Written Answers Nos. 287-301
287. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Authority, IDA, supported jobs created in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the target numbers for each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form. [51528/17]
View answer291. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the job creation targets for Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the local enterprise offices in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form. [51564/17]
View answer292. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs created by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and local enterprise offices in each of the years 2014 to 2017, in tabular form. [51565/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 287, 291 and 292 together.
Yearly job creation by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices is captured by the Annual Employment Survey (AES) conducted by my Department and published in January each year. The 2016 survey remains the most up to date and accurate source of information on Enterprise Agency job creation until the 2017 figures are published early next year.
EI, IDA Ireland and the LEOs publish their yearly targets as part of the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) process. Through the APJ the Government has committed to creating 200,000 new jobs by 2020, with 135,000 of these to be located outside of Dublin. As part of the APJ process the Government aims to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the unemployment rate of each region to be brought within one per cent of the national average.
Each of the Agencies have their own strategies targeting these ambitious levels of job creation over the coming years. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for 2017-2020 aims to create 60,000 jobs, while sustaining existing ones, which will make an important contribution to economic growth across all regions of Ireland.
In January 2017 Enterprise Ireland published its strategy for the period 2017-2020. The strategy was developed in the context of Brexit and focuses on supporting clients to both Build Scale and Expand Reach. Despite economic and market uncertainties. Enterprise Ireland’s employment target for 2020 is to assist clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 and to sustain the existing record level of jobs. Enterprise Ireland does not have targets beyond 2020.
As part of its 2015-2019 strategy IDA Ireland aims to create 80,000 new jobs and 900 new investments in the period from 2015 to 2019 – which would bring total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) employment in Ireland to 209,000. The LEO 2016 annual jobs survey results highlighted three consecutive years of local jobs growth throughout the country: with a net increase of 3,679 jobs and total direct employment among LEO client companies standing at 34,634.With a similar level of funding in 2017 and 2018 the LEOs hope to support a similar level of job creation in those years.
Through EI, IDA Ireland and the LEOs 70 new jobs are being created every day and over 50,000 new jobs have been delivered in the past two years. I am confident, on the basis of the excellent progress made to date, that total Agency supported employment will grow from 436,000 in 2016 to 470,000 by 2018.
Enterprise Ireland supports companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate and remain competitive on international markets. The contribution of Enterprise Ireland client companies to the Irish economy is very important, particularly from a regional and county perspective.
The 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors. In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 201,108 people. In 2016 19,244 new jobs were created resulting in a net gain of 9,117 jobs across the country. When jobs supported indirectly by those companies are taken into account, Enterprise Ireland-supported companies sustained over 375,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.
The table presents employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies across the period 2014 to 2016.
|
Enterprise Ireland Jobs |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Total Jobs |
180,072 |
192,223 |
201,108 |
|
Total Job Gains |
19,705 |
21,118 |
19,244 |
|
Total Net Change |
8,476 |
10,169 |
9,117 |
Please note employment figures for 2017 are not available until after the Annual Employment Survey is made available at the start of 2018.
Jobs details since 2014 for IDA Ireland:
|
IDA Jobs |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Total Jobs |
175,217 |
188,035 |
199,877 |
|
Gross Gains |
15,519 |
20,982 |
18,627 |
|
Net Jobs Gains |
6,895 |
12,818 |
11,842 |
The LEO 2016 annual jobs survey results highlighted three consecutive years of local jobs growth throughout the country: with a net increase of 3,679 jobs and total direct employment among LEO client companies standing at 34,634.
|
LEO Jobs |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Gross Jobs |
7,305 |
7,122 |
7,883 |
|
Net Jobs |
4,012 |
3,533 |
3,679 |
|
Total Jobs |
31,326 |
32,592 |
34,634 |
In summary, through EI, IDA Ireland and the LEOs, 70 new jobs are being created per day and over 50,000 new jobs have been delivered in the past two years.
288. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland supported jobs created in each the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the target numbers for each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form. [51529/17]
View answerEnterprise Ireland supports companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate and remain competitive on international markets. The contribution of Enterprise Ireland client companies to the Irish economy is very important, particularly from a regional and county perspective.
The 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors. In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 201,108 people. In 2016 19,244 new jobs were created resulting in a net gain (after job losses in those client companies) of 9,117 jobs across the country. When jobs supported indirectly by those companies are taken into account, Enterprise Ireland supported companies sustain over 375,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.
The table presents employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies across the period 2013 to 2016.
Employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies
|
Enterprise Ireland Jobs |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Total Jobs |
175,750 |
180,072 |
192,223 |
201,108 |
|
Total Job Gains |
18,033 |
19,705 |
21,118 |
19,244 |
|
Total Net Change |
5,442 |
8,476 |
10,169 |
9,117 |
Please note employment figures for 2017 are not available until after the Annual Employment Survey is made available at the start of 2018.
In January 2017 Enterprise Ireland published its strategy for the period 2017-2020. The strategy was developed in the context of Brexit and focuses on supporting clients to both Build Scale and Expand Reach. Despite economic and market uncertainties. Enterprise Ireland’s employment target for 2020 is to assist clients to create 60,000 new jobs (gross) by 2020 and to sustain the existing record level of jobs. Enterprise Ireland does not have targets beyond 2020.
289. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of local enterprise office-supported jobs created in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the target numbers for each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form. [51530/17]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.
The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant state supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as local authority rates, public procurement and other regulations affecting business.
The LEOs can offer direct grant aid 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) priming grants (to part-fund a start-up) and business development grants for existing businesses that want to expand.
Details of the number of new full- and part-time jobs created in gross terms amongst LEO supported companies from 2014 to 2016 are set out in the table.
|
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Total Jobs (Gross) |
7,305 |
7,122 |
7,883 |
It should be noted that the LEO client database was reviewed as part of the process of restructuring the enterprise supports for micro-enterprises and so comparative data for the years prior to 2014 is not available. Please also note that the 2017 outcomes won’t be known until completion of the annual employment survey of LEO clients in Q1 2018.
In 2017, each Local Enterprise Office (LEO) produced a four-year Local Enterprise Development Plan (LEDP) for 2017 to 2020 setting out the annual activities that will be undertaken to further their strategic objectives. The Plans are aimed at further boosting enterprise growth within the area within their remit by building on the achievements to date and setting targets for job creation and enterprise growth in their area. The LEOs have targeted the creation in 2017 of almost 7,000 gross new jobs by the companies supported by them, with an estimated cumulative target of 17,000 gross new jobs between 2018 and 2020.
290. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the funding allocated to the Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs awards in each of the years 2014 to 2017; and the amount of this funding that was used each year. [51563/17]
View answerFunding for the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) initiative is just one of the ways in which the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are investing in entrepreneurs around the country. Capital funding for direct financial supports to the micro-enterprise sector (Measure 1 priming, business expansion and feasibility grants) and so-called “soft” supports for LEO clients, such as training and mentoring (Measure 2 supports) is also provided to the LEOs by my Department via the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Enterprise Ireland, who distribute the funding to individual LEOs.
I am very pleased with the strong level of interest in the IBYE competition around the country by young people who wish to start their own business, thanks to the time and effort invested by the LEOs. In total, 5,722 young people aged between 18 and 35 have entered over the four years of the initiative to date.
The local finals of the 2017/18 IBYE competition are taking place in every county at present, the regional finals will take place early in the New Year and the National Final will take place in early March 2018.
Investments ranging from €3,000 to €20,000 are made in the winners and runners up in each of three categories (Best New Idea, Best Start-up and Best Established Business) at local and national level, amounting to a total of 186 investments per annum across the 31 LEOs.
Details of the funding allocated for the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competitions in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and of the expenditure incurred to date, are set out in the following table:
IBYE Allocations and Expenditure 2014-end Sep 2017
|
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (to end Sep) |
|
Allocations |
€2,485,445 |
€2,458,416 |
€2,359,020 |
€2,505,225 |
|
Expenditure |
€1,649,358 |
€2,609,044 |
€1,214,710 |
€1,920,609 |
It should be noted that there is a lag between funds being allocated and expenditure being incurred, due to the structure of the competition which spreads over successive years.
293. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the 2018 budget allocation for each office and agency under the remit of her Department, in tabular form. [51566/17]
View answerIt is not yet possible to provide the breakdown of 2018 allocations as sought by the Deputy. The 2018 allocations for the Department, its Offices and Agencies will be finalized and published in the 2018 Revised Estimates Volume during December 2017.
295. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of gift vouchers sold on an annual basis in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; the estimated value of gift vouchers annually over this period; if she will provide the departmental review or research paper on the regulation of gift vouchers here; the data regarding the estimated value of unredeemed gift vouchers by persons annually over same period; and if her Department has examined the regulatory position of expiry dates of vouchers such as is provided in other jurisdictions. [51829/17]
View answerGift cards and vouchers are issued by a very large number of businesses in a number of different forms to both consumers and businesses. As there is no requirement on gift card issuers to compile or provide data on the number and value of gift vouchers purchased annually, I am not in a position to supply the data requested by the Deputy on the number and value of gift vouchers sold from 2014 to date. A survey undertaken for the National Consumer Agency in November 2013 found that four-fifths of respondents had purchased gift vouchers at some point. As businesses also purchase gift cards as rewards for staff and customers, it is clear that the annual value of the gift card market is sizeable. There are no data available similarly on the estimated value of unredeemed gift vouchers. I am aware however of estimates which suggest that 1-2 per cent of gift vouchers redeemable in a wide range of outlets may go unredeemed and that 8-10 per cent of vouchers redeemable in a single retailer or service provider may not be redeemed.
My Department compiled a range of material on the regulation of gift cards as part of the preparation of, and consultation on, the gift card provisions in the draft Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill published in 2015. This included details on the legislative provisions on expiry dates in other jurisdictions, principally the United States and Canada. While this material is not available in the form of a single research paper, I would be happy to provide details on any specific aspect of the regulation of gift cards for which information is available in response to any further request from the Deputy.
296. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of freedom of information requests received by her Department to date in 2017; the number fully or partially granted; and the number of such requests that were refused. [51845/17]
View answer297. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of freedom of information requests received by her Department to date in 2017; the number of which the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of the receipt of the request; and the number of which the period of consideration was extended by up to four weeks in view of the fact that the necessary resources to complete the request within the original timeframe were not available, in tabular form. [51862/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.
Details of the total number of FOI requests received by my Department and its Offices to date in 2017, the number of requests partially and fully granted, the number of requests refused, and the number of applications where a four week processing extension were applied are outlined in the table.
|
Total FOI Requests to date in 2017 |
Total FOI Requests Fully Granted to date in 2017 |
Total FOI requests Part Granted to date in 2017 |
Total FOI Requests refused to date in 2017 |
Total FOI requests to date wherein four week processing extension under Section 14 of 2014 Freedom of Information Act was applied |
|
280 |
46 |
74 |
39 |
8 |
298. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to make changes in legislation that would give rights to employees in circumstances in which there is status red weather alert in an area in order to prevent dangerous travel to work (details supplied) and to protect income for lost work resulting from such a weather alert; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51965/17]
View answerThe national response to Storm Ophelia was coordinated by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy T.D. and the National Emergency Coordination Committee. The primary piece of legislation relating to occupational safety and health is the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Under this legislation employers, including the self-employed, have a statutory obligation to provide for the safety of their employees while at work. However, it should be noted that commuting to and from an employee’s normal assigned place of work, in the employee’s own private vehicle or using other modes of transport, is outside the scope of the legislation and beyond the statutory remit of the Health and Safety Authority.
Commuting to and from the workplace is a matter of public safety as opposed to being restricted to workplace safety. In this regard the voluntary closure by employers of their businesses during Storm Ophelia most likely contributed positively to a higher level of safety for the general public at that time.
I understand that the response to Storm Ophelia is being reviewed and a report will be prepared which will be submitted to the Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning for its attention before being submitted for the approval of Government in January 2018.
Changes to Employment Rights legislations, including any legislative changes to provide for the protection from loss of income during a “status red” alert, would be a matter for the Minister of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty T.D.
299. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which her Department is accessing supports for Irish SMEs through the European Fund for Strategic Investments and the European Investment Bank; if all such available funding has been drawn down to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52047/17]
View answerPolicy responsibility for leveraging funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) rests with my colleague the Minister for Finance.
However, my Department and agencies are strongly committed to working together with the EIB, other Departments and Financial Intermediaries to enhance the Bank’s activity in the SME sector in Ireland. The Brexit Loan Scheme recently announced during Budget 2018 will provide affordable working capital financing to eligible Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit, or will be in the future. The Scheme will be delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) through commercial lenders to get much needed working capital into Irish businesses. The €300 million fund is underpinned by a counter-guarantee from the European Commission and EIB Group through its InnovFin counter guarantee facility. My officials are also engaging with the EIB on the potential for working together on future loan guarantee schemes.
The European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) is a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Investment Fund (EIF) and the European Commission, established to help overcome the current investment gap in the EU by mobilising private financing for strategic investments.
While the Minister for Finance is responsible for the Irish political and policy input on the shape of EFSI, including its ongoing review, it is in fact EFSI itself which is charged with day to day operations independent of all EU Governments including the Irish Government.
EFSI and EIB do however publish project lists on their websites, and, in this regard, I would direct the Deputy's attention towards this information, which can be filtered by country and by sector, including under the heading of 'smaller companies’.
The website addresses are www.eib.org/efsi/efsi-projects/index.htm and http://www.eib.org/projects/loan/list/index.htm.
300. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if funding for the St. James's Hospital national narcolepsy service has been included in the Estimates 2018 process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51422/17]
View answer304. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if the funding for St. James's Hospital national narcolepsy service has been included in the Estimates 2018 process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51446/17]
View answer347. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of the inclusion of a service (details supplied) in the 2018 Book of Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51604/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 300, 304 and 347 together.
Work is under way on the setting up a Centre of Excellence for Narcolepsy based in St. James’s Hospital for patients with all forms of narcolepsy in adults and in children transitioning from the paediatric services. Funding for the infrastructure, staffing and recruitment for this centre is being considered as part of the overall 2018 service plan process.
301. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [51426/17]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
