Written Answers Nos. 278-297
278. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons that accessed the local enterprise offices for their services in the Leinster region in each of the years 2014 and 2015; the number of staff employed in each location; the amount of funding each location in Leinster has drawn down in each of the years 2014 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38924/16]
View answerGiven the wide range of the Local Enterprise Offices remit, their engagement with their clients takes many forms: from drop-in visits; telephone calls; emails and meetings; to social media contacts via platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, among others. Data on the volume of all such client engagement is not currently available across the 31 individual LEOs.
However, in respect of key LEO services, data for 2014 and 2015 can be provided as set out in the following tables:
Table 1: No. of Leinster LEOs Capital Grants Paid and Training and Mentoring Participants
|
- |
No. of Measure 1 Capital Grants Paid |
No. of Training Participants |
No. of Mentoring Participants |
|||
|
Leinster LEOs |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Carlow |
39 |
25 |
1,754 |
1,296 |
98 |
114 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
50 |
36 |
1,302 |
1,759 |
439 |
427 |
|
Dublin City |
71 |
58 |
1,581 |
1,377 |
1,059 |
1,560 |
|
Fingal |
39 |
49 |
1,443 |
1,504 |
825 |
766 |
|
South Dublin |
29 |
38 |
667 |
722 |
424 |
487 |
|
Kildare |
18 |
18 |
1,050 |
1,008 |
311 |
411 |
|
Kilkenny |
35 |
27 |
693 |
828 |
273 |
335 |
|
Laois |
12 |
10 |
416 |
562 |
85 |
193 |
|
Longford |
36 |
28 |
367 |
331 |
87 |
73 |
|
Louth |
26 |
28 |
533 |
413 |
50 |
85 |
|
Meath |
22 |
28 |
304 |
460 |
360 |
416 |
|
Offaly |
30 |
34 |
492 |
540 |
71 |
98 |
|
Westmeath |
33 |
42 |
948 |
1,086 |
77 |
99 |
|
Wexford |
38 |
27 |
1,136 |
942 |
113 |
101 |
|
Wicklow |
39 |
39 |
1,454 |
1,139 |
332 |
455 |
|
TOTAL |
517 |
487 |
14,140 |
13,967 |
4,604 |
5,620 |
Table 2: No. of Leinster LEOs Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Applications and Trading Online Vouchers Approved
|
No of Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur Applications |
No. of Trading Online Vouchers Approved |
||||
|
Leinster LEOs |
2014* |
2015 |
2016 (to Mid-Oct) |
2014 + 2015 |
2016 (to Mid-Oct) |
|
Carlow |
27 |
40 |
27 |
47 |
17 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
30 |
52 |
72 |
121 |
47 |
|
Dublin City |
102 |
114 |
127 |
137 |
69 |
|
Fingal |
60 |
53 |
110 |
101 |
25 |
|
South Dublin |
53 |
41 |
67 |
32 |
25 |
|
Kildare |
32 |
52 |
54 |
73 |
19 |
|
Kilkenny |
26 |
25 |
37 |
68 |
20 |
|
Laois |
24 |
73 |
64 |
25 |
18 |
|
Longford |
19 |
15 |
31 |
15 |
7 |
|
Louth |
31 |
65 |
76 |
42 |
33 |
|
Meath |
28 |
37 |
69 |
15 |
13 |
|
Offaly |
18 |
34 |
36 |
30 |
12 |
|
Westmeath |
27 |
42 |
54 |
38 |
23 |
|
Wexford |
39 |
43 |
64 |
54 |
44 |
|
Wicklow |
49 |
43 |
57 |
132 |
49 |
|
TOTAL |
565 |
729 |
945 |
930 |
421 |
Given the range of contact options, Enterprise Ireland has initiated a project to develop a single Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS) for use by all the LEOs. The aim of the CRMS project is to provide a more structured approach to contact management across all of the LEOs.
Details of the number of staff in each of the LEOs in Leinster and the amount of funding drawn down in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to date are set out in the following table.
Table 3: Leinster LEOs Staff Numbers and Funding Drawdowns
|
- |
- |
Funding Drawn Down |
||
|
Leinster LEOs |
No of Staff* |
2014 |
2015 |
2016* |
|
Carlow |
4 |
€639,473 |
€667,092 |
€704,307 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
6 |
€1,224,551 |
€813,914 |
€861,944 |
|
Dublin City |
10 |
€1,322,194 |
€1,143,267 |
€1,363,523 |
|
Fingal |
7 |
€906,824 |
€951,020 |
€1,009,685 |
|
South Dublin |
6 |
€845,348 |
€814,051 |
€925,626 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
€756,848 |
€683,709 |
€805,095 |
|
Kilkenny |
4 |
€789,372 |
€777,715 |
€760,681 |
|
Laois |
3 |
€674,790 |
€649,010 |
€583,423 |
|
Longford |
3 |
€705,383 |
€651,914 |
€541,507 |
|
Louth |
5 |
€717,615 |
€668,247 |
€656,200 |
|
Meath |
5 |
€711,092 |
€456,292 |
€743,898 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
€764,612 |
€630,408 |
€671,587 |
|
Westmeath |
5 |
€931,494 |
€806,009 |
€951,990 |
|
Wexford |
4 |
€833,164 |
€729,246 |
€769,403 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
€930,979 |
€848,410 |
€803,356 |
|
TOTAL |
75 |
€12,753,739 |
€11,290,304 |
€12,152,225 |
*as at 5 December 2016
279. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons that applied for the Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur competition through local enterprise offices in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date. [38925/16]
View answerDetails of the number of completed applications received for the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competitions in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are set out in the table:
|
Year |
No. of Completed Applications Received |
|
2014 |
1,018 |
|
2015 |
1,398 |
|
2016 |
1,843 |
I am very pleased with the strong level of interest around the Country by young people who wish to start their own business, thanks to the time and effort invested by the Local Enterprise Offices.
The Local Finals of IBYE are taking place at present, the Regional Finals will take place early in the new year and the National Final will take place in early March 2017.
280. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of work permits that were refused on application and refused on appeal that were subsequently allowed by her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38983/16]
View answerWhere an employment permit application is refused, it is open to an applicant to submit a request for a review to be conducted. Under the provisions of the legislation, a decision made under review is final and cannot be revisited.
If the conditions that gave rise to the refusal in the first instance change thereafter, it is open to an applicant to submit a new employment permit application for consideration. It is not possible to ascertain the number of applications of this nature.
281. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by her Department, any agency within the remit of her Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of Departmental funding; if her Department has any guideline in relation to such investment; if her Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39034/16]
View answerMy Department, and the agencies under its remit, do not have any direct or indirect investments through pension or other investment funds in tobacco companies.
282. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she and officials in her Department who are preparing for Brexit have views regarding Ireland's ability to attract foreign direct investment from the United Kingdom following the Brexit referendum result when rents are increasing month on month; and the actions being taken to tackle this issue on a government wide basis. [34868/16]
View answerThere are potential FDI opportunities for Ireland in the context of BREXIT but these are not limited to the UK market.
I have directed IDA Ireland to explore all potential FDI opportunities arising and work is already underway in this regard. To support the IDA in their efforts they will be provided with additional Capital supports for 2017 which will be used to provide grant assistance to FDI companies seeking to expand or to locate here and to support the IDA regional property programme.
In our efforts to win more FDI, we can continue to rely on the selling points that make us attractive for investment in the first place, including of course our continued membership of the European Union and Eurozone.
As part of our offering investors will look for adequate availability of both residential and commercial property. In that context I welcome the commitments in Rebuilding Ireland - the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness - regarding the development of a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector which is due to be published before the end of this year.
283. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether the TTIP is now in jeopardy in view of the fact that President elect Donald Trump spoke against it during his campaign; and her further views on whether this will be discussed at the next EU Council. [35167/16]
View answerFollowing the recent US Presidential election and the change of administration there will now be a natural pause in the EU-US partnership agreement negotiation rounds until the new US administration is appointed in 2017.
At a meeting on the 11th November 2016, the Foreign Affairs Council discussed the recent developments and state of play in the negotiations. The next steps in these negotiations will need to be assessed once the new US administration is in place.
The EU Commission has written the President elect Trump extending an invitation to visit Europe for an EU-US Summit to chart the course of our relations for the next four years.
I support building on and consolidating what has been agreed with the current US administration, particularly in relation to regulatory cooperation. A lot of good and beneficial work has already been done so it is important to capture what has been achieved and to see what further practical cooperation can be pursued in the future.
It is not expected that the EU-US partnership agreement will be discussed at the European Council in December.
284. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of funding for the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35157/16]
View answerThe PRTLI supports the provision of research infrastructure as well as trained researchers, through Structured PhD programmes, across Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).
Total investment in the five Cycles of PRTLI to date has amounted to €1.2 billion from both Exchequer and private investment. With respect to the current Cycle (Cycle 5), the Exchequer component is €277m with a further €59m of private investment. The majority of projects in Cycle 5 are progressing well and should reach completion by the end of this year. As with previous cycles, there is a long lead time until the total spend and the administrative obligations are finalised. Total expenditure by my Department on PRTLI in 2016 was €30.7m, including the supplementary vote of €20m. In 2017, the budget for PRTLI is €14.4 m.
The planning and design of a successor to Cycle 5 of PRTLI is a key component in Innovation 2020 and is being progressed by my Department working closely with the Department of Education and Skills. We are currently in the early planning stages of Cycle 6. Consultation with the research community and other stakeholders will take place in due course.
My Department is preparing a proposal to seek funding for Cycle 6 of the PRTLI in the mid-term review of the Capital plan in 2017.
285. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in preparing for the recent EU Council at which trade deals were discussed, she sought legal advice as to whether provisions of CETA would require a referendum here. [34742/16]
View answerThe legal advice received by my Department confirms that the Investment Court System model contained in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which will effectively be a dispute resolution process, would not necessitate a referendum in order for Ireland to ratify. The agreement will however come before this House for ratification.
286. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 785 of 29 November 2016, if she will provide clarity in particular on a sentence (details supplied); if this means that the universal subsidy will be paid to parents on a pro rata basis; if so, the number of hours of child care per week and the number of weeks per year a child will have to undertake for its parents to be eligible for the maximum subsidy of €900; and if she will provide an explanation for a scenario (details supplied). [38904/16]
View answerThe universal element of the Affordable Childcare Scheme will be available to all families with children between the age of 6 months and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later than 36 months), who are attending a childcare provider who is registered with Tusla initially, including both centre-based childcare providers (e.g. crèches, preschools and daycare centres) and child-minders.
Under the scheme, there will be no requirement to avail of a minimum number of subsidised hours or weeks. Subject to the terms of the scheme, including the maximum subsidised hours per week, the universal subsidy will be payable for the number of hours and weeks agreed between the parent and childcare provider. The universal subsidy is paid at a rate of €0.50 per hour of childcare.
If one household (''Household A'') pays €7,200 per year on a full time care place (30 hours per week, for 36 weeks per year), this household be eligible for the maximum rate of €540 i.e. 30hrs x.50 cent per hr =€15 per week x36weeks = €540
If one household (''Household B'') pays the same amount on childcare per year as Household A of €7,200 per year but for a part time care place (15 hours per day, for 36 weeks per year), this household be eligible for the maximum rate of €270 i.e. 15hrs x.50 cent per hr =€7.5 per week x36weeks = €270.
287. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 23 November 2016, if she has consulted with the Data Protection Commissioner on PPSN use, data sharing provisions and changes to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 that will be made in the new primary legislation proposed; if she will provide a description of the Data Protection Commissioner's views or recommendations; and if she has received approval from the commissioner to make these changes to data sharing that will be required. [38909/16]
View answerIn order to make the application process for the Affordable Childcare Scheme as easy as possible for parents, it is intended that the means-testing will, in most cases, be carried out through an automatic link with income data held by the Revenue Commissioners and by the Department of Social Protection. However, parents will be able to appeal decisions and/or request a manual means test by the delegated scheme administrator, which will require the submission of documentary evidence of income and relevant deductible expenses. The use of the PPS number and data sharing across public bodies and agencies will be enabled and supported through legislation and formal data sharing agreements.
The primary legislation will take account of all necessary amendments to existing legislation, including any changes which may be required to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2015. A national consultation process on the policy proposals for the scheme has just concluded. Further detailed consultation will take place with all relevant parties, as deemed necessary throughout the legislative development process.
288. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 23 November 2016, when she expects to bring this legislation before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and the date this legislation will have to be commenced for the administrative system for the new scheme to be in place by September 2017. [38910/16]
View answerThe new Affordable Childcare Scheme will be introduced to provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The scheme will be set out in primary legislation, encompassing:
- clear and detailed rules for the assessment of income and the provision of subsidies;
- clearly prescribed authority in relation to the sharing of data across public bodies and administrators; and
- comprehensive provisions in relation to the powers and obligations of the scheme administrator
Officials in my department are currently drafting Heads of Bill for the scheme, which are at an advanced stage. It is intended to bring the Heads of Bill to Government for approval early in the new year. Thereafter, the precise timeframe for the drafting of the legislation and its passage through the Houses will be subject to the usual considerations regarding scheduling and allocation of parliamentary time. It is intended that legislation would be in place in early summer.
289. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by her Department, any agency within the remit of her Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if her Department has any guideline in relation to such investment; if her Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39026/16]
View answerNeither my Department, or any of the agencies under its remit, hold investments in tobacco companies either directly or indirectly. While there are no specific guidelines in relation to investments of this nature I would emphasise that my Department and its agencies would not, as a matter of course, make such investments.
290. Deputy John Deasy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of entry applications the Defence Forces have received, both male and female, in each of the past five years. [38933/16]
View answerThe Information requested by the Deputy, regarding the number of male and female entry applications received by the Defence Forces, in each of the past five years, could not be compiled in the available time. This information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
291. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the pilot employment support scheme took place in 2016; the skills and training identifiable with the Defence Forces that were transferred to the participants; if these skills have enhanced the education of the participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38977/16]
View answerIn line with the Programme for Partnership Government and the White Paper on Defence the pilot Defence Forces employment support scheme ran from Monday 20th June 2016 to Friday 26th August 2016 in Gormanston Camp with 25 participants. It encompassed an innovative training programme of 10 weeks duration, consisting of 5 weeks of training by the Defence Forces interspersed with 5 weeks of education-orientated training by the Baldoyle Training Centre of the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB). The scheme provided participants with new skills, knowledge, competencies and self-development that have enhanced their capacity to pursue employment, work experience or further educational opportunities.
The skills and training provided by the Defence Forces encouraged personal achievement and hard work. The aim was to develop social and team skills, increased self-confidence, self-discipline, self-motivation and self-worth, and increased levels of physical fitness and physical fitness education. The training provided by the DDLETB aimed to develop interpersonal communication, team-working, career development and job-seeking skills.
On completion of the programme the participants received certificates which should improve their prospects of securing employment or further education. These included:
- A joint certificate from the Defence Forces and the Department of Social Protection that the participant has successfully completed the course;
- A Basic Medical Training certificate;
- A Manual Handling Training certificate;
- A Certificate on Food Safety Management;
- City & Guilds Credits for Word Processing, Using the Internet and for Using E-mail;
- A SOLAS Safe Pass. Safe Pass is a one-day safety awareness programme which is required of all construction site workers.
General reports from psychological screening carried out by Ballymun Jobs Centre following completion of the pilot scheme coupled with feedback from participants showed that the programme exerted a strong, positive and lasting influence on them. As at 14th November 2016,3 of the participants were in full- time employment and 6 were in full-time education.
292. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by his Department, any agency within the remit of his Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if his Department has any guideline in relation to such investment; if his Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39028/16]
View answerI am advised that there are no such investments held by my Department, or by any agency or entity within the remit of the Department, or in receipt of funding from my Department. Pensions for former members of the Defence Forces are paid directly from the Army Pensions Vote. This is funded from voted current expenditure.
My Department does not operate pension or investment funds and therefore does not have any guidelines in relation to investment or have any proposals to introduce any.
293. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason he attended a NATO summit in Warsaw in July 2016. [39066/16]
View answerIreland’s cooperation with NATO is conducted through the Partnership for Peace (PfP) which we joined in 1999 following approval by Dáil Éireann. Ireland’s purpose in participating in the PfP is to improve Defence Forces capabilities and to ensure that our Defence Forces are interoperable with the forces of other States engaged in UN mandated crisis management operations. Ireland’s continued participation in Partnership for Peace was reaffirmed in the White Paper on Defence, which was published last year.
Defence Ministers from partners and allies participating in the Interoperability Platform were invited to attend a meeting of participating States at the Warsaw summit in July 2016. As a participant in the PfP, Ireland is also a member of the Partnership Interoperability Platform. For Ireland, this Platform provides a format for consulting and working on common interoperability challenges to enhance our ability to operate with partners in future crisis management operations. I attended this meeting last July given the importance of interoperability for force protection and effectiveness on operations.
294. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the location and number of houses currently owned and maintained by the military authorities. [39068/16]
View answerThe table shows the number of houses by location currently owned and maintained by the Department of Defence for military use:
|
Location |
Number |
|
Curragh |
21 |
|
Baldonnel (Air Corps) |
6 |
|
Dublin ` |
6 |
|
Athlone |
1 |
|
Cork |
1 |
|
Galway |
1 |
|
Gormanstown |
1 |
|
Haulbowline (Naval Base) |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Total |
40 |
In addition there are 45 properties owned by the Department of Defence which are no longer required for military use, the majority of which are occupied by overholders.
295. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of boardings of fishing and other vessels for each year in the past ten years, in tabular form; and the number of persons arrested and vessels and equipment confiscated. [39069/16]
View answerThe main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis.
The number of Naval Service boardings and detentions of fishing vessels for each of the past ten years is set out the in the table.
|
Year |
Number of Boardings |
Number of Detentions |
|
2016 (up to 31 October 2016) |
1050 |
3 |
|
2015 |
1079 |
10 |
|
2014 |
936 |
10 |
|
2013 |
994 |
16 |
|
2012 |
1329 |
20 |
|
2011 |
1313 |
12 |
|
2010 |
1684 |
8 |
|
2009 |
1841 |
15 |
|
2008 |
1920 |
27 |
|
2007 |
1846 |
18 |
The Naval Service has no role in the confiscation of fishing equipment.
Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while on fishery patrol and on occasion may board other vessels. For operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose precise details of those boardings. However I can confirm that in the past ten years, the Naval Service has been involved in a number of significant drug interdiction operations.
296. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans for the outsourcing of previously employed civilian tasks; and the number of civilian staff in the Defence Forces and current cost of employing such person versus private sourcing. [39070/16]
View answerMy Department currently has 487 civilian employees supporting the work of the Defence Forces. The basic pay of these employees, net of employer PRSI, will be €16,742,661 in 2016. Employer PRSI will amount to €1,846,963.
The employees discharge a wide range of roles, including tradespeople and specialist posts and therefore, it is not possible to provide a comparison of employment costs with private outsourcing.
As part of the White Paper on Defence it is intended to examine the provision of such services and make recommendations in relation to the provision of core requirements.
297. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the length of time before any mission to sub-Saharan Africa, active duty for Defence Forces members begins; and the length of time after return from mission active duty ends. [39092/16]
View answerAs of 1 December 2016, Ireland is contributing Defence Forces personnel to four missions in sub Saharan Africa as follows:
- 18 personnel to the EU-led Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali);
- 3 Military Observers to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, (MINURSO);
- 4 Military Observers to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); and
- 1 Military Observer to the United Nations Mission in the Ivory Coast (UNOCI).
'Active service' is defined by Section 5 of the Defence Act 1954, as amended by Section 4 of the Defence (Amdment)(no 2) Act 1960 as follows:
“4. (1) A member of the Permanent Defence Force who is serving outside the State with an armed International United Nations Force shall, for the purposes of the Principal Act, be deemed, while so serving, to be on active service.”
I am advised that a member of the Permanent Defence Force is deemed to be on active service while serving outside the State with a relevant Force. This period commences when the member departs the State to serve with the Force and ends when he returns to the State, having finished serving with the Force.
