Written Answers Nos. 113-127
113. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created in each county; the number of site visits to each county; the value of the investments in each county by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices for the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27438/19]
View answer114. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created; the number of site visits; the value of the investments created by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise board and-or county enterprise board in each area of County Meath over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27439/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.
This Government and my Department have placed the highest priority on achieving sustainable increases in employment in every county across the country. Through the Action Plan for Jobs process led by my Department we have had remarkable success in supporting businesses to create new jobs, with the unemployment rate now down to 4.4% from a high of over 15% in 2012. Of course we face new challenges, not least of which are Brexit and the digital revolution and the Government has a new strategy Future Jobs Ireland to ensure we can sustain the gains to date and build resilience in the enterprise base.
My Department and its agencies consistently engage with businesses throughout the country and across a variety of sectors to ensure an understanding of the existing and potential challenges faced by our businesses. This information is then used to develop Departmental policies and strategies that will help Irish companies to overcome obstacles and avail of opportunities in domestic and international markets.
It is vital that all businesses assess their vulnerabilities with regard to Brexit, and other economic challenges that may arise. It is particularly important that businesses examine their supply chains in detail and work towards addressing any identified weaknesses.
My Department, through its agencies, provide a wide range of supports to enable companies to consolidate market share within the UK and also to become more resilient by broadening their sales to other international markets.
2018 was a very strong year for job creation among Enterprise Ireland (EI) clients with 18,846 new jobs created. 2018 resulted in the highest client employment in the history of the agency, highest net job creation (9,119) in the history of the agency and the lowest number of jobs losses since 1998. 215,207 people are now employed in companies supported by EI.
IDA Ireland created 14,040 net new jobs over the course of 2018, with every region in Ireland posting net gains in jobs. At the end of 2018 there were 229,057 people working in IDA Ireland client companies, the highest in IDA Ireland’s history. This figure surpasses the five-year target of 209,000 which was set in 2015 in IDA Ireland’s “Winning; Foreign Direct Investment” strategy.
Surveys undertaken in 2018, revealed a strong performance by agency client companies in 2018 with, exports amounting to approximately €189bn, up 9.6% from the previous year. These companies spent €24.9bn on payroll, Irish materials and Irish Services and capital expenditure in 2017.
In 2018 the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) saw continued growth in jobs with a total of 8,007 new jobs created and a net job increase of 3,656. The LEOs also provided training to 34,938 people and mentoring, including one to one mentoring support to 9,625 participants across all 31 LEOs.
The statistical tables below present the figures for the following:
- IDA Ireland Site Visits by County from 2009 to 2018*;
- Total number of new jobs created by County by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland from 2009 to 2018;
- Total number of new jobs created by County by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) from 2014 to 2018**;
- IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland grant payments by County from 2009 to 2018***;
- Local Enterprise Office grant payments by County from 2014 to 2018**;
- County Enterprise Board grant payments for Co. Meath from 2009 to 2013.
Notes
* Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs do not arrange site visits of a type similar to IDA Ireland.
** The data supplied for the Local Enterprise Offices is for five years from their inception in 2014. Statistics are only available for a county area and not local areas as requested.
*** The information on grants paid to IDA client companies in 2018 will be made available once they have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Enterprise Ireland Payments Report excludes infrastructural clients, recipients of Employment Subsidy Schemes I and II, Community Enterprise Centres and Shannon Free Zone transfer companies, and Innovation Partnerships & Innovation Vouchers.
115. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions that her Department has lead responsibility for in the Climate Action Plan 2019; the annual emission reductions envisaged for such actions; the total reduction over the period of the plan; and the annual net cost for each action covered by the plan. [27444/19]
View answerMy Department and its agencies have been given lead or key stakeholder responsibility for a number of actions in the plan, ranging from engagement with the food and cement industry sectors to support increased abatement, to undertaking a review of the current offerings by the Enterprise Agencies, with a view to promoting environmental supports to a larger cohort of client companies.
The annex to the Climate Action Plan 2019 sets out all the actions for delivery under the plan, along with details of the Departments/offices/agencies responsible for their delivery.
Under the plan, the enterprise sector is being tasked with reducing Green House Gas emissions by 10%-15% by 2030.
The Plan identifies that the largest reductions in Green House Gas emissions can be realised in the Cement and Food & Beverage industry.
The enterprise sector will also contribute to the targets for the ‘Built Environment’ sector (20-25% reduction by 2030) and the ‘Transport’ sector (45-50% reduction by 2030) by actions such as improvements to building energy performance and the replacement of commercial fleets with electric vehicles.
My officials have begun to plan the implementation and delivery of the actions for which my Department has lead responsibility under the plan. As many of the measures are new initiatives which will require initial consultations and exploratory actions, the net cost of the delivery of these actions has not yet been established. While some of the actions will involve upfront costs for enterprises, it is important to view these costs in the context of: the supports available to companies in their transition to low carbon practices; the opportunities presented by this transition; the need for society as a whole to take urgent action; and the increasing demand from consumers and society for companies to move to low carbon practices.
116. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to allow the summer camp at a service (details supplied) to take place in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27222/19]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
HSE South East Community Healthcare (SECH) provides Children’s Respite Services in two locations in South Tipperary including St. Rita’s Respite Services, Brothers of Charity.
In addition, SECH provides outreach and home based respite to children with challenges accessing centre based respite for a number of reasons including those confined to home for complex medical reasons or difficulty socialising safely with other children as a result of emerging diagnosis and responsive behaviours.
The HSE is fully committed to maintaining the same level of service this year as in 2018.
The additional funding provided last year will continue in 2019 and in particular the €2m allocation to be spent on alternative respite services remains a high priority for the HSE. SECH acknowledges the quality service provided by St. Rita’s and will ensure that the necessary resources required for the Summer Respite Programme in St. Rita’s will continue to be provided to the Brothers of Charity in 2019.
117. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of speech therapists assigned to a service (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the number of children on the waiting list for speech therapy with the service to date; the average waiting time for children to access speech therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27208/19]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
118. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be appointed to a role the person was selected for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27211/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
119. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists assigned to the school age services in County Roscommon; the number of children on the waiting list for physiotherapy with the school age services to date; the average waiting time for children to access physiotherapy with the services in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27216/19]
View answer120. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists assigned to school age services in County Roscommon; the number of children on the waiting list for occupational therapy with the school age services to date; the average waiting time for children to access occupational therapy with the services in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27217/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.
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.
121. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of residence living for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27230/19]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
122. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals using debt collection agencies to recover emergency department charges; the number of persons who had their emergency department bills transferred to a debt collection agency for collection; the value of these bills; and his views on whether this is an acceptable mechanism of cost recovery [27231/19]
View answer123. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals using debt collection agencies to recover inpatient charges; the number of persons who had their inpatient bills transferred to a debt collection agency for collection; the value of the bills; and his views on whether this is an acceptable mechanism of cost recovery [27232/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
Patient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the annual National Service Plan.
These charges typically include:
- Out-patient charges;
- Emergency Department charges;
- Daily in-patient charges; and
- Long-term stay charges.
There are cohorts of people who are exempt from these charges, including, but not limited to persons with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks, children suffering from diseases prescribed under section 52 (2) of the Act, and persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases.
In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private accommodation charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.
Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful
The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.
124. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the range payment plans made available by hospitals for patients to pay inpatient charges or emergency department charges in instalments. [27233/19]
View answerAs this is a matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond to you directly.
125. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will be establishing a centralised system to hold vaccination records in order that persons can have swift access to their vaccination histories in view of the fact that many visa applications and holiday camps now require vaccination records due to the increase in outbreaks of infectious diseases nationally and worldwide [27234/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive collects and maintains vaccination records, I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.
126. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his views on reports that, due to cost containment measures, 27 medical step-down respite beds will be closed at St. Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27235/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
127. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to BreastCheck by 10%. [27237/19]
View answerIn 2019, funding of €26.1m was allocated to BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme. A 10% increase in funding for BreastCheck would amount to €2.6m.
BreastCheck is a population based re-call programme that offers women aged 50 to 64 a free mammogram every two years. The extension of the service to women between the ages of 65 and 69 commenced on an incremental basis in 2015 for the approximately 100,000 women in this age cohort and will be completed by end 2021. This will provide access to the service for 540,000 women.
BreastCheck aims to reduce deaths from breast cancer in Ireland by finding and treating the disease at the earliest possible stage, when it is generally easier to treat and greater treatment options are available. The programme operates to the highest international standards and has been accredited three times by international experts.
