Written Answers Nos. 278-294
278. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 18 September 2018, if he will provide a full reply and-or instruct An Garda Síochána to issue a full response in view of the fact that other State bodies can provide parliamentary question replies in ten days or less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46987/18]
View answerIt is regrettable that it has not been possible to provide the information sought in relation to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 as quickly as might be desired.
The Deputy will appreciate that this information is not compiled in my Department which must request the relevant data from An Garda Síochána. However, I hope that the Deputy can appreciate that every effort is made to provide a comprehensive and informative response as quickly as possible.
I have asked that the matter be raised at a senior level with Garda management and will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.
279. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of senior positions held by both men and women, respectively, in his Department. [47004/18]
View answerThe number of senior positions held by men and women in my Department's employment at 5 November 2018 is outlined in the table below:
|
Grade |
Male |
Female |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
|
|
Deputy Secretary* |
1 |
3 |
|
Assistant Secretary* |
14 |
5 |
|
Principal Officer* |
69 |
43 |
|
Assistant Principal* |
142 |
172 |
|
Total |
227 |
223 |
* Technical/professional posts have been included with the general Civil Service grade for which they are analogous.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if early GNIB appointments to obtain an appropriate stamp can be facilitated in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47014/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that passengers at the port of entry, are granted a 90 day permission by the Immigration Officers to facilitate registration at the local immigration office relevant to where the person will be residing. In the case of residents of the greater Dublin area the registration office is located at INIS, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
I am further advised that due to the large volume of registrations processed by the Burgh Quay office all registrations are by appointment only. These appointments are available on the website www.burghquayregistrationoffice.gov.ie. The appointments issue on a rolling 7 week cycle and I would advise that the appointments for early January have not yet been issued. Additional appointments are issued daily Full details of the registration and appointment system can be found on the website www.inis.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.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47015/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is on-going. If the Deputy can supply information related to Ms Muhammed's medical status I will arrange to have it forwarded to Citizenship Division. On completion of the necessary processing the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most straightforward cases are now processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
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.
282. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to set up a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) following the vote in Dáil Éireann on 14 June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47074/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, an investigation was undertaken by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission into certain matters related to the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Shane O'Farrell. The purpose of the investigation was to assess whether the conduct of any Garda member would constitute an offence. GSOC’s investigation found that, while no such conduct occurred which would require criminal sanction, certain aspects were identified as requiring further investigation which may lead to disciplinary proceedings against one or more members. That further investigation by GSOC is on-going and I do not propose to comment on that matter while the investigation is proceeding.
As I have made clear to the House, both in response to the motion calling for an investigation and subsequently in response to various Parliamentary Questions, it is imperative that the independence of the Ombudsman Commission be respected and any further action be deferred until the current investigation is completed. I reiterate the point that the question of what further action might be taken will be fully considered by Government as soon as the disciplinary investigation is completed.
283. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais conas nach raibh an Ghaeilge luaite chor ar bith i dtuarascáil an Choimisiúin ar Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta cé go bhfuil na Gardaí luaite sa Straitéis 20 bliain. [47110/18]
View answerBunaíodh an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn i mBealtaine 2017 chun athbhreithniú cuimsitheach a dhéanamh ar gach gné den phóilíneacht in Éirinn. Ag teacht leis an gcinneadh a rinne an Rialtas in Aibreán 2017 an Coimisiún a bhunú, bhí an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta iomlán neamhspleách ar an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais. Ba faoin gCoimisiún é ábhar na tuarascála foilsithe, agus ní raibh aon ról agamsa, mar Aire, maidir lena hábhar a chinneadh.
Cur chuige iomlánaíoch comhtháite i leith na Gaeilge a chuirtear chun cinn sa Straitéis 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá na gníomhaíochtaí iomchuí faoin Straitéis á gcur i bhfeidhm ag na páirtithe leasmhara éagsúla, lena n-áirítear mo Roinnse. Ceann de chuspóirí na Straitéise ná go ‘Leanfar agus déanfar forbairt ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Gharda Síochána’. Nótáiltear sa Straitéis go bhfuil sé tábhachtach an Ghaeilge a chothabháil agus a fhorbairt sa Gharda Síochána toisc thábhacht shiombalach na heagraíochta inár saol náisiúnta agus toisc na seirbhísí a sholáthraíonn an Garda Síochána don phobal. Is féidir breathnú, ar líne, ar Phlean Forfheidhmithe na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais faoin Straitéis, chomh maith leis an Tuarascáil is déanaí ar Dhul chun Cinn an fhorfheidhmithe, lena n-áirítear nuashonruithe ar dhul chun cinn atá déanta ag an nGarda Síochána, ar líne ag www.justice.ie (faoi ‘Fúinn’, ansin ‘An Ghaeilge’).
284. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais an bhfuil móran Gardaí le Gaeilge á n-earcú nó earcaithe le deanai, an bhfuil painéal ag feidhmú agus conas a ndeantar meastoireacht ar inniúlacht na Gaeilge ag Gardaí. [47111/18]
View answerFaoi mar is eol don Teachta, is ar Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána atá freagracht ó thaobh riarachán agus gnó an Gharda Síochána a bhainistiú agus a rialú i gcoitinne, lena n-áirítear trí shocrú a dhéanamh maidir le comhaltaí agus foireann shibhialtach an Gharda Síochána a earcú, a oiliúint agus a cheapadh, agus níl aon bhaint dhíreach agamsa, mar Aire, leis an ábhar.
Déantar earcaíocht don Gharda Síochána a sheoladh faoin Acht um Bainistíocht na Seirbhíse Poiblí (Earcaíocht agus Ceapacháin), 2004. Déanann an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (PAS ), thar ceann Choimisinéir na nGardaí, na céimeanna earcaíochta tosaigh a bhaineann le roghnú Gardaí faoi oiliúint a bhainistiú. Is é nó í an Coimisinéir a bhainistíonn na céimeanna deiridh den phróiseas earcaíochta, ina ndéantar iarrthóirí a ghrinnfhiosrú, agus ina ndéanann siad tástáil inniúlachta fisiciúla maille le scrúdú liachta.
Is féidir le hiarratasóirí incháilithe ar an nGarda Síochána, ar cainteoirí líofa Gaeilge iad, roghnú go ndéanfaí iad a bhreithniú lena gcur i sain-sruth Gaeilge laistigh den chomórtas foriomlán earcaíochta.
Ceanglaítear ar iarrthóirí sa sruth seo a n-éiríonn leo fad leis na céimeanna deiridh den phróiseas roghnúcháin gnéithe áirithe den phróiseas a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge, m.sh. agallamh atá bunaithe ar inniúlacht, maille le tástáil Gaeilge scríofa.
Bítear ag súil go ndéanfar iarrthóirí a cheaptar ón sruth Gaeilge réimse iomlán seirbhísí i nGaeilge a sholáthar. Sanntar iarrthóirí a n-éiríonn leo do limistéir Ghaeltachta ar feadh tréimhse ama arna cinneadh ag an gCoimisinéir.
Sa tábla seo a leanas taispeántar miondealú ar an líon iarratasóirí ón Sruth Gaeilge ar éirigh leo agus ar cuireadh tús lena n-oiliúint i gColáiste na Gardaí i leith gach bliana ó 2104 i Leith.
|
Bliain |
An líon iarratasóirí ar éirigh leo agus ar cuireadh tús lena n-oiliúint |
|
2014 |
21 |
|
2015 |
9 |
|
2016 |
8 |
|
2017 |
6 |
|
2018 |
5 |
|
Iomlán |
49 |
Níl aon Phainéal bunaithe faoi láthair ós rud é go bhfuil torthaí agallamh a reáchtáladh sa tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí ó chomórtas earcaíochta 2018, ar tháinig deireadh leis i Meitheamh, le heisiúint fós.
285. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 18 September 2018, when the requested data will be supplied regarding the number of prisoners sleeping on floors throughout prisons during the months of April, May, June and July 2018. [47194/18]
View answerI regret the delay in providing the information requested by the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 18 September 2018 (37331/18). The Irish Prison Service has advised that it was due to the requirement for the Governor of each prison to check the records with regard to the relevant institution.
I am advised that the attached table reflects the number of instances of prisoners sleeping on mattresses on cell floors in Cloverhill, Midlands, Castlerea, Cork and Limerick prisons each night during the period in question. I am further advised that in the remaining 7 prisons, no prisoner slept on the floor.
It should be noted that the Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts and does not have the option of refusing to take prisoners into custody. While increases in prisoner population numbers result in challenges within certain committal prisons, the Prison Service takes all possible steps to alleviate the situation through a combination of inter-prison transfers and other contingency measures.
Officials in the Prison Service work closely with Governors of affected prisons to alleviate capacity issues, by identifying prisoners who may be suitable for transfer to other prisons or prisoners who may be suitable for structured early release.
Prison refurbishment, which includes the provision of extra prison spaces, has placed additional pressure on prison capacity during the period in question. Relevant projects included refurbishment at D1 Landing at Cloverhill Prison, two Units at Wheatfield Place of Detention, the construction of the Violence Reduction Unit at Midlands Prison, and renovation and refurbishment works at Castlerea Prison. These projects, while an essential element of modernisation, result in unavoidable temporary bed closures - and consequential reductions in capacity - while the works are undertaken.
I would also like to inform the Deputy that with regard to a similar question asked by her in July 2018 (Dáil Questions 673, 737, 738 and 748) I have been informed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that, due to a methodological error, the figures provided on that occasion were not accurate. A revised methodology has now been implemented to ensure that the correct figures will be provided in future. This is very much regretted and the information provided in the table attached now includes the correct figures.
Cloverhill Remand Prison
|
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
|
|
1st |
0 |
4 |
23 |
1 |
|
2nd |
9 |
2 |
31 |
1 |
|
3rd |
17 |
2 |
30 |
0 |
|
4th |
13 |
1 |
31 |
0 |
|
5th |
6 |
7 |
24 |
0 |
|
6th |
6 |
8 |
19 |
0 |
|
7th |
9 |
13 |
14 |
0 |
|
8th |
7 |
16 |
13 |
1 |
|
9th |
8 |
16 |
15 |
1 |
|
10th |
5 |
10 |
15 |
1 |
|
11th |
2 |
8 |
14 |
1 |
|
12th |
7 |
18 |
13 |
0 |
|
13th |
12 |
20 |
10 |
0 |
|
14th |
15 |
18 |
10 |
0 |
|
15th |
18 |
11 |
7 |
0 |
|
16th |
12 |
12 |
10 |
1 |
|
17th |
15 |
9 |
10 |
1 |
|
18th |
12 |
9 |
6 |
1 |
|
19th |
2 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
|
20th |
1 |
17 |
4 |
2 |
|
21st |
7 |
17 |
2 |
0 |
|
22nd |
12 |
14 |
2 |
0 |
|
23rd |
15 |
16 |
2 |
1 |
|
24th |
13 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
|
25th |
7 |
20 |
3 |
2 |
|
26th |
7 |
24 |
4 |
1 |
|
27th |
5 |
27 |
3 |
0 |
|
28th |
3 |
17 |
1 |
0 |
|
29th |
4 |
24 |
1 |
0 |
|
30th |
2 |
22 |
1 |
4 |
|
31st |
N/A |
20 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Totals |
251 |
429 |
326 |
22 |
Midlands Prison
|
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
|
|
1st |
5 |
5 |
10 |
17 |
|
2nd |
1 |
10 |
10 |
17 |
|
3rd |
7 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
|
4th |
1 |
2 |
10 |
17 |
|
5th |
1 |
7 |
10 |
15 |
|
6th |
1 |
7 |
8 |
22 |
|
7th |
0 |
8 |
10 |
21 |
|
8th |
0 |
8 |
10 |
19 |
|
9th |
1 |
3 |
7 |
13 |
|
10th |
1 |
6 |
10 |
21 |
|
11th |
1 |
6 |
9 |
24 |
|
12th |
1 |
6 |
8 |
27 |
|
13th |
1 |
6 |
8 |
27 |
|
14th |
5 |
3 |
6 |
25 |
|
15th |
5 |
8 |
4 |
28 |
|
16th |
7 |
7 |
6 |
27 |
|
17th |
7 |
8 |
6 |
28 |
|
18th |
6 |
12 |
6 |
18 |
|
19th |
8 |
15 |
12 |
23 |
|
20th |
9 |
13 |
11 |
25 |
|
21st |
6 |
17 |
12 |
19 |
|
22nd |
11 |
15 |
12 |
22 |
|
23rd |
4 |
17 |
15 |
25 |
|
24th |
6 |
15 |
10 |
22 |
|
25th |
8 |
15 |
15 |
26 |
|
26th |
10 |
11 |
5 |
22 |
|
27th |
10 |
14 |
5 |
26 |
|
28th |
4 |
14 |
10 |
21 |
|
29th |
4 |
6 |
14 |
23 |
|
30th |
5 |
11 |
17 |
21 |
|
31st |
N/A |
12 |
N/A |
21 |
|
Totals |
136 |
290 |
286 |
674 |
Castlerea Prison
|
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
|
|
1st |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
|
2nd |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
3rd |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
4th |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
5th |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
6th |
2 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
|
7th |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
|
8th |
3 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
|
9th |
2 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
|
10th |
2 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
|
11th |
0 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
|
12th |
0 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
|
13th |
0 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
|
14th |
0 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
|
15th |
1 |
2 |
7 |
4 |
|
16th |
1 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
|
17th |
1 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
|
18th |
0 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
|
19th |
0 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
|
20th |
0 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
|
21st |
0 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
|
22nd |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
|
23rd |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
24th |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
25th |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
26th |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
|
27th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
28th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
29th |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
30th |
0 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
|
31st |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
7 |
|
Totals |
18 |
52 |
116 |
115 |
Cork Prison
|
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
|
|
1st |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
2nd |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
3rd |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
|
4th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
|
5th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
6th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
7th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
8th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
10th |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
11th |
0 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
|
12th |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
13th |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
14th |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
15th |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
16th |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
17th |
0 |
5 |
1 |
10 |
|
18th |
0 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
|
19th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
20th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
21st |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
22nd |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
23rd |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
24th |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
25th |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
26th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
27th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
28th |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
|
29th |
0 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
|
30th |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
|
31st |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Totals |
0 |
20 |
61 |
119 |
Limerick Prison
|
MALE PRISONERS |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
|
1st |
10 |
10 |
9 |
13 |
|
2nd |
14 |
10 |
8 |
13 |
|
3rd |
12 |
10 |
8 |
13 |
|
4th |
12 |
10 |
9 |
14 |
|
5th |
14 |
12 |
10 |
12 |
|
6th |
14 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
|
7th |
14 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
|
8th |
13 |
10 |
10 |
14 |
|
9th |
15 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
|
10th |
23 |
11 |
13 |
9 |
|
11th |
21 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
|
12th |
21 |
9 |
11 |
8 |
|
13th |
14 |
13 |
12 |
7 |
|
14th |
14 |
14 |
9 |
9 |
|
15th |
11 |
11 |
9 |
5 |
|
16th |
8 |
10 |
9 |
11 |
|
17th |
11 |
11 |
8 |
13 |
|
18th |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
19th |
6 |
6 |
9 |
11 |
|
20th |
10 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
|
21st |
6 |
8 |
9 |
13 |
|
22nd |
8 |
8 |
7 |
14 |
|
23rd |
15 |
10 |
7 |
11 |
|
24th |
15 |
14 |
9 |
19 |
|
25th |
13 |
10 |
9 |
21 |
|
26th |
14 |
11 |
10 |
20 |
|
27th |
11 |
11 |
10 |
22 |
|
28th |
10 |
6 |
11 |
14 |
|
29th |
10 |
6 |
15 |
17 |
|
30th |
10 |
6 |
10 |
17 |
|
31st |
N/A |
6 |
N/A |
19 |
|
Totals |
375 |
297 |
289 |
404 |
Limerick Prison
|
FEMALE PRISONERS |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
|
1st |
4 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
|
2nd |
3 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
|
3rd |
2 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
|
4th |
2 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
|
5th |
4 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
|
6th |
3 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
|
7th |
6 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
|
8th |
4 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
|
9th |
5 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
|
10th |
6 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
|
11th |
6 |
5 |
8 |
0 |
|
12th |
5 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
13th |
6 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
14th |
4 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
15th |
6 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
16th |
4 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
|
17th |
2 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
|
18th |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
|
19th |
0 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
|
20th |
0 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
21st |
0 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
22nd |
0 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
|
23rd |
1 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
|
24th |
1 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
|
25th |
0 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
|
26th |
1 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
27th |
1 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
28th |
3 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
29th |
4 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
|
30th |
2 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
|
31st |
N/A |
7 |
N/A |
0 |
|
Totals |
87 |
168 |
156 |
28 |
286. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the annual funding that each LEO has received per year in the past five years, in tabular form. [46752/18]
View answerThe LEOs are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports if you intend to start or grow your own business.
The LEOs will continue to support and promote micro-enterprises throughout the country. The table below details of the annual funding that each LEO has received per year in the past five years in tabular form.
Local Enterprise Office Funding received 2014 -9th November 2018
|
LEO |
2014 € |
2015 € |
2016 € |
2017 € |
1st Jan. -9th Nov.2018 € |
|
Carlow |
495,473 |
717,092 |
666,475 |
861,427 |
491,808 |
|
Cavan |
420,158 |
616,135 |
549,102 |
730,514 |
563,586 |
|
Clare |
651,550 |
639,191 |
747,588 |
893,088 |
975,313 |
|
Cork City |
582,557 |
680,719 |
725,875 |
973,218 |
742,357 |
|
Cork North/West |
949,942 |
1,185,717 |
1,217,417 |
1,325,749 |
1,165,927 |
|
Cork South |
778,459 |
1,158,914 |
1,175,469 |
1,172,997 |
862,106 |
|
Donegal |
687,976 |
710,835 |
765,603 |
1,115,856 |
822,750 |
|
Dublin City |
1,010,194 |
1,143,267 |
1,363,523 |
1,540,035 |
1,172,934 |
|
Dublin South |
593,411 |
814,131 |
925,626 |
1,108,350 |
921,118 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown |
825,551 |
813,914 |
876,944 |
1,142,494 |
490,000 |
|
Fingal |
676,824 |
980,820 |
1,025,685 |
1,126,022 |
1,223,861 |
|
Galway |
671,993 |
823,759 |
765,615 |
1,106,768 |
1,170,422 |
|
Kerry |
714,963 |
926,618 |
789,160 |
875,971 |
867,891 |
|
Kildare |
574,392 |
683,709 |
805,095 |
1,024,136 |
915,115 |
|
Kilkenny |
624,372 |
777,715 |
760,681 |
942,151 |
787,972 |
|
Laois |
549,290 |
649,010 |
583,423 |
730,242 |
537,488 |
|
Leitrim |
524,972 |
696,595 |
672,792 |
723,228 |
720,242 |
|
Limerick |
1,142,519 |
1,329,407 |
1,163,392 |
1,382,699 |
1,265,063 |
|
Longford |
540,383 |
651,914 |
541,507 |
668,046 |
730,034 |
|
Louth |
522,921 |
668,247 |
656,200 |
717,899 |
576,916 |
|
Mayo |
689,383 |
775,072 |
864,405 |
913,068 |
389,229 |
|
Meath |
527,292 |
456,292 |
743,898 |
933,897 |
979,120 |
|
Monaghan |
553,177 |
711,201 |
667,022 |
800,801 |
617,872 |
|
Offaly |
559,612 |
630,408 |
671,587 |
764,993 |
801,285 |
|
Roscommon |
520,858 |
623,381 |
587,251 |
720,005 |
730,385 |
|
Sligo |
602,287 |
744,976 |
814,352 |
841,987 |
656,391 |
|
Tipperary |
1,010,981 |
1,113,205 |
1,198,741 |
1,199,797 |
1,079,870 |
|
Waterford |
909,273 |
1,000,666 |
1,037,795 |
1,170,033 |
1,076,570 |
|
Westmeath |
791,494 |
806,009 |
951,990 |
1,088,840 |
748,004 |
|
Wexford |
670,664 |
729,246 |
769,403 |
661,802 |
498,090 |
|
Wicklow |
745,229 |
835,882 |
687,457 |
788,620 |
684,966 |
Notes
1. The Local Enterprise Office funding received 2014-2018 includes Administration (pay and non-pay) and Capital monies funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
2. It does not include funding received by LEOs for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, European Globalisation Fund, and LEO Competitive Fund which are respectively funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Department of Education and Skills and Enterprise Ireland
This table does not include funding received by LEOs to procure services or run programmes on behalf of the network of LEOs.
287. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff in her Department that are involved in co-ordinating and ensuring that businesses are prepared for Brexit. [46802/18]
View answerMy Department is committed to supporting Brexit impacted businesses, and works with our enterprise agencies and regulatory bodies to provide a range of advisory and financial supports, and tool-kits to help businesses in Ireland prepare for Brexit.
In 2016, my Department established a dedicated Brexit Unit. This Unit is led at Assistant Secretary level within the EU Affairs and Trade Policy Division, and its key function is 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 designated official, at Assistant Secretary level, is supported by a staff complement of seven (one Principal Officer, three Assistant Principal Officers, two Higher Executive Officers and one Clerical Officer). The Unit also leads on engagement with a broad range of stakeholders to inform and validate our response to Brexit.
Also within this Division, two officials (Assistant Principal Officer and Administrative Officer) working in the Trade Policy Unit are assigned to Brexit related trade matters as part of their portfolios.
In the Division with responsibility for Indigenous Enterprise, there are two officials (Assistant Principal Officer and Administrative Officer) working solely on Brexit mitigation measures to support business impacted by Brexit. This team also has a strong relationship with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and earlier this year launched a new Brexit Loan Scheme for businesses in response to Brexit. Other officials across this Division have Brexit related responsibility attached to their roles, and work closely with the Department’s enterprise agencies to prepare businesses in Ireland for Brexit.
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union continues to impact significantly on all policy fields across my Department as well as our family of agencies. In this regard, staff in the Agency Liaison Units of the Department, work closely with the agencies under its remit to support those agencies in providing specific advice and guidance to businesses in Ireland.
Such supports include the SME Scorecard online tool, which was developed by Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with the staff in the Enterprise Liaison Unit. This scorecard stimulates thinking about the key areas that may be impacted by Brexit and provides a self-assessment tool to ascertain a business level of preparedness. Officials in the Inward Investment area of my Department work directly with IDA Ireland to provide practical assistance and advice on Brexit risks and opportunities, including financial assistance across R&D, training, employment and capital investment. InterTrade Ireland, which provides a Brexit Advisory Service to help businesses with practical advice and support likely tariffs, currency management, regulatory customs issues and movement of labour, goods and services, is also supported by officials in my Department. Staff in the LEO Liaison Unit in my Department work closely with the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The LEOs have a presence in every county and provide vital Brexit supports to micro businesses in Ireland and assist in identifying key Brexit exposures and develop robust strategies to address issues and maximise potential.
Given the wide mission of my Department, staff across a number of other Divisions and business units, are involved in a range of business preparedness supports and Brexit related matters, as it relates to their policy area. The staff in the Health and Safety Liaison Unit, work with the Health and Safety Authority to support Irish chemical companies. Support is also provided to the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) by officials in my Department to ensure businesses are certified to appropriate standards to access markets.
My Department is continually prioritising the Brexit challenges and actively keeping the staffing requirements under review.
288. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons or businesses that availed of the mentor programme run by each local enterprise office in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46467/18]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and soft supports such as training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.
The number of persons or businesses that availed of the mentor programme run by each Local Enterprise Office in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 are shown in the table below:
Local Enterprise Office Mentoring Participants 2016, 2017 and Q1-Q3 2018
|
Local Enterprise Office |
2016 |
2017 |
1st Jan - 30th Sept 2018 |
|
Carlow |
147 |
218 |
171 |
|
Cavan |
98 |
91 |
109 |
|
Clare |
43 |
73 |
76 |
|
Cork City |
203 |
241 |
157 |
|
Cork North & West |
543 |
576 |
530 |
|
Cork South |
66 |
168 |
83 |
|
Donegal |
26 |
38 |
45 |
|
Dublin City |
1,154 |
994 |
766 |
|
Dublin South |
420 |
322 |
325 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown |
389 |
456 |
280 |
|
Fingal |
748 |
697 |
531 |
|
Galway |
69 |
82 |
268 |
|
Kerry |
138 |
153 |
103 |
|
Kildare |
344 |
432 |
319 |
|
Kilkenny |
303 |
384 |
344 |
|
Laois |
218 |
186 |
123 |
|
Leitrim |
107 |
101 |
60 |
|
Limerick |
232 |
138 |
111 |
|
Longford |
67 |
77 |
27 |
|
Louth |
124 |
261 |
218 |
|
Mayo |
191 |
258 |
166 |
|
Meath |
229 |
160 |
147 |
|
Monaghan |
71 |
31 |
50 |
|
Offaly |
140 |
124 |
101 |
|
Roscommon |
265 |
306 |
220 |
|
Sligo |
163 |
195 |
232 |
|
Tipperary |
143 |
319 |
267 |
|
Waterford |
180 |
230 |
194 |
|
Westmeath |
105 |
378 |
196 |
|
Wexford |
132 |
216 |
97 |
|
Wicklow |
436 |
488 |
267 |
|
Total |
7,494 |
8,393 |
6,583 |
289. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of the mentor programme run by each local enterprise office in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [46468/18]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and soft supports such as training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.
The cost of the mentor programme run by each Local Enterprise Office in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 are shown in the table below:
Local Enterprise Office Mentor Expenditure 2016, 2017 and Q1-Q3 2018
|
Local Enterprise Office |
2016 |
2017 |
1st Jan - 30th Sept 2018 |
|
Carlow |
€41,869 |
€42,425 |
€26,433 |
|
Cavan |
€45,917 |
€34,500 |
€25,063 |
|
Clare |
€24,590 |
€21,742 |
€24,191 |
|
Cork City |
€47,507 |
€42,166 |
€27,976 |
|
Cork North & West |
€91,200 |
€88,394 |
€80,074 |
|
Cork South |
€45,487 |
€53,748 |
€34,001 |
|
Donegal |
€17,208 |
€22,930 |
€11,180 |
|
Dublin City |
€178,109 |
€183,405 |
€116,473 |
|
Dublin South |
€65,265 |
€57,876 |
€46,475 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€60,701 |
€51,976 |
€32,794 |
|
Fingal |
€80,339 |
€74,713 |
€55,251 |
|
Galway |
€58,249 |
€76,412 |
€45,418 |
|
Kerry |
€37,728 |
€45,005 |
€35,263 |
|
Kildare |
€49,669 |
€61,827 |
€27,074 |
|
Kilkenny |
€59,924 |
€79,094 |
€50,316 |
|
Laois |
€29,676 |
€29,743 |
€22,979 |
|
Leitrim |
€34,198 |
€33,309 |
€17,367 |
|
Limerick |
€71,987 |
€52,895 |
€25,032 |
|
Longford |
€19,377 |
€24,731 |
€13,514 |
|
Louth |
€42,177 |
€61,104 |
€28,349 |
|
Mayo |
€34,326 |
€55,221 |
€28,303 |
|
Meath |
€46,687 |
€59,454 |
€40,771 |
|
Monaghan |
€26,883 |
€22,761 |
€11,442 |
|
Offaly |
€32,187 |
€41,612 |
€28,433 |
|
Roscommon |
€30,707 |
€43,337 |
€32,599 |
|
Sligo |
€85,212 |
€112,280 |
€45,087 |
|
Tipperary |
€63,426 |
€66,814 |
€46,418 |
|
Waterford |
€62,570 |
€77,270 |
€51,099 |
|
Westmeath |
€24,278 |
€60,436 |
€26,285 |
|
Wexford |
€69,366 |
€66,059 |
€32,682 |
|
Wicklow |
€70,201 |
€58,301 |
€40,986 |
|
TOTAL |
€1,647,019 |
€1,801,539 |
€1,129,326 |
290. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the policy relating to the need for note taking when Ministers and-or Ministers of State meet business and other leaders; the way in which this policy is outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46484/18]
View answerThe policy in my Department is that notes are taken at meetings which have formal agendas, and which are attended by Departmental officials.
On occasions when meetings are of a short 'meet-and-greet' nature without formal agendas, notes are not always taken.
While this policy is not formally written down, it is understood and applied in the Department.
291. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she has taken to protect jobs at Bord na Móna and put supports in place for employees that will be made redundant on a voluntary basis; if she has spoken with the management of the company regarding these job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46517/18]
View answerI appreciate how difficult the recent announcement by Bord na Móna is for the workers affected, their families and their communities.
As the Deputy is aware, Bord na Móna is a commercial State company with a mandate to develop the midlands region. The company are taking these steps now to set out a strategy that takes into account its obligation to operate in a decarbonised economy.
I welcome that the redundancies are being sought on a voluntary basis and that extensive consultation will take place with the workers in the coming weeks. I also welcome that the Board and Management of Bord na Móna in outlining their plans are committed to ensuring that the company will be able to provide long-term, sustainable employment for the Midlands, including up to 500 new jobs in new areas of the business.
I want to assure the Deputy that all relevant State supports are being made available to the workers impacted by the announcement. Bord na Móna will provide additional supports to workers who opt for redundancy, including reskilling opportunities.
My Department together with its agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, will also step up their own work in seeking to support entrepreneurship and new investment in the Midlands. Specifically, they are engaging with the Bord na Móna Transition Team set up by Offaly County Council. All agencies are involved in this initiative.
The Midlands has had strong employment growth in recent years, with 15,300 extra people at work since 2015. Specifically, in 2017, 819 client companies of the Local Enterprise Offices added 387 new employees, making a total of 4,214 employees. There have been a series of very positive job creation announcements in the Midlands in recent years and we expect these trends to continue.
Recent announcements include: Leetha Industries (100 jobs), Center Parcs (1,000 jobs plus 750 jobs during construction), Neudea Technologies (200 jobs) and Glanbia with its US partner Leprino (78 jobs plus 250 jobs during construction). I was also pleased to launch a new Irish Manufacturing Research CLG project located in Mullingar in December last year as one of the significant funding recipients under the first call of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, which will be an important support to manufacturing activity in the Midlands region.
My Department is also actively collaborating with the Midlands Regional Action Plan for Jobs Committee in refreshing its Action Plan. I understand the Committee is actively considering the impact of the recent announcement and the potential opportunities in the green economy that could be included in the work of the Committee as part of its forthcoming Action Plan.
292. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the progress to date for each of the 71 action points made in the cost of insurance working group report on motor insurance published in January 2017, in which her Department or the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, had lead responsibility for implementation, in tabular form; if each such action point has been completed, not completed or is ongoing; and the revised deadlines for action points not delivered by original timelines committed. [46553/18]
View answerThe Cost of Insurance Working Group Report (CIWG) on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017 following approval by Government.
This CIWG Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance makes 33 recommendations with 71 associated actions to be carried out. The recommendations and actions are detailed in an action plan contained in the Report with agreed timelines for implementation.
Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services and Insurance, Michael D’Arcy T.D., currently chairs the Working Group on the Cost of Insurance and officials from my Department along with other Departments and Agencies are members of the Group.
The Sixth Progress Update published by Minister D’Arcy in August 2018 sets out detailed progress on each recommendation. I understand that the Seventh Progress Report will be published shortly.
The Table below sets out the progress on implementation of recommendations relevant to my Department and PIAB.
|
Recommendations |
Lead responsibility |
Deadline |
Update |
|
Rec 14 – Establish the Personal Injuries Commission (PIC) Action Point 30 Establish a PIC Action Point 31 PIC to investigate and make recommendations on processes in other jurisdictions which could enhance the claims process in Ireland Action point 32 PIC to benchmark international PI awards with those in Ireland and to report on alternative compensation and resolution models. Action Point 33 PIC to deliver their third report. |
DBEI |
Q 2 2018 |
Personal Injuries Commission (PIC) established in January 2017. First Report of the PIC published December 2017. The PIC’s second and third reports were produced as a combined document and submitted to Ministers Humphreys, Donohoe and D’Arcy in July 2018. This Second and Final Report was published following consideration by Government in September 2018. This Report deals predominately with the benchmarking of Irish awards against international awards. Q3 |
|
Rec 15. - Assess, within the current review of the PIAB legislation, cases of non- cooperation such as non-attendance at medicals and refusal to provide details of special damages. Action Point 34 Review cases of non-attendance at medicals and refusal to provide details of special damages. Action Point 35 Publish Heads of Bill to enhance powers of PIAB |
DBEI |
Q 2 2017 |
The General Scheme of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2017 was approved by Government on 27 June 2017 and subsequently published. The General Scheme of the Bill included measures on non-cooperation with the PIAB process. |
|
Rec. 16 - Ascertain and set out the measures necessary to implement Pre- Action Protocols (PAPs) for Personal Injury Cases. Action Point 36 Ascertain and set out the necessary measures to implement pre-action protocols in personal injury cases. Action Point 37 Publish Heads of Bill to extend pre-action protocols to personal injury cases. |
DBEI/DJE |
Q4 2017 |
Following further legal advice, DJE are finalising the draft regulations on PAPs for medical negligence actions and are expected to be ready for the Minister for JE in Q4 2018. PAPs in relation to Personal Injury claims are the subject of further discussions with DJE and the Department of Finance including the possibility of a separate legislative treatment for claims that have been assessed by PIAB and those that have not. |
|
Rec. 17 - Fully assess viable options for referring rejected PIAB assessments into a judicial process on an appeal basis so that the facts established relating to a personal injury in the PIAB process do not require to be re-established. Action Point 38 Review potential legal and constitutional constraints to the appeal style system |
DBEI/DJE |
Q4 2017 |
Officials of DBEI and DJE examined the issue during the considerations for the CIWG Report and expressed concern that it could introduce an additional legal layer with associated costs and would not prevent a person from taking a de novo case if they wished. The implementation of Rec 15 to address cases of non-cooperation with PIAB through legislation is intended to strengthen the role of PIAB in the assessment of damages. |
|
Rec. 18 - Explore with the judiciary how future reviews of the Book of Quantum/Guidelines might involve appropriate judicial involvement in its compilation or adoption Action Point 39 Consultation with the Judiciary |
PIAB/DBEI/DJE |
Ongoing |
This recommendation has effectively been superseded by the recommendations in the Second and Final Report of the PIC (Sept 2018). The PIC recommends that the Judicial Council (JC), when established, should be requested by the Minster for Justice and Equality to compile guidelines for general damages for various types of personal injury (with potential assistance from PIAB). Such guidelines would be along the lines of the Judicial Studies Board guidelines published in England & Wales and would replace the current Book of Quantum which PIAB currently has a legislative function to produce. The PIC report anticipated enactment at year end for the legislation to establish the JC and that in the event of a delay to the establishment of the JC that, as a contingency arrangement, the Executive should establish a formal framework, inclusive of PIAB, to enable the judiciary to complete guidelines in advance of the renewal deadlines for the next Book of Quantum. PIAB has written to Mr Charlie Flanagan T.D. Minister for Justice and Equality offering its assistance either in the compilation of any guidelines or in the event of a requirement to produce such “interim” guidelines. |
|
Rec. 19 - Examine the frequency of future Book of Quantum updates in terms of any future changes to its production. Action Point 40 Implement the outcome of the PIAB legislative review. |
PIAB |
Q2 2017 |
As per Recommendation 18 this recommendation has effectively been superseded by the recommendations contained in the Second and Final Report of the PIC. (related to Rec 20) |
|
Rec. 20 Introduce more granularity into the Book of Quantum Action point 41 Consult with the PIC and implement any recommendations arising from their report. Action point 42 Enhance the BOQ upon each publication. |
PIAB |
Ongoing |
As per Recommendation 18 this recommendation has effectively been superseded by the recommendations contained in the Second and Final Report of the PIC. It is anticipated that any new judicial guidelines will also have regard to the First Report of the PIC, published in December 2017, which contains a specific recommendation relating to the potential inclusion of new reporting categories/scales of soft-tissue (whiplash) based on the Quebec Task Force’s WAD scale. PIAB data relating to personal injury claims that they have assessed may be useful in this context. |
293. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the progress to date for each of the 29 action points made in the cost of insurance working group report on the cost of employer and public liability insurance published in January 2018, in which her Department or the PIAB has lead responsibility for implementation, in tabular form; if each such action point has been completed, not completed or is ongoing; and the revised deadlines for action points not delivered by original timelines committed. [46554/18]
View answerThe Minister of State for Financial Services and Insurance at the Department of Finance, Mr Michael D’Arcy T.D., published the Cost of Insurance Working Group Report (CIWG) on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance on the 23rd January 2018 following approval by Government. Minister D’Arcy chairs the Working Group on the Cost of Insurance and officials from my Department along with other Departments and Agencies are members of the Group.
This Report makes 15 recommendations with 29 associated actions to be carried out. The recommendations and actions are detailed in an action plan contained in the Report with agreed timelines for implementation.
My Department in conjunction with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board has lead responsibility for Recommendation 9 in the Report, which relates to a review of the operation of the six-month standstill period provided for under Section 50 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003, with a timeline of completion by Quarter 2 of 2019.
The Table below sets out the progress on the implementation of this recommendation.
Progress on implementation of Recommendation 9 from the CIWG Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance
|
Recommendation 9: Review of the operation of the six-month standstill period provided for under Section 50 of the PIAB Act 2003 |
Lead Responsibility |
Deadline |
Update |
|
Action Points |
|||
|
Action Point 16: PIAB to report to DBEI on its findings on the basis of data received from relevant stakeholders in relation to the time period from the issuing of PIAB authorisations (section 32 rejected cases) to the initiation of proceedings, to the settling of the case. |
PIAB |
Q4 2018 |
PIAB wrote to the main insurance companies seeking relevant information in relation to rejected PIAB cases. The data received is currently being analysed by PIAB who will report to the Department once the analysis is complete. |
|
Action Point 17: On receipt of the report from PIAB, DBEI to review the operation of the six-month standstill period under section 50 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 |
DBEI |
Q2 2019 |
294. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs lost or created in County Kildare on an annual basis in the past six years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46644/18]
View answerThe CSO does not report on jobs gains or losses per county, rather it reports on the change in the standing stock of employees. The latest available results of the CSO Business Demography Survey, provided in table 1 below, show the number of employees working in enterprises in Kildare since 2012.
Table 1. Number of Employees Working in Enterprises in Kildare as Reported by the Business Demography Survey.
|
County |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Kildare |
38,359 |
39,722 |
41,338 |
45,360 |
46,516 |
The Business Demography is based purely on administrative data received by the CSO from Revenue on an annual basis. The geographical breakdown for enterprises in this survey is an approximation. The county breakdown is based on the address at which an enterprise is registered for revenue purposes, rather than where the business actually operates from, because no comprehensive administrative source is currently available for business locations.
However, my Department conducts an Employment Survey each year which records the employment in Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta assisted companies. The table below shows the gains and losses in total jobs in agency assisted companies in Kildare over the last 6 years as measured by the Annual Employment Survey (AES) 2017. The AES is based on the actual location of the jobs and includes permanent, temporary, full-time and part-time jobs. 2017 is the latest year available; the 2018 survey is currently in the field.
Table 2. Gains and Losses in Total Jobs (Permanent, Full Time + Temporary, Part-time and Other) in Agency Assisted Companies in Kildare as measured by the Annual Employment Survey (AES 2017)
|
Year |
Gains in Total Jobs |
Losses in Total Jobs |
Total Jobs |
|
2012 |
1,130 |
-850 |
16,602 |
|
2013 |
1,220 |
-754 |
17,068 |
|
2014 |
1,605 |
-713 |
17,960 |
|
2015 |
1,738 |
-812 |
18,886 |
|
2016 |
1,124 |
-1,068 |
18,942 |
|
2017 |
888 |
-1,414 |
18,416 |
