Written Answers Nos. 345 - 358
346. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the most recent data available regarding the cost of traffic congestion to the economy; the most recent figures available regarding same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/17]
View answerIn recognition of the growing body of evidence emerging of increased travel demand across the Dublin region in particular, my Department's Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit has undertaken a research project to estimate the cost of aggravated congestion across Ireland's transport system. Aggravated congestion occurs when the number of vehicles on a part of the network is higher than the network can handle and the point at which serious traffic delays arise. The first phase of the project, which is currently being finalised, estimates the annual value of time lost to road users due to aggravated congestion in the greater Dublin area. The study uses data from a variety of sources to estimate activity on the network including census travel to work data, NTA GDA surveys, car ownership data and CSO small area population statistics. The project has been carried out in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, NTA, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and Dublin City Council, DCC, with particular support from the NTA's modelling team in producing the modelled outputs.
A final project report will be published on my Department's website in the coming weeks. However, I understand that the analysis undertaken for the report estimates that the cost of time lost due to aggravated congestion in the greater Dublin area is currently €350 million per annum and is forecasted to rise to €2 billion per annum in 2033. This work is an important consideration in formulating my overall approach to tackling congestion in the short to medium term and forms a key part of the case for increased public transport investment, as part of the mid-term review of the Government's capital plan in 2017.
347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a sports capital grant from a club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18574/17]
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 under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
348. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the potential funding streams for a cross-Border voluntary search and rescue organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18596/17]
View answerThe Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport does not at present have any potential funding streams available for the activities described by the Deputy.
349. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in 2017 to Transport Infrastructure Ireland to progress a road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18602/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 proposed works on the N2) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland 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 regarding the N2 to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
350. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding will be allocated by his Department in view of the upgrading of a road in 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/17]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Cavan is the statutory responsibility of Cavan County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. My Department has not received an application for funding from Cavan County Council in respect of this road.
Given the cutbacks in State funding for regional and local roads since the financial crisis, it has been necessary to curtail the grant programme for major new regional and local road schemes and for major realignment schemes in order to protect the funding available for the maintenance of the existing network. The bulk of the funding allocated under the Capital Plan is, therefore, earmarked for the maintenance and renewal of the road network with some limited investment in the new projects.
I announced the 2017 regional and local road allocations to local authorities (including Cavan County Council) on 24 January and all grant funding has now been allocated.
351. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to address the sub-minima rates of the minimum wage, in view of the Low Pay Commission report in October 2016 and the ESRI report published in January 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18499/17]
View answerIn October 2016 the Low Pay Commission submitted its report on the sub-minima rates of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, which included a study by the ESRI on the usage of sub-minima rates both in Ireland and internationally. The Commission found that sub-minima rates of a similar nature are in use in a number of OECD countries. It concluded that incidence of usage of the sub-minima rates in Ireland is extremely low, with available evidence suggesting that just 0.1% of employees are currently in receipt of the youth rates and between 0.2 and 0.3% are in receipt of the trainee rates. Their report also indicated that there is no evidence of significant abuse when it comes to the application of sub-minima rates.
Given that the remit of the Low Pay Commission is to make its recommendations using an evidence-based approach, the Commission had agreed with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in early 2016 the inclusion, on a pilot basis, of a specific question on the national minimum wage, and the use of sub-minima rates, in the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey series. The Commission indicated in its 2016 report that it did not consider it appropriate to make recommendations on the appropriateness of the current sub-minima rates at that stage, but would await the availability of the up-to-date data on usage of the rates from the CSO before making any recommendation.
I understand that the results from the pilot question for 2016 are currently being verified by the CSO, and I understand that the Low Pay Commission intends to submit its recommendations in a supplementary report, on receipt of the verified data from the CSO. The question of whether a change in the current system might be warranted or desirable will be considered further in light of the Commission’s recommendations.
352. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to introduce legislation to protect the rights of those participating on internship and work experience programmes from exploitation and abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18500/17]
View answerInternees and people on work experience are covered by the Health Safety and Welfare Acts 2005 - 2014 which provide for safe working conditions as well as the Employment Equality Acts 1998 -2015 (anti-discrimination and anti-harassment legislation). Depending on the particulars of the individual arrangement, they also may have entitlements to other protections under employment law, including the National Minimum Wage.
Any persons with questions or complaints regarding their rights under employment law should contact Workplace Relations Customer Service on lo-call 1890 80 80 90 or information can be found on their website www.workplacerelations.ie
The JobBridge scheme was a national internship scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. Following a comprehensive review of the Jobsbridge scheme my colleague and Minister for Social Protection, Mr. Leo Varadkar T.D., announced in October 2016 that he intends to replace JobBridge with a more targeted scheme. This is because labour market conditions have improved since the scheme was introduced in 2011. The programme was closed to new applications in October last and will be wound down. Those currently on the programme will be able to complete their JobBridge experience. The Department of Social Protection monitor organisations who host JobBridge interns to ensure that they receive adequate rest breaks, annual leave etc.
353. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of submissions received concerning the public consultation on the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events; if the submissions will be made publicly available; her plans to issue a report summarising the main proposals and recommendations in the submissions received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18501/17]
View answerTwenty three submissions had been received by 10 April 2017 in response to the consultation. The submissions will be made publicly available in due course. I have no immediate plans to issue a report summarising the main proposals and recommendations in the submissions, but have not ruled it out.
354. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the State bodies and other agencies to which she has nominated a departmental official to represent her Department on the board and or management body of a State agency or body in tabular form. [18502/17]
View answerOf the Non-Commercial State Sponsored Bodies which come under the remit of my Department, the following Departmental officials have been appointed to their Board.
|
Agency |
Nominee |
|
IDA Ireland |
Dermot Mulligan |
|
SFI |
Dermot Mulligan |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
Clare Dunne |
|
PIAB |
Breda Power |
|
HSA |
Paraig Hennessy |
|
NSAI |
Nina Brennan |
Some of these appointments were made by my predecessor Minister Richard Bruton.
355. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the State bodies and other agencies under the aegis of her Department which must implement the code of practice for the governance of State bodies in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18503/17]
View answerThe following agencies under the aegis of my Department are required to implement the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies:
- Enterprise Ireland;
- National Standards Authority of Ireland;
- The Personal Injuries Assessment Board;
- Health and Safety Authority;
- IDA Ireland; and
- Science Foundation Ireland.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) must implement the code of practice although some of its compliance requirements are not applicable to the CCPC due to its corporate structure.
Although Microfinance Ireland is not considered to be an Agency in the normal way, a Service Level Agreement dated 3 March 2017 between it and my Department cover issues of corporate governance.
356. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions her Department has taken to ensure information on alternative dispute resolution is available to consumers and businesses in line with the requirements of Article 15 of the European Union directive on alternative dispute resolution 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18504/17]
View answerEU Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and Council of 21 May 2013 on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes was transposed into Irish legislation through S.I.s 343 and 368 of 2015. The Directive on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) caters for business to consumer (B2C) transactions only and is intended to offer a simple, fast and low-cost alternative to civil litigation for consumers in order to resolve disputes between consumers and traders. The scheme is voluntary for traders and there is no obligation on them to participate in ADR procedures which are offered by ADR entities, if they choose not to do so. However, there is an obligation on traders to make consumers aware of the possibility of using ADR procedures if they wish to do so where a complaint about a good or service has arisen. Engagement with ADR procedures does not impair the consumer’s rights under relevant consumer protection legislation.
The requirements in relation to general information contained in article 15 of the Directive were transposed into Irish legislation through sections 5(2), 5(3) 5(4), 6(2) and 12 (2) of S.I. 343 of 2015.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) was designated as the competent authority under section 5(1) of S.I. 343 of 2015. The European Consumer Centre Ireland was designated under section 6(1) of S.I. No. 343 of 2015 as the body responsible for providing information and assistance to consumers about accessing ADR entities operating in another Member State relating to disputes arising from cross border sales or service contracts which are competent to deal with a consumer’s cross border dispute.
The CCPC has statutory responsibility for notifying dispute resolution entities as qualified ADR entities to the EU Commission under section 7 of S.I. No. 343 of 2015. The CCPC carries a list on its website of such notified entities. In addition, the CCPC supports the work of the European Consumer Centre Ireland under the regulations in relation to providing information and raising awareness about ADR procedures for consumers in Ireland. Activities undertaken by the European Consumer Centre Ireland to promote awareness and use of ADR procedures include hosting seminars, making public presentations and issuing press releases and publishing leaflets about the use of ADR procedures.
357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made by the State's industrial promotion agencies in attracting a replacement industry to a town (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18604/17]
View answerI am aware that IDA Ireland has had frequent engagement with Monaghan County Council and District Council with regard to the site in question and that the Agency continues to bring the facility to the attention of prospective investors.
Securing new investment for Monaghan, as well as other regional areas of Ireland, remains a priority of mine.
358. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA client visits to each county in 2017, by county and month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18615/17]
View answerIDA Ireland maintains statistics in relation to site visits by potential investors on a quarterly basis. It is expected that data on site visits for quarter 1, 2017 will be available at the end of this month.
