Written Answers Nos. 108-128
108. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if his Department held meetings separate to the management advisory committee meetings which were attended by either him or the Minister of State and the management advisory committee; if so, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of such meetings that occurred in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47870/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra109. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings which were held for each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings that were attended by him, the Minister of State, the political adviser, the Secretary General and the titles of all other attendees in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47886/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.
The details in respect of each meeting of my Department's Management Advisory Committee (MAC) in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 were given in the written question number 132 on 2nd December 2014.
In addition to these meetings of the Management Advisory Committee, there are frequent meetings in many different formats attended by me, Ministers of State in my Department, political advisors and members of the MAC on an ongoing basis. These meetings include Cabinet Committees, the Economic Management Council and briefings on matters related to the work of my Department.
110. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the reason the National Economic and Social Council is still devoid of any representation from the small and medium-sized enterprise sector; the way the concerns and interests of the self-employed and small business are represented on the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47918/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAppointments to the National Economic and Social Council are made in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 603 of 2010).
In accordance with these provisions, the Council currently includes four members nominated by business and employer interests (including IBEC, Chambers of Commerce Ireland and the CIF), as well as nominees from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. The Council also includes independent members and representatives of a number of Government Departments. The arrangements for nomination and appointment of members will be considered again when the Council next falls to be reappointed.
111. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the working group on regulating sponsorship by alcohol companies of major sporting events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47919/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Interdepartmental Working Group on Regulating Sponsorship by Alcohol Companies of Major Sporting Events has met five times. The Group has been asked to consider the value, evidence, feasibility and implications (including the public health consequences for children and young people) of regulating sponsorship by alcohol companies of major sporting events, and to consider alternative sources of funding for sporting organisations to replace potential lost revenue arising from any such regulation. As part of its work the Working Group identified information gaps, and subsequently held a consultation process seeking relevant information from interested parties. 19 submissions were received in response to this request and these are available on the Department's website.
The Group expects to finalise its report before the end of the year and it will then be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform.
112. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide the names of the persons he and Ministers of State in his Department will meet on these trips; the purpose of the trips; the duration of the trips; if there are plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48039/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following are the details of my official travel and those of the Ministers of State in my Department, confirmed to date between now and the end of 2015.
I propose to attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland from 21-23 January 2015 where my main focus will be to promote Ireland as a location for investment and trade. As in previous years, I will attend an event organised by the IDA, for senior executives of major international companies, to promote Ireland as a location for international business, investment and expansion.
I hope to travel to the USA in March 2015 as part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The programme is currently under consideration and has yet to be confirmed. As with all of my visits to the USA, the focus will be on promoting investment, bilateral trade and job creation in Ireland.
My EU engagements for the end of 2014 and the first half of 2015 include attendance at European Council meetings with Heads of State and Government and attendance at informal meetings of EU Heads of State and Government in Brussels. Dates of the Council engagements for the Luxembourg Presidency for the second half of 2015 are not yet known.
The meetings confirmed are
18/19 Dec (European Council Brussels)
12/13 February (European Council Brussels)
19/20 March (European Council Brussels)
25/26 June (European Council Brussels)
Mr. Dara Murphy T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for EU and Data protection will also attend the European Council meetings as well as the meetings set out:
20 January (General Affairs Council Brussels)
10 February (General Affairs Council Brussels)
12/13 March (Justice and Home Affairs Council Brussels)
16 March (Foreign Affairs Council Brussels)
17 March (General Affairs Council Brussels)
21 April (General Affairs Council Luxembourg)
19 May (General Affairs Council Brussels)
11/12 June (Justice and Home Affairs Council Luxembourg)
23 June (General Affairs Council Luxembourg)
Minister Murphy will also undertake a programme of bilateral visits throughout 2015, details of which are being finalised.
The Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan T.D., will travel to London and Birmingham on 15-16 January. The purpose of the trip is to engage with the Irish Communities in these cities, including members of the business community.
The Minister will also travel to Washington on 21-22 January where he will have a series of meetings on the issue of US Immigration Reform. While the Minister’s main role is to engage with Irish communities overseas, in those contacts and others, he will avail of every opportunity that arises to promote Ireland as a good place to do business and as a destination for foreign direct investment.
Mr. Simon Harris T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for the OPW, Public Procurement and International Banking, proposes to attend the Asia Finance Forum in Hong Kong on 19-20 January 2015. He is travelling there to promote Ireland as a hub for international financial services, to undertake an intensive round of engagements with existing and prospective IDA clients, and to explore opening new markets for EI clients both in the area of financial services and more generally. He will also attend the Ecofin Budget Council in Brussels in November, 2015
Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Defence, does not have any plans for official travel between now and the end of 2015.
113. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Taoisigh an bhfuil iniúchadh déanta fós ar na poist agus na réimsí oibre ina mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Bhéarla agus sa Ghaeilge ag teastáil, de réir mar a thug an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe treoir don Roinn a dhéanamh; má tá an t-iniúchadh déanta, cad é líon agus cad iad céimeanna na bpost atá i gceist; cén líon de na poist sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla ann cheana féin; cén plean atá ann chun na poist eile a líonadh le daoine a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu; cén cháilíocht Gaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48381/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDíríonn obair mo Roinne go príomha ar dhéileálacha leis an Rialtas agus le ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí eile rialtais. Mar thoradh air sin, ní thugaimid leibhéal mór éilimh faoi deara ón bpobal ar sheirbhísí i nGaeilge.
Thug roinnt comhaltaí foirne i mo Roinn le fios go bhfuil roinnt inniúlachta acu sa Ghaeilge agus tá siad inniúil go leor chun réimse seirbhísí a sholáthar i nGaeilge ar chéimeanna áirithe. As na comhaltaí seo, sannadh beirt oifigeach a bhfuil ardleibhéal inniúlachta acu chun seirbhísí a sholáthar don phobal i nGaeilge, agus is leor an líon oifigeach seo chun freastal ar an éileamh reatha.
Aithníonn mo Roinn an tábhacht a bhaineann le líon foirne a bheith ann a bhfuil líofacht acu sa Ghaeilge agus a bhfuil de chumas acu seirbhísí a sholáthar i nGaeilge. I gcomhréir le beartas an Rialtais, sonrófar i scéimeanna teanga amach anseo de chuid mo Roinne, faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, na poist ag a bhfuil riachtanas inniúlachta Gaeilge.
114. Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Waterford who have claimed the back to work enterprise allowance for the self-employed over the past four years. [48317/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of companies and persons based in County Waterford who have successfully taken up the employer job incentive scheme in the past three years. [48322/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
The Back to Work schemes, the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) assist those on certain social welfare payments who wish to become self-employed. The number of jobseekers who have received support since 2010 was 316 in 2010, 412 in 2011, 378 in 2012 and 344 in 2013.
JobsPlus was introduced by the Department of Social Protection in July 2013. JobsPlus replaced two schemes, one operated by the Revenue Commissions - Revenue JobAssist, and the PRSI Exemption Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection. JobsPlus is designed to provide an accessible cash incentive for employers recruiting longer-term unemployed jobseekers. To date, 75 individual companies are receiving support under JobPlus in County Waterford in respect of 120 employees. Precise annual data is not available in respect of the PRSI exemption scheme; however, 75 companies in Waterford availed of the scheme in the years 2010 to mid-2013.
116. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position on a disability benefit application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if an appeal is open on the application; and the timeline for the processing of the application. [47715/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20th November 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The current average processing time taken to process disability allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 20.09 weeks and 27.00 weeks for appeals decided following 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
117. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants under 25 years of age who commenced a JobBridge internship in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47724/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra3,160 people under 25 years of age commenced a JobBridge internship in 2013, out of more than 11,000 internships that commenced in that year.
120. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants under 25 years of age who commenced a community employment placement in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47727/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of participants under 25 years of age who commenced a Community Employment (CE) placement in 2013 was 426.
The general minimum age for entry to CE is 25 years, but certain qualifying categories can access CE from 18 years of age, i.e. persons in receipt of a disability-linked social welfare payment, Travellers, refugees, offshore islanders, ex-offenders and those referred to CE under the national drug rehabilitation protocols.
124. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance appeal will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47745/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20th November 2014, 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
