Written Answers Nos. 163-179
163. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the help and support the Department provides to small business; the grants and help available to access finance in the event of refusals by banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47851/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that this Government is fully committed to supporting small businesses to grow and develop and is making Ireland the best small country in which to do business by 2016.
To this end I introduced two targeted schemes to support an additional flow of credit into the economy in 2012, namely the Microenterprise Loan Fund and the Credit Guarantee Scheme.
These Schemes are in addition to, and complement, the work Enterprise Ireland and the City and County Enterprise Boards (soon to be Local Enterprise Offices) undertake to support small businesses. This support includes the provision of grants and other supports, such as mentoring.
The Microenterprise Loan Fund improves access to credit for microenterprises and facilitates the growth and expansion of viable businesses with less than 10 employees from all industry sectors across the country, which have been refused access to credit from the banks. Support is in the form of loans for up to €25,000, available to start-up, newly established, or growing microenterprises, with viable business propositions, that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks. Microfinance Ireland is delivering the Microenterprise Loan Fund, and is making available additional credit to companies in this very important sector of the economy.
The Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) is also designed to support SMEs who, because of lack of collateral or because of the novelty of the business model, market, sector or technology of the business, face difficulties in accessing traditional bank credit. Commercially viable, well performing micro, small and medium enterprises that have a solid business plan and a defined market for their products or services, and can demonstrate their ability to repay the loan are the target of this scheme. I am in the process of having the CGS independently reviewed to help improve the Scheme for all businesses, and I intend taking appropriate action as a result of the review to ensure use of the Scheme is maximised.
Quarterly progress reports on the Microenterprise Loan Fund and the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme are published on my Department’s website www.enterprise.gov.ie. The progress reports detailing the analysis and performance of both Schemes for the quarterly period ending 30th September 2013 are available on my Department’s website.
164. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form for each year since 2003 the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Department for non-audit services to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48113/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments to each of the companies listed are set out in the table.
|
Year |
PWC |
KPMG |
Ernst & Young |
Deloitte |
Grant Thornton |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
2004 (from 1 April) |
242,400.00 |
- |
- |
303,811.31 |
- |
|
2005 |
24,398.75 |
- |
- |
27,088.75 |
- |
|
2006 |
126,250.00 |
- |
- |
141,098.46 |
- |
|
2007 |
225,032.33 |
- |
- |
- |
259,438.19 |
|
2008 |
74,114.75 |
228,260.00 |
- |
24,953.99 |
273.218.09 |
|
2009 |
59,423.44 |
12,687.50 |
- |
83,720.50 |
33,861.20 |
|
2010 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2011 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2012 |
34,037.38 |
- |
- |
102,872.62 |
- |
|
2013 (to 31 Oct) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
All payments to the companies above are inclusive of VAT and exclude Public Service Withholding Tax, where applicable.
It should be noted my Department’s Financial Management System only shows transactions from 1 April 2004. A full archival search of material stored off-site would be required to compile pre 1 April 2004 transactions. In the time available to answer the Question, such a search has not been undertaken on the pre 1 April 2004 transactions, given the time, complexity, cost and staff resources involved.
165. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in euro amount the total funding Enterprise Ireland has provided from the high potential start-up funding scheme for each year since its establishment; if he will provide the total number of companies which have received funding from this specific scheme; if he will provide the cumulative total number of jobs that have been created after this form of funding has been provided to these companies; if he will provide the cumulative amount of additional exports in euro that have been generated by these companies after they have received this form of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48125/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Ireland offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to assist clients through all stages of the business development cycle. High Potential Start-up companies (HPSUs) are defined as start-up ventures that:
- Introduce a new or innovative product or service to international markets.
- Involve manufacturing or internationally traded services.
HPSUs must also:
- Be capable of creating 10 or more jobs in Ireland and realising €1 million in sales within five years of starting up.
- Be led by an experienced management team, be headquartered and controlled in Ireland and be less than six years old.
Table 1 below outlines, where data is available, the number of jobs in Enterprise Ireland supported HPSU companies since Enterprise Ireland was established in mid-1998 together with exports by these companies as of 2012 which is the latest year for which Forfás survey data is available. Table 1 also provides data on the payments to HPSUs under the programme. The HPSU Programme period is taken to include all payments against approvals made within five years of the initial HPSU approval. The export data represents the cumulative level of exports to date for each year’s cohort of HPSUs.
Employment data for 2013 will not be available until the Forfás Annual Employment Survey is completed in Q4 2013 and export data for 2013 will not be available until the 2013 Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI) is completed in Q2 2014.
Notes on Employment & Export Data
- Of the 985 HPSUs approved by Enterprise Ireland between 1998 and 2012, 2012 Forfás Employment data is available for 66% (649). These companies employed a total of 11,524 people (full-time & part-time) as of October 2012. 2012 Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI) export data is available for 36% (352). These companies had exports of €1.55billion in 2012.
- 86 HPSUs approved during this period (9%) went on to be taken over in trade sales. These companies employed over 2,200 people at the time of take over. These companies had exports in excess of €60 million at the time of take over.
- A final cohort made up of 183 HPSUs approved since 1998 have ceased trading (19%). The last known employment and exports related to these companies was in excess of 1,600 and in excess of €69million respectively.
Table 1: HPSU Employment & Payments 1998-2012
|
Year |
Number of HPSUs |
Number of HPSUs with 2012 Employment Data |
Total Employment (2012) |
Number of HPSUs with 2012 Export Data |
Total Exports (2012) |
Total Payments under HPSU Programme |
|
1998 |
15 |
9 |
517 |
6 |
€137 million |
€8,477,803 |
|
1999 |
46 |
18 |
1,212 |
14 |
€723 million |
€13,465,941 |
|
2000 |
55 |
19 |
333 |
9 |
€29 million |
€22,718,799 |
|
2001 |
54 |
20 |
470 |
12 |
€12 million |
€21,588,768 |
|
2002 |
60 |
27 |
927 |
18 |
€76 million |
€22,356,608 |
|
2003 |
62 |
32 |
781 |
17 |
€49 million |
€17,342,017 |
|
2004 |
61 |
35 |
871 |
19 |
€55 million |
€24,222,378 |
|
2005 |
66 |
41 |
1,051 |
28 |
€102 million |
€22,396,532 |
|
2006 |
72 |
54 |
816 |
35 |
€87 million |
€23,504,298 |
|
2007 |
79 |
57 |
943 |
31 |
€163 million |
€26,817,894 |
|
2008 |
72 |
52 |
740 |
32 |
€31 million |
€20,359,632 |
|
2009 |
73 |
62 |
728 |
29 |
€27 million |
€21,966,949 |
|
2010 |
80 |
65 |
623 |
39 |
€24 million |
€20,917,821 |
|
2011 |
93 |
79 |
957 |
40 |
€21 million |
€21,254,704 |
|
2012 |
97 |
79 |
555 |
23 |
€8 million |
€17,261,976 |
166. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in euro amount the total amount of funding that has been provided by the business angel partnership for each year since its establishment; if he will further provide the total number of companies which have received funding from this specific scheme; if he will provide the cumulative total number of jobs that have been created after this form of funding has been provided to these companies; if he will further provide the cumulative amount of additional exports in euro that have been generated by these companies after they have received this form of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48126/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBusiness Angels are private individuals who invest capital in companies during their early stage of development. In addition, they contribute their know-how or experience in company management and can offer valuable expertise and guidance. Business Angels usually seek active participation in the company in which they invest.
Business Angels can be a substitute for classical bank financing or venture capital which can be difficult to attract at the early stage of a company’s life. They are primarily motivated by return on investment, and Business Angel involvement can often help secure access to venture capital or classical bank loans. The average initial investment by Business Angels ranges between €50,000 and €250,000 individually, or can form syndicates (partnerships with other Business Angels) for investment up to €500,000 and beyond.
Following a pilot initiative, the Halo Business Angel Partnership (HBAP) was formally launched in January 2008. HBAP is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland, and the Irish Business Innovation Centres (“BICs”).
The primary aim of the HBAP Programme is to foster and facilitate Business Angel investment in early-stage companies. This is achieved by matching pre-screened investors with pre-screened investment opportunities in start-up, early stage and developing businesses
The HBAP Programme does not provide funding directly to companies; rather, the Programme facilitates the leverage of the investment of private investor money into early-stage companies, by matching investors with investment opportunities. The following represents the amount of investment that the HBAP Programme has directly facilitated since its establishment in 2008:
- 2008 - €2.285m
- 2009 - €2.782m
- 2010 - €4.026m
- 2011 - €4.802m
- 2012 - €5.207m
A similar level of investment activity is targeted to be reported by the HBAN operators to Enterprise Ireland for 2013.
To date, the total number of companies that have received investment as a result of their involvement in the HBAP Programme reached 96 by 2012.
The peak number of jobs that have been created by companies that received investment under the HBAP Programme since its formal establishment in 2008 to 2012, is 253 based on a sample of 69 of the 96 companies (Source: Forfas Annual Employment Survey). Employment gains of 168 at the end of 2012 were recorded by this sample. The base number of jobs used to calculate employment gains is the number of jobs at the end of the preceding year in which the company received investment.
The peak amount of total exports recorded by companies receiving investments through the HBAP Programme was €14.734m to 2012 based on a sample of 45 of the 96 companies. Based on the same sample, export gains were €12.745m at the end of 2012. The baseline export figures used to calculate export gains are the exports at the end of the preceding year in which the company received the investment.
167. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 1 October 2013, if he will clarify what he means by stating ten projects have been approved under the succeed in Ireland initiative; if he will confirm if to date any job has in fact been created as a result of ConnectIreland and the succeed in Ireland initiative; if he will confirm the exact number of jobs where the clock has started on the two year duration to become sustainable and therefore eligible for fees to be paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48127/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe “Succeed in Ireland” Initiative is managed by Connect Ireland under a contract with IDA Ireland and I, as Minister, do not have any direct involvement with the scheme.
Connect Ireland markets, promotes and implements the ‘Succeed in Ireland’ initiative in the international marketplace. Under the terms of a contract, signed between IDA Ireland and Connect Ireland, operational arrangements between both parties work to convert potential leads identified by ‘Connectors’ into investments and job creation in Ireland.
The role of the “Connector” is to make an introduction between a key decision-maker in a company considering a mobile investment project and Connect Ireland.
Should a decision be taken to locate in Ireland, the company’s business plan with its associated employment projections is assessed by IDA for compliance under the terms of the contract between IDA Ireland and Connect Ireland. To date 11 such investments have met the criteria and are considered ‘approved’ under the scheme. These investments are listed on the attached tabular statement.
This approval status means that Connect Ireland and the “Connector” are eligible for a financial reward under the initiative. The reward scheme provides for up to €4,000 excluding VAT per sustainable job created. A sustainable job is defined as one which has been in existence for 2 years. Reward payments to either Connect Ireland or to individual “Connectors” become payable on a phased basis, 50% when the job has been in place for at least 12 months and the remaining 50% when the job has been in place for two years. Payments under the initiative will be made by IDA Ireland.
The projects approved by IDA, to date, under the ‘Succeed in Ireland’ initiative have the potential to create 298 jobs. While a number of the approved investments have already commenced operations and are employing people, the exact number of jobs created will not be available until the 2013 Forfas Annual Employment survey has been completed. The survey is currently underway and the results will be available towards year end.
I am informed by IDA Ireland that there have been no payments made under the initiative by IDA Ireland, neither has any claim for payment been made to IDA by Connect Ireland.
Table showing 11 approved projects with the potential to create 298 jobs under the ConnectIreland Initiative.
|
Company Name |
Proposed Location |
Activity |
Proposed No. of Jobs |
|
llhouse 1889 |
Dublin |
Software |
10 |
|
Intergeo Services |
Carlow |
Bio-engineering Consultancy |
30 |
|
Entercoms |
Cork |
Supply Chain Analytics |
30 |
|
Flagship Management |
Kinvara, Galway |
EMEA Office |
15 |
|
rm2/Mafic (Black Basalt) Ireland |
Kells, Meath |
Basalt Fibre Manufacturing |
70 |
|
Ark Energy Consulting Ltd |
Longford |
Clean Tech |
10 |
|
The Magni Group |
Portarlington, Laois |
Metal Coating Production |
50 |
|
Improv Asylum |
Dublin |
Corporate Training |
12 |
|
SMI |
Dublin |
Business Services |
10 |
|
Sound & Sea |
Cork |
Maritime Engineering |
55 |
|
The Bayne Group |
Cork |
Legal Consultancy |
6 |
|
Total Jobs |
298 |
168. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail in tabular form for each year since 2003 the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Department to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48132/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments to each of the firms listed are set out in the following table.
|
- |
Arthur Cox |
Matheson (also includes Matheson, Ormsby & Prentice) |
A&L Goodbody |
McCann Fitzgerald |
William Fry |
Mason Hayes & Curran |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
2004 (from 1 April) |
- |
- |
- |
3,297.85 |
- |
- |
|
2005 |
- |
116,005.00 |
- |
19,341.50 |
132,814.40 |
- |
|
2006 |
- |
- |
- |
606.00 |
93,181.20 |
97,886.98 |
|
2007 |
- |
31,832.36 |
- |
15,178.07 |
3,630.00 |
51,877.34 |
|
2008 |
87,287.22 |
26,435.95 |
- |
- |
- |
7,123.33 |
|
2009 |
37,163.98 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
344,175.39 |
|
2010 |
64,717.43 |
- |
10,543.90 |
- |
3,630.00 |
- |
|
2011 |
112,832.44 |
- |
4,001.60 |
- |
- |
- |
|
2012 |
38,718.46 |
- |
91,630.57 |
- |
- |
5,912.20 |
|
2013 (to 31 Oct) |
4,755.48 |
- |
50,031.04 |
- |
- |
- |
All payments to the firms above are inclusive of VAT and exclude Public Service Withholding Tax, where applicable.
It should be noted my Department’s Financial Management System only shows transactions from 1 April 2004. A full archival search of material stored off-site would be required to compile pre 1 April 2004 transactions. In the time available to answer the Question, such a search has not been undertaken on the pre 1 April 2004 transactions, given the time, complexity, cost and staff resources involved.
169. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide, in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Department to senior counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48156/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments to Senior Counsel for the years 2003 – 2013 are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
€ |
|
2003 |
13,127.11 |
|
2004 |
24,791.25 |
|
2005 |
252,110.50 |
|
2006 |
311,886.98 |
|
2007 |
644,085.09 |
|
2008 |
546,835.80 |
|
2009 |
1,333,117.05* |
|
2010 |
264,587.71 |
|
2011 |
110,817.85 |
|
2012 |
225,696.60 |
|
2013 |
34,101.10 |
|
Cumul Total |
3,761,157.04 |
*The expenditure in relation to 2009 includes a sum of €990,079.32 in respect of expenses of and incidental to an investigation under Section 8 of the Companies Act 1990 conducted by an inspector appointed by the High Court by Order made on 29 July 2008. The inspector in question was Bill Shipsey SC and the investigation was into the affairs of DCC plc, S & L Investments Limited and Lotus Green Limited.
In the time available to answer the Question, it is not possible to retrieve the relevant files in relation to the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, which ceased to exist in 2007 and whose functions were transferred to the National Consumer Agency.
170. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to further strengthen the immigration system including introducing a model to select immigrants based on the skills that Irish employers need to expand their business and the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48178/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s policy and legislative remit focuses on the skills-based requirements of the labour market whereas the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE) takes into account wider immigration and residency issues. We recognise that the two regimes are interlinked and indeed, there is close engagement between the Departments on matters of mutual concern. Nevertheless, DJE retains legal and policy primacy with regard to immigration and residency whereas this Department’s function concerns employment access to the labour market.
Economic migration policy must be flexible and responsive to different stages of economic development and to labour market conditions. An ongoing challenge for the Irish labour market is to attract from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) those skills we cannot source from within the EEA and which we need to exploit the potential for growth in high performing sectors. The focus of the Employment Permits system is to ensure that, where sufficiently qualified candidates cannot be sourced to fill a vacancy from within the pool of available labour in the EEA, non-EEA nationals with those qualifications may be recruited to ensure that enterprise can access the skills it needs to thrive.
The Highly Skilled Occupations List and the Ineligible Occupations List allow us to target immigrants with those skill-sets most required by enterprise. The lists are subject to bi-annual review. These reviews draw, in the first instance, on data on employment, vacancies, job announcements and immigration and other qualitative information held in the National Skills Database, including that collated in the National Skills Bulletin, annually published, to identify imbalances in the Irish labour market at occupational level. In the second instance, the lists are reviewed in the light of data from the Vacancy Overview Annual Report, which provides an overview of the demand for labour as measured by trends identified in advertised job vacancies.
To enhance this targeted approach to economic migration, the Employment Permits Amendment Bill will provide more flexible and targeted instruments in support of the economy’s evolving skill needs. The Bill will go to Government shortly for approval to publish.
171. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when a decision will be made on a work permit in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48217/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Work Permit application made by an employer in respect of the person named by the Deputy was refused on 23rd July 2013 on the grounds that it appeared that no Labour Market Needs Test had been carried out in support of the application. A review of this decision was sought in accordance with Section 13 the Employment Permits Act, 2006 but this request was not received within the required timeframe and was thus a late appeal.
I understand that a second work permit application was then submitted to my Department by the employer on 22nd August 2013. This application was subsequently withdrawn. The person named by the Deputy submitted a third application on their own behalf on 29th October 2013. This current application will be processed shortly.
172. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a cost benefit analysis has been undertaken by the Department on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48323/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department participated in and contributed to the work of the Inter-Departmental Group on the Antarctic Treaty, responsibility for consideration of the signature and ratification of the Antarctic Treaty by Ireland is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are employed on JobBridge schemes in the public sector; if she will provide a breakdown of these staff by county since the scheme commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47819/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the exact number of persons who signed up for the JobBridge scheme in County Westmeath; the exact number of persons who received employment from these internships in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47954/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra198. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on making changes to the JobBridge scheme such as opening up the scheme to persons who are signing for credits but not receiving a social welfare payment or allowing participants on the scheme to supplement their income by engaging in casual part-time evening or weekend work and still retain their full payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47984/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that contractors receiving funds from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to install water meters across the State ostensibly so that they can employ people to install said meters can simultaneously obtain workers on the JobBridge scheme funded by the Department of Social Protection leading to a situation where contractors can retain more profit from the funds that they receive from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. [48187/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 176, 198 and 214 together.
I have set out a table showing the number of persons who participated in JobBridge in the Public Sector by county since the scheme commenced.
Since JobBridge came into operation on 1st July, 2011, 543 individuals have participated on JobBridge in County Westmeath. 150 individuals are currently on internships. 393 individuals have finished their internship. Data from the recent Indecon Evaluation Report indicate that 61% or 240 of the finishers in County Westmeath have progressed into paid employment. In this regard, the progression outcomes into employment from JobBridge are among the very best in Europe.
Persons who are signing for credits but not receiving a social welfare payment are already eligible to participate in JobBridge if they have been signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the last 3 months. While on an internship interns can commence casual employment without affecting their entitlements provided that it is not with the host organisation (i.e. not with the same employer) and it does not interfere with their internship. However, those in receipt of Social Welfare payments and those signing for credits are still subject to the normal rules as regards means testing, availability for work, etc.
As part of their contracts, water meter installation contractors are required to employ a proportion of workers from the live register, graduates and school leavers. In this regard, it is worth highlighting that JobBridge interns are not deemed to be employees as per Section 16 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 and as such would not count towards fulfilment of this contractual requirement.
Table 1. Number Public Sector interns by County
|
- |
Finishers |
Currently on Internship |
Grand Total |
|
CARLOW |
67 |
39 |
106 |
|
CAVAN |
79 |
37 |
116 |
|
CLARE |
79 |
20 |
99 |
|
CORK |
292 |
98 |
390 |
|
DONEGAL |
179 |
91 |
270 |
|
DUBLIN |
1,066 |
351 |
1417 |
|
GALWAY |
250 |
85 |
335 |
|
KERRY |
114 |
53 |
167 |
|
KILDARE |
56 |
30 |
86 |
|
KILKENNY |
55 |
19 |
74 |
|
LAOIS |
41 |
17 |
58 |
|
LEITRIM |
15 |
11 |
26 |
|
LIMERICK |
136 |
64 |
200 |
|
LONGFORD |
27 |
3 |
30 |
|
LOUTH |
103 |
25 |
128 |
|
MAYO |
90 |
62 |
152 |
|
MEATH |
105 |
47 |
152 |
|
MONAGHAN |
77 |
47 |
124 |
|
OFFALY |
28 |
22 |
50 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
22 |
18 |
40 |
|
SLIGO |
96 |
55 |
151 |
|
TIPPERARY |
184 |
75 |
259 |
|
WATERFORD |
142 |
52 |
194 |
|
WESTMEATH |
48 |
21 |
69 |
|
WEXFORD |
133 |
46 |
179 |
|
WICKLOW |
59 |
13 |
72 |
|
Grand Total |
3,543 |
1401 |
4944 |
174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons on social welfare and in families that receive social welfare on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47924/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is collated by the Department annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is laid before the Dáil when published and copies lodged in the Oireachtas library. Furthermore these reports are available to the public at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx.
I am however informed that at the end of September 2013 there were 4,302 and 60,742 persons under the age of 26 in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance respectively. I also attach for the Deputy’s information a tabular statement detailing the number of children for whom an increase is paid to the recipient of a social welfare scheme or a payment is made under a scheme where a qualifying condition is that the recipient only qualifies for payment where there is a dependent child.
Number of Child Dependents at end of September, 2013
|
Type of Payment |
Full Rate Child Dependant |
Half Rate Child Dependant |
Other Children |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
425 |
109 |
0 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
1,252 |
1,167 |
0 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
113 |
76 |
0 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
10,543 |
0 |
0 |
|
Death Benefit (OIB Widows) |
103 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
125,572 |
42,751 |
0 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
132,118 |
0 |
0 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
16,237 |
0 |
0 |
|
Farm Assist |
6,674 |
1,888 |
0 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
94 |
26 |
0 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
8,111 |
8,288 |
0 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
658 |
0 |
0 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
4 |
6 |
0 |
|
Back To Education Allowance |
5,557 |
2,175 |
0 |
|
Back To Work Allowance Employee |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
6,960 |
1,988 |
0 |
|
- Self Employed First Year |
3,638 |
1,014 |
0 |
|
- Self Employed Years 2 - 4 |
3,322 |
974 |
0 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
9,047 |
5,563 |
0 |
|
Tús - Community Work Placement Scheme |
2,882 |
1,436 |
0 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
1,414 |
346 |
0 |
|
JobBridge |
1,042 |
520 |
0 |
|
Disability Allowance |
18,897 |
7,871 |
0 |
|
Blind Pension |
260 |
129 |
0 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
2,642 |
30,470 |
0 |
|
Illness Benefit |
8,524 |
11,584 |
0 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
63 |
34 |
0 |
|
Injury Benefit |
148 |
123 |
0 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
4,468 |
9,921 |
0 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
75 |
127 |
0 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
79 |
1,062 |
0 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
0 |
0 |
91,271 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0 |
0 |
568 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0 |
0 |
1,139 |
|
Child Benefit |
0 |
0 |
1,159,624 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
0 |
0 |
27,322 |
175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of youth who are unemployed on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47926/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of October 2013 there were 74,389 persons between the ages of 18 and 25 years, inclusive, on the live register. A breakdown of this number by county and scheme is contained in the following table.
Number of 18 to 25 Year Olds on the Live Register, October, 2013.
|
County |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
Credits Only |
Total |
|
Carlow |
1,283 |
81 |
9 |
1,373 |
|
Cavan |
1,294 |
68 |
2 |
1,364 |
|
Clare |
1,552 |
105 |
4 |
1,661 |
|
Cork |
5,928 |
550 |
30 |
6,508 |
|
Donegal |
3,936 |
251 |
13 |
4,200 |
|
Dublin |
16,853 |
1,389 |
86 |
18,328 |
|
Galway |
3,329 |
287 |
13 |
3,629 |
|
Kerry |
2,037 |
199 |
6 |
2,242 |
|
Kildare |
2,937 |
278 |
23 |
3,238 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,106 |
70 |
2 |
1,178 |
|
Laois |
1,634 |
109 |
9 |
1,752 |
|
Leitrim |
495 |
29 |
3 |
527 |
|
Limerick |
3,268 |
194 |
11 |
3,473 |
|
Longford |
879 |
55 |
3 |
937 |
|
Louth |
2,753 |
185 |
8 |
2,946 |
|
Mayo |
2,030 |
165 |
7 |
2,202 |
|
Meath |
1,590 |
110 |
18 |
1,718 |
|
Monaghan |
892 |
83 |
6 |
981 |
|
Offaly |
1,682 |
111 |
8 |
1,801 |
|
Roscommon |
628 |
44 |
2 |
674 |
|
Sligo |
939 |
73 |
5 |
1,017 |
|
Tipperary |
2,728 |
207 |
24 |
2,959 |
|
Waterford |
2,098 |
153 |
14 |
2,265 |
|
Westmeath |
1,809 |
145 |
11 |
1,965 |
|
Wexford |
3,101 |
231 |
12 |
3,344 |
|
Wicklow |
1,928 |
166 |
13 |
2,107 |
|
Total |
68,709 |
5,338 |
342 |
74,389 |
177. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the exact number of persons who signed up for the JobBridge scheme in County Longford; the exact number of persons who received employment from these internships in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47955/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra233. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection when the decision to extend the duration permitted under JobBridge to 18 months will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48386/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 233 together.
Since JobBridge came into operation on 1st July, 2011, 169 individuals have participated on JobBridge in County Longford. 37 individuals are currently on internships. 132 individuals have finished their internship. While there is no specific information on these cases, data from the recent Indecon Evaluation Report indicate that overall 61% have progressed into paid employment. In this regard, the progression outcomes into employment from JobBridge are among the very best in Europe.
An individual may avail of a maximum of 3 JobBridge internships, however, the total cumulative time spent on the scheme cannot exceed 18 months (78 weeks). An intern will not be permitted to do more than one internship with the same company. The maximum duration of an individual internship is 9 months (39 weeks). This extension came into effect on 7th November and full details are available on the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie.
The Indecon Report provides a number of key recommendations which are targeted at maximising progression outcomes for interns and ensuring value for money for the exchequer.
The Department have already taken a number of key actions in response to these recommendations including increasing the number of internships that a jobseeker may undertake, improving the Department’s quality and control checks and providing even more support to interns with a significant increase in monitoring and site visits being conducted by Department officials. Codes of practice have also been developed to improve the quality of placements and key pilots have been implemented in the arts and crafts sectors.
The Department have also commenced a process to redevelop the JobBridge website’s design, application and content thereby improving the client experience. I will continue to review all aspects of the scheme and changes to improve the quality of the scheme will continue to be implemented where appropriate.
178. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the registration of a birth here, if a mother or father who was not in a position to present as an informant at the time of the registration of the birth at the registrar's office can subsequently have the birth certificate of his or her child amended so that he or she can be recorded as an informant of the birth on the birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47957/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the written text of the birth certificate, if she has plans to amend the wording Faisnéiseoir A/Informant A and Faisnéiseoir B/Informant B contained within this document, to better reflect that the informants are the parents present at the registration of the birth at the registrar's office; if she has plans to remove the wording Sonraí Neamh-chláraithe/Details Not Registered in the case of there being only one informant present at the registration of the birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47958/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
Section 19 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 requires the parent or parents of a child to attend at the office of a registrar within 3 months of the birth, to give the registrar the required particulars relating to the birth and to sign the register in the presence of the registrar. All reasonable measures are taken to ensure that the parents fulfil this duty.
However, in cases where the parents are dead or are incapable of acting by reason of ill-health or for other reasons, section 19(6) of the Act provides for other qualified informants who may provide the required particulars. This means that a person other than the parent or parents may act to register the birth where the parents cannot do so.
The signature of a qualified informant is evidence only of the fact that this was the person who gave the required particulars to the registrar and as such is a matter of fact which cannot be altered.
For Birth Certificates issued after 22nd July 2013, the box Faianeiseora B/Informant B no longer appears where only one qualified informant attends to register the birth. As a consequence of this the text Sonraí Neamh-chláaithe / Details Not Registered no longer appears on the certificate in these cases.
As the qualified informants can be persons other the parents there are no plans to amend the existing wording Faisnéiseoir A/Informant A and Faisnéiseoir B/Informant B.
