised this issue with me recently.
My officials are engaging with the Department of Health to highlight the concerns voiced by retailers, while also supporting the central objective of the proposed Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which is to reduce the level of harmful alcohol consumption in Ireland. The Retail Consultation Forum, which is meeting later this month, provides an additional platform for consultation on the matter.
706. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will return funding to the electrical contractors following the new registered employment agreements (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35175/16]
View answerDeputy, you will be aware that a High Court challenge to the validity of the Electrical Contracting Registered Employment Agreement (REA), as well as the constitutionality of the Industrial Relations Act 1946, the legislation underpinning the REA system, was upheld in the High Court and appealed to the Supreme Court.
In its judgment delivered in May 2013, (in McGowan and others v The Labour Court, Ireland and the Attorney General), the Supreme Court held that Part III of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 was invalid having regard to Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution.
The effect of that decision was to invalidate the registration of employment agreements previously registered under Part III of the 1946 Act. In consequence the Labour Court no longer had jurisdiction to enforce, interpret or otherwise apply these agreements.
Existing contractual rights of workers in sectors covered by REAs were unaffected by the ruling. Contractual rights can be altered only by agreement between the parties involved.
However, the striking down of the REAs meant that new employees into the Sectors previously covered by REAs could be hired at any rate agreeable between workers and their employers, subject only to the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Acts.
Legal advice provided following the Supreme Court judgment indicates that while the decision had immediate effect on REAs registered pursuant to the 1946 Act it did not mean for example that monies paid by employers to employees pursuant to those REAs having been incorporated into contracts of employment could be recouped. It should be recalled that the monies involved relate to wages paid by employers to their own employees.
The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015 provides a replacement for Registered Employment Agreements in individual enterprises and a new mechanism whereby pay and pension and sick pay provisions in a particular sector can be established and enforced.
This new framework contains a mechanism whereby, at the request, separately or jointly from organisations substantially representative of employers and/or of workers, the Labour Court can initiate a review of the pay and pension and sick pay entitlements of workers in a particular sector and, if it deems it appropriate, make a recommendation to the Minister on the matter, who in turn, if satisfied that the process provided in the new legislation for the Labour Court to follow has been complied with, shall make the Order. Such an Order will be binding across the sector to which it relates and will be enforceable by the Workplace Relations Commission.
Since the Act came into effect on 1 August 2015, two such applications have been made to the Labour Court, one of which was from the TEEU and which was subsequently withdrawn.
707. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to provide support for families in the event of family breakdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34448/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency provides a range of supports for families, including those affected by family breakdown. These supports include, for example, the provision of counselling services.
I have asked Tusla to provide me with details of current service provision in this area and I will forward this information to the Deputy when available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to parliamentary question No. 707 tabled by you for answer on 15 November 2016 in relation to the provision of support for families in the event of a family breakdown.
Family Support Services funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provide a wide range of supports to assist parents and children to function better as families. Family Resource Centres are a core part of this service.
There are currently 109 communities supported through the Family Resource Centre Programme. In 2016, Tusla is providing €13.5m in core funding to the Family Resource Centre Programme, an increase of some €400,00 over 2015.
The Family Resource Centre programme is Ireland's largest family support programme delivering universal and targeted community-based family support services and developmental opportunities within disadvantaged communities across the country based on a life-cycle approach. Family Resource Centres (FRCs) work with children, parents and communities to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit.
Family Resource Centres operate a wide range of services to children and families, including Strengthening Families Programme, parent support groups, after school clubs, homework clubs, counselling and parent and toddlers groups.
In relation specifically to families experiencing relationship/marital difficulties, Family Resource Centres provide a safe place for families to meet. In 2015, 253 Case Conferences were held in FRCs, 241 Family Mediation Sessions took place and 1231 Child Contact Sessions were also held.
In 2015 under Tusla’s Counselling Grants Scheme, funding of €4.55m issued to support families experiencing relationship/marital difficulties and family breakdown to access counselling support on a no cost / low cost basis. Services supported included thoseproviding marriage and relationship counselling, services for adolescents following parental separation and group based support for primary school age children.
In 2015, 186 voluntary organisations received funding to provide low cost marriage/relationship counselling. One of these organisations, Accord, provided marriage/relationship counselling through its 35 nationwide offices and its 12 Dublin offices. Another organisation, Relationships Ireland, in addition to providing relationship counselling, also supported teenagers through its Teen Between service going through or following parental separation. Rainbows Ireland through its group based support for children supported 1,855 children experiencing parental separation through 262 groups in schools, parishes and family resource centres nationwide. 70 Family Resource Centres provided low cost marriage/relationship counselling in communities nationwide.
The precise level of funding to be allocated to the family support services and counselling services will be considered by Tusla, in preparing its Business Plan, having regard to the overall level of funding available in 2017, which will exceed €700m, including the additional Budget 2017 provision.
I would like to assure you that I will continue to support these services which provide vital supports to children and families in need. I trust that this information is of assistance.
708. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to open a residential unit in County Donegal for children in foster care (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34674/16]
View answerAt the end of June 2016, there were 209 children in care in Donegal with over 96% in foster care, broken down by 79% in general foster care and 17% in relative foster care. There was less than 2% in general residential care with the remainder in other placements determined by their care plan. This compares very favourably with the national figure of just over 93% of children in care in foster care.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has confirmed that the purpose and function of the centre in Letterkenny remains under consideration while the premises is being upgraded. The local placement needs, as determined by social work services in the area, will be taken into account when deciding on the future of the centre.
709. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs following the publication of the action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 1.4 to continue operating the Dublin region protocol relating to child protection and welfare concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35033/16]
View answer710. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs following the publication of the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 1.5; the supports and initiatives that have been established for families in emergency accommodation to mitigate the challenges that such parents and children face; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35034/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 710 together.
Homelessness among children and families remains a serious problem. In September there were 1,173 families in emergency accommodation, including 1,568 adults and 2,426 dependents. I am committing to supporting implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. We have made some progress in this regard, but more remains to be done.
In relation to Action 1.4 of the Plan, the joint protocol between Tusla and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) governing child welfare and protection matters has been fully operational since approval in June 2016. A review of the protocol has already commenced and will be concluded early December 2016. It is intended to replicate this protocol across the State. However, the current protocol would not necessarily fit as a national template as organisational set up differs across the country. Accordingly, the protocol will need to be tailored to individual local authorities. This work will take place on a phased basis commencing in Q1 2017 and will continue throughout the year.
Action 1.5 commits to strengthening the supports and initiatives that have been established for families in emergency accommodation to mitigate the challenges that such parents and children face. My Department and others have undertaken a number of initiatives as part of this Action.
The DRHE is working to provide free public transport for family travel and for school journeys for those homeless families in the Dublin Region who are residing in hotel accommodation. Each family is being given five 24-hour family LEAP cards, which will be valid for use on all Dublin transport systems, allowing for family days out at weekends or during holiday periods. Distribution of the family cards is almost complete. This will be quickly followed by the distribution of the school journey cards.
My Department is funding research, commissioned by Focus Ireland, to identify issues regarding access to food and potential nutritional impacts on families in emergency homeless accommodation.
My Department is also enhancing access to early years services for homeless families through a new Community Childcare Subvention Scheme for homeless children. It will provide part-time childcare for children aged between 0 and 6 years of age. It is planned to launch the Scheme next January.
Also, I recently secured the agreement of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government that the provision of accommodation for young people leaving State care would be eligible for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) operated by his Department. My Department and Tusla will work to ensure that any accommodation proposed, and ultimately delivered, will be provided with the appropriate levels of protective factors for the young person making the transition to independent living.
Many of the remaining child-focussed actions in the Action Plan are being advanced by Tusla and progress is being made on several fronts. This year, Tusla provided funding to Focus Ireland for additional child support workers to assist with the challenges facing families in emergency accommodation and I will be requesting Tusla to examine the possibility of funding for similar initiatives in 2017.
