Written Answers Nos. 601 - 618
601. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent of funding and financial supports available for a small business with fewer than ten employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23291/17]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business.
In Budget 2017, I secured an additional €4m in Capital funding for the LEOs, which brought the total Capital allocation for this year to €22.5m. The Capital funding is made available to LEO clients by way of direct grant assistance or “soft” supports such as training and mentoring.
Direct grant aid is on offer to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories, i.e., feasibility grants (investigating the potential of a business idea) up to €15,000, priming grants (to part-fund a start-up) up to €150,000 and business development grants (for existing businesses that want to expand) up to €150,000. (It should be noted that the LEOs do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses).
For anyone interested in starting or growing a business, the LEOs may be able to offer ‘soft’ support in the form of training (e.g. a Start Your Own Business course) or provide a mentor to work with the business proposer.
Anyone with a viable business proposal can also use the LEO to make an application to MicroFinance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks.
In addition, small businesses (with less than 10 employees) that have been trading for at least 12 months and who are not yet trading online or are doing so in a very limited way can apply to the LEOs for vouchers of up to €2,500 each under the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS).
I should also draw your attention to the ‘Supporting SMEs’ Online Tool, which is a cross-governmental initiative to help start-ups navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. The tool is available at www.supportingsmes.ie. By answering the eight questions in the Online Tool, a small business will, in one location, be able to:
- find out which of the over 170 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them;
- obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit;
- identify their nearest Local Enterprise Office where they can discuss the outcomes of the guide further;
- download all these filtered results into a document for their further use.
602. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which Ireland remains an attractive and competitive location for inward and indigenous investment likely to lead to job creation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23292/17]
View answerAs Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, my focus is on improving Ireland’s competitiveness performance. Furthermore, my Department and the Government are very conscious of the need for a sustained focus on ensuring Ireland is an attractive location for mobile international and indigenous investment.
In December the National Competitiveness Council published Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2016 which contained a range of actions to enhance national competitiveness. The 2017 Action Plan for Jobs, published in February, sets out an ambitious target for Ireland to achieve a top 5 global competitiveness ranking based on the IMD Competitiveness Scorecard by 2020. Through the reforms set out in the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs, my Department and others are working to improve the ease of doing business, reduce the administrative burden by putting transactions on-line, enhance our cost competitiveness such as addressing insurance costs, increase innovation capacity and productivity and drive greater efficiencies across the enterprise base.
The latest report by the National Competitiveness Council highlights how the challenges posed by Brexit provide urgent impetus to pursue policies that enhance our competitiveness performance. The Council's report provides a timely reminder of Ireland's strengths, which need to be protected and enhanced, and also of areas where we need to remain vigilant and accelerate progress on addressing competitiveness gaps with the UK so as to ensure job creation across all regions.
Furthermore, my Department is also increasing resources for Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to increase the competitiveness of our indigenous enterprise base and enhance our attractiveness as a location for FDI relative to the UK.
603. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has had discussions with the Minister for Finance about the special assignee relief programme, SARP, and specifically about the time limits and the possibility of enabling persons to avail of a work permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23295/17]
View answerI, and officials in my Department and Agencies, have ongoing contact with the Minister for Finance and his officials in relation to enterprise tax policy matters.
The Government and I are committed to ensuring that Ireland will continue to provide a competitive offering, including tax offering, to attract FDI and to ensure that our entrepreneurs establish and scale in Ireland. These enterprises provide jobs for our citizens and contribute to funding the provision of public services.
The Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) will be particularly important in the context of Brexit. The individuals that this programme targets are senior individuals who often input into the decision as to where the company will locate new projects. The SARP helps to support IDA Ireland to deliver the challenging targets set out in their strategy.
In response to the challenges of Brexit, Budget 2017 included the extension of the SARP to 2020.
In terms of work permits, the Irish State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland, the European Union and other EEA states. Policy in relation to applications for employment permits remains focused on facilitating the recruitment from outside the EEA of highly skilled personnel, where the requisite skills cannot be met by normal recruitment or by training.
The employment permits system is ordered through a list structure: the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List, which lists occupations in high demand in the Irish labour market and the Ineligible Categories of Employment List, which lists occupations for which there is ample capacity already in the Irish/EEA labour market. An evidence-based review of these lists is conducted by my Department twice a year in order to keep the orientation of economic migration firmly in step with the precise needs of the labour market. My Department has an ongoing public consultations, the most recent just closed on 27th April, to ensure that precise needs of the labour market are reflected.
Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA, an employment permit may be sought in respect of a non-EEA national who possesses those skills. For occupations that are not on the Ineligible List and are not on the Highly Skilled List, an employment permit may be sought subject to a labour market needs test being conducted. All applications are processed in accordance with the Employment Permits Act 2006, as amended and are dependent on a specific job offer.
604. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22728/17]
View answerIn 1994 the Department of Social Welfare opened a grant scheme to provide counselling supports to children who had experienced bereavement or loss. This grant scheme then passed to the Family Support Agency (FSA) when it was established in 2003 and subsequently to Tusla on establishment in January 2014.
Up until 2011 applications were invited through an annual public advertisement, however in 2011 due to austerity this scheme was closed and no new applications have been accepted since 2011. Since 2011 the grantees who received funding in 2011 have continued to receive an annual grant equivalent to their 2011 grant. This Counselling Grants Scheme is for a total of €245,900 annually and currently there are only 64 grantees nationwide benefitting from this scheme. With over 4,000 schools in Ireland 64 grantees means that less than 2% of schools are in receipt of support from this scheme currently.
The Counselling Grants Scheme which was originally established to provide counselling support for children affected by bereavement or loss was affected by austerity cuts in 2010. The need for bereavement and loss counselling still exists in schools right around the country however without a significantly increased budget it is unfair and unethical to continue providing support to a small number of areas (64 grantees) while excluding all other schools from the scheme. Opening up the scheme nationally with a current budget allocation of €245,000 is not an option as this equates to less than €60 per school. Hence the decision was made to cease the scheme in its current format.
Tusla Educational Welfare Services is very supportive of the provision of appropriate school counselling supports and the option of continuing the scheme with adequate funding to provide the opportunity to all schools and School Completion Programmes nationally. All School Completion Programmes have been requested to identify unmet needs as part of their annual plan for 2017/18. Responses identifying gaps in service, including counselling provision for bereavement and loss, are currently being reviewed by Tusla Educational Welfare Service.
Tusla received a significant number of correspondences in relation to counselling grants and in the interests of ensuring consistent messaging it was decided to prepare one comprehensive response which was forwarded to all the people who had submitted correspondence.
605. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 4 May 2017, her views on whether it would not be worthwhile to compile non-attendance rates for schools for administrative divisions smaller than county level, even though the information and expertise is available within her Department and Tusla; and her further views on the use of county level statistics for understanding the impact of policies aimed at reducing school non-attendance or non-retention (details supplied). [22749/17]
View answerTusla does not collate or analyse school attendance data at the level requested by the Deputy hence it is unable to provide the detail requested.
Data at county level is available in the annual attendance returns which may be accessed on the Tusla website.
Providing details at county level has been the agreed methodology for presenting school attendance data for over a decade. The purpose of these reports is to provide national trends and averages to assist with policy development and also to track national school attendance data on an annual basis.
606. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will elaborate on the advice sought from the Attorney General regarding her press release on 16 September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22783/17]
View answerUpon receiving the Second Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) I sought the advice of the Attorney General with regard to any legal considerations for the Government in relation to its publication.
607. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will commence the Haiti international adoption programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22790/17]
View answerThe Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for implementing the Adoption Act 2010, including Ireland's responsibilities under the Hague Convention in relation to inter-country adoption. As Haiti has ratified the Hague Convention inter country adoption from Haiti is a matter between Central Authorities. The Authority must now determine how to progress this matter
Haiti ratified the Hague Convention on 1 April 2014. In May 2014 the Adoption Authority of Ireland accredited Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to facilitate inter country adoption between Ireland and Haiti. Helping Hands applied for accreditation by Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), the central authority of inter country adoption in Haiti. Helping Hands has been formally approved by IBESR to mediate adoptions from Haiti.
In March 2017 the Adoption Authority of Ireland and a representative from Helping Hands Mediation Agency visited Haiti. The Authority submitted a report of this visit to my Department on 10 May 2017.
608. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1435 of 2 May 2017, if she will address further queries raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22892/17]
View answerOn the matter of “Rules on Exemption”, exceptions to the upper age limit can be granted in circumstances where the child has been assessed by the HSE or a treating consultant as having special needs which should delay their entry into primary school. Such applications are submitted in writing to the DCYA and are assessed on a case by case basis.
On the matter of “Age Cut Off for Children Commencing School”, this upper age limit was set in consultation with the Early Years Policy Unit of the Department of Education and Skills to limit the age range of children beginning primary school and to ensure that children transition into primary school with their peers.
On the issue of the “scheme discriminating disadvantaged children”, I would like to highlight that there are currently a number of childcare subvention schemes in operation to support disadvantaged parents, including the Community Childcare Subvention which allows qualifying parents to avail of reduced childcare costs. There are also a number of childcare schemes available under the Training and Employment Childcare programmes for parents participating in certain training courses, on community employment and those on Department of Social Protection (DSP) employment programmes. These programmes will be replaced with the Affordable Childcare Scheme which will further support disadvantaged parents and remove the barriers to employment and education for many parents.
While I appreciate that where eligibility criteria exist, particularly criteria relating to age, there will be frustration for those outside of those criteria, such criteria are necessary to ensure a fair and impartial selection process and ensure that the scheme can be targeted appropriately to the maximum benefit of the children concerned.
609. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a freedom of information, FOI, request submitted on 14 February 2017 in the name of a person (details supplied) has not been responded to; and if the matter will be expedited. [23011/17]
View answerMy Department has no record of having received the FOI request to which the Deputy refers.
610. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 708 of 15 November 2016, her plans to open a residential unit in County Donegal for foster children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23156/17]
View answerI have been informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that at this time all Tusla Children’s Residential Centres in the West are under review to determine how the needs of the young people in the region may be best met. I am advised that consideration is being given to the demands on each service and ensuring that each Centre’s purpose and function fits with the overall plan for services for young people in the West. Within this context, the purpose and function of the Centre referred to in question number 708 of 15 November 2016 will be finalised. I have asked Tusla to provide me with a time frame for the completion of this review.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to your Parliamentary Question (21356/17) of 16th May 2017 where you enquired about a residential Unit in Donegal.
In my response I advised that I had been informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that all Tusla Children's Residential Centres in the West are under review to determine how the needs of the young people in the region may be best met.
I will inform the Deputy when the review is completed.
611. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 1476 of 2 May 2017, if he will reconcile this with his answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1474 and 1475 of 2 May 2017, which used whole-time equivalent, as recorded by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22672/17]
View answer612. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the definition of "whole-time equivalent" as used by the Defence Forces; the hours per week that constitute whole-time equivalent, as used by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22673/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions 611 and 612 together.
Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) strength figures refer to the Total Strength minus personnel on Leave of Absence or Secondment. The Defence Forces do not offer a Job Sharing scheme whereby two individuals cover one appointment on a part-time basis.
With regard to reconciling the previous Parliamentary Questions referred to by the Deputy, Question Numbers 1474 and 1475 of 2 May 2017 provide both the Total Strength and Whole Time Equivalent strength. However, Question Number 1476 asked for the number of hours required for one full time equivalent position in the Defence forces and, as indicated in the response, it is not possible to provide a definitive response to this, based on the varied nature of duties.
613. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the average hours worked per week per person in ranks (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22674/17]
View answerThe Defence Forces are a 24/7 organisation and personnel can be called upon at any time to undertake duties in relation to the tasks assigned by Government. The nature of the training and the roles discharged by members of the Defence Forces can range from general office duties, to education and instruction to security duties that can be for periods of 24 hours each. In addition, when on overseas service, on duty and on call periods are extensive and change on a daily basis. Therefore, hours worked each week will differ for members of the Defence Forces irrespective of their rank, depending on their daily and operational tasks. As a result, it is not possible to provide a definitive response concerning the average hours worked per week per person for the ranks specified.
614. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Permanent Defence Forces members who earned a basic pay, without military service allowance, of less than €24,518 per annum in each of the years 2008 to 2016 by rank, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22675/17]
View answer615. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Permanent Defence Forces members who earned basic pay, with military service allowance, of less than €24,518 per annum in each of the years 2008 to 2016 by rank (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22676/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together.
The information requested is set out in tables 1 and 2 in respect of the ranks specified. Table 1 shows those members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) who were on a basic pay scale point only of less than €24,518 on 31 December for each of the years in question, while Table 2 shows those members who were on a basic pay scale point plus Military Service Allowance (MSA) of less than €24,518 on 31 December for each of the years in question.
The following enlisted and officer ranks specified in the Deputy’s question are excluded from both tables as their basic pay only was greater than €24,518: Corporal/Leading Seaman; Sergeant/Petty Officer; CQMS/Senior Petty Officer; Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer; BQMS; Sergeant Major; 2nd Lieutenant/Ensign; Lieutenant/ Sub Lieutenant; Lieutenant (Eng Max); Lieutenant (Eng Min); Lieutenant (Med Max); Lieutenant (Med Min); Captain/Lieutenant (NS); Captain (Eng); Captain (Med); Commandant/Lieutenant Commander; Commandant (Eng); Commandant (Med); Lieutenant Colonel/ Commander
Table 1 - Enlisted Personnel in ranks specified that were in receipt of Basic Pay only of less than €24,518
|
Year |
Recruit |
Private 2 Star* |
Ordinary Seaman |
|
2008 |
202 |
|
|
|
2009 |
1 |
|
|
|
2010 |
113 |
|
|
|
2011 |
195 |
|
|
|
2012 |
539 |
|
|
|
2013 |
356 |
|
|
|
2014 |
358 |
3 |
34 |
|
2015 |
204 |
21 |
60 |
|
2016 |
243 |
42 |
102 |
Note*: MSA for Private 2 Star ceased on 1 July 2013 under the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA)
Table 2 - Enlisted Personnel in ranks specified that were in receipt of Basic Pay and MSA of less than €24,518
|
Year |
Private - 2 Star |
Ordinary Seaman |
Private - 3 Star |
Able Seaman |
|
2008 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2011 |
18 |
43 |
215 |
|
|
2012 |
27 |
51 |
394 |
9 |
|
2013 |
8 |
115 |
781 |
46 |
|
2014 |
|
|
287 |
1 |
|
2015 |
|
|
521 |
39 |
|
2016 |
|
|
303 |
6 |
The figures for 2016 do not take account of increased pay rates due under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, effective from 1 January 2016, which were recently agreed with PDFORRA. The revised rates are in the course of being paid.
616. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of search and humanitarian operations undertaken by the Naval Service in the Mediterranean Sea from May 2015 and to date in May 2017; the number of vessels deployed; the number of persons rescued; and the locations to which rescued persons were brought by Irish vessels. [23054/17]
View answerFollowing a Government Decision on 12 May 2015, the Irish Naval Vessel, L.É. Eithne, was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May, 2015, to assist the Italian Authorities with the migrant crisis. Two further vessels were deployed, L.É. Niamh and L.É. Samuel Beckett, and the deployment was completed on 29 November 2015. During the period May to November 2015, a total of 8,592 persons were rescued in the Mediterranean by three Irish Naval Vessels.
On 6 April 2016, the Government approved the return of an Irish Naval vessel to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks in the Mediterranean. In total, three Irish Naval vessels were deployed during the period May to December 2016, L.É. Róisín, L.É. James Joyce and L.É. Samuel Beckett and a total of 7,029 persons were rescued by these Naval Vessels in 2016.
On 11 April 2017, the Government approved the despatch of a Naval vessel to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities. The Government decision provided that the deployment is subject to finalisation of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities in relation to the operation of the mission and the landing of persons rescued. A date for deployment of L.É. Eithne will be determined when the diplomatic arrangements have been finalized.
The number of search and humanitarian operations undertaken in the period April 2015 to December 2016 is 128. Six (6) Naval Vessels have deployed to the Mediterranean resulting in the rescue of over 15,600 migrants. The rescued persons were all brought to ports in Sicily or mainland Italy. The ports of safety were Palermo, Taranto, Catania, Messina, Brindisi, Porto Embedode, Coriglianio Calabro, Vibo Valentua, Caligiara, Trapani, Pozzalo and Augusta.
617. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he will provide the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 822 of 11 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23213/17]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy, by way of follow up to question number 822 answered on 11 April, 2017 there have been no adjudications made by the Workplace Relations Commission that have not been accepted in respect of my Department in the period 1 January 2015 to 11 April 2017.
618. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the significant challenges in the conservation of the Curragh, County Kildare; the measures his Department is undertaking to help preserve the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20386/17]
View answerAs you are aware the Curragh Forum was established to enable key stakeholders of the Curragh Plains to meet and contribute to the ongoing management, protection and future development of the Plains. Membership of the Forum, which is chaired by the Department of Defence, includes representatives from the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Curragh Racecourse, Curragh Racehorse Trainers and Kildare County Council. The Forum also considers inputs from other representative groups of stakeholders and interested parties as required.
To date there have been three meetings of the Forum. Issues discussed have included illegal encampments, illegal parking, dumping, over grazing and the ongoing management, maintenance and protection of the Curragh Plains. A number of actions were agreed by the members of the Forum to assist in addressing these issues.
In line with agreed actions, a review of the Curragh Bye-Laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act is progressing with a view to identifying what amendments can possibly be made to provide greater powers to deal with the issues of illegal encampments, illegal dumping, illegal parking and the other key issues identified by the Forum.
In addition, my officials have recently introduced revised procedures regarding the branding and documenting of sheep grazing on the Curragh Plains. These changes will assist in having greater control of the numbers of sheep grazing. Actions to address over grazing will also be progressed in 2017.
Plans are being prepared to facilitate progress of a number of other agreed actions including signage and the development of facilities on the Curragh environs. There are currently no dates agreed for further meetings but my officials are available to meet with members of the Forum to discuss key issues as they arise.
I am well aware of the many issues which need to be addressed in the context of the day to day management and use of the Curragh Plains and consequently am supportive and appreciative of the work being undertaken by the Forum. I am confident that in working together, the members of the Forum will provide the resolve and expertise to greatly assist in the identification and implementation of solutions to the problems which need to be addressed.
