Tuesday, 11 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 73-91

National Minimum Wage

Questions (73)

Peter Burke

Question:

73. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Taoiseach the estimated number of persons that will benefit from the increase in the national minimum wage from 2019, by county in tabular form. [51815/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The CSO is not in a position to comment on how many people will benefit from the increase in the National Minimum Wage in 2019. However, data is available from the Labour Force Survey on the number of employees aged 15 years and over earning the National Minimum Wage or less.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment (ILO) in the State. This survey replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) from Q3 2017.

As the LFS is a sample survey and due to sample size limitations, it is not possible to produce reliable estimates of the number of employees aged 15 years and over earning the National Minimum Wage or less at county level. They are, however, available for the 8 regional authorities or NUTS 3 regions.

The table below shows for the first three quarters of 2018, the average number of employees aged 15 years and over earning the National Minimum Wage or less by NUTS 3 Regions.

Average (Q1 2018 - Q3 2018) number of employees earning at or below the National Minimum Wage by NUTS 3 Regions

Detailed National Minimum Wage earnings status	NUTS3 regions	2018 (average)
		'000
Employees reporting earning less than National Minimum Wage	Border	3.2
	Dublin	5.3
	Mid-East	4.0
	Mid-West	2.8
	Midlands	*
	South West	5.2
	South-East	3.3
	West	[1.9]
	Total	27.0
Employees reporting earning National Minimum Wage	Border	13.0
	Dublin	29.9
	Mid-East	17.1
	Mid-West	13.2
	Midlands	8.8
	South West	19.6
	South-East	12.9
	West	14.1
	Total	128.5
Total employees reporting earning National Minimum Wage or less	Border	16.2
	Dublin	35.1
	Mid-East	21.2
	Mid-West	16.0
	Midlands	10.0
	South West	24.8
	South-East	16.2
	West	16.0
	Total	155.5

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

* Estimates for numbers of persons or averages where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are not produced as estimates are too small to be considered reliable.

Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q1 January-March, Q2 April-June, Q3 July-September

Ministerial Travel

Questions (74)

Niall Collins

Question:

74. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the details of visits abroad he has made since his appointment in 2017; the reason for each visit; the persons who travelled with him; and the cost of each trip. [51497/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

As Taoiseach, I place high importance on engaging actively with fellow Heads of State and Government, both within the EU and more widely, to ensure that Ireland’s interests and concerns are fully appreciated and understood, including in the context of Brexit.

Due to the volume of information required, it will not be possible to provide the Deputy with all the information at this time. I will provide the additional information within 10 working days as per Standing Orders. If you do not receive the information within 10 working days, please contact my office directly.

Legislative Programme

Questions (75, 76)

Shane Cassells

Question:

75. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Taoiseach the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by his Department since March 2011, in tabular form. [51498/18]

Shane Cassells

Question:

76. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Taoiseach the number of acts passed since March 2011 that his Department is responsible for; and the date each Act was signed into law in tabular form. [51499/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together.

No legislation has been passed by my Department since March 2011.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (77)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

77. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach the grant and funding schemes operated by his Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme. [51500/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

There are no grant or funding schemes currently being operated by my Department. The last grant scheme which was operated by my Department was funding for local diaspora initiatives and projects in 2016. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade took over responsibility for local diaspora initiatives from 2017.

Sports Facilities Provision

Questions (78)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

78. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the status of the acquisition and refurbishment of premises in Ballybough, Dublin 3, for boxing; and when he expects this project to be completed as pledged through the ministerial task force on the north-east inner city. [51755/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The facility at Ballybough was secured by Dublin City Council following the surrender of a lease assigned to a local pigeon club.

Finance to refurbish the facility was provided directly from Dublin City Council’s own resources, and through the North East Inner City Initiative as part of a series of short term actions.

Following the completion of works in Quarter 3 2018, it was expected that the facility would operate primarily as a local boxing club with additional provision for under 10’s services, including after school and recreation activities.

I understand that the building has not come into operation as yet as consensus could not be reached between the local entities involved on a mixed tenure arrangement.

To ensure both community initiatives are met, Dublin City Council is endeavouring to provide each entity with a suitable facility.

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (79)

Lisa Chambers

Question:

79. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach if he has formally met with his UK counterpart to discuss Brexit and its impact on east-west trade, reciprocal arrangements and all other Brexit-related matters that fall within the remit of his Department; and the number of times they have formally met to discuss Brexit. [51894/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, both of which were endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce, on the basis of guidance from the European Council.

Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and my cabinet colleagues and I have taken every opportunity to engage with EU partners and the UK to advance Ireland’s priorities. I discussed Brexit with Prime Minister May on each of the seven occasions that I met with her in 2018. These meetings took place at the time of regular European Council meetings in March, June and October and at the November special European Council meeting as well as in the margins of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia in May and at the Informal European Council in Salzburg in September. In addition I met the Prime Minister in Belfast in February where we discussed Brexit and the political situation in Northern Ireland. I have also spoken with the Prime Minister, Teresa May, by phone many times, most recently on Sunday, 9 December.

Jobs Data

Questions (80)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

80. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal, from the latest labour force survey. [50488/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 Border region includes counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo.

The NUTS 3 West region includes counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

Table 1 below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Border region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

Table 2 below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 West region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As tables 1 and 2 show the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Table 1 Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 Border region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	180.4	178.3	-2.2

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September

Table 2 Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 West region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	203.6	208.7	5.1

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September

Jobs Data

Questions (81)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

81. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in County Sligo from the latest labour force survey. [50503/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Sligo County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 Border region includes counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Border region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 Border region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000s

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	180.4	178.3	-2.2

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September

Jobs Data

Questions (82)

Mary Butler

Question:

82. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in County Waterford from the latest labour force survey. [50505/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Waterford County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 South-East region includes counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 South-East region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 South-East region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	185.9	186.5	0.6

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September.

Jobs Data

Questions (83)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

83. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in County Kilkenny from the latest labour force survey. [50507/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Kilkenny County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 South-East region includes counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 South-East region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 South-East region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	185.9	186.5	0.6

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September

Jobs Data

Questions (84)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

84. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in County Tipperary from the latest labour force survey. [50509/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Tipperary County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Mid-West region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 Mid-West region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change '000

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	215.3	215.3	0.0

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September.

Jobs Data

Questions (85)

Niall Collins

Question:

85. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in County Limerick from the latest labour force survey. [50513/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Limerick County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Mid-West region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 Mid-West region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000s

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	215.3	215.3	0.0

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September.

Jobs Data

Questions (86)

Lisa Chambers

Question:

86. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to Q3 2018 in County Mayo from the latest labour force survey. [50514/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Mayo County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 West region includes counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 West region in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures measures the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs year-on-year. The number of new jobs created will, in general, be larger than this but they are offset in part by the number of jobs lost year-on-year. The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS3 West region, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change in '000s

	Q3 17	Q3 18	Annual Change
In employment	203.6	208.7	5.1

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 July-September.

Gender Balance

Questions (87, 88, 89)

John Lahart

Question:

87. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach the number of women and men, respectively, employed in his Department and the agencies under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [52062/18]

John Lahart

Question:

88. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach the various grades in which males and females are employed in his Department and the agencies under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [52079/18]

John Lahart

Question:

89. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach the ratio of males to females employed in his Department and the agencies under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [52096/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 89, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department and NESDO, the only agency under the aegis of my Department, is set out in the following tables.

Department of the Taoiseach*

Grade	Male	Female	Total No.	Male	Female
Secretary General	1	0	1	100%	-
Second Secretary General	1	0	1	100%	-
Assistant Secretary	3	2	5	60%	40%
Principal Officer	7	8	15	47%	53%
Assistant Principal Officer	13	26	39	33%	67%
Higher Executive Officer	9	25	34	26%	74%
Administrative Officer	5	11	16	31%	69%
Executive Officer	7	30	37	19%	81%
Clerical Officer	16	21	37	43%	57%
Service Staff	12	6	18	67%	33%
Total	74	129	203	36%	64%

*Excludes politically appointed staff

NESDO

Grade	Male	Female	Total No.	Male	Female
Assistant Secretary	1	0	1	100%	-
Principal Officer	3	1	4	75%	25%
Assistant Principal Officer	2	4	6	33%	67%
Higher Executive Officer	0	1	1	-	100%
Executive Officer	0	4	4	-	100%
Clerical Officer	0	1	1	-	100%
Total	6	11	17	35%	65%

Youth Unemployment Data

Questions (90, 91)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

90. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach the number of young persons between 15 to 29 years of age in each year in who are classified as not in education, employment and training in tabular form. [52155/18]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

91. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach the percentage of young persons between 15 to 29 years of age who are classified as not in education, employment and training in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [52156/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of labour force (International Labour Organisation - ILO) in the State. The latest annual (average) data for Ireland on persons who are not in education, employment and training (NEET) is for 2017. The most recent quarterly data on NEET is for Q3 2018.

Table 1 below shows, for Ireland, the number of persons between 15-29 years of age classified as NEET and the total number persons in the same age group for the years 2013 to 2017 (annual average). The table also includes the percentage share of all persons aged between 15 and 29 years represented by those classified as NEET above.

Table 2 below shows, for Ireland, the number of persons between 15-29 years of age classified as NEET and the total number persons in the same age group for Quarter 1 to Q3 2018. The table also includes the percentage share of all persons aged between 15 and 29 years represented by those classified as NEET above.

Table 1 All persons aged 15 - 29 years classified NEET and as a percentage of total persons in the same age group, 2013 - 2017 (annual average)

All persons aged 15 - 29 years	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
	'000	'000	'000	'000	'000
Total number of persons aged 15-29 years classified as NEET	165.8	155.1	143.3	126.4	112.8
Total persons aged 15-29 years	883.1	872.2	868.8	870.1	878.6
	%	%	%	%	%
Percentage share of persons aged 15-29 years represented by those classified as NEET	18.8	17.8	16.5	14.5	12.8

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Table 2 All persons aged 15 - 29 years classified NEET and as a percentage of total persons in the same age group, Quarter 1 - Quarter 3 2018

All persons aged 15 - 29 years	2018	2018	2018
	Q1	Q2	Q3
	'000	'000	'000
Total number of persons aged 15-29 years classified as NEET	99.5	104.0	115.2
Total persons aged 15-29 years	887.2	895.3	896.8
	%	%	%
Percentage share of persons aged 15-29 years represented by those classified as NEET	11.2	11.6	12.8

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q1=January - March, Q2= April-June, Q3=July-September.