Written Answers Nos. 560-573
560. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of funding to Science Foundation Ireland over the years 2004 to 2011; its budget for 2012; the number of researchers supported in each year; the anticipated number of researchers supported next year; if conditions for qualifying for funding have changed since the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37393/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra563. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will state the projections for the numbers of researchers to be supported under Science Foundation Ireland funding in each of the years 2012 to 2016 under the announced capital funding; the comparable figures for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37396/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 563 together.
Table 1 below sets out the Science Foundation Ireland expenditure for the period 2004 – 2011 inclusive. Table 2 below sets out the number of researchers supported by Science Foundation Ireland over the period 2004 – 2011 inclusive.
Science Foundation Ireland’s capital grant budget for 2012 is €156m, which will enable the Foundation to retain support for the current levels of approximately 3,000 researchers and 28 research centres. Table 3 below sets out Science Foundation Ireland’s 2012 budget. For 2012 the pay and administrative programme costs associated with running its various programmes include provision in respect of the Discover Science and Engineering programme, for which responsibility transferred from Forfas to Science Foundation Ireland in March 2012.
The Programme for Government commits to accelerating the commercialisation of research and exploitation of new technologies. Clearly given Ireland’s fiscal difficulties, there is a great imperative to ensure that publicly funded research and development will yield the maximum benefits for the country – most particularly in terms of downstream jobs.
Since the 2012 Budget there have been many policy actions completed which will impact across Ireland’s research ecosystem. These actions include the National Research Prioritisation exercise, the ASCTI report on Sustainability of Research Centres, and the streamlining of national IP arrangements amongst other things.
Given Ireland’s current fiscal circumstances there is a need to accelerate the delivery of economic and societal benefits from our investment in research by prioritising resources in areas of opportunity, building closer collaboration between the research base and enterprise and making it easier to commercialise and use new knowledge. However, we recognise that we cannot sustain this without maintaining the world class research base that we have built over the past decade.
Therefore consistent with Government policy, as detailed in the above reports and aligned to the Programme for Government, SFI is now seeking to build upon the groundwork already put in place by continuing to invest in excellent research and by engendering greater impact from its funded research for the benefit of Ireland. In this context, legislation is in preparation to enable SFI to fund applied research in addition to its existing remit to fund oriented basic research. Subject to debate in the Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming months, this legislation should be enacted by the end of 2012 or in early 2013.
Whilst there has been some reduction in capital funding to the SFI since the 2009 the Foundation has been able to sustain its direct support to a cohort of 3,000 researchers. The policy intention is that SFI can continue to provide this level of support in the years ahead but it shall be dependent on multiple variables, not just funding provision but also critically on the quality and strategic relevance for enterprise of the research applications being submitted. It shall also be dependent on wider factors such as what our international competitors are doing. In essence though, the principal conditions for qualifying for SFI grant funding remain unchanged, namely scientific excellence, as determined by rigorous international peer-review, and alignment with the strategic needs of Irish industry.
Appendix 1 – Tables
Table 1
|
Year |
Capital/ Research grants ( € ) |
Current expenditure - Pay ( € ) |
Administrative costs of running grant programmes ( € ) |
Other (€) |
|
2004 |
108.59m |
1.32m |
3.82m |
0 |
|
2005 |
118.20m |
2.74m |
4.62m |
0 |
|
2006 |
139.86m |
3.21m |
4.49m |
0 |
|
2007 |
155.72m |
3.56m |
4.77m |
0 |
|
2008 |
158.81m |
4.37m |
5.01m |
0 |
|
2009 |
171.17m |
4.67m |
4.54m |
0 |
|
2010 |
150.00m |
4.32m |
3.92m |
0 |
|
2011 |
153.80m |
4.29m |
3.56m |
5m* |
Table 2
|
Year |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
No. of Researchers |
1,067 |
1,610 |
1,362 |
1,909 |
2,812 |
3,225 |
2,999 |
2,995 |
Table 3
|
Capital Research Grants (€) |
Current Expenditure - Pay |
Administrative costs of running grant programmes |
Other / E-Journals |
|
156.00m |
4.43m |
4.236m |
5.00m |
The €5m in the “Other” column above relates to the provision of E-Journals, which formed part of the transfer of certain functions from the Department of Education and Skills in May 2010. The E-Journals provision allows Irish based scientists access to key international scientific journals in electronic, database format. This provision, via SFI in 2011, was not an extra funding requirement for the Exchequer last year.
561. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made on the development of an international content services centre to make Ireland world leader in managing intellectual property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37394/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, following an open competitive tender process at the end of last year, consultants were selected by my Department to undertake a feasibility study to examine what structures and policies could be developed to make Ireland a world centre for managing and trading in intellectual property (IP). The objectives of the study were: to identify and describe the emerging trends in IP Portfolio Management in corporations globally; and taking account of such global emerging trends, to identify options and models for Ireland to leverage its existing strengths to become an internationally attractive centre for managing and trading in IP, such that this could realise an economic and jobs potential.
The study was overseen by a Steering Group, chaired by my Department, with representatives from Forfás, IDA, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. The draft final report of the Feasibility Study was submitted to my Department at the end of June 2012 and comments on this draft from the Steering Group have been fed back to the consultants. It is expected that a final report will be submitted soon and in the meantime my Department and its agencies are considering next steps.
562. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of funding made available for the Source Ireland portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37395/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra“Source a Product or Service from Ireland” is a priority link on the Enterprise Ireland website homepage and enables those seeking to source a product or service from Ireland to browse for information and to submit an enquiry to Enterprise Ireland in relation to their business needs. The web page contains profiles of Irish suppliers of goods and services across a wide range of sectors. The “Source a Product or Service from Ireland” portal was improved in 2012 by adding further information and directories on the range of products available from Ireland. This new data was sourced from Enterprise Ireland’s client base, in particular from directories of companies participating in overseas Trade Missions. The cost of providing this service is included in Enterprise Ireland’s operating costs, and no additional expenditure was incurred in this project.
564. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the effect on competitiveness, as reported to him by Forfás, if businesses must pay in full for employees' sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra565. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the effect on employment and the number of jobs which could be lost, as reported to him by Forfás, if businesses must pay in full for employees' sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37398/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra566. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the effect on wages, as reported to him by Forfás, if businesses must pay in full for employees' sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37399/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 564 to 566, inclusive, together.
As I have outlined in previous replies to questions on this matter in the House, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, initiated a consultation process earlier this year on the feasibility and implications of introducing a statutory sick pay scheme. This process was very much a first step in considering a range of issues that need to be examined in detail before any proposals can be progressed to possible implementation. Any formal proposals for changes in the sick pay scheme would be a matter for the Budgetary process, which will be considered in due course by the Government.
To assist me in my consideration of these matters, I asked Forfás to examine the potential impact on competitiveness and employment of statutory sick pay, if such a scheme were to be introduced in this country. The report provided to me by Forfás forms part of a deliberative process of Government business and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it at this stage.
However, I am aware of the concerns raised by employer representatives that transferring responsibility for the payment of employees’ sick pay to employers would add to the cost of doing business. In this context, any such proposals would impact on competitiveness and employment. The evidence of this impact will need to be weighed against the potential for savings in terms of reduced absences due to sickness. I will carefully scrutinise any proposals which develop from the consultation process and their impact on jobs and competitiveness, and I will contribute fully to the Budgetary process within Government.
567. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the context of the IDA’s Horizon 2020 strategy objective that 50% of investments will be located outside Dublin and Cork, and recent site visit and start up figures, his views on whether Cork is disadvantaged by this strategy and receives a disproportionately low number of site visits, new investment and jobs for its size and potential compared to Dublin and the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37400/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with its Horizon 2020 Strategy, IDA Ireland is aiming to create 63,000 new jobs over the period 2010-2014, with 50% of these investments to be based in locations outside of Dublin and Cork. Central to IDA Ireland’s strategy is to build on existing regional strengths to ensure Ireland’s economic development, while optimising regional spread, in line with the National Spatial Strategy.
The recognition of the importance of Cork as a major gateway location under the National Spatial Strategy continues to assist IDA Ireland in promoting and marketing Cork for inward investment and assists in the development of the necessary critical mass needed in terms of population, skills and infrastructure to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Cork has a long industrial and exporting tradition over many centuries based on its deep-water harbour. Over recent decades, however, the older heavy manufacturing and textiles industries have been replaced by more modern industries, in particular the Life Science and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sectors. In recent years, the FDI base has expanded with the addition of software, digital media customer support and shared services activities.
IDA Ireland has informed me that it continues to promote Cork City and County as an integral part of its Horizon 2020 Strategy in accordance with the National Spatial Strategy. 11 new IDA Ireland supported projects in existing and new IDA client companies were announced for Cork City and County in 2011 which will result in the creation of over 800 new jobs over the coming years. There are currently 133 IDA Ireland supported enterprises in Cork City and County employing 21,522 people. This is an increase of over 1,000 jobs, or 5%, on the 2010 figure. To date, in 2012, there have been further job announcements with significant investments announced by Eli Lily, Big Fish Games, Pepsi Cola, Apple, Xilinx and M/A Com Tech.
Cork continues to demonstrate its ability to grow and evolve to meet the needs of existing and future investors. As a strong University City with over 30,000 full and part time students at UCC and CIT with the presence of the Tyndall National Institute; improvements in connectivity across road, rail, air and telecoms; and a strong base of existing IDA client companies, Cork has an enviable business ecosystem which ensures that it continues to be a location of choice for overseas companies. IDA Ireland has assured me that the Cork Gateway will continue to play a crucial role in contributing to the delivery of the ambitious jobs targets set out the agency’s Horizon 2020 Strategy.
568. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the number of IDA supported job announcements each week since the start of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37401/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of IDA Ireland’s job and investment announcements are available on the Agency’s website and show that, up to the end of August 2012, there had been 55 IDA announcements which will result in the creation of 5,450 jobs.
569. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the number of Enterprise Ireland supported job announcements each week since the start of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37403/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides information on the jobs announcements made by Enterprise Ireland since January 2012. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that all Enterprise Ireland job announcements are published on their website in press release format at: www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/ News.
Enterprise Ireland Job Announcements January 2012 – End of August 2012
|
Month |
Number of jobs |
Company name |
|
13/01/2012 |
250 |
Eishtec, Waterford |
|
10/01/2012 |
12 |
Blueface, Dublin |
|
16/01/2012 |
30 |
Sysnet Global Solutions, Dublin |
|
16/01/2012 |
45 |
Openjaw, Dublin |
|
17/05/2012 |
37 |
Copperfasten, Co. Galway |
|
23/05/2012 |
65 |
Dawn Meats, Waterford |
|
25/05/2012 |
40 |
Technopath Ballina, Co. Tipperary |
|
25/06/2012 |
30 |
EirGen Pharma, Waterford |
|
25/06/2012 |
45 |
Danone Baby Nutrition, Wexford |
|
16/07/2012 |
41 |
Shay Murtagh Precast Ltd, Westmeath. |
570. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress he has made in relation to abolishing city and county enterprise boards; if he will detail in tabular form the expected saving by county, to the number in employment in each unit, the expected reduction in numbers employed, the expected saving following abolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra587. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his policy on city and county enterprise boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37433/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 587 together.
The Government has approved the restructuring of the enterprise support model for the micro and small business sectors. This restructuring will include: the dissolution of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and the transfer of their functions, assets and liabilities to Enterprise Ireland (EI); the development of a new Small and Micro Business Division within Enterprise Ireland (EI) as a centre of excellence in the provision of supports to the small and micro enterprise sectors; the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) to provide a “one-stop-shop” for small businesses within Local Authorities.
An Implementation Working Group (IWG), under the Chair of my Department, is currently focussed on implementing the Government decision. The IWG, which includes all key stakeholders, is working out the detail of the new arrangements and is to report back to the Minister by the end of the year. In tandem with the work of the IWG my Department is engaged with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the primary legislation that will be necessary to implement the new arrangements. Clearly, the progress of the legislation will determine the timing of the formal establishment date of the new arrangements coming to effect.
Synergies will be achieved in time in terms of a more streamlined model for the delivery of enterprise supports/interventions to the micro-enterprise sector. Some savings on current expenditure are envisaged in the medium term, e.g. on reduced accommodation costs. There will be no savings on staffing. The existing staff of the CEBs will be an integral part of the new arrangements.
I will retain responsibility for national enterprise policy and budgets under the restructured micro-enterprise support model. I am confident that the Local Enterprise Office network will bring together best practice from the CEBs, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities and form the platform for enhanced service delivery to our micro and small business sector, which is central to our plans for jobs and growth and ultimately our economic recovery.
571. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a decision has been made on whether the media mergers aspect of the consumer and competition Bill will be dealt with by the Minister for Communications; when the Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37406/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2011 the Government approved the draft heads of the Consumer and Competition Bill which, inter alia, gives effect to the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers in full with two amendments: one sees the change in relevant Minister for public interest considerations from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and the other relates to designating the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee as a notifiable body when the Minister is considering proposed media mergers from the public interest aspect.
This Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and I expect to publish it later this year. Therefore while responsibility for the public interest test will transfer to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources it will do so under legislation which I am sponsoring.
572. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the projected number of jobs created by the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland backed companies in 2012 in each county; the projection for 2012 this time last year; the projection for 2013; the numbers created in each of 2008 to 2011 by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37407/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s goal is to attract new foreign direct investment to Ireland and to encourage existing client companies to engage in transformation activities in order to sustain employment. Details of jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies by county and by region from 2008 to 2011 are set out in the following tabular statement. At end 2011, there were 130,499 people employed in 1,004 IDA client companies.
Under the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, IDA Ireland has been set a target of creating 12,500 new jobs in 2012, with an associated 8,750 in the wider economy, giving a total impact of 21,250 jobs in 2012. The target for 2013 will be agreed towards the end of 2012, with the overall aim of reaching 62,000 new jobs by 2014 in line with the IDA’s Horizon 2020 Strategy, which covers the period 2010 to 2014. The actual number of jobs created in 2012 in companies supported by IDA Ireland will not be available until the Forfás Employment Survey is published in 2013.
Enterprise Ireland’s objective is to drive the growth of Irish-owned companies in overseas markets which, in turn, will support existing jobs and new job creation. Export growth provides a sustainable route for companies to grow their employment EI actively works with its companies to help them to both sustain and create jobs. A total of more than 162,000 people (full and part-time) directly rely on Enterprise Ireland client companies for their employment. The number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland’s client companies in each county between 2008 and 2011 is set out in the following tabular statement.
For 2012, the projection for new jobs to be created in Enterprise Ireland assisted companies is 10,300. This projection is broadly similar to that made for 2012, at this time last year. A similar number is forecast for 2013. Projections are not made at a county level. The actual number of jobs created in 2012 in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland will not be available until the Forfás Employment Survey is published in 2013.
Jobs Created in IDA Ireland Supported Companies by County and by Region from 2008 to 2011
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Cavan |
32 |
18 |
52 |
3 |
|
Louth |
75 |
34 |
43 |
110 |
|
Monaghan |
15 |
19 |
28 |
0 |
|
NORTH-EAST |
122 |
71 |
123 |
113 |
|
Donegal |
67 |
63 |
152 |
271 |
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Leitrim |
35 |
5 |
65 |
7 |
|
Sligo |
103 |
54 |
53 |
93 |
|
NORTH-WEST |
205 |
122 |
270 |
371 |
|
Laois |
0 |
17 |
10 |
3 |
|
Longford |
30 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Offaly |
29 |
22 |
22 |
31 |
|
Roscommon |
41 |
0 |
12 |
45 |
|
Westmeath |
134 |
231 |
128 |
194 |
|
MIDLANDS |
234 |
278 |
176 |
273 |
|
Galway |
611 |
442 |
768 |
980 |
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Mayo |
132 |
97 |
183 |
85 |
|
WEST |
743 |
539 |
951 |
1,065 |
|
Clare |
139 |
122 |
30 |
16 |
|
Limerick |
288 |
172 |
163 |
242 |
|
Tipp North |
13 |
0 |
14 |
22 |
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
MID-WEST |
440 |
294 |
207 |
280 |
|
Cork |
2,116 |
1,108 |
1,385 |
1,957 |
|
Kerry |
86 |
25 |
50 |
163 |
|
SOUTH-WEST |
2,202 |
1,133 |
1,435 |
2,120 |
|
Carlow |
74 |
49 |
87 |
75 |
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
0 |
17 |
33 |
|
Tipp South |
262 |
252 |
56 |
84 |
|
Waterford |
176 |
112 |
146 |
72 |
|
Wexford |
91 |
14 |
100 |
51 |
|
SOUTH-EAST |
604 |
427 |
406 |
315 |
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Dublin |
4,353 |
2,276 |
4,228 |
6,540 |
|
Kildare |
113 |
30 |
1,228 |
398 |
|
Meath |
134 |
30 |
38 |
53 |
|
Wicklow |
53 |
39 |
13 |
66 |
|
EAST |
4,653 |
2,375 |
5,507 |
7,057 |
APPENDIX 2
Jobs Created in Enterprise Ireland Supported Companies
from 2008 to 2011
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Carlow |
227 |
40 |
239 |
241 |
|
Cavan |
852 |
89 |
194 |
337 |
|
Clare |
87 |
51 |
148 |
101 |
|
Cork |
1,342 |
1,031 |
1,207 |
1,047 |
|
Donegal |
270 |
164 |
218 |
301 |
|
Dublin |
4,846 |
3,625 |
4,472 |
2,295 |
|
Galway |
553 |
380 |
628 |
732 |
|
Kerry |
262 |
164 |
139 |
117 |
|
Kildare |
351 |
438 |
293 |
218 |
|
Kilkenny |
176 |
74 |
122 |
130 |
|
Laois |
93 |
23 |
76 |
71 |
|
Leitrim |
44 |
12 |
31 |
48 |
|
Limerick |
515 |
342 |
428 |
215 |
|
Longford |
141 |
120 |
74 |
86 |
|
Louth |
473 |
211 |
256 |
518 |
|
Mayo |
245 |
203 |
144 |
304 |
|
Meath |
324 |
339 |
301 |
268 |
|
Monaghan |
341 |
70 |
252 |
344 |
|
Offaly |
690 |
100 |
269 |
165 |
|
Roscommon |
39 |
37 |
46 |
103 |
|
Sligo |
88 |
75 |
131 |
122 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
91 |
23 |
161 |
76 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
301 |
54 |
78 |
94 |
|
Waterford |
494 |
316 |
434 |
406 |
|
Westmeath |
379 |
92 |
154 |
340 |
|
Wexford |
397 |
308 |
294 |
180 |
|
Wicklow |
265 |
83 |
212 |
180 |
573. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement; if he will be instructing MEPs from Government parties to support the matter when it comes before them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37408/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is an international trade agreement that aims to help countries work together to tackle more effectively large-scale Intellectual Property Rights violations by clamping down on counterfeiting and piracy. It aims to strike a fair balance between the interests of the parties concerned, including citizens, consumers, civil society and business; and to guarantee all safeguards and exemptions provided by existing or European norms, such as fundamental rights, privacy and freedom of speech.
The Agreement was signed by the EU and 21 of its member states (including Ireland) on the 26 January 2012. However, the European Union and its Member States cannot ratify the Agreement without the consent of the European Parliament. The European Parliament has already held a vote on ACTA in its plenary session on the 4 July 2012, where parliament voted to reject the Agreement.
