Tuesday, 17 Jan 2017

Written Answers Nos. 1634-1651

Enterprise Ireland

Questions (1634, 1635)

Bríd Smith

Question:

1634. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has made contact with the owners or workers of a company (details supplied) in Dundalk to help avert redundancy. [41563/16]

Bríd Smith

Question:

1635. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the reasons given to workers for redundancies at a company (details supplied) is that the lease has run out on the current premises where work is being carried out; and, if this is the issue, whether she will request IDA Ireland to seek a suitable alternative premises for the company. [41564/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1634 and 1635 together.

I understand that Probiotec Ltd, an Enterprise Ireland client, was acquired by LS Nutricare Ltd in September 2016. LS Nutricare Ltd is an Irish subsidiary of a Seychelles registered entity called the Lilium Stanley Group. Officials from Enterprise Ireland made contact with LS Nutricare Ltd in December 2016 in relation to the ongoing situation in Dundalk and are currently awaiting a response.

IDA Ireland Portfolio

Questions (1636)

Bríd Smith

Question:

1636. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if IDA Ireland has been approached by any other company to inform them that they will be taking over a premises on the Finnabair industrial park in 2017. [41565/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The provision of property solutions for specific client companies is a day to day operational matter for the Agency.

For reasons of commercial sensitivity and client confidentiality, IDA Ireland cannot provide details of its specific engagement with potential investors.

Legislative Measures

Questions (1637, 1638)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

1637. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the legislation she plans to bring forward to deal with the issue of accounting convergence in relation to international Irish companies listed on the US stock exchange; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41644/16]

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

1638. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the Companies Act 2014 or to use statutory audit legislation to deal with the issue of accounting convergence in relation to international Irish companies; when she expects the legislation to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41645/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1637 and 1638 together.

Section 279 of the Companies Act 2014 provides that in limited cases for a particular transitional period, US Accounting Standards may be used by certain companies. This is conditional on compliance with Irish company law and is subject to the company meeting a number of qualifying criteria. Section 279 is due to expire on 31 December 2020.

In light of the approach of that deadline, the Government is considering whether to propose an extension, and I expect an announcement in that regard shortly.

In any case, if the deadline is in fact to be extended, it will need to be done in primary legislation, which is ultimately a matter for the Oireachtas.

Departmental Funding

Questions (1639)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

1639. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the value of capital investment projects and grants under way or approved for funding by her Department for County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41766/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department is assisted in the delivery of its programmes by a number of offices and agencies. Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) all play a vital role in promoting and implementing policies which support enterprise growth and job creation.

Enterprise Ireland has approximately 100 clients in County Wexford. Across the period 2015-2016 Enterprise Ireland invested in excess of €3 million in Wexford across a range of funding supports such as capital, employment, R&D, training and equity.

The following Wexford projects involving local and regional initiatives were approved for funding under Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Calls in 2016:

Project Name	Project Details	Status
Enniscorthy Enterprise and Technology Centre Limited	Creation of an Innovative Hub within the Enterprise Centre where innovative start-ups can work together and receive mentoring from the centre’s staff.	Ongoing

Project Name	Project   Details	Status
‘Take Off’ Programme	To aid a carefully selected cohort of client companies to deliver scalability with the assistance of an expert advisory panel   Project partners: LEO Wexford (lead), Waterford, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow, Kildare, Tipperary, Kilkenny.	Ongoing
Ag Technology Project	To explore the potential for higher levels of innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity in agricultural technology (AgTech).   Project partners: LEO Tipperary (Lead), Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, and D/AFM	Ongoing

Project Name	Status
‘Take Off’ Programme	Ongoing
Ag Technology Project	Ongoing
South East Artisan Food Initiative	Ongoing
Creative Corridor	Ongoing

Capital funding from my Department for Local Enterprise Development is allocated to the LEOs through the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland. This funding is allocated among the LEOs to support clients through the provision of grants (Measure 1) and soft supports (Measure 2), such as training and mentoring, and used to fund the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) programme. Details of the overall funds allocated to LEO Wexford together with the value of Measure 1 projects approved and Measure 2 funding drawn down by LEO Wexford in 2016 are set out below:

Total   Capital Allocation (Measure 1)	Total   Capital Allocation (Measure 2)	Additional Capital   Allocation (if any)*	Total   Approved (Measure 1)	Total   Drawdown (Measure 2)
€225,105.00	€209,727.00	Measure 1 - €69,500.00       Measure 2 - €23,500.00	€389,034	€233,227.00

IDA Ireland is the principal agency charged with attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland and provides a wide range of supports and grants to both new and existing clients. Details of IDA announcements for Wexford since 2011 are as follows:

Date of Announcement	Project Name	Project Details	Status
2011	Coca Cola (Atlantic Industries)	Opening of Wexford Manufacturing Facility	Ongoing
2014	Indos Financial Limited	Financial Services	Ongoing
2014	ClearStream Technologies	Medical Devices	Ongoing
2015	United Chemical Technologies (Through Connect Ireland)	European Manufacturing Facility	Ongoing
2015	CRI Wexford	Medical Devices	Ongoing

Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation

Questions (1640, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1644, 1645)

Catherine Martin

Question:

1640. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.1 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to age friendly workplaces, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41809/16]

Catherine Martin

Question:

1641. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.2 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to contracts of employment for older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41810/16]

Catherine Martin

Question:

1642. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.3 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to flexible workplace practices for older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41811/16]

Catherine Martin

Question:

1643. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.4 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to supporting gradual retirement for older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41812/16]

Catherine Martin

Question:

1644. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.5 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to supporting retirement planning older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective.. [41813/16]

Catherine Martin

Question:

1645. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.2.2 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to retraining and upskilling for employment for older workers, is assigned to her department; the progress made by her department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective.. [41814/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1640 to 1645, inclusive, together.

My Department has responsibility, amongst other matters, for ensuring that all workers, regardless of age, enjoy the protections afforded by Ireland’s robust employment rights legislation and have safe working conditions which meet stringent health and safety requirements.

It would appear that the attribution of responsibility to my Department for objectives under the National Positive Ageing Strategy may stem from responsibilities attributed to the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment prior to the significant reconfiguration of Government Departments in 2010 and 2011. My Department has brought these changes in Departmental remit to the attention of the Department of Health, which has overall responsibility for implementation of the Strategy and for co-ordinating with relevant Government Departments to ensure delivery of the Strategy.

The Deputy may be aware that the Inter-departmental Group on Fuller Working Lives (IDG), chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), was established by the Government last year to consider policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors. The IDG concluded its work last summer and the Group’s report was published in August by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The IDG made a number of recommendations, one of which related to my specific area of responsibility. On foot of that recommendation I wrote to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to request them to prepare a Code of Practice under Section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990 around the issue of longer working, which should set out best industrial relations practice in managing the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including requests to work beyond what would be considered the normal retirement age in the employment concerned. I understand that the WRC has commenced work on preparing the Code, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (1646)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1646. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of times and dates she has met with the chief executive officer or chairperson of every organisation under her remit, in tabular form. [1000/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Details of formal meetings with CEOs and Chairpersons of Agencies of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation are set out below:

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

12/10/2016 Meeting with Isolde Goggin, Chairperson

Enterprise Ireland

15/09/2016 Meeting with Terence O'Rourke, Chairperson and Julie Sinnamon, CEO

08/12/2016 Meeting with Julie Sinnamon, CEO

IDA

09/05/2016 Meeting with Martin Shanahan, CEO

07/07/2016 Meeting with Martin Shanahan, CEO

15/12/2016 Meeting with Frank Ryan, Chairperson and Martin Shanahan, CEO

InterTrade Ireland (ITI)

08/07/2016 Meeting with Thomas Hunter McGowan, CEO

Low Pay Commission (LPC)

15/07/2016 Meeting with Donal de Buitléir, Chairperson

National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)

29/08/2016 Meeting with Julie O’Neill, Chairperson

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)

03/08/2016 Meeting with Dermot Divilly, Chairperson and Conor O'Brien, CEO

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

22/06/2016 Meeting with Professor Mark Ferguson, CEO

23/11/2016 Meeting with Professor Mark Ferguson, CEO

Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)

28/07/2016 Meeting with Oonagh Buckley, Director General

21/11/2016 Meeting with Oonagh Buckley, Director General of the WRC and Kevin Foley, Chair of the Labour Court

Insofar as the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) is concerned I look forward to meeting the new Chairperson and CEO in due course.

Mr Martin Sisk was appointed Chairperson of IAASA on the 21st of December 2016. Mr Kevin Prendergast was appointed CEO on the 14th of November 2016.

While I myself have yet to meet with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) I understand my colleague Mr Pat Breen T.D., Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, has met with Mr Michael Horgan, Chairperson and Mr Martin O’Halloran, CEO.

Finally, in my role as Minister I routinely meet the CEOs', Chairpersons’ and agency officials at jobs announcements, trade and investment missions and related events.

Departmental Funding

Questions (1647)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1647. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will outline all funding announcements made by her or by her Department for projects in County Mayo since January 2015, in tabular form; the details of each project; the status of the project at 31 December 2016; the amount of funding drawn down at 31 December 2016; and the reason for the delay in the project or funding draw down. [1062/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The question is understood to refer to projects being realised through funding disbursed by my Department or its agencies, the details of which have been the subject of announcements since January 2015 by way of a press release or similar announcement.

Details are as follows:

Agency	Project Name	Amount Approved	Project Details	Status at 31/12/16	Amount drawn down by 31/12/16	Reason for delay in project or funding draw down, if any
Science Foundation Ireland	Mayo Science and Technology Festival 2015	€16,000	Mayo County Council for delivery of Mayo Science and Technology Festival in November 2015	Closed	€16,000	N/A
Science Foundation Ireland	Mayo Science and Technology Festival 2016	€16,000	Mayo County Council for delivery of Mayo Science and Technology Festival in November 2016	Festival delivered. Final report due mid-February 2017	€14,400	Balance to be paid on receipt of satisfactory final report.
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs	Love Castlebar Community Project Limited	*	Community Creative Hub. The project is a maker space for local innovators, artists and entrepreneurs to create launch and scale new ventures.	Ongoing	*	n/a
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs	I.R.D. Kiltimagh Limited	*	Community Enterprise Initiative supporting Entrepreneurship and existing business in the Kiltimagh area.	Ongoing	*	n/a
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs	Partners: Mayo, Roscommon and Galway LEOs	*	iFactory West aims to scale up 30 companies with growth potential across the West region through an intensive innovation programme suited to their individual needs.	Ongoing	*	n/a
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs	Partners: Mayo, Roscommon and Galway LEOs	*	Creation of a gateway to the London market for West-based micro food and drinks enterprises, through a shared co-opetition logistics and market development model.	Ongoing	*	n/a

* Due to commercial sensitivity Enterprise Ireland does not reference drawdown figures externally.

In addition:

- The Local Enterprise Office also funded a number of business development projects out of their total drawdown of €554,308.

- Enterprise Ireland paid €1,179,945 to clients in Mayo in 2015 and €1,705,354 in 2016. An IDA Advanced Technology facility is under construction in Castlebar, with an anticipated completion date of the first quarter of this year.

- Since January 2015, two IDA supported companies, Coca-Cola (Ballina) and Fort Wayne Metals (Castlebar), announced investments of €26m and €10m respectively, for expansions of existing operations in Mayo.

IDA Ireland Jobs Data

Questions (1648)

Joe Carey

Question:

1648. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of foreign direct investment, FDI, jobs in counties Clare and Limerick and in north Tipperary in the years 2014, 2015, 2016, in tabular form; the number of FDI jobs created and lost respectively in counties Clare and Limerick and in north Tipperary in the years 2014, 2015, 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1099/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

IDA Ireland’s Mid-West Region comprises Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North. All three counties have seen gains in FDI employment over each of the last three years. Total employment in IDA supported companies in the Mid-West at the end of 2016 stood at 17,143 people across 129 companies, up from 15,627 in 2015. Further details of jobs created, lost and total jobs are set out in the table below.

IDA Ireland Total Jobs, Jobs Created and Jobs Lost 2014-2016 in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North

County	-	2014	2015	2016
Clare	Total Jobs	6,486	6,607	6,662
Clare	Gross Gains	443	530	295
Clare	Losses	-310	-409	-240
Limerick	Total Jobs	7,930	8,702	10,153
Limerick	Gross Gains	764	950	1,634
Limerick	Losses	-282	-178	-183
Tipperary North	Total Jobs	298	318	328
Tipperary North	Gross Gains		25	10
Tipperary North	Losses	-8	-5	0

Departmental Records

Questions (1649)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1649. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost per year for the past three years of the storing and archiving of her Department's files and records at off-site locations by third party companies and at State-owned storage facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1120/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The cost of storage and archiving files for my Department for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 is set out in tabular format below. Certain offices of my Department use State owned buildings for some offsite file storage at locations in Carlow and Mullingar. However, this is provided by the OPW at no cost to my Department.

External file storage costs:

Year	€ Total
2014	148,647.13
2015	123,835.60
2016	153,667.23

IDA Ireland Portfolio

Questions (1650)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1650. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide the research and statistics, including a listing of possible sites, that IDA Ireland holds for the old urban district council area of Tipperary town, County Tipperary, which can be made available to a prospective foreign direct investor that is being shown the opportunities in that region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1143/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Tipperary Town forms part of the IDA’s wider South East region, along with the remainder of Tipperary South and counties Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny. There are 73 client companies in the region, which collectively employ 14,403 people. A breakdown of this employment by county is set out in the table below. Abbott Ireland (1,176 people) and Boston Scientific (831 people) are the two largest foreign direct investment (FDI) employers in South Tipperary.

I understand that IDA Ireland owns a site at Knockanrawley in Tipperary Town, which is currently available for FDI. IDA Ireland continues to market the site to all relevant potential investors.

In total, there were eight site visits by potential investors to County Tipperary up to the end of the third quarter of 2016. The final figures for 2016 are expected to be available early next month. IDA Ireland cannot provide details of specific sites visited for reasons of client confidentiality.

Employment in IDA Ireland Client Companies in South East Region

County	Number of Companies	Number of Employees
Waterford	35	6,135
Wexford	17	2,630
Tipperary South	8	3,040
Carlow	7	802
Kilkenny	6	1,796

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Questions (1651)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1651. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of visits by the IDA with prospective foreign direct investors to the old urban district council area of Tipperary Town, County Tipperary, each year from 2010 to 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1144/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

IDA Ireland maintains statistics in relation to site visits by potential investors on a quarterly basis. The latest data available covers the first three quarters of 2016 only. Since 2010 to the end of quarter 3 in 2016 there were a total of 34 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Tipperary. It is expected that data on site visits for quarter 4 2016 will be available early next month. The attached table sets out the breakdown of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to County Tipperary for each year from 2010 to quarter 3 2016.

It is important to note that data on site visits is not necessarily an accurate measure of the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) activity in a region or county, partly because approximately 70% of all FDI won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies. The true level of FDI in Ireland is better gauged by reference to the IDA’s record 2016 results. The Agency’s client companies created just under 19,000 (18,627) jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs.

The following table sets out the breakdown of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to Co. Tipperary for each year from 2010 to quarter 3 2016.

-	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016 (end   Q3)
Tipperary	1	1	5	4	3	12	8