Written Answers Nos. 300-322
300. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to her Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39365/18]
View answer310. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent by her Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39632/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 310 together.
My Department does not have a specific budget subhead for public relations advice, communications, online advertising, press or public awareness campaigns. No specific amount was allocated for these activities in 2018.
There have been a number of payments in relation to these activities across my Department and the Offices under its remit in 2018 to date, details of these are set out in the table.
301. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the timeline for implementation of each of the 14 recommendations made by the Personal Injuries Commission regarding personal injury awards in tabular form. [39524/18]
View answerI was pleased to submit the Second and Final Report of the Personal Injuries Commission (PIC) to Government on the 18th September 2018. The publication of this Report now concludes the challenging work programme of the Personal Injuries Commission since its establishment in January 2017.
The establishment of the Personal Injuries Commission was one of the key recommendations from the Report of the Cost of Insurance Working Group on the Cost of Motor Insurance approved by Government and published in January 2017. The Personal Injuries Commission was chaired by Justice Nicholas Kearns, former President of the High Court. The Personal Injuries Commission has made a total of 14 recommendations across its two reports which are aimed at positively impacting the overall Irish claims environment.
The Second and Final Report of the Personal Injuries Commission makes ten recommendations and the implementation of which will be a matter for each of the bodies responsible. The Report does not specify timelines for the implementation of the recommendations due to the nature of them, however it is expected that they will be acted upon by the bodies responsible as soon as possible.
In this regard, I am writing to relevant Government colleagues, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Health, and other organisations including the Garda Commissioner, Insurance Ireland, The Law Society, The Council of the Bar of Ireland and the Law Reform Commission seeking co-operation in advancing the implementation of the recommendations relevant to them.
The Second and Final Report of the Personal Injuries Commission also provides an update on the recommendations from the First Report.
As the Personal Injuries Commission was established following a recommendation in the Cost of Insurance Working Group Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance published in January 2017, it is intended that progress on implementation will be monitored through the Cost of Insurance Working Group Quarterly Progress Reports published by my colleague Minister of State Michael D’Arcy.
The table sets out the timelines for implementation of the recommendations from the First Report.
Recommendations from the First Report of the Personal Injuries Commission
|
Recommendation |
A Standardised Approach to examination of and reporting on soft-tissue injuries should be adopted. |
|
Suggested timeframe for implementation |
To allow for the changeover in examination and reporting procedures it is suggested that a timeframe of by mid-2018 is appropriate |
|
1. The Quebec Task Force (QTF) Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) grading should be used going forward by all medical professionals reporting on relevant injuries. |
|
|
2. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) should be included going forward as part of personal injury medical reporting examinations. |
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3. Additional tests should be at the discretion of the examining medical professional. |
|
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4. The template form included in Appendix 6 of the Report should be used by examining medical professionals in all relevant cases. 4 a) Insurers should ensure that all cases commissioned by them from medical examiners going forward are completed in line with the template form 4 b) PIAB should redesign their Form B going forward to reflect the recommended standardised template. 4 c) Court Rules changes should be considered which would require reports to be produced using the standardised format. 4 d) The use of standardised Medical reports should be included in any pre-action protocol developed for personal injury claims. |
|
|
Action Points |
5. Relevant medical professional bodies to publish, as soon as possible, guidelines in respect of training for use by medical professionals. |
|
Recommendation |
Training and Accreditation of medical professionals who complete personal injury medical reports should be promoted. This should become ‘Best Practice’ and training should be introduced at the CPD level. |
|
Suggested timeframe for implementation |
By end 2018 |
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1. All those involved in commissioning reports should ensure the use of accredited medical professionals for completion of their personal injury medical reports, when the relevant training and accreditation programmes are in place. |
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2. Members of the PIAB panel completing personal injury medical reports should in respect of completion of relevant injury medical reports, when the relevant training and accreditation programmes are in place, be accredited accordingly. |
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3. The Accreditation requirement should be included in any pre-action protocol developed for personal injury claims. |
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Action Points |
4. The quality of the training should be monitored from implementation in the same manner applicable to existing CPD programmes. |
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5. The CPD training could be delivered by individual medical professional bodies to their members or by independent training providers to medical professional bodies and medical practitioners. |
|
|
Recommendation |
Link future publications of the Book of Quantum to the newly standardised examination and reporting injury categories i.e. ‘whiplash’ soft-tissue injuries / QTF WAD scales. The Cost of Insurance Working Group report of January 2017 recommends that the next review of the Book of Quantum should take account of the output of the work of the PIC. This recommendation highlights the output of the initial PIC report in terms of its potential impact on this next review. |
|
Suggested timeframe for implementation |
2019 when the next Book of Quantum is due for publication |
|
Action Points |
1. PIAB to consider in the context of the next Book of Quantum. |
|
Recommendation |
Relevant injury data should be collated and published by appropriate bodies |
|
Suggested timeframe for implementation |
By end 2018 |
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1. PIAB to produce information going forward relating to the incidence of ’whiplash’ soft-tissue injuries. |
|
|
Action Points |
2. Other relevant bodies to publish data relating to the incidence of ‘whiplash’ soft-tissue injuries. There may be merit that such data available from insurers forms part of the National Claims Information Database which is being developed by the Central Bank of Ireland and which needs consideration by the relevant parties involved. |
|
Suggested timeframe for implementation |
By end 2018. |
302. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the new pilot scheme to support retail online capability; if it will be open to all companies; and if not, if it will be targeted towards small and micro-sized businesses. [39525/18]
View answerRetail is the largest private sector employer in the country, and supports jobs in every city, town and village in the country. Digitalisation has increased the scope for competition in the sector, and online retailing has grown rapidly in Ireland. The increasing prevalence of online shopping is requiring retailers to adopt innovative technologies as well as creating more distinctive offerings in their physical stores.
Despite this shift, statistics from the CSO show that in 2017 66% of Irish enterprises in the Wholesale and Retail Sector reported having a website or homepage, with only 28% able to facilitate online ordering.
As an initial response to the need to support the retail sector to develop a more competitive online offering, my Department has launched a €625,000 Online Retail Scheme, administered by Enterprise Ireland. This new pilot competitive scheme will support Irish-owned SMEs with between 20 and 250 employees in the retail sector to enhance their online presence, strengthen their online trading ability, and build a more resilient business in the domestic and global marketplace both online and offline. Applicant companies must have an existing online presence (e.g. website or social media), and have a retail outlet through which they derive the majority of their revenue. This Scheme is not about taking the first steps; it is about raising the bar, in an informed, planned and strategic way.
In setting out the criteria for this pilot, our priority is to focus on companies which have started an online journey and which will have the most immediate impact. Once the pilot is complete and a cohort of companies have availed of this support, we will be able to evaluate and take on board any lessons for future initiatives in this space. We anticipate that this pilot scheme will open for applications at the end of October 2018. More information is available on the Enterprise Ireland website. https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/funding-supports/Online-Retail/Online-Retail-Scheme/.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) offer Trading Online Vouchers (TOVs) of €2,500, which are available to retail businesses with less than 10 employees to help them trade online. By the end of 2017, over 4,100 small businesses had successfully applied for a Trading Online Voucher. Up to end June 2018, an additional 580 vouchers have provisionally been approved. Results from businesses in receipt of the TOV show that their sales increased by 20%.
For retail businesses that fall outside the criteria of the trading online schemes, there are many other financial and non-financial supports available to assist individual businesses. These include the Framework for Town Centre Renewal, Project 2040 Funding, various Local Authority schemes offering distinct supports for retailers such as rates and financial incentives, development contributions, and shop-front improvement grants, and a variety of training and mentoring services offered through the Local Enterprise Offices.
303. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the last review took place of the highly skilled and ineligible lists for grant of employment permits; the frequency with which reviews are carried out; and when the next review of each such list will be carried out. [39527/18]
View answerA review of the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List (HSEOL) and the Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL) was undertaken in the last quarter of 2017; as a result, in March 2018 a number of animation occupations were added to the HSEOL and certain grades of chef were removed from the ICEL, subject to a quota.
The highly skilled and ineligible occupation lists for the purposes of employment permits are reviewed every six months ensuring that the system is aligned with current labour market intelligence.
The quarter 1, 2018 review was subsumed into the fundamental review of the economic migration policies underpinning the employment permit regime to ensure they are fully supportive of Ireland's emerging labour market needs, the report of which was published last week. Under the auspices of the review, changes were made to the remove certain occupations in the agri-food sector from the ineligible occupation list on a pilot basis.
It is intended that the next review will commence in October, and a call for submissions to a public consultation and development of evidence based cases from interested parties will be made shortly.
304. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number employed in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta based on data in the annual employment survey in each of the years 2010 to 2017, by county in tabular form. [39529/18]
View answerThe tabular data show the latest results from the Annual Employment Survey (AES 2017). The tables show the permanent, part-time, and total employment in Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Údarás na Gaeltachta supported companies, by county, in the years 2010 to 2017 (inclusive).
Total Number Employed* in Companies Supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta by Year by County
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
2,842 |
3,190 |
3,307 |
3,377 |
3,477 |
3,538 |
3,678 |
3,909 |
|
Cavan |
5,388 |
5,429 |
5,371 |
5,312 |
5,671 |
6,044 |
6,385 |
6,606 |
|
Clare |
8,985 |
8,964 |
8,961 |
9,007 |
9,541 |
9,860 |
10,308 |
10,484 |
|
Cork |
41,783 |
44,151 |
46,315 |
48,203 |
50,729 |
56,233 |
59,144 |
61,940 |
|
Donegal |
7,065 |
7,304 |
7,161 |
7,480 |
7,720 |
8,369 |
8,710 |
9,277 |
|
Dublin |
110,383 |
113,033 |
117,184 |
124,075 |
132,036 |
141,460 |
151,342 |
160,779 |
|
Galway |
19,867 |
21,797 |
22,648 |
23,311 |
23,735 |
25,344 |
27,529 |
28,986 |
|
Kerry |
5,983 |
6,089 |
6,434 |
6,597 |
7,132 |
7,338 |
7,408 |
7,889 |
|
Kildare |
16,581 |
16,322 |
16,602 |
17,068 |
17,960 |
18,886 |
18,942 |
18,416 |
|
Kilkenny |
3,868 |
3,790 |
4,097 |
3,962 |
4,419 |
4,640 |
4,936 |
5,058 |
|
Laois |
1,394 |
1,265 |
1,214 |
1,286 |
1,281 |
1,387 |
1,479 |
1,592 |
|
Leitrim |
1,619 |
1,446 |
1,287 |
1,034 |
1,132 |
1,210 |
1,301 |
1,448 |
|
Limerick |
13,031 |
13,144 |
13,802 |
14,429 |
14,782 |
15,676 |
17,432 |
18,946 |
|
Longford |
2,604 |
2,472 |
2,505 |
2,703 |
3,106 |
3,326 |
3,496 |
3,444 |
|
Louth |
6,664 |
6,773 |
7,160 |
7,943 |
8,474 |
8,929 |
9,404 |
9,823 |
|
Mayo |
7,635 |
7,891 |
7,866 |
8,294 |
8,613 |
8,576 |
8,966 |
9,376 |
|
Meath |
6,524 |
6,806 |
6,960 |
7,587 |
8,164 |
8,700 |
8,736 |
9,018 |
|
Monaghan |
4,275 |
4,335 |
4,444 |
4,646 |
4,759 |
4,961 |
5,280 |
5,516 |
|
Offaly |
3,896 |
3,953 |
3,957 |
4,131 |
4,530 |
4,825 |
4,992 |
5,221 |
|
Roscommon |
2,116 |
2,156 |
2,167 |
2,302 |
2,452 |
2,614 |
2,675 |
2,904 |
|
Sligo |
3,703 |
3,852 |
3,912 |
3,915 |
3,927 |
3,797 |
3,854 |
3,917 |
|
Tipperary |
9,511 |
8,734 |
8,596 |
8,231 |
8,576 |
8,952 |
8,848 |
9,572 |
|
Waterford |
11,269 |
10,579 |
10,066 |
10,106 |
10,859 |
11,685 |
12,499 |
13,361 |
|
Westmeath |
4,768 |
4,841 |
5,200 |
5,496 |
5,910 |
6,103 |
6,065 |
6,535 |
|
Wexford |
6,524 |
6,363 |
6,417 |
6,730 |
6,830 |
7,010 |
7,233 |
7,618 |
|
Wicklow |
6,126 |
5,787 |
5,952 |
5,816 |
5,915 |
6,043 |
6,224 |
6,396 |
|
Total |
314,404 |
320,466 |
329,585 |
343,041 |
361,730 |
385,506 |
406,866 |
428,031 |
*Total includes permanent full-time, part-time, temporary and other contract types.
Source: Annual Employment Survey 2017.
Number Employed PFT* by County by Year in EI, IDA and UnG Supported Companies
|
- |
Survey Year |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
2,651 |
2,871 |
3,002 |
3,029 |
3,125 |
3,214 |
3,350 |
3,596 |
|
Cavan |
4,990 |
4,992 |
4,935 |
4,824 |
5,117 |
5,310 |
5,552 |
5,784 |
|
Clare |
8,191 |
7,958 |
8,039 |
8,067 |
8,699 |
8,784 |
9,152 |
9,326 |
|
Cork |
36,566 |
38,864 |
40,889 |
42,347 |
44,861 |
49,125 |
52,979 |
55,701 |
|
Donegal |
6,051 |
6,268 |
6,248 |
6,511 |
6,671 |
7,181 |
7,518 |
8,478 |
|
Dublin |
96,867 |
98,895 |
103,115 |
107,408 |
114,191 |
123,080 |
132,538 |
141,511 |
|
Galway |
17,735 |
18,626 |
19,199 |
19,767 |
20,537 |
21,997 |
24,090 |
25,163 |
|
Kerry |
5,170 |
5,285 |
5,467 |
5,607 |
5,915 |
6,375 |
6,573 |
6,816 |
|
Kildare |
15,398 |
15,308 |
15,430 |
16,153 |
17,109 |
17,984 |
17,895 |
17,311 |
|
Kilkenny |
3,292 |
3,262 |
3,595 |
3,566 |
3,944 |
4,248 |
4,462 |
4,610 |
|
Laois |
1,292 |
1,150 |
1,032 |
1,156 |
1,138 |
1,242 |
1,307 |
1,405 |
|
Leitrim |
1,470 |
1,282 |
1,167 |
960 |
1,062 |
1,139 |
1,210 |
1,316 |
|
Limerick |
11,931 |
12,082 |
12,548 |
12,890 |
13,294 |
14,307 |
15,752 |
17,116 |
|
Longford |
2,343 |
2,230 |
2,294 |
2,394 |
2,641 |
2,791 |
2,999 |
3,011 |
|
Louth |
5,660 |
5,645 |
6,087 |
6,729 |
7,323 |
7,814 |
8,333 |
8,336 |
|
Mayo |
6,795 |
7,002 |
6,988 |
7,317 |
7,533 |
7,588 |
7,691 |
7,957 |
|
Meath |
5,695 |
5,847 |
6,117 |
6,593 |
7,078 |
7,608 |
7,773 |
7,895 |
|
Monaghan |
3,915 |
3,913 |
4,011 |
4,169 |
4,332 |
4,569 |
4,835 |
5,133 |
|
Offaly |
3,670 |
3,651 |
3,647 |
3,826 |
4,184 |
4,402 |
4,558 |
4,784 |
|
Roscommon |
1,964 |
1,956 |
1,971 |
2,090 |
2,220 |
2,375 |
2,454 |
2,597 |
|
Sligo |
3,327 |
3,417 |
3,601 |
3,450 |
3,521 |
3,380 |
3,327 |
3,476 |
|
Tipperary |
8,493 |
7,772 |
7,473 |
7,174 |
7,450 |
7,723 |
7,800 |
8,406 |
|
Waterford |
9,962 |
9,598 |
9,169 |
9,302 |
9,748 |
10,210 |
10,788 |
11,600 |
|
Westmeath |
4,297 |
4,411 |
4,798 |
5,120 |
5,342 |
5,536 |
5,519 |
5,826 |
|
Wexford |
5,977 |
5,842 |
5,917 |
6,090 |
6,219 |
6,375 |
6,585 |
7,050 |
|
Wicklow |
5,400 |
5,058 |
5,232 |
4,933 |
5,003 |
5,275 |
5,401 |
5,606 |
*PFT includes permanent full-time employees only.
Source: Annual Employment Survey 2017.
Number Employed in 'Other'* by County by Year in EI, IDA and UnG Supported Companies
|
- |
Survey Year |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
191 |
319 |
305 |
348 |
352 |
324 |
328 |
313 |
|
Cavan |
398 |
437 |
436 |
488 |
554 |
734 |
833 |
822 |
|
Clare |
794 |
1,006 |
922 |
940 |
842 |
1,076 |
1,156 |
1,158 |
|
Cork |
5,217 |
5,287 |
5,426 |
5,856 |
5,868 |
7,108 |
6,165 |
6,239 |
|
Donegal |
1,014 |
1,036 |
913 |
969 |
1,049 |
1,188 |
1,192 |
799 |
|
Dublin |
13,516 |
14,138 |
14,069 |
16,667 |
17,845 |
18,380 |
18,804 |
19,268 |
|
Galway |
2,132 |
3,171 |
3,449 |
3,544 |
3,198 |
3,347 |
3,439 |
3,823 |
|
Kerry |
813 |
804 |
967 |
990 |
1,217 |
963 |
835 |
1,073 |
|
Kildare |
1,183 |
1,014 |
1,172 |
915 |
851 |
902 |
1,047 |
1,105 |
|
Kilkenny |
576 |
528 |
502 |
396 |
475 |
392 |
474 |
448 |
|
Laois |
102 |
115 |
182 |
130 |
143 |
145 |
172 |
187 |
|
Leitrim |
149 |
164 |
120 |
74 |
70 |
71 |
91 |
132 |
|
Limerick |
1,100 |
1,062 |
1,254 |
1,539 |
1,488 |
1,369 |
1,680 |
1,830 |
|
Longford |
261 |
242 |
211 |
309 |
465 |
535 |
497 |
433 |
|
Louth |
1,004 |
1,128 |
1,073 |
1,214 |
1,151 |
1,115 |
1,071 |
1,487 |
|
Mayo |
840 |
889 |
878 |
977 |
1,080 |
988 |
1,275 |
1,419 |
|
Meath |
829 |
959 |
843 |
994 |
1,086 |
1,092 |
963 |
1,123 |
|
Monaghan |
360 |
422 |
433 |
477 |
427 |
392 |
445 |
383 |
|
Offaly |
226 |
302 |
310 |
305 |
346 |
423 |
434 |
437 |
|
Roscommon |
152 |
200 |
196 |
212 |
232 |
239 |
221 |
307 |
|
Sligo |
376 |
435 |
311 |
465 |
406 |
417 |
527 |
441 |
|
Tipperary |
1,018 |
962 |
1,123 |
1,057 |
1,126 |
1,229 |
1,048 |
1,166 |
|
Waterford |
1,307 |
981 |
897 |
804 |
1,111 |
1,475 |
1,711 |
1,761 |
|
Westmeath |
471 |
430 |
402 |
376 |
568 |
567 |
546 |
709 |
|
Wexford |
547 |
521 |
500 |
640 |
611 |
635 |
648 |
568 |
|
Wicklow |
726 |
729 |
720 |
883 |
912 |
768 |
823 |
790 |
*Other includes employees on temporary, part-time or other contracts.
Source: Annual Employment Survey 2017.
305. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans for the Future Jobs programme; the period the programme will cover; and if the social partners have been consulted for input to date. [39530/18]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs process has been very successful in achieving its primary objective of job creation with over 377,000 new jobs created since it launched in 2012 and unemployment falling from a high of around 16% down to 5.8% in July 2018 (according to the latest CSO figures).
Enterprise 2025, published in 2015, set out the many challenges and opportunities facing our economy at the time and considerable progress has been made in achieving the objectives it set out. Ireland has experienced economic growth at a faster pace than any of us envisaged in 2015 and is, in fact, the fastest growing economy in the EU.
The pace of economic growth has, however, given rise to certain constraints which we are all aware of. I recognise that there are vulnerabilities within our enterprise base, including concentrations in certain sectors and lower productivity performance in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the economy. I am aware that skills shortages could constrict growth and that our labour force participation levels for certain cohorts are often lower than other comparable countries. Looking to the longer term, Project Ireland 2040 projects an increase in population of around 1 million people by 2040 requiring 660,000 additional jobs to be created over that period.
Furthermore, I know that Ireland’s future economic prospects will be shaped by international developments including Brexit and growing international protectionism. Moreover, technological change will continue to fundamentally alter the types of jobs we will have in the future as well as the types of businesses supporting those jobs.
While the Government have comprehensively developed strategies which address many of these key challenges, we must avoid complacency and prepare for an uncertain future building on the strengths and successes of the Action Plan for Jobs process and Enterprise 2025. We need to be innovative in our approach to effectively tackle long-standing structural issues, to capture new areas of opportunity and to position Ireland for sustainable growth.
Against this backdrop, in July, the Government agreed to an ambitious initiative to guide the next phase of Ireland's economic development - Future Jobs. The initiative will be developed jointly by my Department and the Department of the Taoiseach. It will harness the coordinated commitment across many Government Departments and agencies established through previous initiatives.
Future Jobs will emphasise building resilience through improving productivity especially among Irish SMEs; enhancing skills levels and increasing participation in the labour force; preparedness for, and exploitation of, anticipated transformational changes arising from technological developments and the transition to a low carbon and digital based economy.
My Department, supported by the Department of the Taoiseach, aims to host a National Summit in November that will be an opportunity to road-test the emerging Future Jobs 2019 with policy makers and wider stakeholders before it is finalised and published in early 2019. My officials will shortly be engaging with key stakeholders, including social partners, to garner their insights.
306. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of each new advance building under the IDA’s €150 million property investment programme by outline planning, construction phase and final completion; and the location by address and cost for each such building in tabular form. [39531/18]
View answerIDA Ireland are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are distributed as evenly as possible across the country. The IDA’s Regional Property Investment Programme has been designed to win investments and jobs into regional locations. As part of the first phase of the IDA’s Regional Property Programme, new buildings in Sligo, Castlebar and Tralee were constructed in 2017. New buildings are also planned in Galway, Carlow, Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone and Waterford over the next two years.
In terms of the construction costs, IDA Ireland adheres to public procurement guidelines and the relevant details of the respective contracts are shared on the eTenders platform. The buildings completed in Sligo, Castlebar and Tralee were constructed for the combined contract value of approximately €11.6 million and the cost of construction for the buildings committed and underway in Dundalk, Limerick and Waterford is approximately €21.82 million.
The table provides a breakdown on the status of each new advanced building under the IDA's property investment programme.
|
Project |
Address |
Progress Update |
Target Completion Date |
|
Sligo Advanced Technology Building (ATB) |
Finisklin B&T Park, Co. Sligo |
Completed and Leased |
Q3 2017 |
|
Castlebar ATB |
Castlebar B&T Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
Complete and in IDA possession |
Q3 2017 |
|
Tralee ATB |
Kerry B&T Park, Tralee, Co. Kerry |
Completed |
Q3 2017 |
|
Dundalk Advanced Office Building (AOB) |
Finabair B&T Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
Commenced July 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
|
Galway ATB |
Parkmore B&T Park, Co. Galway |
Contractor Appointment |
Q3 2019 |
|
Athlone AOB |
Garrycastle B&T Park, Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
Planning obtained & Stage 2 contractor tender pricing completed. Project on hold, subject site of interest to other client |
On Hold |
|
Limerick AOB |
National Technology Park, Co. Limerick |
Commenced March 2018 |
Q1 2019 |
|
Carlow ATB |
Carlow |
At site selection stage & design team selections underway |
Q4 2019 |
|
Waterford ATB |
IDA B&T Park, Cork Road, Waterford |
Commenced Q2 2018 |
Q2 2019 |
307. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of digital trading vouchers provided by LEOs in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county in tabular form. [39533/18]
View answerThe LEOs are the first-stop-shop for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for those starting or growing their business. The LEOs can offer financial assistance to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. The LEOs also offer soft supports in the form of training and mentoring, and a signposting service to other relevant state supports.
Micro-enterprises may also avail of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) from the LEOs. The Scheme offers the opportunity for businesses to develop their website or digital marketing strategy by availing of vouchers of up to €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure.
Table: TOVs approved by LEO (2014 – 30th June 2018)
|
LEO |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Number of TOV’s Approved in the period 1st Jan to 30th June 2018* |
|
Carlow |
18 |
29 |
22 |
12 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
6 |
12 |
14 |
20 |
9 |
|
Clare |
3 |
21 |
37 |
32 |
22 |
|
Cork City |
21 |
30 |
35 |
32 |
16 |
|
Cork N/W |
19 |
84 |
55 |
42 |
26 |
|
Cork South |
16 |
76 |
47 |
35 |
19 |
|
Donegal |
28 |
34 |
25 |
48 |
25 |
|
Dublin City |
40 |
90 |
104 |
140 |
50 |
|
Dublin /DLR |
30 |
92 |
74 |
78 |
17 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
53 |
48 |
51 |
51 |
32 |
|
Dublin South |
8 |
24 |
37 |
38 |
26 |
|
Galway |
6 |
24 |
54 |
44 |
24 |
|
Kerry |
33 |
73 |
64 |
59 |
24 |
|
Kildare |
28 |
45 |
24 |
43 |
10 |
|
Kilkenny |
26 |
41 |
28 |
28 |
24 |
|
Laois |
5 |
20 |
18 |
11 |
17 |
|
Leitrim |
22 |
15 |
18 |
12 |
4 |
|
Limerick |
25 |
52 |
58 |
45 |
16 |
|
Longford |
3 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
11 |
|
Louth |
14 |
28 |
39 |
55 |
27 |
|
Mayo |
12 |
22 |
22 |
29 |
18 |
|
Meath |
6 |
15 |
11 |
31 |
11 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
22 |
22 |
18 |
10 |
|
Offaly |
6 |
24 |
14 |
15 |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
23 |
18 |
22 |
15 |
|
Sligo |
32 |
21 |
27 |
22 |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
20 |
43 |
33 |
37 |
19 |
|
Waterford |
29 |
32 |
49 |
46 |
9 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
30 |
25 |
29 |
9 |
|
Wexford |
16 |
37 |
45 |
33 |
14 |
|
Wicklow |
50 |
82 |
58 |
67 |
33 |
|
TOTALS |
590 |
1,201 |
1,140 |
1,189 |
560 |
* Figures are provisional.
308. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040, up to and including September 2018, by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39576/18]
View answerOn the 29th of June 2018 my Department held an event to launch the report ‘Project Ireland 2040: Investing in Business, Enterprise and Innovation 2018 – 2027’ at The Mill Enterprise Centre, Drogheda.
Total costs incurred to date for the event and associated publication of the report amounted to €10,159.79, a breakdown of which is outlined in the table below. This is the only Project Ireland 2040 event that my Department has organised.
|
Item |
Cost |
|
Report design and printing |
€5,840.04 |
|
Catering |
€1,230.30 |
|
Audio-visual equipment rental |
€2,847.45 |
|
Photography |
No invoice yet received |
|
Travel expenses (estimated) |
€242.00 |
|
Total |
€10,159.79 |
309. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which she plans to enforce the regulation of selling on online marketplaces of goods and products that fail to meet the required safety standards in the interest of consumer safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39601/18]
View answerEuropean product safety legislation places the onus on all economic operators – manufacturers, distributors and importers – to ensure that only safe products are placed on the market, including on online marketplaces. If economic operators become aware that products on the market present a potential hazard they must take appropriate measures, up to and including recall of the items, to ensure that the risk is removed. Any action taken by an operator must be notified to the relevant Market Surveillance Authority (MSA) in the State. Where an economic operator fails to take the action required, the relevant MSA will investigate and can order the economic operator to take the necessary corrective action. Where a product sold online originates in a country outside the EU, the economic operator will have to comply with the relevant customs authorities (whether in the State or in another jurisdiction) in relation to legislation covering products at point of entry into the EU.
There are a number of different MSAs in the State depending on the particular product in question. For example, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of EU law for certain products that are placed on the market, including electrical products within a certain voltage range, certain items of personal protective equipment and toys. Investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC. Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions. Therefore, I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct function in such matters.
More generally, Section 42 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 provides that a trader shall not engage in a misleading commercial practice. Section 43 of the Act provides that a commercial practice is misleading if it includes the provision of false information or would be likely to cause the average consumer to be deceived or misled in relation to a range of matters, and if this would cause the average consumer to make a transactional or purchasing decision that he or she would not otherwise make. The matters specified under section 43 include the risks a product presents to consumers; the results to be expected from a product; the results and material features of tests or checks carried out on the product; and the existence, extent or nature of any approval or sponsorship of the product by others.
Section 47 of the Act provides that a trader who engages in a misleading commercial practice under section 43 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction or conviction on indictment to the penalties laid down in the Act. Breach of section 43 also constitutes a 'prohibited act or practice' under section 67 of the Act and can be subject to a number of other enforcement options provided for in Part 5 of the Act, including prohibition orders (i.e. injunctions) and compliance notices. Section 74 of the Act provides that a consumer aggrieved by a prohibited act or practice has a right of action for damages, including exemplary damages, against the trader who commits or engages in the prohibited act or practice.
311. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the expenditure of allocated funds under the Community Enterprise Initiative 2016 for the Monksland incubator hub in County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39695/18]
View answerThe Community Enterprise Initiative was a €5 million competitive fund to support community-driven enterprise development initiatives. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that 118 applications were considered. There was strong demand for the funding and the process was highly competitive. Some 32 applications exceeded the standard required for funding, following assessment by an external assessor, Committee adjudication and approval by Enterprise Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland announced the results on 1 June 2016 and the company in question was successful. All letters of offer under the Community Enterprise Initiative were dispatched on the day the Scheme's successful applicants were announced, including the letter of offer to the company concerned.
Enterprise Ireland has informed me that there has been a modification to the project as originally proposed. In that regard, no payments have been made to date to the company concerned in relation to its project. The project is, however, ongoing and Enterprise Ireland continues to engage with the company with the next meeting scheduled later this month.
312. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an extra eight HEO inspection team managers and 35 extra EO inspectors for the Workplace Relations Commission; the current staff complement for the office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39745/18]
View answerStaffing levels of my Department, its Offices and Agencies reflect the requirement to manage the pay bill and staff numbers in accordance with Government pay policy with staff resources deployed in the most effective and efficient manner as appropriate to business needs and key priorities at any given time.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an office of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and was established on 1 October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The main functions of the WRC are to promote the improvement of workplace relations, the maintenance of good workplace relations and promote and encourage compliance with relevant employment legislation.
The current staffing of the WRC is set out in tabular form:
|
GRADE |
WRC |
|
Director General (WRC) |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
5 |
|
Legal Advisor (PO) |
1 |
|
Solicitor |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
22 |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Office |
21 |
|
Executive Officer |
69 |
|
Clerical Officer |
61 |
|
Total |
183 |
There are currently 7 HEO Inspection Team Managers and 51 EO inspectors. Both of these grades carry an allowance of €8,160 per annum.
I have set out, in the table below, the full-year cost of a further 8 HEO Inspection Team Managers and 35 extra EO Inspectors. The estimate is based on internal figures used for estimating the average wage for HEO and EO, plus the rate of allowance. The total extra cost would be €2,354,408.32 as outlined in the calculations below:
|
Grade |
Average Wage |
Allowance |
Total for one |
Total for no. requested |
|
HEO Inspection Team Managers |
€54,857.89 |
€8,160.00 |
€63,017.89 |
504,143.12* |
|
EO Inspectors |
€44,704.72 |
€8160.00 |
€52,864.72 |
1,850,265.2** |
* Total for 8 HEO Inspection Team Managers.
** Total for 35 EO Inspectors.
313. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to have a trade mission to the east coast of the United States of America before the end of 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39768/18]
View answerIn March this year, Enterprise Ireland announced that it was set to undertake over 200 international and domestic trade events in 2018 to accelerate the number of Enterprise Ireland clients diversifying into new markets, beyond the UK and into the Eurozone and global markets. The number of trade events being undertaken represents a 50% increase on 2017, reflecting the challenge that Brexit poses for Irish businesses. 70 of these export focused trade events are being led by Government Ministers.
Given the strong economic and cultural ties, and the volume of mutual trade and investment, Ireland has a keen interest in promoting constructive trade and economic relations with the US.
In May 2018, I held a series of key political, trade and economic meetings with the US Administration and business leaders, in Washington and New York. These included meetings in Washington DC with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jeff Gerrish, White House Cyber Security Adviser Gail Slater, as well as the US Chamber of Commerce and a Roundtable with the Business Council of International Understanding.
At present there are no plans for a trade mission to the US East Coast before the end of 2018.
Later in the year, officials from my Department will begin discussions with Enterprise Ireland on the proposed Ministerial trade mission list for 2019, when consideration will be given to scheduling further US Trade Missions at that time.
314. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 7 September 2018, when this information will be collated and available. [39937/18]
View answerI have been advised by my Office that the response issued to the Questions Office on 25 September 2018 for onward transmission to the Deputy.
|
Agency |
New Hire |
Replacement Staff |
Total |
|
Enterprise Ireland * |
237 |
161 |
398 |
|
LEO’s |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
IntertradeIreland |
10 |
8 |
18 |
|
IDA** |
23 |
84 |
107 |
315. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Brexit staff hired by her Department and agencies under her remit in 2017 and to date in 2018 following the announcement of additional staff recruitment as a Brexit measure in both budgets 2017 and 2018, in tabular form. [39938/18]
View answerWith regard to my own Department, a dedicated Brexit Unit was established in 2016 and is led at Assistant Secretary level within the EU Affairs and Trade Policy Division, to coordinate and represent the Departmental and Agencies response to Brexit and to support me in my position at the Cabinet Committee dealing with Brexit. The Unit also leads on engagement with a broad range of stakeholders to inform and validate our response to Brexit.
When the unit was set up in 2016 it consisted of three staff, one Principal Officer, one Assistant Principal Officer and one Higher Executive Officer. Additional staffing of two Assistant Principal Officers, one Higher Executive Officer and one Clerical Officer were appointed in 2017. The Department are also seeking to appoint a further HEO / AO to the Unit.
Staff expertise is also being drawn from across a number of different policy areas of the Department in shaping our Brexit response and a number of areas that are most impacted have been assigned additional staff including but not exclusively to deal with Brexit. We are continually prioritising the Brexit challenges and will actively keep the staffing requirements under review through workforce planning.
I have set out in the statistical table below the number of Brexit staff recruited (and to be recruited) by my Department and the Agencies under it's remit in 2017 and to date in 2018 following the announcement of additional staff recruitment as a Brexit measure in both Budgets 2017 and 2018.
Budget 2017 and Budget 2018 - Posts and Recruitment
|
Recruited |
In Process of Recruiting |
Total Additional Posts |
|
|
Department |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
45 |
12 |
57 |
|
IDA Ireland |
13 |
4 |
17 |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
5 |
5 |
|
|
Health and Safety Authority |
6 |
4 |
10 |
|
Total |
73 |
21 |
94 |
Given the wide mission that my Department and it's Agencies have, the UK’s decision to leave the European Union continues to impact significantly on all policy fields. In this context, officers across all areas may deal with Brexit related queries depending on their nature; and many other posts within the Department and its Agencies have responsibilities relating to Brexit.
316. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she is taking in order to assist more businesses to accelerate contingency planning in order to be prepared for Brexit; the resources that have been put in place in order to achieve this in view of the fact that a recent survey (details supplied) showed that business preparedness for Brexit remained low; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40055/18]
View answerRecent research published by my Department indicates a significant increase in levels of Brexit-preparedness among businesses surveyed. The overall number of businesses with a Brexit plan in place was found to be 28%, up from 16% at this time last year. Moreover, that figure rises to 44% of those businesses that described themselves as having been strongly impacted by Brexit, which is up from 17% in the previous survey.
While I am encouraged that these results are going in the right direction, there remains much to do to ensure that businesses are planning for Brexit and are well-placed to face the challenges that it presents. To that end, my Department and its agencies have put in place a number of supports to assist businesses plan for Brexit and continue raise awareness of these supports.
Enterprise Ireland has established a “Prepare for Brexit online” portal and communications campaign, as well as an online “Brexit SME Scorecard” to help Irish businesses to self-assess their exposure to Brexit, and a Be Prepared Grant to support SME clients in planning to mitigate the risks arising from Brexit. It has also launched a new Eurozone Strategy to help SMEs to broaden their footprint beyond the UK.
As part of awareness-raising activities, EI is rolling out regional Brexit Advisory Clinics throughout the year. To date, clinics have been held in Letterkenny, Tralee, Portlaoise, Claremorris, Cootehill, Charleville and the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Further events will be held in Galway, Dundalk, Waterford and Limerick. A two-day Brexit consultancy support is also being rolled out to individual clients to help them to develop a detailed sustainable growth plan.
The suite of Local Enterprise Office Brexit supports available to micro and small businesses through the 31 LEOs nationwide includes a “Technical Assistance for Micro-enterprises” grant, designed to support qualifying businesses to diversify into new markets, enabling companies to explore and develop new market opportunities. This is accompanied by tailored mentoring to address Brexit-related business challenges, and targeted training on specific Brexit challenges, including financial aspects and capability building in innovation, competitiveness and opportunity diagnosis.
317. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of her Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championship 2018; the number of staff deployed from her Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40418/18]
View answerOver the course of the week, a total of 41 staff across various areas of my Department and its offices attended the 2018 National Ploughing Championships, some on a roster basis, to engage with the public and promote various aspects of our work. These included the Workplace Relations Commission, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Patents Office, Employment Permits Unit, Finance for Growth Unit, SME Policy Unit and Enterprise Agencies Unit. The presence of these staff at the National Ploughing Championships was to:
- Promote awareness of supports available to enterprise;
- Provide advice to the public on their rights and responsibilities under employment legislation;
- Advise businesses on the protection of their intellectual property;
- Provide advice on Ireland's employment permits system;
- Provide information and guidance on company law issues.
The total cost of stands, including the cost of designing and constructing branded advertising displays, was €23,295. Much of this material will be used again at future events including the branded advertising displays promoting the range of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Services and the "Walk Through Working Life Exhibition". I understand that €1,000 in 'litter fees' will be refunded by the Irish Ploughing Association following the adverse weather that affected the event.
Where travel and subsistence costs were incurred by staff attending the event, expenses will be paid at the normal civil service rates.
Additionally, a number of the agencies of my Department, for whom the ploughing championships are a significant opportunity to engage with the public, had a presence at the event. These included Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority.
318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39395/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
319. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will commission an investigation into the Pandemrix vaccine in view of the recent revelations published in a journal (details supplied) regarding same; and if he will clarify comments made in Dáil Éireann. [39888/18]
View answerI cannot comment on individual cases or matters that are the subject of litigation, one of which is a case managed by the High Court concerning the issue of Discovery. However, I can provide background information on this litigation and clarify matters that are already in the public domain.
As of 24 September 2018, letters of potential claims against the Minister, the Health Services Executive and GlaxoSmithKline Biological SA have been initiated by seventy three individuals and in 61 of these cases formal legal proceedings have been issued. The plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine.
The management of these cases transferred to the State Claims Agency on 15 October 2013 when the Taoiseach signed the National Treasury Management Agency (Delegation of Claims Management Functions) (Amendment) Order 2013. It would not be appropriate for me as Minister to interfere in the management of these claims which are delegated to the State Claims Agency.
It should also be observed that the European Medicines Agency has formally responded to the British Medical Journal (BMJ) publication referred to in the question, stating that it considers that the article misrepresents the work of the European Medicines Agency and draws incorrect conclusions based on scientifically invalid comparisons of data. The Agency has described the conclusions in the BMJ article as flawed and misleading to readers and the wider public.
My main priority as Minister for Health is that individuals and families affected receive appropriate health and social care supports. My Department continues to engage with the HSE, the Department of Education and Skills, and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure the provision of a range of services and supports, on an ex-gratia basis. The HSE’s Advocacy Unit acts as liaison with other service providers and Government Departments to facilitate access to required services. It is in regular contact with the individuals affected and their families; and regional co-ordinators have been appointed to assist by providing advice, information and access to local services.
I continue to engage with the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Finance on what further improvements can be made to the legal framework governing the management of, inter alia, certain vaccine damage cases.
I wish to acknowledge the impact on the lives of these people and families affected by narcolepsy and reiterate my commitment to the on-going provision of appropriate services and supports.
320. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39374/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. The information will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
321. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a service (details supplied) is on the list of section 39 facilities included in the recent Workplace Relations Commission talks and future restoration and pay increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39388/18]
View answer322. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated to a hospice (details supplied) and other voluntary hospices to allow them to meet pay restoration costs for 2017 and 2018 in line with HSE pay levels in view of the fact that the grant allocation to the hospice from the HSE is based on specific staffing levels and the service agreement with the HSE states that it must comply with HSE pay levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39392/18]
View answer448. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the increase in funding required for section 39 organisations for total pay restoration of section 39 workers as per the internal audit report of the HSE. [40017/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 321, 322 and 448 together.
You will be aware that in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations. Neither the Galway hospice nor the Red Door Project Addiction Services, Drogheda are included in the pilot process. The 50 organisations included were agreed at the WRC by all parties.
I asked the HSE to engage with the Section 39 organisations to establish the facts around what cuts were applied and how and when they were implemented. The HSE has completed the first phase of their work in relation to the agencies identified as part of the WRC process. This exercise has shown that of the agencies who returned data, a majority did apply pay reductions of some form. It also showed that some agencies made some form of pay restoration between 2016 and 2018.
Two conciliation meetings took place between the parties at the WRC in July 2018. These talks reconvened on 18 September 2018 and will continue on 2 October 2018.
