Thursday, 19 Jan 2017

Written Answers Nos. 299-313

IDA Jobs Data

Questions (299, 300)

Niall Collins

Question:

299. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of IDA-supported jobs at 1 January 2016 and at 31 December 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2488/17]

Niall Collins

Question:

300. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of IDA Ireland jobs, including the number of jobs created and lost in 2014, 2015 and 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2489/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together.

IDA Ireland’s official employment figures are drawn from an employment survey conducted by my Department on an annual basis. The following table provides a breakdown of the total number of IDA Ireland supported jobs including new jobs created and lost on a county by county basis in IDA Ireland client companies in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

2016 saw the highest level of employment in IDA Ireland client companies in its history, with 199,877 people now employed in companies supported by the Agency. During the last year 18,627 new jobs were created across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net employment gains.

The table shows total IDA Ireland supported jobs, new jobs created and lost on a county by county basis in IDA Ireland client companies in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

County		2014	2015	2016
Carlow	Total Jobs	749	768	802
Carlow	Gross Gains	45	19	83
Carlow	Losses	31	0	49
Cavan	Total Jobs	1,136	1,165	1,203
Cavan	Gross Gains	27	29	41
Cavan	Losses	26	0	3
Clare	Total Jobs	6,486	6,607	6,662
Clare	Gross Gains	443	530	295
Clare	Losses	310	409	240
Cork	Total Jobs	28,445	32,301	33,976
Cork	Gross Gains	2,209	4,535	2,602
Cork	Losses	1,190	679	927
Donegal	Total Jobs	2,607	2,918	3,039
Donegal	Gross Gains	247	330	145
Donegal	Losses	22	19	24
Dublin	Total Jobs	70,678	75,601	81,809
Dublin	Gross Gains	7,695	9,078	9,000
Dublin	Losses	4,253	4,155	2,792
Galway	Total Jobs	14,664	15,342	16,851
Galway	Gross Gains	1,123	1,457	1,896
Galway	Losses	725	779	387
Kerry	Total Jobs	1,874	1,931	2,083
Kerry	Gross Gains	247	89	186
Kerry	Losses	11	32	34
Kildare	Total Jobs	10,222	10,566	10,139
Kildare	Gross Gains	463	849	291
Kildare	Losses	516	505	718
Kilkenny	Total Jobs	716	1,783	1,796
Kilkenny	Gross Gains	124	1,142	113
Kilkenny	Losses	25	75	100
Laois	Total Jobs	87	105	115
Laois	Gross Gains	9	18	10
Laois	Losses	28	0	0
Leitrim	Total Jobs	411	423	413
Leitrim	Gross Gains	4	16	3
Leitrim	Losses	40	4	13
Limerick	Total Jobs	7,930	8,702	10,153
Limerick	Gross Gains	764	950	1,634
Limerick	Losses	282	178	183
Longford	Total Jobs	650	686	665
Longford	Gross Gains	10	46	70
Longford	Losses	61	10	91
Louth	Total Jobs	3,243	3,436	3,786
Louth	Gross Gains	495	322	453
Louth	Losses	33	129	103
Mayo	Total Jobs	3,932	4,070	4,234
Mayo	Gross Gains	294	159	181
Mayo	Losses	90	21	17
Meath	Total Jobs	1,322	1,314	1,284
Meath	Gross Gains	67	62	84
Meath	Losses	72	70	114
Monaghan	Total Jobs	275	146	137
Monaghan	Gross Gains	13	52	7
Monaghan	Losses	103	181	16
Offaly	Total Jobs	890	902	929
Offaly	Gross Gains	44	58	49
Offaly	Losses	50	46	22
Roscommon	Total Jobs	916	994	985
Roscommon	Gross Gains	85	108	34
Roscommon	Losses	131	30	43
Sligo	Total Jobs	2,219	2,221	2,290
Sligo	Gross Gains	83	166	190
Sligo	Losses	94	164	121
Tipperary North Riding	Total Jobs	298	318	328
Tipperary North Riding	Gross Gains	0	25	10
Tipperary North Riding	Losses	8	5	0
Tipperary South Riding	Total Jobs	3,246	3,215	3,040
Tipperary South Riding	Gross Gains	229	70	138
Tipperary South Riding	Losses	38	101	313
Waterford	Total Jobs	5,248	5,574	6,135
Waterford	Gross Gains	353	523	697
Waterford	Losses	288	197	136
Westmeath	Total Jobs	2,396	2,529	2,571
Westmeath	Gross Gains	221	212	185
Westmeath	Losses	37	79	143
Wexford	Total Jobs	2,503	2,486	2,630
Wexford	Gross Gains	196	101	171
Wexford	Losses	106	118	27
Wicklow	Total Jobs	2,074	1,932	1,822
Wicklow	Gross Gains	29	36	59
Wicklow	Losses	54	178	169
Total	Total Jobs	175,217	188,035	199,877
Total	Gross Gains	15,519	20,982	18,627
Total	Losses	8,624	8,164	6,785

IDA Jobs Data

Questions (301, 302)

Niall Collins

Question:

301. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of persons in employment in IDA Ireland-supported companies in regions (details supplied) on an annual basis over the period 2012 to 2016, in tabular from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2490/17]

Niall Collins

Question:

302. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of persons in employment in IDA Ireland-supported companies in the mid-east and Dublin regions separately on an annual basis over the period 2012 to 2016, in tabular from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2491/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.

IDA Ireland reported a second, consecutive record year in 2016. 199,877 people are now employed in IDA Ireland supported client companies, up from 188,035 in 2015. This is the highest level of employment in the Agency’s history and, importantly, every region posted net job gains in 2016.

Further details of IDA supported employment, by the requested regions and years, are set out in the following table.

Total number of IDA Ireland Jobs by Region 2012- 2016

Region	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Dublin	62,367	67,236	70,678	75,601	81,809
Mid-East	13,737	13,701	13,618	13,812	13,245
Midlands	3,937	3,915	4,023	4,222	4,280
Mid-West	13,900	14,107	14,714	15,627	17,143
North East	3,573	4,281	4,654	4,747	5,126
North West	5,304	5,059	5,237	5,562	5,742
South East	12,072	12,003	12,462	13,826	14,403
South West	27,921	29,064	30,319	34,232	36,059
West	18,171	18,956	19,512	20,406	22,070
Totals	160,982	168,322	175,217	188,035	199,877

Enterprise Ireland

Questions (303)

Niall Collins

Question:

303. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs on a county basis and in the case of Dublin, a breakdown between Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south Dublin, for 2014, 2015 and 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2492/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Enterprise Ireland supports companies in every region of Ireland to start, scale and remain competitive on international markets. Enterprise Ireland uses a developmental approach across all aspects of its clients’ needs, including business development, sales and marketing capabilities, innovation and R&D activity, technology development, continuous competitiveness and lean improvements, leadership and management development and access to finance.

Recognising the diversity of the Enterprise Ireland client base, supports are tailored to reflect companies’ stage of development. This ensures that all of its clients, from Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups, to exporting SMEs and scaling companies, can access the appropriate supports to help them to create and sustain jobs.

In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 201,108 people.  Within this, 19,244 new jobs were created resulting in a net gain of 9,117 jobs, after job losses are taken into account. 

Table 1 below provides a breakdown of total employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies by County for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Table 2 provides a break down between Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin.

Table 1: Total employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies by County

County	2014	2015	2016
Carlow	2,691	2,852	2,973
Cavan	4,663	4,905	5,221
Clare	3,271	3,255	3,444
Cork	22,609	23,955	24,936
Donegal	3,302	3,567	3,581
Dublin	61,203	66,866	70,365
Galway	6,823	7,278	7,294
Kerry	4,314	4,678	4,677
Kildare	7,512	8,308	8,632
Kilkenny	3,605	3,921	4,167
Laois	1,179	1,297	1,385
Leitrim	722	820	922
Limerick	7,013	6,777	7,954
Longford	2,360	2,628	2,886
Louth	5,434	5,600	5,819
Mayo	3,784	3,667	3,856
Meath	6,658	6,855	7,007
Monaghan	4,539	4,819	5,168
Offaly	3,452	3,794	3,941
Roscommon	1,560	1,686	1,688
Sligo	1,853	1,723	1,546
Tipperary North Riding	2,447	2,552	2,579
Tipperary South Riding	2,470	2,712	2,773
Waterford	5,060	5,561	5,721
Westmeath	3,436	3,548	3,653
Wexford	4,484	4,696	4,816
Wicklow	3,628	3,903	4,104
Grand Total	180,072	192,223	201,108

Table 2: Total employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Dublin

Dublin Borough	2014	2015	2016
Dublin City	31,118	35,303	36,685
Dublin Fingal	7,969	8,547	8,855
Dublin South County	12,289	12,932	14,201
Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown	9,777	10,084	10,624
Balance*	50
Dublin Total	61,203	66,866	70,365

*Balance: This figure represents companies who were in Dublin in 2014 when the survey was conducted, but have now moved to various locations throughout the country.

Enterprise Ireland

Questions (304)

Niall Collins

Question:

304. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of Enterprise Ireland clients on a county basis and in the case of Dublin, a breakdown between Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south Dublin, for 2014, 2015 and 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2493/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Enterprise Ireland supports companies in every region of Ireland to start, scale and remain competitive on international markets. Enterprise Ireland uses a developmental approach across all aspects of its clients’ needs, including business development, sales and marketing capabilities, innovation and R&D activity, technology development, continuous competitiveness and lean improvements, leadership and management development and access to finance.

Recognising the diversity of the Enterprise Ireland client base, supports are tailored to reflect companies’ stage of development. This ensures that all of its clients, from Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups, to exporting SMEs and scaling companies, can access the appropriate supports to help them to create and sustain jobs.

In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 201,108 people. Within this, 19,244 new jobs were created resulting in a net gain of 9,117 jobs, after job losses are taken into account. 

Table 1 provides a breakdown of Enterprise Ireland supported companies by County for 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

Table 2 provides a breakdown of Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Dublin. 

Table 1: Breakdown of Enterprise Ireland supported companies by County for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

County	2014	2015	2016
Carlow	84	85	86
Cavan	80	78	79
Clare	146	139	143
Cork	598	599	580
Donegal	144	142	139
Dublin	2081	2073	2104
Galway	253	246	257
Kerry	119	117	114
Kildare	182	174	182
Kilkenny	108	111	114
Laois	55	56	54
Leitrim	35	33	29
Limerick	242	240	245
Longford	46	45	49
Louth	159	156	156
Mayo	113	110	114
Meath	159	164	168
Monaghan	107	107	106
Offaly	70	67	67
Roscommon	53	51	53
Sligo	76	69	69
Tipperary North Riding	49	52	50
Tipperary South Riding	69	70	67
Waterford	134	135	138
Westmeath	103	100	99
Wexford	123	123	123
Wicklow	165	163	166
Grand Total	5553	5505	5551

Table 2: Breakdown of Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Dublin in 2014, 2015 and 2016 

Dublin Borough	2014	2015	2016
Dublin City	1084	1089	1109
Dublin Fingal	276	282	281
Dublin South County	325	336	350
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown	390	366	364
Balance*	6
Dublin Total	2081	2073	2104

*Balance: This figure represents companies who were in Dublin in 2014 when the survey was conducted, but have now moved to various locations throughout the country.

Local Enterprise Offices Data

Questions (305, 306)

Niall Collins

Question:

305. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of local enterprise office and previously county enterprise board-supported clients on a county basis and in the case of Dublin, a breakdown between Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south Dublin, for 2014, 2015 and 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2494/17]

Niall Collins

Question:

306. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of local enterprise office and previously county enterprise board-supported jobs on a county basis and in the case of Dublin, a breakdown between Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south Dublin, for 2014, 2015 and 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2495/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.

Details of the total number of Local Enterprise Office (formerly County Enterprise Board) supported jobs and client numbers for all Local Enterprise Offices for 2014 and 2015 are set out in the following table. Similar information for 2016 is currently being collated and will be published later in Quarter 1 2017.

Table: Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Job Gains and Client Numbers 2014 and 2015

LEO Name	No. of LEO Clients 2014	Total Jobs (FT & PT) 2014	Gross All Job Gains (FT & PT) 2014	No. of LEO Clients 2015	Total Jobs (FT & PT) 2015	Gross All Job Gains (FT & PT) 2015
Carlow	206	1,152	341	217	1,029	267
Cavan	195	1,049	203	205	1,110	223
Clare	161	1,346	486	194	1,433	170
Cork City	96	656	227	119	696	138
Cork North & West	155	785	339	229	1,274	263
Cork South	215	1,277	263	179	847	215
Donegal	159	1,223	361	171	1,132	370
Dublin City	258	1,431	615	298	1,572	426
Dublin DLR	211	1,304	237	229	1,271	164
Dublin Fingal	142	562	138	174	723	197
South Dublin	229	1,146	202	250	1,105	223
Galway	239	882	138	245	900	183
Kerry	444	1,794	328	462	1,881	396
Kildare	103	683	201	127	770	222
Kilkenny	243	1,154	263	257	1,278	234
Laois	85	384	85	90	451	156
Leitrim	126	388	162	144	378	89
Limerick	216	1,292	327	245	1,475	360
Longford	222	899	206	238	985	208
Louth	197	656	143	218	729	182
Mayo	182	1,060	66	208	1,141	168
Meath	180	806	262	205	876	247
Monaghan	170	904	126	156	806	153
Offaly	194	931	175	202	887	144
Roscommon	141	641	72	146	666	145
Sligo	202	1,103	133	213	1,083	127
Tipperary	278	1,377	240	282	1,319	201
Waterford	300	1,515	348	322	1,721	416
Westmeath	242	1,284	197	255	1,299	309
Wexford	170	1,070	267	185	1,167	326
Wicklow	97	572	154	108	588	200
Grand Total	6,058	31,326	7,305	6,573	32,592	7,122

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (307)

Niall Collins

Question:

307. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of additional staff to be taken on in her Department and in all individual State agencies and bodies under her aegis in 2017; the cost of hiring additional staff in her Department and in each individual State agency and body, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2496/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

An additional €3 million in Pay that I secured in Budget 2017 is targeted specifically to assist in our response to the evolving Brexit scenario. It will enable the Department and its Agencies to recruit an additional forty to fifty staff to supplement existing staffing numbers. In this regard, the additional €3 million pay allocation is for distribution across Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority. This will also be utilised to support the dedicated Brexit Unit within my Department, with a staffing resource, led at Principal Officer level, of four staff; this will be reviewed in line with the necessary workload as matters develop.

It is not possible to be specific at this time on the distribution of the additional posts across my Department and each State Agency in 2017 as staffing resources are reviewed as an ongoing priority to ensure my Department’s continued ability to facilitate the wide mission and volume of work in a range of challenging policy areas. My Department engages on an ongoing basis in workforce planning within the context of allocated funding, and with reallocation of staff across my Department as the needs of business units evolve. This will continue during 2017 with ongoing regular reviews of the appropriate staffing across my Department in response to emerging priorities. I might also mention that my Department entered 2017 with a number of vacancies to be filled through recruitment in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service and/or advertising certain posts across the Civil Service to be filled under the Civil Service mobility programme. Furthermore, the Department is frequently below its minimum staffing levels as we work to fill vacancies created by normal levels of staff turnover. Therefore, it is difficult to be precise as to how staffing levels will move during the year. Nonetheless, I can inform the Deputy that staffing levels are closely monitored to ensure that we remain within pay-budget limits agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform having regard to key priorities and our workforce planning exercise.

Each Agency is provided with an overall Pay ceiling within which they have some flexibility to align their staffing resources to manage their overall operations and priorities. In addition some Agencies also have Own Resource Income which they may wish to utilise to support their particular priority areas, be that to cover operational Pay costs or some Non-Pay costs, such as running promotional and awareness campaigns, to be agreed with my Department. As with the Department itself, responding to individual key strategic priorities and individual workforce planning exercises, each Agency works with my Department to ensure each remains within agreed pay-budget limits.

Departmental Funding

Questions (308)

Niall Collins

Question:

308. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider carrying out a value-for-money review of the Design Crafts Council of Ireland which comes under the auspices of her Department; if there was a review carried out before the appointment of a new chairperson; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2500/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Design and Crafts Council receives funding through Enterprise Ireland for the purpose of promoting crafts and design initiatives. The Budget is approved by the EI Board.

An Economic Impact Review of the Crafts Council of Ireland was carried out by Tom Martin and Associates on behalf of Enterprise Ireland in late 2013.

The review made recommendations under the following headings:

- Market development

- Human resource development

- Networks development

- Extending the remit of the Council to include aspects of design

- Strategic partnering

- Service-Level Agreement with Enterprise Ireland/Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

This review has formed the basis of Enterprise Ireland’s engagement with the now Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) since then and in particular led to the signing of a Service Level Agreement between Enterprise Ireland & DCCoI for the years 2014–2016. A new Service Level Agreement is currently under discussion.

I have no current plans to conduct a value for money review of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.

Departmental Funding

Questions (309)

Niall Collins

Question:

309. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total funds allocated and expended by the Design Crafts Council of Ireland on the Year of Design project; if there was any review of the funds expended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2501/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Funding was allocated to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) for the delivery of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, through Enterprise Ireland.

The total funding was €5.5 million, with €550,000 allocated in 2014 and €4,950,000 in 2015.

From the outset of the initiative, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were agreed for ID2015. Detailed updates on both expenditure and progress in relation to KPIs were provided by DCCoI to both the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland on a regular basis throughout the year.

Delivery of KPIs for Irish Design 2015:

Action	Target	Achieved
Design Accelerator programmes established	2	3
SMEs supported to undertake design training through   Design4Growth and other ID2015 projects	50	50
Newly registered design-led business start-ups	200	370
Companies/ designers supported to attend international   design-based trade events	150	469
PR value generated	€10 million	€22.1 million
Audience engaged at home and abroad	3 million	28.5 million
Additional design-based exports	€10 million	€24.1 million

I launched Irish Design 2015 – Making Design Matter, the closing report on the ID2015 initiative in December 2016.

This report outlines that the total funds allocated to ID2015, €5.5 million, generated an 11-fold return on investment totalling €55.4 million, which included sponsorship and match funding, direct sales, PR value and incoming tourist expenditure.

The aim of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) was to bring visibility to Ireland’s dynamic design businesses and support them in trading in competitive foreign markets in order to drive job creation, grow exports and increase competitiveness.

ID2015 succeeded in raising the awareness of Irish Design both nationally and internationally and the challenge is to build on its success to further develop Irish design capability as a key component of business innovation in Ireland.

Departmental Funding

Questions (310)

Niall Collins

Question:

310. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the budget allocation for the Design Crafts Council of Ireland, DCCI, on an annual basis for the period 2011 to 2016 and the budget allocation for 2017, in tabular form; the total number of persons employed by DCCI currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2502/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland receives income through membership fees and also receives funding through Enterprise Ireland for the purpose of promoting crafts and design initiatives. The Budget is approved by the EI Board. Operational and policy matters, along with expenditure, are governed by a Service Level Agreement between the two parties.

The funding allocation by Enterprise Ireland to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) for the years 2011 to 2017 is contained in the following table.  

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Total
	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000
EI   Grant	2,919	2,919	2,962	3,096	2,919	3,019	2,919
Year of Craft 2011	661	138						799
Year of Irish Design 2015				550	4,950			5,500
	3,580	3,057	2,962	3,646	7,869	3,019	2,919

DCCoI delivered a comprehensive programme of events and activities across the island of Ireland for the Year of Craft 2011 initiative.

As a follow up to the successful planning and execution of this programme, when the idea arose at the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2013 to designate a year to celebrating and promoting Irish design, the Government supported this proposal and DCCoI was charged with convening the Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) initiative on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation.

Additional funding was therefore allocated to DCCoI in 2014 and 2015 to facilitate the planning and delivery of the ID2015 initiative.

DCCoI’s current headcount is 23 - the organisation currently employs 21 staff and is recruiting for 2 positions which recently became available.

DCCoI is the main champion and representative body of the design and craft industry in Ireland. The organisation currently has over 60 membership organisations and over 3,200 registered client enterprises.

The organisation delivers a broad range of support and development programmes aimed at sustaining and growing Ireland’s vibrant design and craft sector which provides quality sustainable jobs across the island of Ireland in both urban and rural areas.

Motor Insurance

Questions (311)

Niall Collins

Question:

311. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider expediting actions regarding establishing a personal injuries commission and the reporting deadlines in a more timely manner in the interests of consumers who avail of motor insurance following the publication of the cost of motor insurance report and as the lead Minister for some actions in this publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2504/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The establishment of the Personal Injuries Commission is one of the key recommendations in the Cost of Insurance Working Group Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance published on the 10th January 2017 by the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan T.D., and the Minister of State for Financial Services, Mr Eoghan Murphy T.D. The Report sets out a comprehensive package of measures that tackle many of the identified problems in the motor insurance sector.  

The purpose of the Personal Injuries Commission is to investigate and make recommendations on processes in other jurisdictions which could enhance the claims process in Ireland. The terms of reference, set out in the Report, include the commissioning of medical research, benchmarking of international awards for personal injury cases, analysing and reporting on international compensation levels and compensation mechanisms.

On the 10th January 2017 I announced the appointment of Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns as chair of the Personal Injuries Commission. The Personal Injuries Commission will include relevant stakeholders from the legal, medical and insurance sectors and relevant Government Departments and Agencies.  I am now writing to the appropriate organisations seeking nominees. The Personal Injuries Commission will hold its first meeting on the 10th February 2017.

Given the comprehensive terms of reference for the Personal Injuries Commission I consider that its reporting timelines are appropriate.

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (312)

Niall Collins

Question:

312. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on possible IT issues associated with the Workplace Relations Commission's online complaints system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2505/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and assumed the roles and functions previously carried out by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), Rights Commissioner Service (RCS), Equality Tribunal (ET), the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) and the first instance (Complaints and Referrals) functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT).

As part of the reform process, a single contact portal utilising an online complaint form was introduced to simplify the complaint process. I am informed by the WRC that 84% of complaints received between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2016 were made by way of the online e-Complaint facility.

The WRC's online complaints system is fundamental to the reform process and the efficient delivery of services. The Deputy will be aware that under the previous system complainants could face a two-to-three year delay in obtaining a decision. At present, decisions are issued on average within 6 months of their receipt by the WRC. Under the WRCs Strategic Plan, the intention is to shorten this time-frame even further.

The WRC has addressed many of the teething problems associated with the IT system during its first year of existence and has met with key stakeholders to listen to their concerns in this regard. Any remaining issues are continuing to be worked through.

I understand that the WRC has undertaken to meet again with its stakeholders to understand further any issues arising in relation to the IT system and/or its broader service delivery remit.

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (313)

Niall Collins

Question:

313. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the workplace relations bodies on a county basis in each month in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of prosecutions undertaken in each county during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2506/17]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) through its inspection service seeks to secure better compliance with employment rights legislation through proactive education and awareness programmes and focused, risk based inspection and enforcement campaigns.

Inspections may be carried out in response to complaints received of alleged non-compliance with relevant employment rights legislation; as part of campaigns which focus on compliance in specific sectors or specific pieces of legislation, or as routine inspections which act as a control measure.

While every effort is made by the inspection services to secure voluntary compliance, some employers either refuse or fail to rectify the breaches identified and/or pay money due to their employees. These cases are referred for prosecution.

The following tables provide the information sought. A breakdown of inspections by month is not available.

Inspections

-	2016	2015	2014
CARLOW	36	71	53
CAVAN	117	134	137
CLARE	129	242	217
CORK	332	287	304
DONEGAL	128	184	153
DUBLIN	1,067	977	1,021
GALWAY	408	410	420
KERRY	96	51	59
KILDARE	186	246	316
KILKENNY	92	91	158
LAOIS	63	85	124
LEITRIM	36	24	23
LIMERICK	426	347	546
LONGFORD	79	76	73
LOUTH	177	182	121
MAYO	147	154	146
MEATH	121	143	120
MONAGHAN	69	77	82
OFFALY	76	91	57
ROSCOMMON	61	72	85
SLIGO	47	58	57
TIPPERARY	177	241	224
WATERFORD	207	166	115
WESTMEATH	117	133	153
WEXFORD	181	299	337
WICKLOW	255	344	490
TOTAL	4,830	5,185	5,591

Prosecutions

-	2016	2015	2014
CARLOW	5	1	3
CAVAN	4	2	2
CLARE	1	3	1
CORK	2	7	1
DONEGAL	2	6	1
DUBLIN	7	13	24
GALWAY	2	5	3
KERRY	0	1	0
KILDARE	11	9	5
KILKENNY	2	5	6
LAOIS	6	2	1
LEITRIM	0	2	1
LIMERICK	2	4	3
LONGFORD	0	0	0
LOUTH	1	3	1
MAYO	0	0	1
MEATH	9	1	1
MONAGHAN	0	0	1
OFFALY	8	15	4
ROSCOMMON	1	0	1
SLIGO	0	2	0
TIPPERARY	6	5	6
WATERFORD	3	1	1
WESTMEATH	1	6	3
WEXFORD	5	6	6
WICKLOW	7	7	8
TOTAL	85	106	84