Written Answers Nos. 224 - 246
224. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to study in the Gaeltacht, if he will introduce the planned Gaeltacht scholarship scheme for teachers wishing to attend Gaeltacht courses, as outlined in the 20 year strategy for the language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27255/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 -2030 contains a number of actions relating to improving the quality of Irish Teaching which need further consideration including the introduction of a Gaeltacht scholarship scheme for primary school teachers to attend intensive Gaeilge courses in the Gaeltacht. This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and will deliver on the achievable goals and targets proposed in line with available resources.
225. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the discrepancy in policy where a teacher seeking redeployment to another county has to resign his or her post in order to be eligible to apply for another county panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27260/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy seems to be referring to the redeployment arrangements at primary level. These arrangements are set out in a detailed FAQ document that is published on my Department's website. The redeployment process at primary level is a huge logistical operation. Its focus is on facilitating the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools in that area that have vacancies. Given the timelines and logistics for undertaking the annual redeployment process it is not possible to incorporate the type of voluntary transfers suggested by the Deputy into the redeployment process.
226. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the changes made to the criteria for special class provision for a school (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27322/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support students with Special Educational Needs including autism. It is also the role of the NCSE to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools in communities where the need for such classes has been identified, and also to consider and manage applications from schools to establish special classes for students with autism including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE has not made changes to the criteria for special class provision in the school in question. The NCSE through the local SENO will continue to liaise with the HSE to determine if further special class provision is required. If additional provision is required, the NCSE will establish additional special classes to meet the need for such classes in the local area.
227. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that have closed in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27333/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that a total of 18 primary schools closed between 2011 and 2013. Four primary schools closed in 2011, eight closed in 2012 and six closed in 2013. The initiative for closing a school may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management, Patron and my Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level.
228. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, due to Circular 22/2012, there is an obligation on special needs assistants to take a career break if undertaking a distance or online course in education or other subject areas, including a postgraduate diploma in education, formerly the HDip; and if so, the reasons for same stipulation in view of the hardship that it places on SNAs attempting to upskill. [27335/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Needs Assistants (SNAs) are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities, in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream national school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs arising from a disability. The first priority is that the care needs of the children are met on an ongoing basis during the school year.
In June 2012, my Department, in conjunction with the School Management Bodies and the relevant Trade Unions, agreed a Career Break Scheme for Special Needs Assistants in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools, the provisions for which are contained in Circular Letter 22/2012. The purpose of the scheme is to enable employers, wherever possible, to facilitate applicants to take time off to engage in, among other things, personal development and education (including teacher training). This scheme therefore is applicable for courses referred to by the Deputy where participants are required to attend teaching practice and be absent from the provision of care duties for significant periods of time during the school year.
229. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a community child care facility (details supplied) in County Carlow is liable to pay commercial rates when all other community child care facilities are exempt. [26937/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to point out that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and that I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, have no function in decisions in this regard.
The Valuation Act, 2001, which came into effect on 2 May 2002, provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Act. Such exempt buildings would principally include those used for public worship, education and health care provided on a not-for-profit basis, and charitable purposes. The Act maintains the long-standing position that commercial facilities - including all private childcare facilities such as play schools, preschools, crèches and Montessori schools - are liable for rates.
I am informed by the Valuation Office that the property to which the Deputy refers was the subject of a request from the occupiers for a revision of valuation in 2013 on the grounds that the operating company was a charitable organisation and that, as a consequence, should be exempt from the payment of rates. The Revision Officer appointed by the Commissioner of Valuation, on considering the Memorandum and Articles of Association submitted by the operators of the facility, found that it did not state as its main object or objects, a charitable purpose and, accordingly, it did not qualify for exemption under paragraph 16 of Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act, 2001.
The legislation is quite specific about the range of exemptions that can be allowed by the Commissioner, who is very much constrained by the legislative provisions which allow him no discretionary latitude to grant exemptions not covered by Schedule 4. His Office thoroughly examines all requests for exemption to ensure that fairness and equity are observed in the operation of the Valuation Act as it relates to the valuation of childcare facilities and all other categories of property.
230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the guidelines in relation to Heritage Ireland sites and Office of Public Works managed national monuments and national historic properties and their obligations to the local communities which they are located in or near to; if there are guidelines to ensure that parklands which have historically been accessible to local communities may continue to be so under special access rights which also place care and protection obligations upon those who seek access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27393/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that there are no guidelines, required by legislation or otherwise, of the kind referenced in the Question relating to national monuments, historic properties and parklands in the care and management of the Commissioners.
231. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 320 of 27 May 2014, the number of the 119 former Ministers he mentions who are serving Ministers. [26700/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 320 of 27 May 2014, the number of the 119 Ministers he mentions who were Ministers of State; the number who were full Ministers; and if any of the 119 are receiving or will receive more than one ministerial Oireachtas pension. [26701/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.
Under the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009, Ministerial pensions are, since the last general election (2011), no longer payable to sitting Members of the Oireachtas. In this context no serving Minister is in receipt of a Ministerial pension. Qualifying officeholders only receive one pension payment regardless of whether or not they have service both as a Minister and Minister of State - i.e. where a former Minister had previous service as a Minister of State such service is included in his/her overall pension calculation on a pro-rata basis. There is no separate payment made. It is not possible to identify former Ministers who also had service as Minister of State/Junior Minister from the database used by the Pay Master General to produce reports.
233. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the carry-over to 2015 in respect of budget expenditure measures introduced in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26713/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 12 June. Pay and non-pay expenditure measures for 2014 were set out in the Expenditure Report 2014. In relation to non-pay expenditure measures introduced in the Expenditure Report 2014, the impact in 2015 is expected to be broadly equivalent to the 2014 impact as published in the Expenditure Report.
In relation to pay expenditure measures, the Haddington Road Agreement will deliver €1 billion in total savings by the end of the agreement. Just over €760 million of these savings have already been factored into the budgetary arithmetic to the end of 2014 and the rest of the savings will arise over the remaining life of the Agreement. The bulk of the remaining savings relate to the implementation of productivity and efficiency measures in the Agreement, and decisions about using the associated cash savings will be decided in the context of the Budget.
The Government will be publishing the 2015 Budget and Estimates in October, based on the up-to-date economic and fiscal outlook at that time. It will set out the Estimates and all pay and non-pay measures as decided by Government for 2015 and the expenditure ceilings for the period to 2017.
234. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of monitoring being carried out by the Office of Government Procurement in order to determine whether the guidelines in Circular 10/14, initiatives to assist small and medium enterprises in public procurement, are being followed by Departments and local government; and if his Department will be undertaking periodic progress reports to determine if the new circular is having an appreciable effect on the number of public contracts awarded to SMEs. [26720/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting. The purpose of the new guidelines and procedures in Circular 10/14 are to ensure that engaging with government procurement is easy and low cost. The initiatives announced will open up opportunities for small businesses to bid for State business and simplify and streamline the public procurement process. They will reduce the administrative burden on businesses that want to tender for public contracts. The new Circular has been broadly welcomed by industry representative associations.
The Circular applies to all public sector bodies, such as Government Departments/Offices, local and regional authorities, the health and education sectors and non-commercial State bodies. It also applies to works and related services contracts awarded by a private entity, which are subsidised 50% or more by a public body, are covered by the EU Directives if they exceed the EU thresholds. Contracts below the EU thresholds which are funded or part-funded from public funds, awarded by private sector entities, should, as far as possible, be awarded in accordance with the national procurement guidelines.
In conjunction with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Office of Government Procurement has set up a high level group on SME access to Public Procurement. The focus of this group is to develop and monitor strategies for SME access to public procurement. The group also has regard to the Government's Action Plan for Jobs and specifically those actions aimed at maximising procurement opportunities for SME in the public sector. In addition the Office of Government Procurement, through its new governance model, including its procurement executive, will be monitoring any issues that arise from the implementation of Circular 10/14. Finally, design changes are currently being made to the eTenders national portal to capture data relating to procurement, and, in particular, data relating to contracts awarded over €25,000. It is expected that these changes will facilitate better monitoring and reporting on public procurement trends on a broad range of fronts going forward.
235. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is being provided with figures from Departments and local government to indicate the number of public contracts split into lots as recommended for some contracts under Circular 10/14: initiatives to assist small and medium enterprises in public procurement, so as to enable SMEs to compete for contracts. [26722/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department has recently finished reviewing and updating existing guidelines and procedures aimed at promoting SME participation in public procurement. Circular 10/14, launched on 17 April, sets out new initiatives aimed at opening up opportunities for small businesses to bid for State business. Amongst the measures announced, the new guidance encourages buyers to break large contracts down into lots where it is reasonable to do so to maximise participation by SMEs competing for smaller elements of these larger contracts. This should be done in a way that does not compromise efficiency or value for money or impose any undue risks on the State.
It should be pointed out that a number of the categories of goods and services may be better suited to single supplier national arrangements. However the greater use, where appropriate, of multi-supplier frameworks can address local supplier issues while also ensuring on-going cost competitiveness of the framework itself. Such multi-supplier frameworks may offer SMEs the opportunity to participate in national level contracts, thereby offering valuable reference work when competing for public procurement contracts in other jurisdictions.
Data on the splitting of tenders into lots which has been taken from the Government eTenders portal indicates that 587 tenders above the EU threshold were published between 1 January 2014 and 19 June 2014. Of these tenders, 150 were split into lots (26%). Since the publication of Circular 10/2014 on 17 April 2014, 243 tenders have been published of which 71 were split into lots (29%).
The reform of procurement across the public service is a key element of the public service reform programme. Public procurement savings enable public service organisations to deliver much-needed services from the tighter budgets within which they are now required to operate. Reforms are being carried out in a manner that recognises the clear importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in this country's economic recovery. The Office of Government Procurement will continue to work with industry to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.
236. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding has been allocated towards flood defence works at a location (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the location in question is a priority for the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27132/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that Mayo County Council submitted an application for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works to prevent water infiltration through the river walls on the left bank of the River Moy at the location referred to. The application was not approved as it is the OPW's view that other factors may be contributing to flooding at this location. The identification of these factors is being addressed in the context of the ongoing Western Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study to ensure that any mitigation measures that are proposed will deal effectively with the flood problem.
Mayo County Council has recently submitted an application for funding for repair works to parts of a flood defence wall on the opposite, right bank of the river that were damaged during the storms at the start of the year. This application is currently being assessed and the Council will be notified of the outcome shortly.
237. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding an application under the personal insolvency payments scheme in respect of a company (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27189/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Pensions Authority that this company has been deemed by them as eligible to make an application to join the Pensions Insolvency Payments Scheme (PIPS). I have not received an application to date but should one be received it will be processed in a timely fashion.
238. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will move away from the premises-linked rates calculation system for business and instead implement a profit linked system in order that businesses that can afford to pay rates pay proportionate to their performance and businesses that are struggling or new emerging businesses have less of an obstacle to survival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27327/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe basis of rateable valuation for all property is "net annual value", i.e. the rental value of the property and is set out in Part 11 of the Valuation Act, 2001. In accordance with well established valuation principles and case law, various methodologies may be used in estimating the net annual value (NAV)/rental value of the property. The most common methodology used is direct comparison with other similar properties in the same rating area. Changing the basis of assessment from net annual value/rental value to business profit or trading performance as such would most likely change individual ratepayer liabilities and would fundamentally change rates from being a local commercial property charge to a local business tax based on profit.
The levying of rates on commercial property by reference to profit rather than valuation would be a significant change and a departure from the long-standing practice of levying rates by reference to property values. There are already taxes in place which are levied on business turnover/profit, i.e. VAT and income/corporation taxes and the adoption of such a system for rating purposes would not be suitable because turnover and profit can vary significantly from year to year and within and between the various business sectors which would lead to an unstable and volatile valuation base. Therefore, I have no plans to change the method by which valuations are assessed for rating as such a radical move would represent a significant departure from the long-standing practice of levying rates solely by reference to property values.
It is important to acknowledge that commercial rates, as a source of revenue, and the rating system generally, are deeply embedded in the local government system. Rates income is a very important contribution to the cost of services provided by local authorities such as roads, public lighting, development control, parks and open spaces. All rates collected within a local authority area are spent exclusively in delivering the public services which are required locally to create the environment in which businesses can prosper. Locally elected members adopt the annual rate on valuation (ARV) they consider necessary in order to provide the required services. Rates are a stable source of financing for local government which is not affected unduly by short-term changes in economic circumstances. A system having regard to economic factors on an ongoing basis would create uncertainty by providing for continuous change to the valuation base. Such a system would not provide a stable basis for funding local government and would require significant additional resources to operate.
In recent years, local authorities have been asked by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to exercise restraint in setting the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) and they have responded positively in this regard. The Government recognises that these are difficult economic times for many businesses. It will continue to keep all matters relating to rates under regular consideration and it is determined that every avenue will be pursued to optimise efficiency, and contain and reduce costs in the local government sector.
239. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has reviewed its gender equality policy as published in 2001; his views that a policy published 13 years ago should be the subject of a fundamental review to assess its effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27396/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra240. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has reviewed its policy on diversity in the Civil Service as first published in 2002; his views that a policy published 12 years ago should be the subject of a fundamental review to assess its effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27397/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
My Department is responsible for the Civil Service Gender Equality Policy and the Diversity Policy. Substantial progress has been made in relation to the objectives set out in the Civil Service Gender Equality Policy and the Diversity Policy which were reviewed in 2006, in particular, in relation to the specific targets set by Government to address the gender imbalance at higher levels and to provide information on the work being done at Departmental and Office level to address equality issues. Subsequently the policy approach in this area has been guided and informed by key national strategies in the area of gender equality.
My Department continues to review our targets on a regular basis, in line with the targets included in the National Women's Strategy 2007-2016. In that Strategy the original targets for the percentage of women in the grades of Assistant Principal (33.3%) and Principal Officer (27%) in the Civil Service have already been well exceeded for both grades. At the end of 2013, the female percentage in the Assistant Principal grade was 43% and the female percentage in the Principal Officer grade was 35%. Earlier this year, the Strategy set new targets for the Civil Service of 40% women in both grades and while we are already at the target for the Assistant Principal grade we will continue to work to achieve the target in the Principal Officer grade.
A further key strategy in gender equality is the wide availability of flexible working practices. In this regard work-life balance arrangements in the Civil Service are among the best available options provided by Irish employers, particularly when considered in tandem with annual leave and other provisions. Civil servants continue to have access to a number of flexible working arrangements including flexi-time, work-sharing arrangements, the shorter working year scheme and career breaks.
The Civil Service Gender Equality Policy is underpinned by current equality legislation and requires individual Departments to set strategic objectives and equality goals in each Department's Strategy Statement, including goals for increasing women's representation, particularly at the higher management levels. The inclusion of such goals in each Department's Strategy Statement is a key element in the achievement of gender equality in the Civil Service.
My officials also engage on a regular basis with the Unions through the Equality sub committee of General Council to discuss matters relating to equality generally, including both the Gender and Diversity Policies. The Civil Service is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices and will continue to monitor female participation at all levels in the Civil Service and support the increased participation of women.
241. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the survey on racism undertaken by the Public Service Executive Union which revealed that 61% of respondents do not know if their employer has an equality policy with a specific anti-racism component, 68% report that their employers' policies are not well known at all, 3.5% report being the subject of discrimination in the workplace based on race, 4.5% report witnessing a colleague being the subject of discrimination in the workplace based on race, 7% report witnessing a client or customer being subjected to racist remarks or behaviour, 26% witnessed racist remarks by colleagues about clients or customers, 60% do not know if their Department offers training dealing with anti-racism and intercultural issues, and 20% report having been offered training to deal with anti-racism and inter-cultural issues; if his attention has been drawn to any guidance issued by the union to its members to counter incidences of racist behaviour in the workplace; and the steps, if any, his Department will take to address the issue highlighted in the PSEU survey. [27398/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the PSEU Survey on anti racism and inter-culturalism in the Civil Service which was carried out in 2012. As an employer, the Civil Service is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices. My Department has produced a Diversity Policy for the Civil Service entitled 'Diversity in the Civil Service - A Policy on Equality of Opportunity'. This policy aims to ensure that all Government Departments are aware of their responsibilities, in particular under the Equality Acts and Equal Status Acts, and sets out that equality of opportunity means that, in employment, no-one will receive less favourable treatment than someone else on a number of grounds including race. It also set out that it means creating a working environment in which differences are respected and in which people - staff, clients and customers - are valued as individuals.
The Head of each Civil Service organisation has responsibility for the effective implementation of the Policy. As evidenced by the PSEU survey, many Departments have taken initiatives in the area of anti-racism including training programmes which have components related to anti-racism measures. In addition, officials from my Department meet with the Civil Service Unions through the Equality sub committee of General Council on a regular basis. This sub committee discusses a broad range of matters relating to equality and diversity.
242. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the precise role and responsibilities of the NSAI legal metrology service in respect of verifying the accuracy of the weighing equipment used in meat plants and at live export premises-lairages for the weighing of cattle, sheep and pigs for the purpose of purchasing these animals from farmers; the number of checks undertaken across all of the premises for each species of animal over the period 2009 to 2013, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26580/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraNSAI Legal Metrology Service is responsible for implementation of the Metrology Acts 1980-1996 and related Regulations. It does this through certifying and inspecting measurement instruments and the quantities in pre-packaged products. A wide range of scales, including carcass weighers, platform weighers, bench weighers and animal weighbridges, are subject to legal metrological control when used for trade purposes such as in meat processing plants and marts.
The Metrology Act 1996 and Legal Metrology (General) Regulations 2008, provide that only nationally approved instruments or instruments that have undergone European conformity assessment and bear the CE mark can be used for trade. The primary responsibility for design approval and conformity assessment rests with the manufacturer. The trader is obliged to ensure that only such a measuring instrument is used for trade and that it is correct and verified at all times. Re-verification must be carried out after the instrument has been repaired, re-calibrated or failed inspection. The process of re-verification involves establishing that the instrument complies with regulations, in particular, testing for accuracy against applicable measurement tolerances and the application of tamper evident seals.
In order to ensure sufficient resources are available for traders to keep their instruments in compliance, the Director of Legal Metrology has authorised private operators, subject to specific conditions, under Section 12 of the 1996 Act, to undertake verifications at the request of the instrument owner.
To monitor compliance, NSAI Legal Metrology inspectors, operating out of seven offices countrywide, carry out inspections of measuring instruments at meat processing plant and marts on the basis of risk-based enforcement. Details of visits and inspections undertaken for the years 2009 to 2013 are given in the table. However, records do not differentiate between weighing equipment by species of animal. NSAI continues to review its enforcement strategy on the basis of inspection information allocating resources as necessary to the areas of highest risk. For the present it does not have any major concerns about measuring instruments used for animal weighing.
I also understand from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that its Officers carry out unannounced checks of weighing equipment in beef abattoirs during routine control inspections concerning beef carcass classification.
|
Year |
Premises Visited |
Instruments Inspected |
|
2009 |
39 |
135 |
|
2010 |
71 |
303 |
|
2011 |
67 |
301 |
|
2012 |
60 |
125 |
|
2013 |
33 |
97 |
243. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the below cost selling of farm produce, such as the 3 cent vegetable sales last Christmas; the way he plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26597/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector and this will be met by way of enabling powers to regulate certain practices in the grocery good sector. These are contained in the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill which is currently before the House.
I am strongly of the view that it is important to ensure there is balance in the relationship between the various players in the grocery goods sector and that Ireland continues to have robust agri-food and retail sectors, particularly given the importance of these sectors to the national economy. Regulation of certain practices in the grocery goods sector is intended to achieve such a balance taking into account the interests of all stakeholders in the grocery goods sector including the interests of the consumer and the need to ensure that there is no impediment to the passing-on of lower prices to consumers. Certain practices in the grocery goods sector will be regulated by way of Statutory Instrument which I will introduce in the form of a series of regulations after the Bill is enacted into law.
The new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will have responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of these regulations However, it must be pointed out that in enforcing any regulations, the basic tenets of fair procedure and natural and constitutional justice must be upheld.
Finally, it is important to note that the introduction of any regulations does not, and cannot, guarantee anything in relation to the prices received by any given link in the supply chain. Negotiations on price will remain an issue between the contracting parties as happens in any commercial relationship. What the new regulations will be intended to achieve is to regulate certain practices, not set prices.
244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has read the recently published Mazars report regarding small and medium-sized enterprises; the action required arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26677/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that I have read the recent Mazars report titled "How to Be A Stand Out SME" and I participated in the launch of the report last month. The report was prepared to provide analysis, insights, learnings and guidance to SMEs no matter where in the world they operate. The Mazars report goes on to explore what it takes to achieve levels of superior performance, to compete in the market place and effectively stand out from the crowd.
There are 21 million SMEs across the EU, 92% of which are micro enterprises. Some of the key findings of the study relate to building financial resilience and ensuring SMEs look beyond local or regional markets. The Deputy will be aware that this Government is maintaining its focus on assisting our SMEs to establish, scale and export, with a view to driving economic recovery and creating jobs across the country.
SMEs have a critical role to play in both our domestic economy and in international markets and that is why almost all of the actions contained in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 will impact on the SME sector generally or specific groups of SMEs. Actions around access to finance, the skills agenda, support for research and innovation, support for management development and other capacity building measures are set out in the Action Plan. Sector specific actions covering food and drink, retail, construction, tourism, creative services, eHealth and the Green Economy aim to provide new opportunities for SMEs to win business both here and abroad.
Just some of the measures introduced by this Government to assist SMEs to date, include the establishment of the Local Enterprise Offices; improving access to finance through the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Microenterprise Loan Fund Scheme, and the establishment later this year of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland; the development of an online tool which details the different government supports available to SMEs; supporting a pilot SME financial capability programme and supporting SMEs in developing an online presence which is vital in order to maximise their export potential. It is my intention to shortly publish a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement which will complement the existing business support initiatives in order to ensure that the operating environment is more coherent, responsive and conductive to entrepreneurship.
The hard work undertaken by this Government has already begun to bear some fruit with domestic demand showing signs of growth in the past year and our competitiveness rankings continuing to improve from 24 in 2011 to 15 in 2014, according to IMD's World Competitiveness Yearbook. In addition Forbes magazine recently named Ireland as the best country in the world in which to do business.
Finally I wish to point out that much of the information relied upon by Mazars in their Report was contained in the Small Business Act Profile for Ireland for 2013, which scores each Member State in the European Union on its delivery of the European Small Business Act. In 2013 Ireland was found to be in positive territory in relation to 9 of the 10 measures identified by the Commission in the implementation of the Small Business Act. I am confident that the Commission will once again find that Ireland has a positive Small Business Act Profile for 2014, when the Report is published later this year.
245. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26704/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26705/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
The Forfás Strategy for the Manufacturing Sector, which I commissioned and which was published last year, identified that an additional 20,000 jobs can be created in the sector by 2016. To this end, the enterprise agencies and other relevant players have been tasked with working to enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing in Ireland by working with companies and implementing the recommendations in the Strategy. That sector lost 50,000 jobs in the years up to 2010 but at the end of 2013, there were a total of 215,900 people directly employed in the sector, which was an increase of 10,000 on the numbers identified at the time the Strategy was published. This sector also supports a similar number of jobs indirectly. The Strategy does not identify specific location around the country for the expansion of the sector. In addition to that Strategy, I also initiated another, complementary, research project on issues relating to skills needs, and that report entitled “The Future Skills Needs of the Manufacturing Sector to 2020 ” was published by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs/Forfás at the same time. Implementation of this report is also in hand
A particularly attractive feature of manufacturing in Ireland is the fact that many of the present jobs are not in the main urban areas, but dispersed into regional locations, thereby providing a valuable employment focus in areas where alternative jobs are scarce. The further development of the sector will, of course, build on this key feature.
Key tasks from both reports have been incorporated into the Action Plan for Jobs, which includes a series of actions to develop the sector. It is also relevant that the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. I intend that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the Midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of this Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops. My aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.
In addition, IDA Ireland’s current 5 year strategy "Horizon 2020" expires at the end of 2014 and the agency is currently in the process of developing a new strategy from 2015 onwards. To assist in the development of such a strategy I have asked Forfás to undertake an in depth analysis of Ireland’s FDI strategy to take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI and the changes in EU state aid rules, which come into effect on I July 2014. These two exercises will form the basis of IDA Ireland’s strategy from 2015 onwards.
