Bernard Durkan
Question:105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when stamp 4 will issue in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46414/18]
View answerNaturalisation Applications
Questions (105)
Written answers
I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons concerned entered the State in 2001. The first person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State, on a stamp 4 basis, on the basis of parentage of an Irish citizen child on 20 January 2003, and was granted citizenship on 14 June 2012.
I am further informed that the second person concerned was registered as a dependent of the first person concerned on a stamp 3 basis by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on 11 November 2014. This permission was renewed for a further period of 1 year on 10 May 2018 by GNIB and the person concerned was advised to write to the INIS. An application requesting a change of status to stamp 4 was received on 1 November 2018. The INIS wrote to the second person concerned seeking further information and documentation on 6 November 2018. The matter will be considered further by INIS in light of a response.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Deportation Orders
Questions (106)
Bernard Durkan
Question:106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which consideration can be given to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46415/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 11 March 2005.
As previously advised, representations were received on behalf of the person concerned pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. Following the consideration of those representations, a decision was taken in July 2018 that the Deportation Order should be affirmed and this decision was communicated to the person concerned by registered post dated 16 July 2018.
It is open to the person concerned to submit further representations requesting that the Deportation Order be revoked, pursuant to Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). However, I wish to make clear that such an application would require substantial grounds to be successful.
The Deputy might wish to note that the effect of a Deportation Order is that the person named on the Order is legally obliged to leave the State and to remain outside of the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order in this case is now an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Residency Permits
Questions (107)
Bernard Durkan
Question:107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected residency status in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46416/18]
View answerWritten answers
If an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State, it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant or his legal representative should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate.
The IPO may be contacted either by email to info@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted either by email to info@protectionappeals.ie , by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
Following the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015 on 31 December 2016, new arrangements for the investigation and determination of applications for international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) and cases involving permission to remain in the State have been introduced. Such applications are now processed, as part of a single application procedure, by the International Protection Office (IPO) which has replaced the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) from that date. The staff of that Office (the Chief International Protection Officer and International Protection Officers) are independent in the performance of their protection functions.
For your information, on 27 February 2017, the Chief International Protection Officer, following consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published a statement on the Prioritisation of Applications under the International Protection Act 2015 which is available on the website of the International Protection Office (www.ipo.gov.ie ).
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Visa Applications
Questions (108)
Bernard Durkan
Question:108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if all required information has been submitted to the relevant section of his Department by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46422/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that no record of a visa application can be found based on the information provided. If the Deputy can provide further information including a visa application reference number, I will ask officials to enquire further.
In the meantime, the Deputy will be aware that detailed information on the circumstances in which a person can seek to sponsor a family member to join them in the State is set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie . Guidelines on visa requirements for travel to Ireland and on how to apply for particular types of visas are available on the INIS website. Intending applicants are advised to read this information carefully.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to visamail@justice.ie.
Deportation Orders Re-examination
Questions (109)
Bernard Durkan
Question:109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an order to deport in the case of a person (details supplied) will be set aside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46426/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order signed on 29 September 2017. This Order requires the person to remove themselves from the State and remain outside the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is a matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
As previously advised, representations were received, and acknowledged, on 10 January 2018 in relation to an application by the person concerned for permission to remain in the State on the basis of her marriage to an Irish national. This application was refused as the person concerned was subject to a Deportation Order. The representations are now being considered in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended).
The Deputy might wish to note that any such decision will be to 'affirm' or 'revoke' the existing Deportation Order. In the meantime, the deportation order remains valid and in place.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Work Permits Applications
Questions (110)
Denis Naughten
Question:110. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) for a work permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46168/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Employment Permits section of my Department inform me that an application for a General Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 24th September 2018.
As the Employment Permits section is currently processing Standard applications received on 25th July 2018, this application should be considered within the next 9-10 weeks.
The Employment Permits section has experienced high levels of demand for employment permits so far this year which has contributed to increased processing times for applications. At end October 2018, 13,953 applications had been received, a 28% increase on the same time last year.
In order to reduce processing times, the Employment Permits section has introduced a number of operational changes, streamlined processes and implemented ICT solutions. Additional staffing resources have also been assigned to the section and a fast track training programme has been devised.
As a result of the implementation of these changes, processing times are now reducing. Trusted Partner processing times have reduced to 5 weeks (from a peak of 7 weeks) and Standard application processing times have reduced to 15 weeks (from a peak of 16 weeks).
Further reductions in processing times are anticipated in the coming weeks as the changes being implemented by my officials continue to manifest.
Personal Contract Plans
Questions (111)
Billy Kelleher
Question:111. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the recommendation (details supplied) on the state of regulation of personal contract plans, PCPs, that the consumer protection code should apply to PCPs and that PCP providers should have to check the financial capacity of consumers before offering such contracts; if not, the reason therefore; and if she or her officials have had discussions with the Department of Finance and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission regarding this recommendation. [46367/18]
View answerWritten answers
My colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Paschal Donohoe, TD, commissioned Mr. Michael G. Tutty to conduct a review of the current Personal Contract Plan (PCP) market and, in particular, to consider the adequacy of existing consumer protection in relation to PCPs in June 2018. Mr. Tutty’s report was published on the website of the Department of Finance on 1st November 2018.
This report builds on previous publications including the report by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) into the personal contract plan car finance market which was the first comprehensive study of the PCP market in the state published on 6th March 2018.
The CCPC’s report made a number of recommendations, which included a call for PCP agreements to be brought within the scope of the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code, thus mirroring the protections afforded to consumers when they take out other forms of credit. Under the current regulatory framework, those arranging PCP products are not required to check the affordability or suitability of the consumer before selling them a PCP product.
This recommendation is echoed by Mr. Tutty in his report which suggests that the relevant sections of the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code should apply to PCPs and that consideration could be given to the provision of an authorisation system for PCPs if it is not possible to bring PCPs within the Consumer Protection Code. Mr. Tutty recommends that it is for the credit provider rather than the PCP intermediary to check the financial capacity of customers who wish to partake in a PCP contract.
Officials from my Department met with Mr. Tutty as did representatives from the CCPC as set out in his report.
I am aware that the recommendations are currently under consideration by the Department of Finance and the Central Bank, which are the relevant bodies with policy responsibility for the matters concerned. My Department will continue to engage with officials from the CCPC and the Department of Finance as required.
IDA Ireland Site Visits
Questions (112)
Billy Kelleher
Question:112. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA site visits in each county in quarter 1, 2 and 3 of 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46368/18]
View answerWritten answers
IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in all counties of Ireland to its client base. 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 client companies.
Site visits nevertheless do represent an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that investors consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland.
The following table sets out the number of IDA Ireland site visits to each County in Quarter 1, Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2018.
|
County |
Q1 2018 |
Q2 2018 |
Q3 2018 |
|
Dublin |
69 |
72 |
68 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
Meath |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Laois |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
9 |
6 |
|
Clare |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
8 |
7 |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Louth |
6 |
6 |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
3 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
3 |
4 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
9 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Cork |
10 |
14 |
21 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
5 |
3 |
|
Galway |
10 |
20 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
135 |
172 |
154 |
Brexit Supports
Questions (113)
Billy Kelleher
Question:113. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings that have taken place to date since the formation of the working group comprising representatives from the Directorate General for Competition, her Department, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with state aid rules; the dates of all such meetings; the remaining meetings planned for 2018 and Q1 2019; the progression on new potential schemes that fall within state aid rules and their operational date; if she or Enterprise Ireland have submitted or discussed proposals in the forum requesting that the state aid ceiling under EU Regulation No. 1407/2013 be temporally adapted as a policy response to protect Irish companies and exporting businesses exposed to a no-deal hard Brexit and the UK becoming a third country; and when such proposals were formally submitted. [46369/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Technical Working Group on State Aid has met 6 times since it was established in November 2017. The dates of these meetings are as follows:
20th November 2017
12th December 2017
19th February 2018
23rd March 2018
26th April 2018
26th July 2018
In addition, as part of the work of the Technical Group, a further meeting took place with DG Agriculture on 2 August 2018.
In between all the meetings noted above, there has been ongoing bilateral engagement with DG Competition and DG Agriculture.
Meetings are arranged as required and therefore a schedule of meetings for the remainder of this year and Q1 2019 has not been developed. However, we would expect that the Irish Delegation, led by my Department, will meet with DG Comp/DG Agri again before the end of this year.
A number of schemes have been developed to mitigate against the effects of Brexit. In late November 2017 a Rescue and Restructuring (R&R) Scheme was approved by the EU Commission. This scheme has been put in place as it is considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary.
The Brexit Loan Scheme was launched in April 2018 and provides affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or will be in the future. This is operated within State aid rules under the de Minimis regulation.
In May 2018, the Rescue and Restructuring scheme was extended to include temporary restructuring aid for enterprises experiencing acute liquidity needs. The aid is granted in the form of loans repayable over a period of 18 months. Together with the Brexit Loan Scheme, this temporary restructuring aid will provide valuable stabilisation to businesses as they respond to the immediate and long-term impacts of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. The scheme will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including those in the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic, long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. It is expected that this scheme will be operational in Q1 2019.
We are also working with DG Competition and DG Agri on the development of schemes that do not fall under the General Block Exemption Regulation and therefore require notification. These are currently being progressed.
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.
White Collar Crime
Questions (114)
Billy Kelleher
Question:114. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the report, Regulatory Powers and Corporate Offences, by an organisation (details supplied); her plans to implement the recommendations of this report including the proposal to set up a corporate crime agency; the estimated impact this will have on the work of the ODCE; and if her Departmental officials met with the ODCE to discuss the matter. [46371/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Government adopted a package of Measures to Enhance Ireland’s Corporate, Economic and Regulatory Framework in October of last year.
One of the actions in that package was to establish the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (the ODCE) as an agency. The Law Reform Commission’s Report on Regulatory Powers and Corporate Offences commends that action and recommends that the new agency should be established without delay.
I intend to bring a General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to that action to Government very shortly. As that Scheme is developed into a Bill, officials in the Department will continue to engage with the ODCE. The relevant recommendations of the Law Reform Commission will be considered as part of that work.
Another action in the Government’s package of Measures was to review anti-corruption and anti-fraud structures and procedures. Accordingly, the Department of Justice and Equality has established a Group to conduct that review. Officials from both the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and from the ODCE are members of that Group.
That Group is considering the Law Reform Commission’s recommendations and I understand that it expects to conclude its work by end Q2 of 2019.
Skills Shortages
Questions (115)
Billy Kelleher
Question:115. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a sectorial analysis has been carried out of skills shortages in the economy for the next 5, 10, 15 and 20 year period; the impact skills shortages are having on competitiveness levels here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46372/18]
View answerWritten answers
Access to a high quality, innovative and adaptable talent pool is critical for the sustainable growth of the Irish economy and keeping Ireland competitive. As a result, equipping the workforce with the skills required for the jobs of today and for those of tomorrow is a strategic priority for the Government. Meeting the growing skills needs of industry through investment in education and training is central to our continued economic success.
While skills policy is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, my Department supports the work of the Expert Group for Future Skills Needs (EGFSN). The EGFSN is an independent body, comprised of business representatives, education providers, trade unions and Government bodies. The EGFSN plays a key role in identifying future skills needs of enterprises and advising Government on those needs to enhance Irish competitiveness.
Over the last 21 years, the EGFSN has assessed skills availability across a wide range of sectors. In recent years, these studies have included sectors such as the marine economy; freight, transport, logistics and distribution; biopharma and hospitality. These reports include a horizon scanning exercise and the development of skills demand forecasts over a five year period, so as to ensure accuracy in forecasting demand.
A relevant example of this is the work undertaken on ICT skills demand forecasts this year. In 2013 the EGFSN published the study Addressing Future Demand for High-Level ICT Skills . This study included a demand forecast for ICT skills over the period 2013-2018. The findings and recommendations of this report were essential inputs into the development of the ICT Skills Action Plan 2014-2018. This year the EGFSN has engaged in a refresh of the demand forecast exercise undertaken in 2013 for the period 2017-2022. This analysis will inform the upcoming ICT Skills Action Plan.
Other EGFSN work undertaken in 2018 includes studies and forecasts on skills needs arising from Brexit (including forecasts for the Freight Transport, Distribution and Logistics industry) and the impact of digitalisation on Ireland's workforce over the period to 2023.
In addition to these analyses of skills needs, my Department provides works permits for those key skills which are in short supply through the employment permits system. This system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA migrants to fill skills shortages. The objective is balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and the shortage is a genuine one. The employment permits system is managed by the operation of the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List and the Ineligible Categories List. The rationale underpinning the inclusion or omission from the occupation lists is informed by EGFSN and the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in Solas and is augmented by a consultation process that includes calls for submissions. This process is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is operating efficiently.
Through the work of the EGFSN, the employment permits system, ongoing interaction on these issues with the Department of Education and Skills and participation in the work of the National Skills Council and the Regional Skills Fora, my Department aims to ensure that the competitiveness implications of skills shortages are fully addressed.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (116)
Billy Kelleher
Question:116. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of civil servants in her Department by grade who are specifically allocated to work in the economic migration policy unit (details supplied). [46373/18]
View answerWritten answers
There are three staff in the Economic Migration Policy Unit of my Department, comprising of 1 Assistant Principal, 1 Higher Executive Officer and 0.6 Executive Officer. This team has responsibility for economic migration policy, which is the framework within which the State’s employment permit system operates.
Their key responsibilities include coordinating the implementation of the recommendations of the recently published review of economic migration policy, and the twice-yearly review of the occupation lists for employment permit purposes.
Employment Permit Section is responsible for the operational management of the employment permit system, and is supported by a staff complement of 33.1 (FTE) as follows:
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2.5 |
|
Executive Officer |
7.5 |
|
Clerical Officer |
20.1 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer (TCO) * |
2 |
* There are currently 2 TCOs assigned to Employment Permits Section, pending the appointment of 2 full-time Clerical Officers, which my Department is in the process of recruiting from the Public Appointments Service.
Programme for Government Initiatives
Questions (117)
Billy Kelleher
Question:117. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the regional job targets and unemployment rate projections under A Programme for a Partnership Government for 2020 and Enterprise 2025, by year and region; the latest figures relating to these targets; the monitoring and reporting mechanisms in place; her job targets up to 2020, by region in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46374/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Partnership Government set a target of 200,000 new jobs to be created by 2020, with 135,000 of these outside of Dublin.
Enterprise 2025 Renewed, launched on 9th March 2018, sets out a revised target to have at least 2.3 million people in employment by 2020. The objective is to ensure that, through effective policies, we realise employment growth that is sustainable over the longer term to 2025. The aim in Enterprise 2025 Renewed is to maintain an unemployment rate at no more than 5.5% nationally over the longer term. The aim also is to realise the potential of our regions so that unemployment is within 1 percentage point of the national average.
Employment continues to grow strongly with total employment in Q2 2018 of 2,255,000. The monthly unemployment rate is now 5.3% (October 2018).
Enterprise 2025 Renewed does not set out targets on an annual basis. Nevertheless, the Action Plan for Jobs 2018 (launched together with Enterprise 2025 Renewed), which sets out specific actions to be taken across Government this year, targets the creation of 50,000 jobs in 2018. The APJ process involves a bi-annual monitoring process and produces a report that sets out progress on job creation and in relation to each individual action by Departments.
Enterprise 2025 Renewed and the Action Plan for Jobs are complemented by the Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJs). A key ambition of the RAPJs is to see an increase of 10-15% in numbers employed in every region from the baseline year (2015) to 2020, and for each region’s unemployment rate to be within 1 percentage point of the national average.
Numerical employment targets were published on this basis for each region at the launch of each RAPJ. These figures are listed in Table 1, along with progress in employment and current unemployment rates.
Separately, the regional NUTS boundaries were amended on the 21st November 2016 under Regulation (EC) No.2066/2016 and took effect from the 1st January 2018.
As a result, new regional classification groupings have been introduced for Ireland. A summary of these changes at NUTS 3 level is outlined in Table 2.
Furthermore, regional employment data is drawn from the CSO’s Labour Force Survey, previously the Quarterly National Household Survey. Since Q1 2018, CSO Labour Force Survey contains data for the new NUTS 3 configurations.
While employment targets were originally based on the old NUTS 3 regional groupings, current employment data is based on the new configuration that entered into effect in January 2018. As a result, data for some regions cannot be as reliably compared as others with their original targets set in 2015.
My Department is currently working to review and revise regional employment targets in light of the changes to NUTS 3 configurations, new CSO Labour Force Survey methodology, and the revised national employment growth target set out in Enterprise 2025 Renewed.
The monitoring of actions under the Regional Action Plan for Jobs is coordinated by my Department in conjunction with the Regional Implementation Committees, Programme Managers and Secretariats in each of the eight regions. This information is collated through an online reporting tool, managed by my Department. Each Action in the RAPJ has a nominated “owner” of the Action, depending on its area of focus. In the original eight Regional Action Plan for Jobs, there were 1,276 actions.
To date, my Department has published two Progress Reports per region, which are available on the Department's website, with the third and fourth Progress Reports currently being finalised. The fourth Progress Reports will be the final reports under the current iteration of the RAPJs, closing out the narratives on Actions for the 2015 – 2017 period.
My current focus, and that of my Department, is on undertaking a refresh and refocus of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs through to 2020. In April 2018, I asked each RAPJ Implementation Committee to lead this refresh and refocus process to ensure their Plan's relevance out to 2020 and to focus on a smaller number of strategic objectives for their region, with the emphasis on additionality and collaborative approaches.
Each Committee is leading the refresh of their own Plans, looking particularly at building on each region’s own competitive strengths – developing areas that are already strong and exploring new sectorial opportunities - while also examining regional vulnerabilities and/or potential barriers to investment or enterprise activity. My Department is working closely with each Committee in this process which is ongoing.
On Wednesday 17th October, I met with the Regional Implementation Committee Chairpersons to hear directly from them the work that they have undertaken in conjunction with the Department since April including the Strategic Objectives and associated actions that are under consideration for each region's refreshed Plan.
Table 1: Regional Employment Performance against 2020 Targets
|
Region |
2020 Employment Growth Target (pre-2018 NUTS3 regional groupings) |
Increase in employment Q1 2015 – Q2 20171 (pre-2018 NUTS3 regional groupings) |
Increase in employment Q1 2015 – Q2 2018 (new NUTS3 regional groupings)2 |
Unemployment Rate Q2 2018 (new NUTS 3 regional groupings) |
|
Border |
28,000 |
12,000 |
4,400 (excl Louth) |
6.5% |
|
Midland |
14,000 |
9,500 |
15,300 |
9.7% |
|
West |
25,000 |
15,500 |
22,700 |
6.7% |
|
Dublin |
66,000 |
48,200 |
94,200 |
5.3% |
|
Mid-East |
25,000 |
19,300 |
32,900 (incl Louth) |
5.8% |
|
Mid-West |
23,000 |
16,600 |
17,700 (incl Sth Tipperary) |
5.8% |
|
South-East |
25,000 |
16,200 |
21,300 (excl Sth Tipperary) |
7.2% |
|
South-West |
40,000 |
29,400 |
32,100 |
5.3% |
|
State |
246,000 |
166,800 |
240,600 |
6% |
Gender Balance
Questions (118)
Billy Kelleher
Question:118. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with the latest female participation rate in the labour force here compared with the EU rate; if she has carried out an analysis of this area; and the actions being taken to increase the rate. [46376/18]
View answerWritten answers
In overall terms, Ireland is performing well compared to the EU in terms of female labour market participation. According to the Eurostat Labour Force Survey series, the 2017 activity rate for females aged 15 and over was 55.7% compared with an EU average of 51.8% (this is set out in further detail in the attached Table). In addition, female labour market participation is on a rising trend in Ireland and, as of the end of the second quarter of 2018, the participation rate for women was 56.4%.
Under the 2018 Action Plan for Jobs, my Department is currently undertaking an analysis of female labour market participation and identification of policy issues for women seeking to enter, or re-enter the workforce.
Whilst female participation in the labour market has been increasing over the last number of years and is above the EU average, there remains a large amount of untapped potential in this area. Initiatives in recent years aimed at facilitating female participation in the labour market include:
The ‘Women Returning to the Workforce Initiative’, introduced by the Department of Justice and Equality in 2017, which offers supports such as confidence building, career guidance, training programmes and work placements; and
Women ReBOOT, led by Technology Ireland Software and Ibec in collaboration with Skillnet Ireland, which aims to connect highly skilled women returners to Ireland’s tech industry.
More generally, there are a number of policy and strategy documents adopted by Government in recent years which have contained actions and recommendations focused on encouraging female labour market participation.
Action Plan for Jobs 2018 The Action Plans for Jobs have been the Government’s chief instrument for stimulating enterprise and employment growth in the Irish economy since 2012. Each Plan has set out actions aimed at driving enhancements in productivity, competitiveness, innovation, the development and attraction of high quality talent, regional development, and trade diversification. The implementation of these actions is monitored on a quarterly basis for each year of release.
The 2018 Action Plan for Jobs contains specific actions targeted at removing barriers to the labour market for women. This includes the development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme and the previously mentioned identification of policy issues for cohorts with low participation rates, both of which are due to be completed by end of 2018.
Pathways to Work 2016-2020 The two main objectives of this strategy are:
To continue and consolidate the progress made to date with an initial focus on working with unemployed jobseekers, in particular those who are long-term unemployed.
To extend the approach of activation to other people who, although not classified as unemployed jobseekers, have the potential and the desire to play a more active role in the labour force.
Pathways to Work contains a number of actions relevant to facilitating participation for several cohorts, including females. These actions have been monitored with progress reports published quarterly since its release.
The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 provides the policy framework on which the Government’s agenda and priorities in relation to the advancement of equality for women over the next four years are set out. The Strategy outlines a number of actions around female labour market activation and addressing barriers to employment for women.
Future Jobs Initiative The Future Jobs initiative, which is being developed by my Department jointly with the Department of An Taoiseach, and which is expected to be launched in early 2019, will aim to drive Ireland's development over the coming years as a resilient, innovative, and globally connected economy, capable of coping with technological and other transformational changes ahead. Future Jobs will place a strong focus on raising labour market participation levels, particularly for women.
Active Population and Activity Rates of Females Aged 15 and Over, 2017
|
Category |
Females Aged 15+ |
|
Total Active Population (000’s) |
1055.2 |
|
Participation Rate (Ireland) |
55.7% |
|
EU Average Participation Rate |
51.8% |
|
Highest Rate in EU (Sweden) |
62.1% |
|
Lowest Rate in EU (Italy) |
40.9% |
Source: Eurostat, EU Labour Force Survey
Economic Competitiveness
Questions (119)
Billy Kelleher
Question:119. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with Ireland’s rankings in the 2018 global competitiveness report published by the World Economic Forum on 17 October 2018. [46384/18]
View answerWritten answers
Improving our competitiveness and ensuring that Ireland is an attractive location to do business remains a key economic priority for this Government. We continue to monitor Ireland's competitiveness and analyse the factors that are crucial to attracting further investments in the country.
The 2018 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index Report ranks Ireland 23rd most competitive economy out of 140 countries, maintaining its global competitiveness position from last year. We continue to be the 8th most competitive economy in the euro area and the 11th most competitive economy in the European Union.
Ireland performs well in labour market (7th), business dynamism (10th), Skills (15th) and institutions (17th ). Ireland is also ranked in the top 15 in relation to female participation in labour force, cost of starting a business, attitudes toward entrepreneurial risk and growth of innovative companies. Furthermore, Ireland scores 99.4 out of 100 in terms of macroeconomic environment.
Our positive competitiveness performance is not only reflected in the World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness ranking but is also evident in our strong economic growth and trade performance, increased employment and falling unemployment. However, there is no room for complacency.
The ranking is also a reminder of the intense global competition we face for exports and inward investment. Areas for focus, are evident in relation to Infrastructure (34th), Financial system (37th) and ICT adoption (44th). The Government is strongly committed to addressing current infrastructure deficiencies as underlined by the substantial increase in capital investment under the National Planning Framework (NFP) alongside the ten- year National Development Plan (NDP). The €300m long-term Future Growth Loan Scheme announced in Budget 2019 will improve the availability of funding by providing businesses the opportunity to borrow for up to ten years to support capital investment. Budget 2019 also allocated additional funding for my Department to boost business productivity, e.g. doubling of the Retail Online Pilot Scheme to €1.25m and awarding an additional €2.75m to Enterprise Ireland for its SME Regional Innovation and Technology Clusters Programme.
Global uncertainty and Brexit has underlined the importance of building competitive advantage and generating an uplift in enterprise export competitiveness to secure sustainable jobs and growth. Ensuring enterprise stays at the forefront of innovative activity is vital to deepening the resilience of our enterprise base and necessary for success in global markets, which for a small open economy like Ireland, is necessary for creating sustainable growth. Building the foundations of future growth means we must further enhance the competitiveness of our business environment. We must continue to invest in our infrastructure and talent base and harness the benefits from trade and the Single Market.
My officials and the National Competitiveness Council will establish what actions we can take to further improve our competitiveness, particularly in the areas where we are lagging competitors. The NCC will issue recommendations in its forthcoming 2018 Competitiveness Challenge report.
In addition, the Future Jobs Initiative - which is being led by my Department and the Department of An Taoiseach and which will be published in early 2019, will have a strong focus on improving productivity in the economy and its competitiveness.
Personal Injuries Commission
Questions (120)
Billy Kelleher
Question:120. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the most recent Personal Injuries Commission report and the recommendation to establish a judicial council and for the Minister for Justice and Equality to formally request that the council review the award guidelines; and the estimated impact this will have on the book of quantum. [46385/18]
View answerWritten answers
I 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 Report makes ten recommendations, the implementation of which will be a matter for each of the bodies responsible. While the recommendations are not time-bound due to the nature of them, it is expected that they will be acted upon by the bodies responsible as soon as possible.
In this regard, I have written 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 recommendation referred to by the Deputy anticipates the Judicial Council potentially availing of assistance, as appropriate, from the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). Depending on how the guidelines are developed i.e. if the guidelines were to be along the lines of the Judicial Studies Board guidelines published in England & Wales, there is the potential that they could effectively replace the current Book of Quantum.
To this end, the recommendation addressed to PIAB, has effectively been superseded. In that context, PIAB has written to my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, offering its assistance either in the compilation of any guidelines by the Judicial Council or in the event of a requirement to produce such “interim” guidelines. PIAB have a considerable amount of data relating to personal injury claims that they have assessed and will engage as may be required.
Enterprise Support Schemes
Questions (121)
Billy Kelleher
Question:121. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when applications to the disruptive technologies fund will open and close; and the 2019 budget allocation for same. [46386/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department launched the first Call under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) on 29th June 2018 and Expressions of Interest were sought by the deadline of 3pm on Friday 17th August 2018. The Department received over 300 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for this first call for funding. Those EOIs that passed all seven eligibility criteria and reached the minimum threshold on the four selection criteria were invited to submit a full application to the DTIF.
Enterprise Ireland is providing administrative support for the full application stage of the process on behalf of my Department and the closing date for receipt of full applications was 12 noon on 5th November 2018.
I expect to be in a position to announce successful projects under this Call in December 2018, based on the recommendations of the DTIF Advisory Board and following an assessment of the full applications by a panel of international experts.
While there will be subsequent Calls to the DTIF, no dates for further calls have been set. The 2019 budget allocation for the DTIF is €20 million.
Workplace Relations Services Staff
Questions (122)
Billy Kelleher
Question:122. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the allocation to the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court in each of the years 2015 to 2018 broken down between current and capital funds; the amount expended in each year and to date in 2018; the 2019 allocation; and the number of civil servants in the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court by grade in tabular form. [46387/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body which was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC assumes the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), Equality Tribunal, Labour Relations Commission and the first-instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
The WRC’s core services include the inspection of employment rights compliance, the provision of information, adjudicating on complaints under employment protection, equality and industrial relations legislation and the provision of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and advisory services.
As the WRC was established late in the 2015 fiscal year, the budgets of the individual workplace relations bodies remained unchanged until the following year. The pay/non-pay budget allocations of the individual workplace relations bodies which were amalgamated to form the WRC in 2015 were as follows:
Table 1:
Pay and non-pay budget allocation and expenditure for Workplace Relations Bodies 2015:
|
2015 |
Non- pay€000 |
Pay €000 |
Total€000 |
Expended |
|
National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) |
862 |
5,183 |
6,045 |
6,177 |
|
Labour Relations Commission (LRC) |
814 |
4,130 |
4,944 |
3,494 |
|
Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) |
422 |
2,960 |
3,382 |
3,015 |
|
Equality Tribunal (ET) |
239 |
1,460 |
1,699 |
1,186 |
The budget allocation for the WRC is made up of pay and non-pay elements in support of the work activities of the Commission. Details of the WRC’s funding in terms of pay and non-pay and expenditure for 2016, 2017 and 2018 are set out at table 2.
Table 2
Pay and non-pay budget allocation and expenditure for WRC, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
|
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) |
Non- pay€000 |
Pay €000 |
Total €000 |
Expended |
|
2016 |
2,489 |
10,081 |
12,570 |
12,328 |
|
2017 |
2,314 |
11,065 |
13,379 |
13,237 |
|
2018 |
2,314 |
11,700 |
14,014 |
10,976* |
*Expenditure to end of October 2018
The functions of the Labour Court have been altered and extended over the years, including by the Workplace Relations Act 2015 which provides that the Labour Court is now the sole appellate body in disputes under employment rights legislation in addition to its roles under the industrial relations legislation.
As part of the reform of the workplace relations bodies in 2015, and in anticipation of an increased workload, the Labour Court was expanded to include an additional Division to bring the composition of the Court to four Divisions. Each Division of the Court comprises a Chair or Deputy Chair and two ordinary members.
The Labour Court budget allocation for pay and non-pay and it expenditure in 2015, 2016, 2017 and to end of October 2018 are set out at table 3.
Table 3
Pay and non-pay budget allocation and expenditure for the Labour Court 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
|
Labour Court |
Non- pay €000 |
Pay €000 |
Total €000 |
Expended |
|
2015 |
291 |
2,357 |
2,648 |
2,255 |
|
2016 |
291 |
2,400 |
2,691 |
2,624 |
|
2017 |
300 |
2,698 |
2,998 |
2,586 |
|
2018 |
300 |
2,800 |
3,100 |
2,324* |
* Expenditure to end of October 2018
The WRC and Labour Court are staffed by civil servants who are part of the overall staffing of my Department. Tables 4 and 5 set out the number of civil servants by grade working in the WRC and the Labour Court at end of 2015, 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018.
Tables 4 and 5: Staffing in WRC and Labour Court from 2015-2018
|
Table 4: WRC |
||||||||
|
2018 to Date |
2018 to Date |
End 2017 |
End 2017 |
End 2016 |
End 2016 |
End 2015 |
End 2015 |
|
|
Grade |
PC (personCount) |
FTE(Fulltime equivalent) |
PC |
FTE |
PC |
FTE |
PC |
FTE |
|
Chief Operations Officer (ASEC) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
PO |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
Legal Advisor (PO) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Solicitor (AP) |
1 |
0.73 |
1 |
0.73 |
1 |
0.6 |
1 |
0.6 |
|
AP |
22 |
21.3 |
19 |
18.4 |
16 |
15.6 |
18 |
17.6 |
|
AO |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
HEO |
14 |
13.5 |
12 |
11.33 |
12 |
11.1 |
13 |
12.1 |
|
HEO(ITM) |
7 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
EO |
18 |
17.06 |
14 |
13.13 |
12 |
11.5 |
15 |
14.8 |
|
Inspectors(EO) |
50 |
50 |
53 |
52.8 |
49 |
49 |
49 |
48.8 |
|
SO |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
CO (including TCO’s) |
61 |
56.4 |
59 |
53.69 |
56 |
50.56 |
58 |
52.06 |
|
Total* |
181 |
174 |
172 |
164.1 |
161 |
153.4 |
167 |
159 |
|
Table 5: Labour Court |
||||||||
|
2018 to Date |
2018 to Date |
End 2017 |
End 2017 |
End 2016 |
End 2016 |
End 2015 |
End 2015 |
|
|
Grade |
PC |
FTE |
PC |
FTE |
PC |
FTE |
PC |
FTE |
|
AP |
2 |
1.5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
HEO |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1.5 |
2 |
1.5 |
|
EO |
9 |
8.1 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
|
CO |
7 |
6.4 |
7 |
6.4 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
Total* |
20 |
18.0 |
18 |
16.4 |
17 |
14.5 |
15 |
12.5 |
* The Chairperson, Deputy Chairpersons & Members of the Labour Court are fixed term appointments and warrant holders. These account for an additional 13 staff of the Labour Court. The Registrar of the Labour Court and the Director General of the WRC are unestablished posts in the Civil Service rather than Civil Servants. The WRC also has a cohort of 32 external adjudicators/rights commissioners who adjudicate on employment rights, equality and industrial relations cases.
Furthermore, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is currently processing a new panel of 16 external adjudicators for the WRC and additional funding has been allocated to the WRC in the Department’s 2019 estimate to provide for the extension of the WRC’s remit to An Garda Síochána and Civil Servants.
Health and Safety Authority
Questions (123)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:123. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of farm safety inspectors employed by the HSA; and the number of new inspectors who have been hired in 2017 and to date in 2018 for farm safety. [46454/18]
View answerWritten answers
There are currently 24 field inspectors who have been involved in farm safety inspections and campaigns throughout 2018.
In 2017 the HSA undertook a recruitment campaign for 11 Inspector posts, 6 of which were for field inspection posts. These 6 Inspectors have been involved in farm inspection campaigns during 2018 thereby helping to ensure that farm inspection targets and farm safety campaign targets are being achieved. These new inspectors were in addition to the existing cohort of 18 inspectors involved in farm inspections and farm safety campaigns.
In 2018, to date, the HSA has recruited 5 new field inspector posts of which 4 have now been filled. It is intended that 3 of these new inspector posts will be assigned to general inspection activities during 2019 which will include farm inspection and farm safety promotion campaigns.
Farm Safety Scheme
Questions (124, 125)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:124. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent by the Health and Safety Authority on farm safety initiatives; the number of inspections in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of fatalities on farms in this period annually; the percentage of farm fatalities out of total workplace fatalities recorded by the HSA as a percentage in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46455/18]
View answerCharlie McConalogue
Question:125. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of funds allocated by the Health and Safety Authority for farm safety initiatives in 2016, 2017 and 2018; the amount expended in each such year; the amount allocated in budget 2019 for farm safety initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46456/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
The amount allocated by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) for farm safety initiatives in the years 2016 to 2018 and the anticipated expenditure for 2018 and the number of farm inspections and investigations 2016 - 2018 are set out in the attached appendix.
While the HSA was originally allocated a budget of €384,000 for farm safety initiatives in 2017, the actual expenditure was higher at €533,995 due to the allocation of additional funding by my Department during 2017.
In 2018 the HSA has allocated approximately €624,000 for farm safety initiatives. The actual figure expended might vary during the year in response to particular issues that arise in this or other sectors. These initiatives will involve the organisation of, participation in, or support of a wide range of agriculture related events as well as media coverage. The Authority will also engage in a number of targeted promotional campaigns through relevant media.
In 2018 the HSA has carried out three focused inspection campaigns each of one-month duration. The first campaign focused on Livestock Handling in March, the second campaign was on Farm Vehicle Safety which took place in May and the third on Working at Height and Maintenance took place in October. In addition to these specific campaigns other national campaigns related to vehicle and construction safety will have relevance to the farming sector.
In addition to specific farm safety campaigns or initiatives, inspection visits to farms by inspectors involve routine unannounced inspections to monitor compliance within a range health and safety regulations and to investigate farm accidents. In any one year there can be between 60-90 investigations of incidents on farms with the remainder being unannounced inspections.
The priority tasks for the HSA in relation to engagement with the farming sector during 2018 include:
- ongoing delivery of the Farm Safety Partnership Action Plan, 2016 to 2018;
- continuing awareness campaigns through the media, events and advertising targeted at the agricultural sector and the roll out of new TV and Radio adverts
- promotion of good health for farmers;
- publication of new information sheets for agriculture and forestry;
- roll out and implementation of the revised Code of Practice on farm safety;
- increase take up of e-learning now available for slurry handling, tractor and machinery safety and for child safety on the farm;
- focusing on child safety on farms through programmes at primary and post-primary school level, letters have again been issued to over 3,000 such schools;
- development of further survivor stories;
- safety stands at major events such as BEEF 2018, Sheep 2018, Tullamore Show, Ploughing Championships;
- running of a National Farm Safety Conference and a separate Forestry Safety Conference;
Appendix I
Table of Expenditure on Farm Safety Initiatives 2016 to 2018
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2016 |
€416,917 |
|
2017 |
€533,995 |
|
2018 (estimated) |
€624,000 |
*Note: Annual figures for expenditure include some cross sectorial initiatives where the expenditure is also relevant to other sectors. As it is not possible to extract this it has been included as the full figure.
Set out below is a table showing the breakdown of the annual farm inspection numbers carried out by the HSA from 2016 to date in 2018*.
Table of Farm inspections and investigations 2016 - 2018
|
2016 |
2,008 |
|
2017 |
1,776 |
|
2018 |
1594(Target 2,000) *(As of 26/Oct/18) |
Set out below is a table showing the breakdown of farm deaths expressed as a percentage of the total deaths across all sectors.
Table of farm Fatalities 2016 - 2018 (As of 26/10/18)
|
YEAR |
Farm Deaths |
All Sector Deaths |
Farm Deaths-Expressed as a % of Total |
|
216 |
22* |
48** |
46% |
|
2017 |
24 |
48 |
50% |
|
2018 |
17 |
38 |
60% |
|
TOTALS |
62 |
122 |
50% |
2016- *Two additional fatalities reclassified as workplace
** One of which occurred in Agriculture
Tobacco Control Measures
Questions (126)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:126. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the funding spent on tobacco control in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46153/18]
View answerWritten answers
As responsibility for the enforcement of tobacco control measures rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE), this PQ is being referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Tobacco Control Measures
Questions (127)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:127. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the funding spent on tobacco cessation measures in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46154/18]
View answerWritten answers
As funding is allocated by the Health Service Executive on tobacco cessation measures this PQ is being referred out to the HSE for direct reply.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Questions (128)
James Lawless
Question:128. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if the provision of a hearing aid requested by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46156/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (129)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:129. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding speech and language therapy at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; if maternity cover has been sanctioned; if not, when it is expected to be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46157/18]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.