Written Answers Nos. 106-113
106. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new agencies and State bodies established since 9 March 2011 under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following are the State Bodies/Boards under the remit of my Department.
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- |
State Bodies/New Agencies |
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1. |
Enterprise Ireland |
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2. |
IDA Ireland |
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3. |
Science Foundation Ireland |
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4. |
Shannon Development |
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5. |
County and City Enterprise Boards (35) |
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6. |
National Standards Authority of Ireland |
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7. |
Forfás |
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8. |
National Consumer Agency |
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9. |
The Competition Authority |
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10. |
Irish Auditing and Accounting Standards Authority |
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11. |
Personal Injuries Assessment Board |
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12. |
The Health and Safety Authority |
There is a substantial programme of reform underway within my Department in relation to Agencies and Offices. The Agencies under the remit of my Department that are scheduled to be merged, reformed or abolished are set out under the Government’s Agency Rationalisation Programme. These reforms include:-
- Merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority into one single entity.
- Dissolve the 35 County Enterprise Boards and transfer their functions to Enterprise Ireland to be delivered by Local Authorities in Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). This will facilitate the delivery of an enhanced service and range of supports to the micro and small business sectors.
- Dissolve Forfás and provide for the transfer of the agency’s assets, liabilities and staff to my Department and other bodies, as appropriate.
- Transfer relevant enterprise functions from Shannon Development to IDA, EI and Bord Fáilte and merge Shannon Development with Shannon Airport Authority.
- Reform of the State's Workplace Relations Services to deliver a simplified two-tiered structure comprising a single body of first instance, the Workplace Relations Commission, and a single body of appeal, in effect an enhanced Labour Court.
In addition, I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that, following enactment of the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012, Microfinance Ireland was established as a private limited company in August 2012, as a subsidiary of the Social Finance Foundation and has charitable status.
Microfinance Ireland has been funded by the Government to provide loans to newly established and growing microenterprises across all industry sectors that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks.
107. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of semi-State companies under the remit of his Department that have paid bonuses to their employees in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if he will identify these semi-State companies, the number of employees and the level of bonuses paid; his views on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3701/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSalaries paid by Agencies to staff are subject to contracts which, in latter years, have been subject to specific clearance by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any instances of bonus payment since 2011 and I will communicate that information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
There were no bonuses paid to any of the staff of my Department and Offices on the years in question.
108. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the flood relief fund that was established in response to the flooding event of June 2012; if she will specify the amount of money that was paid out under the fund; if applications are still being accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3073/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the devastation that the flooding event of June 2012 brought to homes and families in various parts of Cork, the Government announced the extension of the humanitarian assistance scheme, which was approved by Government in November 2009, to assist the affected householders.
The Government authorised spending of up to €10 million in humanitarian assistance to households affected by flooding. The total spend to date is some €2.2 million. This spending refers to this Department only and does not include spending from other Government Departments or Agencies which has been significant. Following the June 2012 flooding, 123 payments were made to affected householders in the Cork area to the value of approximately €150,000.
The humanitarian assistance scheme, which is means tested, provides emergency financial assistance to households who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs in the period immediately following flooding. The aim of the scheme is to provide financial support to people who have suffered damage to their homes and in doing so provide hardship alleviation, as opposed to full compensation. Repairs for structural damage caused as a result of the flooding can also be considered under the scheme. The Government has not set a limit on the amount that can be paid to an individual household under this scheme. Levels of payment depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs ensuring that the funding is appropriately targeted. Humanitarian assistance does not cover risks that are covered by insurance policies or cover business or commercial losses.
Any person continuing to experience hardship as a result of the flooding event of June 2012, or as a result of the recent severe weather conditions, should contact the Department’s local representative administering the supplementary welfare allowance scheme who may be able to offer assistance.
109. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the way she plans to deal with ex-FÁS clerical officers who were one interview away from the position of employment services officer, that is, higher executive officer at the time of transfer to her Department. [2975/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe terms and conditions under which staff from the Employment and Community Services Divisions of FÁS transferred to my department were subject to lengthy negotiations with the unions and also involved the assistance of the Labour Court. On transfer, all of the staff in question were designated as established civil servants and they have the same promotion opportunities as existing departmental staff.
To date, civil servants in the grade of Clerical Officer may only compete for promotion to Staff Officer and Executive Officer. However, new arrangements concerning promotion eligibility criteria were recently agreed at General Council.
In the future, competitions for promotion will set out both the relevant job specification and person specifications expected of the grade in question. Subject to having two years satisfactory service, any member of staff, regardless of their current grade, will be entitled to participate in these competitions.
110. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding entitlement to social welfare payment for part-time and-or casual workers during annual leave and on public holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2979/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere a casual or part-time employee is unemployed on a public holiday or during periods of compulsory annual leave and where s/he has no accrued entitlement to pay, a jobseeker’s payment may be made, subject to all other scheme conditions being satisfied.
Specific queries in relation to entitlement to pay in respect of public holidays or annual leave should be addressed to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
112. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) who lodged an appeal in September 2013 and to date has not received a decision. [2997/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23rd July 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 15th January 2014 and the case 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.
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when the highest possible exceptional needs payment will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3003/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of this Department there are currently no applications pending for an exceptional needs payment in the case of the person concerned. It is open to the person concerned to make such an application to her local Community Welfare Service.
