Written Answers Nos. 110-127
110. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of each instance of advertorial content commissioned by his Department and agencies under its remit in the past 12 months; the date this content was published; the purpose of this content; the cost of its publication; the publication or platform on which it was published, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10777/18]
View answerThe following table details relevant content commissioned by my Department and agencies under its remit in the last 12 months. The use of these platforms has allowed valuable public attention to be drawn to the often hidden issues of human trafficking and domestic violence.
|
Date |
Name of Campaign/Purpose |
Platform |
Cost |
|
15 August 2017 |
Human trafficking awareness raising article (Blue Blindfold campaign) |
Metro Éireann (hard copy and online) |
€1,291.50 |
|
March & August 2017 |
Promoting the ‘What would you do?’ campaign on domestic violence |
Mummypages.ie |
See below |
|
March & August 2017 |
Promoting the ‘What would you do?’ campaign on domestic violence |
Shemazing.ie |
See below |
|
March & August 2017 |
Promoting the ‘What would you do?’ campaign on domestic violence |
Magicmum.ie |
See below |
|
September 2017 |
Promoting the ‘What would you do?’ campaign on domestic violence |
The Journal |
See below |
|
November 2017 |
Promoting the ‘What would you do?’ campaign on domestic violence |
The Public Sector Magazine |
See below |
|
December 2017 & January 2018 |
Promoting the ‘What would you do?’ campaign on domestic violence |
Irish Times (Print and online) |
€61,808.00* |
|
Total Cost |
|
|
€63,099.50 |
*I am informed that for reasons of commercial sensitivity it is not proposed to provide a breakdown of the cost per publication/platform in relation to the promotion of the 'What Would You Do?' campaign as highlighted in the table - this figure comprises the total spent on the six publications/platforms named above.
111. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of each instance of advertorial content commissioned by her Department and agencies under its remit in the past 12 months; the date this content was published; the purpose of this content; the cost of its publication; the publication or platform on which it was published, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10766/18]
View answerMy Department and its Offices have not commissioned any advertorial content in the past 12 months.
Any decisions by the agencies under the aegis of my Department to engage with the media are taken by those agencies as part of their ongoing communications planning. I have asked the agencies to inform me of any advertorial content commissioned by them over the last twelve months and I will provide these details, if any, to the Deputy once received.
112. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 152 and 153 of 18 January 2018, if the final 2017 data is available as per the outstanding data indicated in the reply. [10820/18]
View answerThe results of the annual employment survey of LEO clients is now complete and the 2017 data will be published on the 7th March 2018.
113. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department requested at EU level a Brexit adjustment support fund within the EU’s structural and investment funds to mitigate the negative exposure of companies from a hard Brexit. [10821/18]
View answerIn November 2017, the then Tánaiste met with Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy to discuss, amongst other things, the impact of Brexit on Irish businesses. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Working Group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules. The Working Group has met three times and in between these meetings, there has been engagement on specific issues in order to continue to progress matters. Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing State Aid rules, this will be raised as part of the Working Group discussions.
My Department is carrying out extensive work to prepare for all Brexit eventualities. Informed by detailed research, my Department is putting in place a package of measures that will allow us to respond to the needs of businesses including the Brexit Loan Scheme which was announced in Budget 2018 which will provide affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or will be in the future.
The recent signing of the counter guarantee from the EIB group (through its InnovFin Guarantee) means that the €24 million exchequer funding announced in the 2018 Budget (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) can be leveraged to provide a fund of €300 million. The Brexit Loan Scheme will be open to businesses of fewer than 500 employees which can demonstrate that they are significantly exposed to the impact (or potential impact) of Brexit. They must be a viable business, doing business in Ireland, and they must have a business development strategy demonstrating that they plan to innovate or adapt in response to Brexit. This scheme will be operated within De Minimis State Aid Regulation.
My officials are also examining policy proposals for a new longer-term Business Investment Loan Scheme to support businesses to invest strategically for a post-Brexit environment and a new Business Finance Advisory Hub service which would focus on business development.
The Agencies of my Department are at the forefront in working with firms to ensure they are equipped to deal with Brexit and to enhance their performances in an increasingly competitive global trading environment through lean programmes, skills development and reducing business costs.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) has launched the 'Brexit SME Scorecard', an interactive online tool which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit. EI is also offering a 'Be Prepared Grant' of up to €5,000 to support clients to develop a Brexit Action Plan and it continues to support clients to improve their competitiveness, acquire new markets and enhance management skills.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are organising workshops, seminars and training to assist companies to better understand the challenges of Brexit and have a range of supports to help clients to respond to those challenges, to become more competitive and to source new markets.
InterTrade Ireland is also working to minimise the impact of Brexit on north-south trade.
114. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the 2018 Action Plan for Jobs will be published. [10822/18]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government’s key instruments to support job creation. Since the first Plan was launched in early 2012, there are almost 313,000 more people at work bringing total employment in the State to almost 2,192,000 (seasonally adjusted) by end of Quarter 3, 2017. Four out of every five additional jobs created since the Government was formed are based outside Dublin.
While unemployment has fallen significantly and employment continues to grow strongly, this Government’s goal is to have an additional 200,000 people at work by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside of Dublin.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation commenced the process to develop the Action Plan for Jobs 2018 in July 2017 and has received submissions from a wide range of stakeholders. The APJ 2018 will intensify efforts to enhance and improve competitiveness and focus on structural reforms to improve productivity across the economy and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. We will develop, nurture and attract world class talent and drive investment in innovation to sustain a competitive advantage, particularly in strategically important areas.
Following recent approval by Government, the 2018 Action Plan for Jobs will be published on 9 March 2018.
115. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the latest employment projections for the 2020 to 2025 period at national and regional level for the remaining period of Enterprise 2025. [10823/18]
View answerEnterprise 2025 renewed is due to be launched on 9th March. The review of our national enterprise policy was undertaken in the context of recent global developments, including Brexit, international tax policy developments, US policies and the pervasive impact of new and emerging technologies.
The national jobs target set out in Enterprise 2025 was for 2.18 million to be in employment by the end of 2020. This ambition has been achieved and has been updated in the review while the ambition for each NUTS III region remains in place - that is, to ensure that the unemployment rate for each region is no more than one percentage point above the national average. The level of uncertainty and confluence of global drivers of change makes it challenging to forecast beyond the next few years with any degree of confidence.
Between June 2015 and January 2016, my Department published eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, aimed at raising employment levels in the regions and facilitating them to achieve their economic potential. Each plan contains a series of actions with timelines for delivery between 2015-2017, through improved collaboration between enterprise agencies and other stakeholders supporting enterprise development in the regions. A key objective of each of the plans is to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020. The attached table shows our progress towards these employment targets up to Quarter 2 2017.
On 16th January 2018, the Central Statistics Office released the Labour Force Survey for Quarter 3 2018, which has replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey as the official source of data for employment and unemployment in Ireland. The data presented in the report incorporates adjustments to previous releases to take account of revisions to population estimates arising from the 2016 Census of Population. Due to the break in the time-series of regional employment data, comparisons that span Quarter 2 to Quarter 3 2017 cannot be reliably made. As a result, the data presented in the table attached spans Q1 2015 - Q2 2017.
Regional Employment Performance Q1 2015 – Q2 2017 (thousand):
Total Change since Q1 2015
|
Region |
Q1 2015 |
Q2 2017 |
Total Change since Q1 2015 Number % |
|
|
North East/North West |
207.3 |
219.3 |
12 |
5.7% |
|
Midland |
116.8 |
126.3 |
9.5 |
8.1% |
|
West |
184.5 |
200 |
15.5 |
8.4% |
|
Dublin |
612.7 |
660.9 |
48.2 |
7.8% |
|
Mid-East |
241.2 |
260.5 |
19.3 |
8.0% |
|
Mid-West |
156.4 |
173 |
16.6 |
10.6% |
|
South-East |
205 |
221.2 |
16.2 |
7.9% |
|
South-West |
290.5 |
319.9 |
29.4 |
10.1% |
|
State |
2014.4 |
2181.2 |
166.8 |
8.2% |
Target: increase of 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020
Source: Labour Force Survey Quarter 3 2017, CSO.
116. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has a strategy in place to increase south-east Asia investment and export opportunities and increasing enterprise opportunities in the region; the details of all trade missions to the region by her Department in each of the years 2011 to 2017; and the trips planned in 2018, in tabular form. [10824/18]
View answerMy Department recognises the many opportunities that exist for Irish businesses in South East Asia. Total exports of goods and services from Ireland to the Asia Pacific region exceeded €25 billion in 2015 and are continuing to grow.
My Department is actively engaging in the upcoming whole-of-government strategy for the Asia-Pacific Region. This strategy will chart a path for increased economic activity within the region. Led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and set out in the Programme for Government, the AsiaPac strategy is broad in scope, incorporating the development of opportunities and links relating to cultural, diaspora, research and education as well as trade.
In addition, my Department has trade and investment strategies aimed at ensuring that Irish enterprises can take advantage of existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the EU and Asia Pacific regions. We are working with EU partners to expand the portfolio of FTAs, with current priorities including Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) is the Government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in global markets. EI’s Singapore office is the regional headquarters for the ASEAN region, comprising of 10 countries and leads the strategy to grow Irish exports to this important growth region.
There are currently 300 EI client companies exporting to the ASEAN region, with 128 of these having a local market presence. Indigenous exports to the region have grown by over 50% since 2011 and are now valued at €312M (2016).
Singapore remains the gateway for many Irish companies with regional opportunities in the following growth sectors:
- Aviation/Aerospace/Travel Technologies;
- Digital Technologies including Fintech, Telecoms and IOT;
- Construction, Energy, Green Build and Manufacturing
- Healthcare, including Digital Health
- Education, EduTech and HRTech
In response to the growing opportunities for Irish companies in the ASEAN region, Enterprise Ireland has increased the numbers of executives in the region from 2 to 7 over the last four years and continually reviews its strategy and resourcing for the region.
In respect of IDA Ireland, its Growth Markets Division was established in 2009 to explore and develop new markets in Growth Market Regions, including the sourcing of investment from South East Asia/ASEAN markets (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei).
IDA Ireland has a Director in Singapore who oversees IDA Ireland’s strategy in relation to developing and winning investment from countries in that area, including regular visits to target companies.
- IDA Ireland is targeting investment from the region, across a broad range of sectors such as ICT,
- Digital Media, Life Sciences, Financial Services, Engineering, Aerospace, Cleantech, and new emerging internet companies as appropriate to each market.
With regard to trade missions, there have been 18 Ministerial and Presidential visits to the region over the past six years. The following table is the complete list of high level visits since 2011. Each of these visits would have included a trade component.
|
Year |
Led by Minister: |
Markets Covered |
|
2018 |
Mr Michael D’Arcy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance |
Singapore |
|
2017 |
Mr Richard Bruton, Minister for Education & Skills |
Vietnam |
|
2017 |
Mr Michael Noonan, Minister for Finance |
Singapore & Malaysia |
|
2017 |
Mr David Stanton, Minister Justice and Equality |
Indonesia |
|
2017 |
Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation |
Singapore |
|
2017 |
Minister Halligan, Minister of State for Training and Skills |
Thailand |
|
2016 |
Mr Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Financial Services, eGovernment, & Public Procurement |
Singapore |
|
2016 |
Mr Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine |
Singapore |
|
2016 |
Mr Andrew Doyle, Minister for Food, Forestry and Horticulture |
Vietnam |
|
2016 |
President Higgins |
Vietnam |
|
2015 |
Ms Francis Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice and Equality |
Singapore |
|
2014 |
Mr Richard Bruton, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Jobs |
Singapore & Malaysia |
|
2014 |
Mr Joe Costello, Minister for Trade and Development |
Singapore |
|
2014 |
Mr Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for the Diaspora |
Malaysia |
|
2013 |
Mr Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform |
Indonesia, Singapore, The Philippines |
|
2012 |
Mr Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform |
Singapore |
|
2012 |
Ms Lucinda Creighton, Minister for European Affairs |
Singapore |
|
2012 |
Mr Fergus O’Dowd, Minister of State for the NewEra project |
Singapore & Malaysia |
Enterprise Ireland will announce its 2018 Trade Mission Schedule over the coming weeks.
117. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10825/18]
View answerI am disappointed with the announced redundancies at the company. At a time when the country as a whole is moving towards full employment, that does not make it any easier for any person who finds themselves in such a difficult situation. It also underlines that though the economy overall is performing well, there are challenges out there that require every company to make sure it is competitive and is capable of satisfying the needs of their customers.
According to the company, the objective of the announcement is to improve the overall competitiveness of the site and to future proof it so that it can continue to operate effectively.
The company envisages that post this process, the site will be better prepared to continue to supply and sustain their commercial opportunities in the market place where they currently have a strong position. The formal consultation process began a month ago and is ongoing. The company envisages that the redundancies will be achieved on a voluntary basis.
I would strongly urge the parties to continue their extensive engagement locally with a view to reaching a resolution to the satisfaction of both employees and the company.
I will certainly work with my colleague, Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, to ensure that redundant workers are given the support they need to find alternative employment. I would hope that alternative employment can be found quickly in the region. My own objective, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and as a local representative, is to ensure that new job opportunities are created in the local area.
The national economic picture is strong and in fact the numbers on the live register in Monaghan are down by 15% in the last year alone.
The North-East/North-West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is the key policy response for supporting employment growth in the region. The core objective of the Plan is to have a further 28,000 at work in the region by 2020. Importantly, the Plan has been embraced by public and private sector bodies in the region and over 90% of the Plan’s actions are on track to be delivered. In terms of impact, more than 12,000 more people are in employment in the Border region since the Plan commenced.
Knowing the considerable challenges that companies in the region are facing, Enterprise Ireland continues to engage on a one-to-one basis with established client companies in County Monaghan. Since 2014, Enterprise Ireland has invested in the range of €18 million in client companies in Monaghan.
But I am very conscious that more needs to be done. I will be working, together with my Department and agencies to ensure there is an even greater focus on the border and in particular on counties like Monaghan and Cavan.
In December last year I announced an allocation of €30.5 million in funding to support enterprise capability in the regions, with 21 projects from all over the country receiving funding. Three projects from the Border region were successful:
a network of three Digital and Innovation Hubs (incl. in Co. Leitrim);
a new Digital Innovation Hub and enterprise capacity building program in Co. Donegal;
and a Regional Food Centre of Excellence in Co. Monaghan.
In order to pursue this policy of growing new and existing businesses across the regions, I look forward to launching a second call under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund in the coming weeks to allocate the balance of the €60m earmarked for this Scheme.
118. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the review of Enterprise 2025 in view of Brexit and potential policy changes under the new American administration; and when the review will be completed and published. [10826/18]
View answerThe review of Enterprise 2025 takes account of developments in the economy and in the international economic and policy environment since the original strategy was launched in 2015. The review has now been completed and approved by Government. I intend to launch Enterprise 2025 Renewed this Friday 9th March 2018.
119. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery in Galway University Hospital for 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 months, respectively. [10428/18]
View answerI acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
October's Budget announced a total 2018 allocation of €55m for the NTPF for 2018. This significant increase in funding more than doubles the 2017 total allocation of €20m. The NTPF and HSE are in the process of finalising Waiting List Action Plans and Initiatives for 2018.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
120. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of treatments that were reimbursed by the HSE under the cross-Border directive in each of the years 2014 to 2017; the amount for each year; the number awaiting payment; if payments are classified by type of treatment, that is, hip replacement; the numerical breakdown by classification in each of the years; the cost by classification in each of the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10429/18]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the administration of the Cross Border Directive, I have asked the HSE to examine the issue raised and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing the prescription charge on a phased basis over four years beginning in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10430/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
122. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold to €85 per month on a phased basis over four years commencing in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10431/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
123. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing inpatient charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10432/18]
View answerIn 2017 inpatient charges of €27.5m were reported by the Health Service Executive. This is the approximate cost to the health system of abolishing the inpatient charges.
124. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of the population who hold medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10433/18]
View answerAs of 1 February 2018 there are 1,609,183 (33.6% of the population) Medical Cards in circulation.
125. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of the population who have private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10434/18]
View answerAccording to the latest information from the Health Insurance Authority, as of end-December 2017 there were 2,174,430 people (45.1% of the population) holding private health insurance.
The HIA regularly publishes updated information, including the number and percentage of the population that are insured, on their website www.hia.ie.
126. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of the population who have neither a medical card nor private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10435/18]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended.
According to the most recent statistics provided by the HSE for 1 February 2018, 33.6% of the population or 1,609,183 people hold medical cards.
Regarding private health insurance, according to the most recent statistics provided by the Health Insurance Authority, as at 31 December 2017, 45.1% of the population or 2,174,430 people hold private health insurance.
At present, there are no statistics collated on the number and percentage of the population that have neither a medical card nor private health insurance.
127. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average cost of a medical card per person; the average pharmacy payment per person under the general medical scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10436/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
