Written Answers Nos. 238-251
238. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of expenditure incurred to date under the TAMS, targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, 2 scheme since it was launched on an annual basis in tabular form; the annual amount of funding originally allocated for each respective year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15890/17]
View answerTAMS is a demand-led on-farm investment scheme funded from the Rural Development Programme. The aim of the scheme is to encourage capital investment in a number of target areas which will promote, in particular, increased competitiveness and sustainability. The overall budget for the TAMS II Schemes over the course of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is €395m. Over 10,000 applications have been received so far. Of these over 7,000 applicants have been given approval to go ahead with the capital investment. The payment claim system which has been open since July 2016 has received over 1,100 payment claims and of these, over 660 have been paid. Approvals are handled on a tranche basis and payment claims are processed on a continuous basis. The expenditure on TAMS II Schemes in 2016 was €3.970m and the expenditure to date in 2017 is €4.626m. The budget for 2016 was €28m and the budget for 2017 is €50m.
239. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, 2 on a county basis in tabular form; the number of approved applications; the number of payment claims lodged; the number of payment claims which have been approved for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15891/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
240. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tillage farmers who suffered crop damage due to the weather conditions in the past season will be considered for monetary compensation. [15987/17]
View answerI hosted a Tillage Stakeholders Forum recently which consisted of representatives from all sides of this Sector. Addressing the Forum, I took the opportunity to highlight that one of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some sectors, which have caused cash flow difficulties for farmers.
Therefore I was pleased to facilitate the “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme”, which was developed by my Department in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and makes €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at interest rates of 2.95%. Distributed through AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank, it provides tillage farmers with a low cost, flexible source of working capital and will allow them to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of viable farming enterprises. The loans are for amounts up to €150,000 for up to six years and are flexible with interest only facilities of up to three years. Although there are no official figures as yet on the total drawdown from the Scheme, very strong interest has been reported.
Also the Tillage Investment Scheme under TAMS II opened for online applications on the 8 March 2017. The specific areas of investment include Minimum Disturbance Tillage Equipment, Sprayers, Rain Water Harvesting, Grain Storage and Grain dryers. This Tillage Scheme is the latest of the Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Scheme is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). All applications must be made on-line, either by the farmer or by an adviser authorised to act on his or her behalf. The closing date for applications under the first tranche of the new scheme will be Friday 30 June 2017.
As an additional support to cash flow on farms, including Tillage farms, to date €1.182billion has been paid out under the 2016 Basis Payment Scheme to 123,821 farmers and payments are ongoing. Payments of just over €201million have also been made to 93,921 applicants under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. I can confirm to the Deputy that a wide ranging discussion took place among all the stakeholders who attended the Forum, including on the issue of crop losses as a result of the poor harvest conditions of last autumn. My officials have since then had some further meetings with stakeholders and I will consider further the outcome of those deliberations.
241. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the specific EU Council of Agriculture Ministers meetings at which he made the case for the need of a Brexit financial support package for Irish farmers during the UK’s two-year exit phase from the EU and subsequent transition phase, specifically under Article 219 of the CMO regulation, since taking office; the date of every such meeting at which this was raised, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15988/17]
View answerThere have been no formal discussions at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in relation to Brexit, or in relation to any support package that might be considered over the course of the negotiations. This is consistent with the overall EU position of not commencing negotiations in advance of the UK's formal notification of its intention to exit the EU under Article 50 TEU. However, I did take the opportunity to refer to the impact of Brexit at the most recent Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels last month in the course of a discussion on the CAP, and in particular in the context of ensuring that the CAP helps farmers to more effectively deal with the consequences of market volatility. As previously indicated, I have also raised the matter informally directly with Commissioner Hogan.
The Deputy is, I am sure, aware of the range of measures that I have introduced to support the agri-food sector in dealing with the impact of the fall in value of sterling against the Euro. These support measures include additional funding for Bord Bia and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, increased expenditure for the Seafood Development Programme and the Rural Development Programme, agri-taxation measures and the €150 million low-cost loan scheme, introduced earlier this year, and which uses Ireland's most recent EU aid of €11 million to leverage significant funding to help deal with the immediate impact of Brexit.
In addition, I and my Department officials have been actively continuing our engagement with the Commission and other Member States, to ensure that Ireland's concerns and requirements in relation to Brexit are fully understood. I have had a series of bilateral meetings with, for example, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia and Poland in recent weeks, and intend to undertake further engagement with France, Austria and others over the coming period.
242. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) with regard to Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15824/17]
View answerCapita Business Support Services trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement and maintain the national Postcode System "Eircode".
Capita have informed my Department that this property has been assigned an Eircode and I shall send this to the Deputy directly.
The issue raised appears to refer to the name of the property and not the Eircode. Capita and my Department have previously corresponded with the individual concerned in relation to changing the name of the property, and informed him that this is an operational matter for An Post. Any queries in relation to the postal address for a property should be directed to An Post Customer Services Division who can be contacted at ph.: 01 705 8242 / E:customer.service@anpost.ie.
243. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if EirGrid has been instructed to cease work on the proposed north-south interconnector following the passing of motions in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann which requested that no further work be carried out on this project until the independent international study would be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15962/17]
View answer244. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will have further consultation with the community groups he met previously before finalising the terms of reference for the forthcoming study on the proposed north-south interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15963/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
EirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. As detailed in the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not seek to direct EirGrid in the development of energy infrastructure to particular sites or routes or technologies.
In light of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, I have requested officials in my Department to prepare a proposal for an updated independent study that will bring further clarity to the relative cost and technical merits of overhead and underground solutions for the North South Interconnector.
My officials are currently preparing the terms of reference for this study and, in that regard, have met with North-East Pylon Pressure Campaign this week and plan to meet Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee next week.
The section of the project in Ireland which received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála in December 2016 is currently the subject of judicial review proceedings. The planning process is still underway in Northern Ireland. Construction of the project is not planned to commence before 2018 and I intend that this report be completed and published before the end of this year.
245. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to County Limerick for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15819/17]
View answerThe Department of Education and Skills has overall lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism and oversees the bulk of training provided nationally, channelling funding through its agency SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education.
A limited number of complementary tourism-related business development and training supports are provided by Fáilte Ireland, in line with its responsibility for encouraging, promoting and supporting tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
As this is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question on to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply with the specific funding information sought. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
246. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans in place to compensate business owners located along the closed stretch of road on the N52. [15826/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including the N52) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a sports capital grant (details supplied) in respect of a club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15870/17]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme.
All of the 2,320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
248. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); her views on whether membership of the ESO, European Southern Observatory, is material to Ireland's interests in the drive to ensure Ireland’s position in the global knowledge economy; her further views on whether Irish membership of the ESO would bring significant rewards to Ireland including giving Irish researchers guaranteed access to advanced facilities and allowing Ireland to participate at the highest international level of research in the area; if her attention has been further drawn to the current time limited offer from the ESO, shortly due to expire, of a reduced rate joining fee, with the potential to spread this fee out over a number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15946/17]
View answerMy Department is aware of The Case for Irish Membership of the European Space Observatory prepared by the Institutes of Physics in Ireland in June 2014.
In December 2015, the Government launched Innovation 2020, the national strategy for science and research. The vision in Innovation 2020 is for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society. Key to this vision is supporting excellent science, nurturing talent and delivering impact.
Innovation 2020 recognises that membership of International Research Organisations is an important strategic aspect of Ireland’s international collaboration in science, technology and innovation.
The Government gave a specific commitment to initiate negotiations with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for Ireland's membership options in Innovation 2020.
The ESO is the pre-eminent intergovernmental science and technology organisation in astronomy and it is acknowledged that the benefits of Irish membership in the ESO would include:
- Irish researchers being guaranteed access to its facilities;
- Irish businesses being able to compete for contracts to develop and supply products and services to the ESO;
- A number of training and collaboration opportunities for students and researchers within the Irish astrophysics community; and
- The further promotion of Science Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects through the ESO’s very active outreach programmes.
There has been significant engagement between my Department and the ESO.
The then Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English wrote to the ESO in January 2016 to commence negotiations.
Following this, my officials commenced discussions with ESO to explore the full range of potential benefits for Ireland of membership, as well as the cost of membership. A delegation of senior officials from my Department, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland visited ESO headquarters in July 2016 when they met with the Director General of the ESO, Professor Tim de Zeeuw and his senior management team.
As part of the on-going negotiation process, Professor de Zeeuw visited my Department in September 2016 and met with senior officials.
The Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation met with Professor de Zeeuw at the European Space Agency Ministerial Council last December.
Minister Halligan has also met with representatives of the Irish astronomy community in March 2017 to hear first-hand of their research activities and of their interests in joining ESO.
In order to arrive at a decision on joining ESO, we must weigh the benefits of membership against the costs, which are not insignificant. My Department is aware of the current offer from ESO. The case for membership must be considered in the light of other research and innovation priorities and our priority is to ensure that we obtain the best overall return on our investment in this area.
My Department is currently engaged in discussions on the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan. There will be more clarity on the Department’s position on ESO when the review is concluded and the potential funding envelope for this and other Departmental projects is finalised.
249. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the potential for employers to abuse the temporary lay-off situation provision available in legislation to delay or reduce their statutory obligations to employees (details supplied); her plans to address this by way of legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15979/17]
View answerA lay-off situation arises where an employee's employment ceases by reason of the employer being unable to provide work for which the employee was employed to do, and, where the employer reasonably believes that the cessation of employment will not be permanent and where the employer gives notice to that effect to the employee prior to the cessation. There is no statutory minimum period for the giving of notice of lay-off and no statutory provision governing the maximum period of a lay-off.
Additionally, there is no entitlement to a minimum notice under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts given that a lay-off does not constitute a cessation of employment.
Under the Redundancy Payments Acts, where an employee has been laid off for 4 consecutive weeks or for a broken series of 6 weeks where all 6 weeks occur within a 13-week period, the employee, if he or she so wishes, may claim a redundancy payment by serving written notice to his or her employer.
An employee who claims and receives a redundancy payment due to lay-off is deemed to have left the employment voluntarily and is, therefore, not entitled to notice under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts. However, it is important to bear in mind that statutory redundancy payments are much larger than minimum notice payments.
The legislation attempts to strike a necessary balance in circumstances where the economic realities may force an employer into temporarily placing employees on short time or lay-off, and in such circumstances, to allow the retention of trained staff rather than making them redundant. While no employee would wish to be put in a situation of short time or lay-off, it does allow for the possibility of returning to work for that employer, and thus avoid being made redundant or seeking redundancy of their own volition.
It is the intention of this legislation to allow for both sets of circumstances, and to be fair to both employer and employee. It is also important to remember that since 2013 an employer must bear the full cost of a redundancy i.e. it can no longer seek a rebate from the Exchequer.
250. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the joint labour committee of the security guards sector has recently issued recommendations of a 4% salary increase in 2017 and 4% salary increase in 2018 for security guards as part of the ERO, employment regulation order, and that the majority of companies involved in this sector were not represented in negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15876/17]
View answer251. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the joint labour committee in connection with the security static guarding sector is not representative of the industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15877/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together.
Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are provided for under the Industrial Relations Act 1946 and were reformed by the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2012. A JLC is comprised of equal numbers of representatives of employers and workers in a sector. JLCs meet regularly, under an independent Chairperson to discuss proposals for terms and conditions to apply to specified grades or categories of workers in the sector. If agreement is reached the JLC publishes details and invites submissions from interested parties.
If, after consideration of any submissions received, the Committee adopts the proposals it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. The Labour Court will then make a decision on the adoption of the proposals. If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, a copy is presented to me and if I consider it appropriate to do so I will make an Order giving effect to the proposals. Such Orders are known as Employment Regulation Orders.
The Joint Labour Committee for the Security Industry was established in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 377 of 1998 (as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 30 of 2014).
I am informed that, in accordance with the Statute, the Labour Court consulted with ICTU, Ibec and the two employer organisations most closely connected with the Security Industry, the National Union of Security Employers (merged with the Security Institute of Ireland in 2011) and the Irish Security Industry Association. Following consultation, these bodies nominated representatives of both employers and employees for membership of the Committee. The current members were appointed on the 12th May 2014.
The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are Industrial Relations Officers from the Workplace Relations Commission and are appointed by me.
The constitution and proceedings of JLCs is set out in the Fifth Schedule to the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. The discussions within the Joint Labour Committees are not open to me nor to my Department.
I am informed that the draft proposals for an employment regulation order that you refer to were advertised as part of the public consultation process. The closing date for submissions on those proposals was 7th February last.
