Written Answers Nos. 344-361
344. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of engagements, meetings or correspondence that she has had with a person (details supplied) in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/18]
View answerI have had no engagements or meetings with and I have received no correspondence from the person referred to.
345. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the categories of funding available to local authorities through her Department; the amount of funding provided for each scheme in 2016 and 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43723/18]
View answerLocal Authorities are eligible to apply for funding under Science Foundation Ireland's Discover Programme Call and Science Week funding, which aim to support and develop science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education and public engagement sector in Ireland by:
- investing in, developing and extending activity and ability in this area, and
- exploring and encouraging novel means of engaging the public.
Details of funding provided to Local Authorities for grants that involved payments in 2016 and 2017 are outlined in the table. Awards are made following international review by an expert panel.
SFI Programmes
|
Programmes |
Title |
Research Body |
Maximum Grant Approved |
Total Payments 2015 |
Total Payments 2016 |
Total Payments 2017 |
Total Payments 2018 |
|
SFI Discover Programme Call 2014 |
Discovery Science Festival 2015 |
Cork City Council |
32500 |
29250 |
3250 |
||
|
SFI Discover Programme Call 2014 |
Mayo Science & Technology Festival 2015 |
Mayo County Council |
16000 |
14400 |
1600 |
||
|
SFI-Discover Programme Call 2015 |
VEX IQ Junior Robotics Programme |
Cork City Co t/a Lifetime Lab |
50000 |
45000 |
5000 |
||
|
SFI Discover Programme Science Week 2016 |
Mayo Science Festival |
Mayo County Council |
16000 |
14400 |
1600 |
||
|
SFI Discover Programme Science Week 2016 |
Monaghan Science Festival |
Monaghan County Council - Library Service |
35000 |
31500 |
3500 |
||
|
SFI Discover Science Week 2017 |
Cavan Monaghan Science Festival |
Monaghan County Council - Library Service |
35000 |
31500 |
3500 |
||
|
SFI Discover Science Week 2017 |
Wexsci. Science Week Events organised by Wexford County Council and Wexford Public Library Service |
Wexford County Council |
8000 |
7200 |
800 |
||
|
SFI Discover |
Teen Entrepreneur STEM Camp |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
14410 |
12969 |
|||
|
SFI Discover |
Steam through Fingal libraries |
Fingal County Council |
50000 |
45000 |
|||
|
SFI Discover Science Week 2018 |
Louth Libraries Science Week Library Programme |
Louth County Council |
8000 |
7200 |
|||
|
SFI Discover Science Week 2018 |
Mayo Science and Technology Festival |
Mayo County Council t/a Mayo Science & Technology Festival |
26500 |
23850 |
|||
|
SFI Discover Science Week 2018 |
Cavan Monaghan Science Festival |
Monaghan County Council |
35000 |
31500 |
|||
|
SFI Discover Science Week 2018 |
WexSci Wexford Science Festival |
Wexford County Council |
35000 |
31500 |
|||
|
SFI-Discover Programme Call 2015 |
“Exploristica” Adventures in Statistics |
Cork City Co t/a Lifetime Lab |
25000 |
22500 |
2500 |
||
|
SFI Discover |
MathsWorks Mobile 2.0 |
Cork City Co t/a Lifetime Lab |
25000 |
22500 |
|||
|
Total Payments to date per year |
411,410.00 |
111,150.00 |
50,750.00 |
131,769.00 |
98,350.00 |
346. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA and Enterprise Ireland site visits to County Leitrim since 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43773/18]
View answerIDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in all counties of Ireland to its client base, including County Leitrim. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as almost 70% of all new foreign direct investment comes from existing IDA Ireland client companies. Enterprise Ireland does not conduct site visits.
The table below sets out the number of IDA Ireland site visits to County Leitrim from 2016 to Quarter 2 of 2018. Figures for Quarter 3 of this year will be compiled by the end of October.
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
Q1 2018 |
Q2 2018 |
|
Leitrim |
8 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
347. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the work of the IDA in securing employment opportunities in north County Tipperary, specifically Tipperary town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43776/18]
View answerIDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in every part of Ireland, including in County Tipperary. There are now over 122,000 people employed across 649 firms in IDA client companies located outside of Dublin, with 45% of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs created last year based in regional locations. The IDA is focused, as am I, on increasing those numbers further.
IDA Ireland does not compile job creation data on specific towns and locations within counties. As regards County Tipperary more broadly, there are currently eleven IDA client companies based there employing a total of 3,665 people. FDI-supported employment in County Tipperary has increased by almost 9% from 2016 to 2017 with 297 net new jobs created. The IDA continues to engage with its existing client base to support them in growing their business and footprint there further. Some of the most prominent IDA client companies in County Tipperary include Abbott Ireland, Boston Scientific and Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) who together employ 2,500 people. IDA Ireland also owns sites in Clonmel and Tipperary Town that are being actively marketed to its clients.
It is important to remember that FDI only forms one part of the broader approach to fostering enterprise and job creation in regional locations. Indigenous enterprise is also, of course, responsible for a significant portion of employment growth, especially outside Dublin. My Department and all its agencies, including Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, work together to ensure that jobs and investment are spread as fairly as possible across the country.
348. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she has taken in budget 2019 to encourage and promote job creation in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal and the north west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43877/18]
View answerSince becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made jobs and enterprise in the regions my top priority. Enterprise development has been central to our success in reducing national unemployment from a high of 16% to 5.4% at the end of September 2018 - the lowest level in over a decade.
The Border (Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan) and West (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon) regions have seen good progress, with employment in these regions increasing by 2.6% and 12.6% in total respectively from Q1 2015 to Q2 2018, according to the CSO Labour Force Survey.
In 2017, Enterprise Ireland reported job increases in both the North West and West of 7% each; while IDA reported increases of 4% across the Border region and 5% in the West. Through partnership between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) across Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Roscommon have 753 client companies employing 3,410 people; and last year those companies added 267 new jobs in total.
I am happy to say that in Budget 2019, I secured an increase in my Department’s total exchequer allocation by 9.1% year on year, up from €871m to €950.2m.
This is made up of a record €620m in capital and €330.2m in current funding, which includes:
- an increase of €65m in capital – up 11.7% on this year’s allocation of €555m; and
- an increase of €14.2m in current – almost 4.5% more than our 2018 allocation of €316m.
Regional development was one of my three main priorities for Budget 2019 and I approved a range of measures to drive indigenous enterprise development and regional growth.
I allocated an extra €5m to the 31 LEOs, up 22% on 2018, which have a presence in every county, including Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal, to support start-ups and growth and in particular to support businesses to prepare for Brexit. The LEOs will work with the broad range of small and micro indigenous enterprises across sectors to ensure that they are informed and have plans in place to manage the new trading relationships on the island and with the UK more generally. This will include a new customs training programme for all businesses, exporters and importers, to be rolled out in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland.
The IDA’s regional property programme is critical to encouraging more foreign direct investment into the regions. So, I was pleased to announce an allocation of €10m to the next phase of the IDA’s Regional Property Programme. Project Ireland 2040 names the Border and Midlands regions as priority areas for this Programme, and so the funding will be used to start building advanced facilities in a number of regional locations. The next phase of the IDA Regional Property Programme will see new buildings constructed in a number of regional locations, including in Sligo.
IDA Ireland is working to promote Counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal to a range of potential investors, but especially in the areas of global business services, research and innovation and high-tech manufacturing. The IDA also regularly engages - with a view to encouraging job creation and investment - with key stakeholders on the ground in these counties, including with local authorities, public bodies, the education sector and companies from both its own client base and from the indigenous sector.
I was also pleased to announce an additional capital allocation €2.75m to Enterprise Ireland to start developing regional innovation and technology clusters with Institutes of Technology right across the country, positioning them as drivers of world-class start-ups and growth enterprises.
Through Enterprise Ireland, I also doubled funding for the Online Retail Pilot Scheme to €1.25m in 2019, which will support SMEs in the retail sector to have a stronger online presence. This new Scheme follows through on our commitment to increase the scale and internationalisation of indigenous enterprise; increase productivity in high-employment sectors; and encourage Brexit readiness.
In addition, I also secured funding for a new phase of Enterprise Ireland’s Seed & Venture Capital Scheme out to 2024. The new scheme, which is worth €175m, will be oriented towards seed and early stage investments, where there is a very clear market failure.
I announced an additional €1.8m investment for the Design Craft Council of Ireland (DCCOI) which will assist craft enterprises all over the country to develop and generate additional export sales and online revenue opportunities, increased market diversification so as to underpin sustainable growth.
Finally, I announced a €300m Brexit Future Growth Longer Term Loan Scheme for loans of up to 10 years. The Scheme has been developed by my Department with the European Investment Bank Group, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Finance together with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland.
This Scheme will provide businesses the opportunity to borrow for up to ten years to support capital investment. It addresses the lack of availability of loans in the marketplace for loan-terms of longer than five-to-seven years.
In April of this year, along with Minister Breen, I met with the Chairs of all the Regional Action Plan for Jobs committees and other regional stakeholders, to start a process to Refresh and Refocus all Regional Plans to ensure their effectiveness, relevance and impact out to 2020, particularly in light of Brexit. I had a further meeting with the Chairs of the Regional Committees last week in my offices and I am pleased with the ambition and quality of the strategic actions being developed. The refreshed West and North West Region Action Plans for Jobs will further strengthen a collaborative approach at regional level which will enhance the impact and delivery of the supports outlined in Budget 2019, and existing supports, to increase job creation and enterprise development.
349. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the level of grant aid paid by her Department or by the agencies under its remit in each of the years 2011 to 2017 in respect of the provision of animal feed compounding facilities and-or feed milling facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43901/18]
View answerEnterprise Ireland (EI) is the state agency with the responsibility for supporting companies to diversify, scale and achieve in global markets. The food sector accounted for €11.58 billion in client exports in 2017, representing a 10% increase on the 2016 figure.
Buyers of Irish food are increasingly interested in the way in which food is produced, especially regarding meat and poultry. Quality and traceability back to farm of origin are key aspects for food producers, and safe, sustainable animal feed is a key part of the supply chain. Feed mills need to operate at a high level to satisfy the requirements of the customers.
EI engages the sector with a range of Innovation, Lean, Client Management Development and other supports. The table below represents all payments to companies in the animal feed sector from 2011 to 2017.
|
Payments to companies in the Animal Feed Sector 2011-2017 |
|||||||
|
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2011 - 2017 Total Payments |
|
€198,720 |
€200,830 |
€254,542 |
€372,105 |
€86,600 |
€190,955 |
€274,919 |
€1,355,108 |
350. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with the ear, nose and throat department in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43280/18]
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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
351. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the 37 surge beds at University Hospital Kerry will be in place for winter 2018-2019 in line with the recommendations of the health service capacity review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43165/18]
View answer€10 million in funding is being made available in 2019 to enable additional acute beds to be opened for Winter 2019/2020. This is the first step in the process of implementing the Capacity Plan which identifies over 600 acute beds to be phased in by the end of 2020, including 33 additional beds in Kerry University Hospital.
My Department is currently in discussions with the HSE, in the context of the National Service Plan 2019, to agree a capacity programme for 2019 that maximises this investment and supports the management of winter pressures into the future.
352. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43167/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
353. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43173/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
354. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a gastroenterologist at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43178/18]
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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
355. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if funding is available towards the purchase and maintenance of arterial assist devices; the HSE's position on the use of such devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43182/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
356. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the details of each building project contained in the current capital plan at each development stage including new builds, extensions and improvements; the cost of each project by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43189/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
357. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the status of the progress being made on the North-South agreement on children's cardiac surgery being carried out in Dublin in order to prevent children from Northern Ireland travelling to Birmingham and-or Manchester; if persons have been treated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43198/18]
View answerIn June 2016, I gave my approval for the establishment and funding of an All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network, centred on Our Lady’s Childrens’ Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC) and serving as an all-island centralised hub for paediatric cardiothoracic surgery and interventional cardiology. As part of the Network, OLCHC provides cardiothoracic surgery and paediatric cardiac catheterisation for patients from Northern Ireland. The phased implementation of the Network commenced in late 2015, with OLCHC providing surgery and cardiac catheterisation for emergency cases from Northern Ireland. Treatment of urgent cases commenced in March 2017.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the transfer of elective cases from Northern Ireland, the next step in the phased implementation of the Network, began in April this year. Plans for an extension to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in OLCHC to accommodate all elective patients from Northern Ireland are also at an advanced stage. This is an example of the benefits for patients of North South cooperation in healthcare, with the two Departments of Health and services North and South working together in the interests of patients.
358. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he has sought changes to the timing of allocations to the health service under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 to bring forward spending of over €900 million originally earmarked for the end of the ten-year programme; and the outcome of such discussions as part of the recent estimates process. [43200/18]
View answerThe €10.9 billion provided for the public health sector in the National Development Plan is very welcome and will allow for implementation over the next 10 years of a solid, ambitious plan to build a better health service for the future. This funding provides us with the opportunity to further reform and modernise our health service to meet the needs of our growing and ageing population. Capital investments over the coming decade will support existing Government priority projects and commitments, facilitate the shift to new models of care and enable the roll-out of new additional capacity, guided by the implementation of Sláintecare.
Seeking to deliver on the National Development Plan and following discussions with my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Budget 2019 provides:
- €20m additional capital funding in 2018
- Capital funding of €667m in 2019 – an increase of €174m (35%)
- €50m capital funding brought forward to 2020 and ringfenced for developing health service capacity.
359. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the way in which section 10(b) of the Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014 is being honoured in the health budget for 2019; and if the deficit recorded in 2018 will be considered as a first charge in 2019. [43201/18]
View answerSection 10 (b) of the Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014 states “(3) (a) If the amount of net expenditure incurred by the Executive in a financial year is greater than the amount determined by the Minister for that year, the Executive shall charge the amount of such excess to its income and expenditure account for the next financial year and (b) If the amount of net expenditure incurred by the Executive in a financial year is less than the amount determined by the Minister for that year, the Executive shall, subject to the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, credit the amount of such surplus to its income and expenditure account for the next financial year”.
It is important to note that the sum of a deficit or surplus as it arises, will not translate in full into a charge or credit on the Annual Financial Statements of the HSE, as any overrun or underspend in the voluntary sector is not subject to a first charge under the legislation in the HSE accounts.
While it is anticipated that there may be some areas that will experience overruns in 2018, it is too early yet to be definitive in terms of the final out turn for the health services at year end.
A Supplementary Estimate will be provided in 2018 to the HSE.
If a deficit arises at year end the requirements under Section 10 (b) will be fully applied.
360. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the capital projects in the health service which have been delayed for three months or more in 2018; and the reason for the delay in tabular form. [43202/18]
View answerDelivery of capital projects is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances.
At any time there are hundreds of projects in the Health Service Executive's multi-annual Capital Plan.
These projects progress at different rates given their size and project type.
The HSE must stay within the projected 5 year capital profile, its annual notified capital allocation and must ensure a full uptake of its annual notified capital allocation.
The HSE retains the flexibility to manage the individual projects within its investment programme to deliver the maximum number of priority projects from the funding available.
As a consequence individual projects will be advanced at varying speeds in order to leverage the funding available efficiently.
361. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the project to provide a modular build at South Tipperary General Hospital; when the project will be completed; and the number of extra beds to be provided. [43210/18]
View answerImproving access to health care services is a key priority in 2019. I understand that the works in relation to the planned modular build at South Tipperary General Hospital are progressing, and that recruitment processes are currently in train, with the objective of opening the 40-bed ward block, in the first quarter of 2019.
