Written Answers Nos. 84-89
84. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the net number of new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Kerry in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7522/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Ireland is the agency under my aegis to help companies throughout Ireland start and scale, innovate and remain competitive on international markets. The companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a vital source of employment in every county and region across Ireland.
In 2014, EI assisted companies generated 19,705 new jobs. This resulted in a net increase of 8,476 in the total number of people employed by Enterprise Ireland supported companies, the highest net gain in the history of the Agency.
In terms of their overall contribution to the economy, Enterprise Ireland clients account for over €20 billion in expenditure in the Irish economy and support more than 300,000 jobs (direct and indirect) in Ireland – this is equivalent to approximately 16% of the total workforce.
Employment data for Enterprise Ireland is collected annually as part of the Annual Employment Survey which measures the number of jobs in Agency assisted client companies.
Table 1 identifies the net number of new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Kerry for the period 2005-2014.
Table 1 Kerry Net Change in employment 2005 to 2014
|
Kerry |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Job Gains |
103 |
128 |
281 |
359 |
269 |
223 |
154 |
247 |
398 |
430 |
|
Job Losses |
135 |
94 |
448 |
447 |
564 |
213 |
144 |
184 |
233 |
481 |
|
Total change |
(32) |
34 |
(167) |
(88) |
(295) |
10 |
10 |
63 |
165 |
(51) |
85. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding start-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7633/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny barriers to entrepreneurship are of concern to this Government and we have studiously addressed this issue since March 2011.
In October 2014 I published the first ever National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement which sets out the Government's strategic objectives in key areas that impact on entrepreneurs and startups, and signposts the direction which policy will take in the coming years. The Policy Statement highlights that it is essential that entrepreneurs are not inhibited or discouraged by red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy. The Government has committed to continue with focused work on key areas such as reducing the administrative burdens facing startups, including the length of time it takes to register a new business and the burden of applying for licences.
Work is ongoing to significantly reduce the time and cost of company incorporations. Over the past three years alone the Companies Registration Office (CRO) has reduced processing time i.e. maximum number of days to register a new company by three days and the cost of registration by one third, achievements due to augmenting its online business registration facility. In 2013, the average processing time was 13 days. The target for 2015 is 7 days.
My Department's reduction of administrative burdens on business by 25% between 2008 and 2012 will benefit all businesses, but especially startup, micro and small businesses, for whom the burden of regulation is proportionally higher, due to their small size.
Successful initiatives include:
- Company Law, savings of €82.5 million per annum have already been realised, more than €33 million of which are due to the work of the Companies Registration Office (CRO), as companies can submit their annual returns online via the CRO website and can now use digital signatures for the B1 Form and Accounts.
- In Health & Safety Law, a total of €124 million in annual administrative savings for business has been delivered by the HSA via two key projects: the BeSMART online tool for preparing the Risk Assessment and Safety Statement (€60m), and the SMP20 Guidelines (€64m), which assist construction firms with fewer than 20 employees in establishing and maintaining an effective safety management system.
An integrated licensing system will also be introduced. A key goal of the proposed system is to support the licence application process through the provision of a single portal or website through which businesses will be able to apply for, and renew, a multiplicity of licences. The new licensing system will be developed for the retail sector in the first instance and rolled out to other sectors of the economy thereafter.
With regard to registering for tax, customer service standards for business tax registration require that 100% of such applications are completed within 5 working days, with the exception of 10 working days for VAT registration applications. In order to facilitate the prompt and efficient registration of business taxes, Revenue's online eRegistration system includes services for the online registration and cancellation of a number of business taxes. In all applications made through eRegistration with the exception of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Relevant Contract Tax (RCT), registration and risk assessment is an automated process which is completed within a single overnight period.
86. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7405/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from the 1st May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks in respect of the 2014 scheme year an issue was identified in relation to the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources. This issue has now been resolved and all validations have now been successfully completed. The 75% payment in respect of 2014 will issue shortly and the balancing 25% payment will issue thereafter.
87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7424/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was one of a number of applicants under the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 and who applied for derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently submitted additional information to my Department, which following review unfortunately did not provide sufficient reasons to accept the application. The person named has previously been notified of the outcome in writing and advised of the option to appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman should he so wish. I have arranged for my Department to issue a copy of this letter to the person named for his information.
88. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is not receiving payments for 2014 under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7448/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2014. Payment has not issued as yet, as the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. Immediately the holding is identified as meeting these requirements, the application will be further processed with a view to payment at the earliest possible date.
89. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the 2014 Rural Environment Protection Scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7449/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. During the administrative checks in 2014 an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Farm Payment application for 2014 and the REPS agri-environmental plan which required further clarification. This issue has now been resolved and the REPS payment for 2014 is now being processed and should issue shortly.
