Written Answers Nos. 90-98
90. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that employment in the accommodation and food services sector showed an increase in 2012 and that 123,100 people now work in the industry, if he accepts that decent pay and working conditions are vital if the sector is to develop, and that to date this has not been the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22855/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe wider tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 185,000 people and it has traditionally provided a range of careers with diverse skills and with varying levels of pay and remuneration. I have no role in setting the level of pay or working conditions in the sector. However, the Government has taken a number of measures to reduce the cost base of the sector and encourage employment, including the VAT cut to 9%, the reduction in employers PRSI, and raising the exemption threshold for the Universal Social Charge which particularly benefits seasonal workers.
Question No. 92 answered with Question No. 10.
94. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to expand access to the rail network across the State; and his views on recent EU statements which indicate a move towards increased privatisation of rail networks which would only make the State's limited service worse. [22905/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraEuropean legislation that is already in place provides for access to the rail network for the provision of certain services. Specifically there is access to the network for the provision of rail freight services since 2007 while access for the provision of international rail passenger services is possible since 2010.
The European Commission announced a package of proposals last January aimed at delivering a better quality and more choice in railway services across Europe. Among the proposals announced is the opening of domestic rail passenger markets from 2019 onwards. The package also contains a proposal that would lead to all public service obligation contracts being awarded by means of a competitive tender process from December 2019.
The discussions on these latest proposals have not commenced. I have therefore not yet taken a position. The proposals are being scrutinised by my Department and the approach to be taken will have regard to the views of interested parties.
95. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the report by the National Youth Council of Ireland which indicates that 300,000 persons have emigrated in the past four years, if he will outline his strategy for dealing with the Irish diaspora. [23149/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the report of the National Youth Council of Ireland as a contribution to the ongoing debate on engagement with our overseas communities. However, I believe that the report would have more accurately reflected the Government’s extensive assistance to emigrants had the Council sought the views of the Irish Abroad Unit of my Department during their research. While the Government is committed to implementing policies which will in the future ensure that no Irish citizen has to endure emigration by economic necessity, we have also been extremely robust in ensuring that those who are emigrating today receive assistance from the Government and Government supported organisations at home and abroad. Today, our Diaspora engagement policy has two key strands, namely the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) and the Global Irish Network.
The Emigrant Support Programme provides direct assistance to Irish emigrants, both long-standing and new. Since 2004, Irish groups ranging from those providing front line services to those most at need including the elderly, isolated, vulnerable and new arrivals to those working in the culture and heritage space have received grants of over €100 million under the Programme. At present, we work with almost 200 Irish community organisations in over 20 countries and despite the economic situation, I ensured the ESP budget for 2013 - €11.6 million - remained at the same level as in 2012.
The programme provides extensive funding to organisations that act as first port of call for new emigrants, including the GAA, the London Irish Centre, the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre in Toronto and several similar groups in Australia. We also support a wide range of business and graduate networks around the world.
Among the Irish based organisations who receive ESP funding is Crosscare Migrant Project which offers pre-departure services to Irish citizens considering emigration. Crosscare also provide training to mainstream service providers on emigration and returners’ issues and work in conjunction with Irish welfare organisations abroad (many also funded by ESP) and statutory and voluntary service providers in Ireland including the probation service, Salvation Army and Safe Home.
Officials from my Department have been in contact with the National Youth Council of Ireland this week to discuss some of the findings and recommendations from their report with a view to seeing if there are areas the NYCI and the Department might be able to cooperate on in future.
The second strand of our diaspora engagement programme is our partnership with the Global Irish Network, a group of over 300 of the most influential Irish connected business figures drawn from almost 40 countries, which provide invaluable advice, facilitation and practical assistance to the Government and Irish companies. The development of the Global Irish Network has transformed the strategic relationship between Ireland and its Diaspora and I look forward to working with them again at the 3rd Global Irish Economic Forum that will take place in Dublin Castle in October.
96. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 2 May 2013, if he will provide an analysis, by type of allowance, of the €8,709,948 allowances paid to headquarter staff working at diplomatic missions in 2012. [23167/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 2 May 2013, in respect of the €8,709,948 allowances paid to headquarter staff working at diplomatic missions in 2012, if he will confirm the total of allowances paid against vouched receipts. [23168/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
Foreign Service Allowances are designed to offset the additional costs that arise for officers when they are temporarily posted abroad. The three main components of the Department’s system of foreign services allowances are as follows.
Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is designed to defray costs associated with living in cities where the cost of living is higher than in Dublin, based on data provided by an independent external consultancy. Because COLA is linked to salary and notional net take-home pay it has been reduced in recent years in line with salary reductions in the civil service and with increases in income taxes.
Local Post Allowance (LPA) provides assistance towards the additional indirect costs arising from the representational role of officers. This allowance, which varies according to marital status and grade, is payable at all locations abroad. Officers serving in designated “hardship” posts may also be entitled to a hardship allowance as part of their LPA. Where payable, this hardship element takes account of factors such as personal security and political tension, health, environmental factors, climate and isolation.
Children’s Foreign Allowance (CFA) compensates officers for additional costs incurred with regard to their children aged under 18, or under 21 and in full time education.
The table sets out details of the amounts paid under each heading in 2012. As each element is calculated for each individual officer based on location, grade and family circumstances, and paid with salary, the question of vouching does not arise.
The two other allowances listed in the table below (Foreign Allowance and Displacement Allowance) are part of previous systems of Foreign Service Allowances which have now been replaced for almost all officers by the system comprising COLA, LPA and CFA as described above.
|
Name of Allowance |
Amount paid in 2012 |
|
Cost of Living Allowance |
€2,367,275.10 |
|
Local Post Allowance |
€5,547,143.84 |
|
Children’s Foreign Allowance |
€744,756.20 |
|
Displacement Allowance |
€17,576.05 |
|
Foreign Allowance |
€33,197.74 |
98. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he intends to intervene in the case of a number of Irish teachers forced to flee from Tripoli in Libya, who are seeking payment of their teaching contracts owed to them by ISM International; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the teachers’ dispute with the ISM in Tripoli has been ongoing for some time. The case, however, has only been brought to the attention of my Department in the past week. The issue is currently being handled by the Department of Education and Science and the State Examinations Commission, which has been in direct contact with the ISM in Tripoli regarding the unpaid monies. Officials from my Department have also been in touch with the SEC regarding the matter and to offer whatever assistance may be considered helpful.
