Written Answers Nos. 150-161
150. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will consider establishing a north-east forum in order to encourage Industrial Development Agency investment in the Border area in view of recent figures which show that only three jobs were created by IDA companies in County Monaghan in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31420/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and its agencies are working together to address the unemployment problem that is currently experienced throughout the country as a whole by implementing the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs which aims to create 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016.
IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland. At the end of 2012 there were 6 IDA Ireland supported companies in Monaghan employing 350 people. In accordance with its Horizon 2020 Strategy, IDA Ireland continues to engage with these client companies in order to transform the existing FDI base with a view to developing, retaining and growing employment opportunities.
As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. In order to achieve balanced regional economic development, IDA prioritises the marketing of its Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass and highlights the opportunities provided by other locations on an opportunistic basis, which are within commuting distances of these Gateways.
County Monaghan is part of IDA’s North East Region along with Counties Cavan and Louth. Through its network of overseas offices, IDA Ireland markets the North East Region for new inward investment through the Gateway of Dundalk. In addition, the Agency works closely with all of its 34 client companies in the Region which currently employ 3,200 people, to encourage them to further develop their engagement in the region.
With continuing enhancement and improvements in physical and digital infrastructure, an FDI project secured for one county in the Region has a positive impact on other counties in the Region.
I consider that it is neither practicable nor effective to establish jobs task forces or specific jobs plans around the country as a general mechanism to address high unemployment. I believe that to embark on such a course would involve diverting the various State Agencies from their on-going efforts to create jobs. A considerable administrative commitment is involved in servicing any additional committees and groups which may be set up and, given the constrained staff resources facing all public sector bodies at present, I am strongly of the opinion that establishing such additional groups, except in very exceptional circumstances, would not be in the best interests of using the State’s resources effectively.
151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, and when, arrears of a child benefit claim will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31382/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is in payment to the person concerned. The case is currently being reviewed. When the review is completed the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
152. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the yield or estimated yield from raising the employers' low rate of PRSI of 4.25% to 8.5% and 10.75%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31178/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. When the information becomes available, my Department will furnish it to the Deputy directly.
153. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing difficulties being experienced by a project (details supplied) in Dublin 1; if she is aware that changes applied in 2012 in the entitlement rates for community employment participants has had a serious negative impact on recruitment of people for community after-school project schemes; if she is further aware that should these changes continue to be implemented it will mean the closure of the child care services, educational support programmes and adult training; and if she will ensure that her Department provides adequate assistance and retention of the above services to the community after-school project scheme, noting that the service provided is vital to a disadvantaged community and ensures that persons are provided with the tools to seek full-time employment. [31183/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last number of years a number of changes have been made to CE to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme. The overall number of places available under CE has been increased by 2,000 to 25,300 (including supervisors) in 2013 with a budget of circa €353m. The composition of participant numbers has changed in recent years with a decline in One Parent Family Clients and an increase in the take-up by persons on Jobseekers Allowance. The change in participation composition has proved challenging for some sponsors and the Department is working with these sponsors to assist them in filling the places already assigned to them.
The number of approved places on the Community After Schools Project (CASPr) has remained at 39 for the last 3 project years. The Local Intreo Office has also undertaken a special initiative to ensure that eligible persons for CE are made aware of the opportunities on CE and it is anticipated that this initiative will help raise the demand for CE in the area.
The Department continues its commitment to getting people back to work as set out in the Programme for Government and the Pathways to Work documents. The additional allocation of CE places provides for priority to be given to applicants who are referred to CE drugs rehabilitation, childcare and social care places. The take-up of CE places will be closely monitored in terms of impact. The Department is committed to reforming CE to ensure value for money, progression of the job seeker and support for community services.
154. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in her Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31212/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of her Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31228/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI proposed to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.
The shorter working year scheme is a centrally agreed scheme where staff can avail of various periods of unpaid leave. The operation of the scheme represents a saving to the Department as those availing of the shorter working year leave are on unpaid leave. In addition, this provides opportunities for the unemployed as the Department recruits temporary clerical officers from the Public Appointments Service temporary clerical officer panel to replace staff availing of shorter working year leave.
The Agencies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Board and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also falls under the remit of the Department. The tabular statement outlines the number of staff availing of the shorter working year scheme in the Department and its Agencies for 2012 and 2103.
|
- |
Department of Social Protection |
Pensions Board |
Citizens Information Board |
Pensions Ombudsman |
||||
|
No. of weeks |
2012 |
2013 |
2012 |
2013 |
2012 |
2013 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
2 weeks |
284 |
401 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 weeks |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
6 weeks |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
8 weeks |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
10 weeks |
278 |
282 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
13 weeks |
68 |
95 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
640 |
778 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
156. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in her Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31244/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra157. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of her Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31260/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.
The Department is committed, under its Learning and Development Strategy to provide opportunities for the education of its staff. The Department recognises that investing in learning leads to improved performance and productivity, increased employee engagement and better customer service.
In addition to the provision of in-house and externally-sourced training courses, the Department also operates the Refund of Fees scheme to encourage staff to pursue educational achievement outside of normal business hours. The scheme operates within the parameters of Department of Finance Circular 23/07. Staff studying for approved courses under the scheme may apply for study leave (paid and unpaid), subject to the approval of their manager. Paid study leave may be granted up to certain maxima, including:
five days for each year of a third level course;
ten days in respect of the final year only of a third level primary or masters degree;
three days for each year of a second level course, subject to a maximum of ten days overall.
The amount of study leave granted in 2012 and 2013 (to date) in respect of staff in the Department is outlined in the table below. While there may be more applications for study leave later in the year, the vast majority of such leave is taken in the first six months of the year.
|
Departmental Staff availing of Study Leave |
Jan - June 2013 |
2012 |
|
Number of staff who availed of study leave |
53 |
47 |
|
Number of study leave days – paid |
261 |
218 |
|
Number of study leave days – unpaid |
10 |
7 |
|
Average number of days per employee availing of leave |
5.1 |
4.8 |
The amount of study leave granted in 2012 and 2013 (to date) in respect of staff in the agencies of the Department (i.e. Citizens Information Board, Pensions Board and Office of the Pensions Ombudsman) is outlined in the table below.
|
Departmental Agency Staff availing of Study Leave |
Jan- June 2013 |
2012 |
|
Number of employees |
19 |
9 |
|
Number of study leave days – paid |
43.5 |
35 |
|
Number of study leave days – unpaid |
2 |
0 |
|
Average number per employee availing of leave |
2.4 |
3.9 |
158. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal of a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31288/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 May 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
159. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if any third party documentation, other than the documentation submitted by the applicant or by my office on their behalf, was received by her Department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31339/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere does not appear to be any third party documentation, other than the documentation submitted by the applicant or by the office of the deputy on his behalf, received by the Department in respect of the carer’s allowance application from the person concerned. It is open to the person in question to make a request under the FOI Act for all documentation and records held by the Department in relation to this application.
160. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for domiciliary care allowance now under appeal will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [31348/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 13 December 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on 22 February 2013 advising of the decision.
The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor on 14 June 2013 who confirmed the opinion that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. The file was forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 25 June 2013 to have the appeal processed.
161. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress she has made regarding the Pathways to Work proposal to outsource additional resources for certain labour activation measures, in view of the European Commission’s Winter 2012 Review of Ireland’s Economic Adjustment Programme, published in April, which recommended that this process needs to be accelerated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31366/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pathways to Work initiative launched last year signalled the potential of contracting with third party providers to complement the existing capacity of the Department to deliver employment services. The potential contribution of contracting and the design of a contracting approach has since been considered by the Department working with an Interdepartmental group, comprising representatives of this Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the National Economic and Social Council and the Offices of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor. The Department also availed of expert international advice.
Arising from this evaluation, the Cabinet Committee on Pathways to Work approved in principle a proposal to tender the provision of employment services and agreed to the issue of a Prior Information Notice (PIN). This notice formally notifies the market that the State intends to procure employment services. A PIN is a discretionary and exploratory first step in a procurement process. The publication of a PIN will enable the State to engage with potential vendors and other interested parties to gauge the level of market interest and assist in finalising tender/contract design.
