Written Answers Nos. 108-117
108. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide on a county basis a breakdown of the number of Industrial Development Agency-sponsored visits for each year since 2010 and to date in 2014; and if he will explain the IDA's strategy to ensure there is an equitable distribution of visits among counties. [18477/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra109. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the context of the Industrial Development Agency Ireland's Horizon 2020 strategy and the target that 50% of investments will be located outside Dublin and Cork, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of IDA Ireland-sponsored visits to Dublin that also visited Cork; and the number of IDA Ireland-sponsored visits to Cork that also visited Dublin since 2010. [18478/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.
Details of the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors on a county basis from 2010 to the end of March 2014 are set out in the tabular statement below.
There have been 776 visits to Dublin and 150 visits to Cork during the period 2010 to the end of March 2014. Some companies, depending on their requirements and their sector would have visited Dublin and Cork on the same itinerary or at different stages and over a number of itineraries whilst their due diligence in respect of site location was on-going. Some would have visited Dublin only or Cork only. At present, IDA Ireland does not have a tool which could manipulate a data base into providing an instant cross reference of site visits for companies that have visited both Dublin and Cork.
It must be acknowledged that some regional locations outside of Dublin and the main urban centres already facilitate the presence of a large number of multinational companies who have invested over the years, span multiple sectors and employ significant amounts of people. A significant opportunity for regional locations is in respect of the existing client base and potential further investment opportunities from same. Approximately 70% of all FDI investments won by IDA Ireland is from the existing client base. I should also point out that 72,500 people, roughly 44% of the total employment in IDA Ireland’s base of companies including those that were former clients of Shannon Development, are located outside of Dublin and Cork.
Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are working with my Department to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of enterprise agencies and the other regional stakeholders in building enterprise based on sustainable competitive advantage of the region. This exercise will complement the in-depth analysis of our FDI strategy which is currently being undertaken by Forfás and which will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI and any changes to the EU’s State Aid Rules, which will come into effect on 1 July 2014. The results of these two exercises will form the basis of IDA Ireland’s strategy from 2015 onwards.
Table showing the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits on a county by county basis from 2010 to the end of March 2014
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Carlow |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Clare |
7 |
15 |
14 |
5 |
2 |
|
Cork |
44 |
27 |
38 |
31 |
10 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
|
Dublin |
197 |
150 |
196 |
180 |
53 |
|
Galway |
41 |
35 |
18 |
15 |
4 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
Laois |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
38 |
40 |
30 |
23 |
6 |
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Louth |
25 |
26 |
12 |
4 |
3 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Meath |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
7 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
12 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
3 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
11 |
11 |
26 |
14 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
22 |
15 |
7 |
9 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total amount of grants by county paid to Enterprise Ireland-supported companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18516/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Ireland’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness with the ultimate objective of job creation. Enterprise Ireland clients are a vital source of employment in every county in Ireland.
In the context of Enterprise Ireland’s investment programme it is worth noting that in 2013, 12,532 full-time jobs were created by Enterprise Ireland assisted companies, which is an increase of 2% on the number of EI assisted jobs created in 2012.
Table 1 sets out the total payments made by Enterprise Ireland to companies in each of the 26 counties in 2012 and 2013.
These payments do not include:
- Infrastructural Clients (e.g., Universities and Institutes of Technology, Seed and Venture Funds, etc.)
- Community Enterprise Centres
- Employment Subsidy Scheme
Table 1
|
- |
2012 |
2013 |
|
County |
||
|
Carlow |
€1,575,046 |
€1,748,781 |
|
Cavan |
€1,711,863 |
€1,471,741 |
|
Clare |
€756,937 |
€1,108,584 |
|
Cork |
€18,756,360 |
€13,975,066 |
|
Donegal |
€1,580,614 |
€2,972,771 |
|
Dublin |
€32,946,358 |
€31,897,980 |
|
Galway |
€5,193,252 |
€4,694,128 |
|
Kerry |
€701,132 |
€1,411,994 |
|
Kildare |
€1,423,661 |
€2,723,124 |
|
Kilkenny |
€2,730,305 |
€1,344,022 |
|
Laois |
€333,399 |
€423,476 |
|
Leitrim |
€314,386 |
€102,679 |
|
Limerick |
€4,040,403 |
€3,088,216 |
|
Longford |
€1,336,632 |
€1,065,363 |
|
Louth |
€2,586,909 |
€2,239,886 |
|
Mayo |
€1,436,413 |
€1,480,439 |
|
Meath |
€1,079,888 |
€1,193,161 |
|
Monaghan |
€4,062,338 |
€2,251,418 |
|
Offaly |
€1,067,722 |
€832,053 |
|
Roscommon |
€451,456 |
€560,539 |
|
Sligo |
€1,189,396 |
€850,974 |
|
Tipperary |
€5,342,247 |
€3,156,055 |
|
Waterford |
€5,608,658 |
€2,427,166 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,035,028 |
€1,627,781 |
|
Wexford |
€3,844,257 |
€3,276,414 |
|
Wicklow |
€1,825,807 |
€2,070,183 |
|
Total |
€102,930,467 |
€89,993,994 |
111. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total amount of grants by county paid to Industrial Development Agency Ireland-supported companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18517/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the total amount of grants paid by IDA Ireland broken down by county in each of the years from 2007 to 2012 inclusive is set out on the tabular statement below. Figures for 2013 will not be available until the IDA Ireland Annual Accounts for 2013 have been signed off by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Total employment in IDA Ireland client companies now stands at in excess of 166,000 people, the highest level in the history of the Agency. 13,367 new jobs were created in IDA Ireland client companies in 2013. When job losses are taken into account the net increase in employment in IDA Ireland client companies was 7,071 the highest level of job creation in over a decade.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 has set a job creation target for IDA Ireland of 13,000 new jobs for the year. One of the three new Disruptive Reforms introduced in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 is the “Winning Abroad” initiative to be delivered by IDA Ireland. The key objective of the initiative is to deliver an additional 10,000 jobs (6,000 direct and 4,000 indirect) in a five year period, over and above the existing targets in set out in the Action Plan. Government has provided additional funding to IDA Ireland to enable the Agency to engage additional staff in overseas locations to capitalise on opportunities for Ireland to win additional and new forms of FDI.
To date in 2014 there have been 17 IDA announcements with the potential to create over 6,800 jobs.
Table showing IDA Ireland Grants Paid on a County Basis from 2006 to 2012
|
County |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
TOTAL |
|
Carlow |
€0 |
€553,820 |
€480,305 |
€176,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€9,503,141 |
€1,210,125 |
|
Cavan |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€143,000 |
€772,345 |
€129,778 |
€0 |
€1,045,123 |
|
Clare |
€1,089,634 |
€321,151 |
€471,682 |
€790,882 |
€762,100 |
€844,145 |
€0 |
€3,189,960 |
|
Cork |
€28,412,528 |
€10,354,690 |
€14,422,159 |
€16,585,908 |
€20,119,751 |
€15,092,610 |
€14,308,619 |
€90,883,737 |
|
Donegal |
€142,514 |
€2,334,893 |
€281,200 |
€1,253,200 |
€2,353,385 |
€354,746 |
€6,221,146 |
€12,798,570 |
|
Dublin |
€24,674,835 |
€31,603,168 |
€25,910,424 |
€29,101,843 |
€46,420,938 |
€43,043,936 |
€22,156,125 |
€198,236,434 |
|
Galway |
€9,770,224 |
€8,597,316 |
€12,218,919 |
€10,206,304 |
€9,448,677 |
€14,107,397 |
€12,252,609 |
€66,831,222 |
|
Kerry |
€53,683 |
€0 |
€42,949 |
€148,565 |
€216,450 |
€152,671 |
€2,145,004 |
€2,705,639 |
|
Kildare |
€13,357,389 |
€6,669,301 |
€10,857,083 |
€9,691,781 |
€4,981,549 |
€4,281,933 |
€1,767,566 |
€38,249,213 |
|
Kilkenny |
€0 |
€635,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€635,000 |
|
Laois |
€11,250 |
€45,708 |
€0 |
€39,000 |
€274,324 |
€21,182 |
€0 |
€380,214 |
|
Leitrim |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€28,600 |
€566,500 |
€297,622 |
€347,378 |
€1,240,100 |
|
Limerick |
€4,342,988 |
€2,046,383 |
€2,871,880 |
€5,594,812 |
€5,104,862 |
€7,801,591 |
€11,209,462 |
€34,628,990 |
|
Longford |
€1,188,500 |
€669,000 |
€678,789 |
€143,000 |
€357,000 |
€124,852 |
€0 |
€1,972,641 |
|
Louth |
€246,434 |
€348,127 |
€1,245,000 |
€282,000 |
€347,207 |
€489,051 |
€2,809,400 |
€5,520,785 |
|
Mayo |
€1,999,975 |
€61,529 |
€816,847 |
€66,007 |
€4,693,343 |
€1,198,963 |
€1,254,475 |
€8,091,164 |
|
Meath |
€45,062 |
€300,000 |
€691,066 |
€136,501 |
€524,671 |
€386,670 |
€152,240 |
€2,191,148 |
|
Monaghan |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€445,882 |
€260,000 |
€70,335 |
€0 |
€776,217 |
|
Offaly |
€8,255 |
€33,510 |
€0 |
€257,092 |
€211,870 |
€338,200 |
€8,000 |
€848,672 |
|
Roscommon |
€424,929 |
€111,687 |
€91,938 |
€77,568 |
€283,503 |
€361,000 |
€13,098 |
€938,794 |
|
Sligo |
€2,034,000 |
€377,507 |
€555,017 |
€553,787 |
€925,555 |
€852,618 |
€0 |
€3,264,484 |
|
Tipperary |
€2,617,599 |
€4,278,944 |
€2,727,287 |
€1,431,584 |
€17,755,098 |
€1,875,356 |
€0 |
€28,068,269 |
|
Waterford |
€4,642,637 |
€7,264,669 |
€4,739,590 |
€854,934 |
€1,414,402 |
€115,819 |
€1,722,808 |
€16,112,222 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,060,269 |
€1,002,499 |
€937,110 |
€1,872,257 |
€1,564,401 |
€1,443,232 |
€1,552,832 |
€8,372,331 |
|
Wexford |
€298,679 |
€1,196,487 |
€0 |
€190,078 |
€569,253 |
€3,373,513 |
€1,853,970 |
€7,183,301 |
|
Wicklow |
€296,606 |
€629,010 |
€232,593 |
€791,321 |
€513,000 |
€0 |
€48,328 |
€2,214,252 |
|
TOTAL |
€96,717,990 |
€79,434,399 |
€80,271,838 |
€80,861,906 |
€120,440,184 |
€96,757,220 |
€89,326,201 |
€626,914,808 |
112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the annual year-on-year figure for the number of PPS applications from persons domiciled in the North of Ireland and the number of PPS allocations made to persons domiciled in the North of Ireland for each year of the most recent consecutive five years for which data are available. [18383/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Personal Public Service Number is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. Section 262 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides the legislative basis for the PPS Number. Only Government Departments or public bodies authorised in legislation (or their agents) can use the PPS Number as a personal identifier. A body or agency authorised to use the PPS Number is known as a ‘specified body’.
A PPS Number is automatically issued in the case of children born in Ireland. In other cases application must be made in person at one of the Department's network of Local Offices. PPS Numbers are issued following a controlled allocation procedure, involving a personal attendance at the office, the completion of a written application form, the submission of appropriate identity documents and the proving of identity.
Statistics in relation to PPS Number allocations in terms of a customer’s declared nationality are compiled by the Department on a monthly basis. These figures are published on the Department’s website and can be found at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Personal-Public-Service-Number-Statistics-on-Numbers-Issued.aspx.
The domicile status of the applicant is not a criterion which is captured as part of the PPS Number application process. While an applicant does supply evidence of address at the time of application, this may not necessarily reflect their domicile status. It should also be noted that the address recorded as part of the application process is reflective of the place of residence of the applicant at that point in time. Therefore address data captured when allocating a PPS Number may not reflect a person’s current address.
113. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the date the independent mortgage advice function became operational; if she will provide details of the number of mortgage customers who have to date contacted the mortgage arrears information helpline; if she will provide details of the number of mortgage customers who have to date received advice from an accountant from the Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service panel of accountants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18485/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to assist people in mortgage arrears or pre-arrears in assessing their options.
The service, which differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice, has three elements:
- The website www.keepingyourhome.ie which was developed as the key online access portal for general mortgage information and advice and launched in June 2012.
- The Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline (phone 0761 074050) established in August 2012, provides general mortgage arrears information and signposting in relation to the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears and other supports available for those in mortgage arrears or pre-arrears.
- The service to provide independent financial advice to mortgage holders who are being presented with long term mortgage resolution proposals by their lenders was launched in September 2012. The advice is provided by a panel of accountants drawn from members of the main accountancy institutes in Ireland. A county by county panel with over 2000 participating accountants is in place and their details are available on www.keepingyourhome.ie. Borrowers are free to choose their own advisor from this panel and the lender will pay €250 to the accountant of the borrower’s choice for the provision of this independent financial advice.
The Central Bank collates the information relating to the number of borrowers who have availed of the independent financial advice service on a quarterly basis commencing in Quarter 1 2013. The data supplied does not relate exactly to the reporting period as there will be delays between the time the lender makes the long-term resolution offer to the borrower, the meeting with the accountant and the receipt by the lender of the invoice.
A review of the independent financial advice element of the Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was undertaken in 2013 to ensure that the service is meeting its objectives. A group comprising representatives from the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Protection was established to oversee the review. The review report has been considered by the Mortgage Arrears Implementation Steering Group and the Cabinet Committee on Mortgage Arrears and Credit Availability.
The key recommendations in the review report relate to increasing awareness among borrowers through the provision of clear and unambiguous information about the service and to increase the scope of the advice to include advice on the other mortgage debt resolution options that are now available for borrowers, so that they can fully assess their options. In that context the report recommends that consideration be given to increasing the funding for the financial advice from €250 to €500.
A stakeholder seminar was held in January 2014 to which all stakeholders were invited to discuss the recommendations of the review. An implementation plan has been prepared and discussions have commenced with the relevant stakeholders to progress the recommendations.
It is envisaged that the service will continue to be funded by the lenders and that the recommended changes to the service will be in place by the end of Quarter 2 2014.
Usage details of the services are set out in the table.
Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service
|
- |
Helpline Calls |
Visits to Keepingyourhome.ie website |
Financial Advice Service ( invoices received by lenders from accountants) |
|
August 2012 |
295 |
||
|
September 2012 |
397 |
||
|
October 2012 |
459 |
*34,157 |
|
|
November 2012 |
410 |
6,434 |
|
|
December 2012 |
259 |
8,150 |
|
|
January 2013 |
577 |
9,955 |
|
|
February 2013 |
529 |
10,073 |
|
|
March 2013 |
737 |
12,243 |
54 |
|
April 2013 |
973 |
17,813 |
|
|
May 2013 |
610 |
9,463 |
|
|
June 2013 |
504 |
10,194 |
52 |
|
July 2013 |
473 |
9,632 |
|
|
August 2013 |
590 |
12,621 |
|
|
September 2013 |
521 |
8,438 |
72 |
|
October 2013 |
641 |
12,815 |
|
|
November 2013 |
440 |
10,029 |
|
|
December 2013 |
385 |
10,063 |
119 |
|
January 2014 |
665 |
10,387 |
|
|
February 2014 |
749 |
12,239 |
|
|
March 2014 |
608 |
11,817 |
** |
|
April 2014 (to end April 4th) |
123 |
3,074 |
|
|
Total |
10,945 |
222,267 |
297 |
*Covers the period June 2012 to October 2012
** Not yet available from the Central Bank
114. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payment of farm assist in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18263/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 February 2014 together with the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer. I understand that Farm Assist is currently in payment to the person concerned. The question of arrears due to the person concerned is under appeal.
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.
115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if a student who is due to sit repeat final year exams in August can sign on from June when he or she finishes university, as he or she would be available for employment. [18277/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons who are registered as full-time students are disqualified from claiming a jobseeker’s payment and this disqualification includes the summer months except where the final year has been completed.
A person who has completed a course of study and who satisfies all the conditions for payment, which include being available for full-time work and actively looking for that level of employment, may qualify for a payment. Other conditionality also applies, for example, a required level of contributions for jobseeker’s benefit or a means assessment in the case of jobseeker’s allowance.
Where a jobseeker claim is in payment and the person is not available for work on a particular day due, for instance, to sitting an exam, the jobseeker’s payment is not made in respect of that day.
116. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedure for customer verification in changing a name following marriage when a person has a non-Irish or non-UK marriage or civil partnership certificate. [18285/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraA name can be changed following marriage or civil partnership through submission of authenticated documentation such as a either a marriage or civil partnership certificate. This applies regardless of the jurisdiction in which the marriage or civil partnership is registered.
117. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Social Protection when the gender recognition Bill will be published. [18288/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill was published on 17 July 2013, following Cabinet approval. The Bill provides for the recognition of the acquired gender of transgender people aged 18 and over and who are not married or in a civil partnership. The legislation will also facilitate persons with intersex conditions.
Once enacted, it will mean that a person who has been issued with a gender recognition certificate will have their acquired gender fully recognised by the State for all purposes – including the right to marry or enter a civil partnership in the acquired gender and the right to a new birth certificate.
Following its publication, the General Scheme of the Bill was referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. Officials from the Department of Social Protection, representative groups and legal and medical experts participated in hearings held by the Joint Oireachtas Committee in October 2013. The Committee’s Report was published in January 2014.
I have given careful consideration to the Committee’s Report and I expect that this matter will be considered at Cabinet shortly. Following Government consideration, the General Scheme of the Bill, with any agreed revisions, will be referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting with a view to the legislation being published later this year.
The Report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee will be discussed in Dáil Eireann on Friday 9 May 2014.
