Written Answers Nos. 83-97
83. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the total number of long-term unemployed over one year duration based on the latest data at hand with regard to persons aged 15 to 24 years of age; the percentage of total unemployed persons this category represents; and the corresponding EU average rate. [11027/17]
View answerThe Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of unemployment (International Labour Organisation - ILO) in the State. The latest unemployment data available for Ireland are for Q4 2016.
The latest corresponding EU 28 data available are for Q3 2016.
The following table shows the total number of unemployed persons (one year and over) aged 15-24 years for Ireland together with the total number who are unemployed for this age group in Q3 and Q4 2016. The table also includes the percentage share of all unemployed persons in this age category who are unemployed for one year and over for the same periods, along with the corresponding percentage share for the EU 28 in respect of Q3 2016.
|
Unemployed persons aged 15-24 years |
Q3 16 |
Q4 16 |
|
Long-term (one year and over) unemployed persons aged 15-24 years- Ireland ('000) |
11.9 |
10.7 |
|
Total unemployed persons aged 15-24 years - Ireland ('000) |
39.4 |
30.4 |
|
Long-term (one year and over) unemployed persons aged 15-24 years as a percentage of total unemployment of persons aged 15-24 years - Ireland (%) |
30.2 |
35.2 |
|
Long-term (one year and over) unemployed persons aged 15-24 years as a percentage of total unemployment of persons aged 15-24 years - EU 28 |
27.6 |
|
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland and Eurostat.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Reference period: Q3=Jul-Sep, Q4=Oct-Dec.
84. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the total number of very long-term unemployed over two years duration based on the latest data at hand; the total in percentage terms out of total persons unemployed this category represents; and the corresponding EU average rate. [11028/17]
View answerThe Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of unemployment (International Labour Organisation - ILO) in the State. The latest unemployment data available for Ireland are for Q4 2016.
The latest corresponding EU 28 data available are for Q3 2016.
The following table shows the total number of very long term unemployed persons (over two years duration) together with the total number of persons who are unemployed in Q3 and Q4 2016 for Ireland. The table also includes the percentage share of all unemployed persons represented by this category for the same periods for Ireland, along with the corresponding percentage share for the EU 28 in respect of Q3 2016.
Unemployed persons aged 15 - 74 years classified by long-term (two years and over) unemployment (ILO) Q3 16 and Q4 16
|
Unemployed persons aged 15 - 74 years |
Q3 16 |
Q4 16 |
|
Long-term (two years and over) unemployed - Ireland ('000) |
65.3 |
56.5 |
|
Total unemployed - Ireland ('000) |
177.7 |
147.4 |
|
Long-term (two years and over) unemployed as a percentage of total unemployment - Ireland (%) |
36.7 |
38.3 |
|
Long-term (two years and over) unemployed as a percentage of total unemployment - EU 28 (%) |
29.4 |
: |
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland and Eurostat.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Reference period: Q3=Jul-Sep, Q4=Oct-Dec.
85. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the number of persons employed in low-paid jobs, with "low-paid" defined as earning below two thirds of the median wage, broken down by percentage. [10941/17]
View answerThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The estimates presented below are derived from the CSO’s Earnings Analysis using Administrative Data Sources. This analysis is based primarily on the Revenue Commissioner’s P35L data which provides details of gross annual earnings and number of weeks worked in the year for all employments. This includes employees who held more than one job during the year; each job is counted as a separate employment.
In 2014, the median pay derived from this data source was €528.81 per week. Half of all employments had weekly pay above this amount and half were below. Two thirds of median weekly pay was €352.19 per week. An estimated 29% of all employments were below this figure and 71% were above.
86. Deputy John Brady asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent on public relations consultants and all matters relating to public relations costs in 2016. [11436/17]
View answerThere was no expenditure on public relations consultants in 2016 by my Department.
87. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in each of the past six years and to date in 2017 in respect of construction projects and other capital projects; and the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms he employs to establish this. [11543/17]
View answerMy Department has no capital expenditure.
90. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs, or if not available, the estimated number of jobs here that are supported by exports. [10814/17]
View answerThe exact data requested by the Deputy is not available but some estimates can be made for the industrial sector from the CSO’s Structural Business Statistics (SBS). The annual Census of Industrial Production, which is a component of SBS, is based on survey returns from a sample of about 2,000 industrial enterprises, combined with estimates for other enterprises based on Revenue data. The sample returns give an indication of whether the enterprise is involved in exporting goods.
In 2014, an estimated total of 199,200 persons worked in enterprises employing three or more persons: 103,300 of these were in SMEs and 95,900 were in large enterprises. Exporting firms accounted for 82.2% of jobs in respondent enterprises and they accounted for 73.0% in SMEs and 89.0% in large enterprises. These figures do not exactly reflect jobs directly related to export activity and they do not take account of any indirect or downstream employment.
92. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures she proposes in conjunction with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation under point 76 of the Action Plan for Rural Development to conduct a revaluation of commercial properties in nine rural counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11711/17]
View answerAction Number 76 of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, "Realising Our Rural Potential", published on 23 January 2017, provided a commitment to conduct a revaluation of commercial properties in nine rural counties to ensure fairness and equity in the levying of commercial rates on business with a view to rolling out to further counties in 2017.
The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic national programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State on a rating authority basis. The purpose of revaluation is to bring more equity, fairness and transparency into the local authority rating system and to distribute the commercial rates liability more equitably between ratepayers. The immediate objective of the revaluation programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas in more than 150 years is conducted as soon as possible. Following this revaluation, subsequent revaluations of each rating authority area will then be carried out on a cyclical basis no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the first revaluation, in accordance with Section 25 of the Valuation Act 2001.
The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions and decisions with regard to the selection of rating authority areas for revaluation is his sole prerogative. Section 19(1) of the 2001 Act empowers the Commissioner, after consultation with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the rating authority concerned, to make a Valuation Order specifying a rating authority area over which a revaluation is to be conducted. I am advised that the revaluation programme which began with South Dublin, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council areas has also been rolled out to the Dublin City Council area, Waterford City and County Council area and Limerick City and County Council area.
The current phase of the National Revaluation Programme known as "ReVal 2017" covers revaluation of counties Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly, Kildare, Sligo, Carlow and Kilkenny for the first time since the nineteenth century. These are the nine counties referenced in Action No. 76 in the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development "Realising Our Rural Potential", published on 23 January 2017. The revaluation of these nine rural counties is expected to be completed in September 2017 and become effective for rates purposes from 2018 onwards.
93. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 1 December 2016, if the information requested was a major part of wage agreements and therefore should be readily available. [11209/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Garda Representative Association and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors members accepted the recommendation of the Labour Court which sought to address the concerns that they had articulated in relation to their pay and conditions, the pay and conditions of new recruits, and their access to the statutory dispute resolution bodies. As a consequence, all of the Garda representative bodies are within the framework of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
In making its recommendation the Court, which is independent in the performance of its functions, acknowledged the uncertainty that Garda members face in availing of approved annual leave due to the requirement to attend Court even at short notice when on annual leave, resulting in the cancellation of their leave and any plans they may have made. To compensate for the uncertainty attaching to the taking of annual leave by members of An Garda Síochána the Recommendation provides for a payment of a €15 premium payment per annual leave day to the ranks of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector on commencement of the next leave year.
In relation to the information previously requested by the Deputy, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. As advised in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 130 of 1 December 2016 and Parliamentary Question No 79 of 13 December 2016, the Commissioner has informed me that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile.
94. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints performed in each of the years 2012 to 2016; the number of breath tests performed; and the number of driver under the influence incidents in each year. [11252/17]
View answerMandatory Alcohol Checkpoints allow members of An Garda Síochána to stop any vehicle at the checkpoint and, without prejudice to any other legislative provisions, may require a person in charge of the vehicle to provide a specimen of his or her breath to indicate the presence of alcohol in the breath, which is provided for under section 10, Road Traffic Act, 2010, as amended.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the apparatus used by An Garda Síochána for breath-testing is issued, and maintained, by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.
In July, 2015 a review of 'Recording Equipment and Data on PULSE (Traffic related matters)' was undertaken by An Garda Síochána, during the course of which the number of breath tests at Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) checkpoints recorded on the PULSE system, for the period 1st July 2009 to the 31st December 2014, was compared to data recorded on the equipment issued, to each Division, for breath-testing. The preliminary outcome of this review identified an anomaly, between the number of breath tests recorded on PULSE and the number of breath tests recorded on the recording equipment.
In April 2016, new procedures were put in place by An Garda Síochána for the recording of the number of breath tests conducted at each MAT checkpoint, with additional instructions issued in May, 2016, including that the information being recorded on PULSE be verified on a monthly basis.
In June 2016, a National Audit was directed by Assistant Commissioner, Traffic, of all the data recorded on the Garda PULSE system relating to the number of roadside breath tests conducted at MATs in each Garda Division, for the period 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2016. The data collated during the National Audit is currently being verified in conjunction with the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. It is anticipated that the matter will be finalised in the second quarter of 2017 and it will not be possible to give the statistical information sought until the data has been verified by way of the National Audit.
The Garda authorities have assured me that no issues stem from this audit with regard to the performance of MAT checkpoints or prosecutions emanating therefrom.
95. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to expand the role, powers and duties of the Garda Reserve; her plans to review the present functions of the Garda Reserve with a view to establishing the most effective way its members may serve communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11253/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
The Garda Reserve was established in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to enhance the links between An Garda Síochána and local communities and consists of voluntary unpaid members, drawn from the community, to support the work of An Garda Síochána. The Reserve perform policing duties as determined by the Garda Commissioner, while accompanied by full time Gardaí. Their role is to provide local patrols and participate in crime prevention initiatives targeted at specific local problem areas. Reserve members are also involved in policing major incidents and events, and in providing other operational support to full time Gardaí. In recent years the Garda Commissioner has conferred further powers on reserve members under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Road Traffic Act 1961 and has also decided that they should carry out more duties including the serving of summonses, and the issuing of Fixed Charge Penalty Notices where offences are detected.
The "Programme for a Partnership Government" includes a commitment to double the Garda Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures. Reserve members have undergone training in many of the skills required to be an effective full-time member of An Garda Síochána and it is important that we build on the very real contribution that they are making to the policing of communities right across the country.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This year, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
In relation to what steps that might be taken to ensure that the expanded Reserve is used to best effect in support of communities I am informed that the Garda Reserve Management Office is undertaking an audit of the experience and skills of Reserves which, when completed, will assist Garda management in considering the future role to be played by the Reserve including whether additional powers should be conferred on Reserve members. Work is also well advanced on the development of a recruitment plan with the objective of recruiting and training 300 new Reserves annually starting later this year, to bring the strength of the Reserve up from its current strength of 690 members to 2,000 by 2021.
96. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ascertain from the Courts Service when the grant of probate will issue in a case (details supplied) in view of the fact the delay is causing undue hardship. [11258/17]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in a number of provincial court offices.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that while the staff member who dealt with probate matters in the Castlebar Office retired recently, management in the office were aware of the pending retirement and another staff member in the office has been trained and has commenced processing probate applications. The Castlebar Office will be reviewing all cases to identify urgent cases and priority will be given to probate applications where it is considered that extenuating circumstances so warrant. It is open to the executor, in the case referenced, to make an application to the Probate Section of the Castlebar Court Office to have the probate matter expedited, if they have not already done so.
The Courts Service has also informed me that the current waiting times in the Probate Office in Dublin for Grants of Representation are 20 weeks for applications lodged by a solicitor and 28 weeks for personal applications. There have been a number of staff changes in the Probate Office during the last year due to retirement and promotion and this has impacted on the waiting times. The examination of probate applications requires a thorough legal examination of documents and it takes a new staff member a period of at least six months to acquire a satisfactory knowledge in this area. As new staff members become more proficient, the waiting times will reduce. Additional staff resources are now being provided in Dublin to address the current situation and I am optimistic, subject to full staff capacity being in place, that there will be a reduction in waiting times this year. Efforts continue to be made to give priority to urgent applications. The backlogs in the probate system are a cause for concern and review of the probate system is being carried out at present. It is anticipated that a report with recommendations for the modernisation of the process will be presented by mid 2017 to the Senior Management Team of the Courts Service and to the Courts Service Board for their consideration.
97. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the Garda divisions with protective services units; and the number of staff in each, in tabular form. [11269/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.
The Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021 envisages a range of actions to be implemented by State, voluntary and community sector organisations aimed at preventing and responding to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. An Garda Síochána is committed to supporting this strategy, and in 2015 a number of Garda units were brought together to leverage their experience and expertise in investigating serious crimes against the person, including sexual offences, to form the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB).
The GNPSB is a specialist team dedicated to making sure each and every complaint relating to child protection, human trafficking and domestic and sexual violence is thoroughly investigated and handled correctly. In addition, the GNPSB is responsible for working with other agencies to manage sex offenders in the interest of community safety. I am informed by the Commissioner that as of 31 January 2017, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 29 Garda members and 8 civilians assigned to the GNPSB.
As part of the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 Protective Services Units (PSUs) are to be established in every Garda Division with specially trained staff. These PSUs will ensure a consistent approach to domestic abuse and sexual crime, which will be supported by the national Bureau. The PSUs will work with the Garda Victim Service Offices in their area to ensure that the needs of victims are adequately catered for. I am advised by the Commissioner that these Divisional PSUs are being rolled-out in two phases. Phase 1 which will commence shortly, will involve the setting up of an initial three PSUs in the DMR West, Cork City, and Louth Garda Divisions over the next year on a pilot basis. The assessment of this pilot phase will inform the further roll-out to of PSUs to each Garda Division.
