Written Answers Nos. 249 -264
249. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the State enterprise body that a business (details supplied) with an expansion opportunity should make contact with for support; the supports that may be available in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEOs are the first-stop-shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the small & micro-enterprise sector. The LEOs are the first port of call in terms of advice, training, sign posting to other support providers and, in certain circumstances, grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business.
The LEOs themselves provide a range of financial and non-financial supports to help enterprises at start-up or during business expansion phases. It should be noted, though, that the LEOs generally only grant assist enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, which over time can develop into strong export entities. However, there are other non-financial supports available, such as mentoring and training, and the LEO staff can advise as to which supports would be most appropriate to an enterprise's situation.
In addition, any business can use the LEOs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland (MFI), which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-up, newly established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. The Fund available to MFI has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal. Applications for the Microfinance Fund should be channelled through the local LEO. Further information can be found on the LEO website at www.localenterprise.ie.
Businesses can also access the new online search tool for SME business supports that was launched last May. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible.
The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is available at: www.actionplanforjobs.ie
The SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) was launched in October 2012 in response to numerous calls from business interests. It is a novel Scheme in an Irish context which is continuing to develop a position in the Irish financial arena. The Scheme was introduced by the Government, in the context of its work in restructuring the Irish banking system, and to assist viable SMEs on the margins of commercial lending decisions in accessing credit. It provides a 75% State guarantee to banks against losses on qualifying loans to micro, small and medium enterprises with growth and job creation potential. The Scheme will facilitate up to €150 million of additional lending to eligible SMEs per annum. The main purpose of the scheme is to encourage additional lending to SMEs, not to substitute for conventional lending that will otherwise have taken place. Bank of Ireland, AIB and Ulster Bank are participating in the Scheme and any business seeking to avail of the Scheme can approach these banks.
250. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on holding public consultation sessions in counties Galway and Mayo to assist in the development of a regional enterprise strategy for the west; and if he will ensure that the strategy takes into account the different challenges across the region. [10452/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast month, the Government announced details of the Action Plan for Jobs: Regional initiative which will seek to maximise the strengths and assets of each region to support enterprise growth and job creation. The Regional Action Plans will identify specific measures that can be taken to help each region to realise its economic potential, with a view to increasing the number of people at work in the region.
My objective is that six Regional Action Plans, including one for the West region, will be launched by July, with two remaining Plans in development at that stage.
In developing the Regional Action Plans, my Department, assisted by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, will be consulting with key stakeholders in each region. As part of the consultation process, a Stakeholder Forum, involving a broad cross-representation from the business sector, the private sector and the wider community, will be held in each region. The Stakeholder Forum for the West region will take place in Galway on 23 March and will involve participants from counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon.
The objective of the Stakeholder Forum will be to identify the strengths and opportunities of the region which can be built on to support enterprise growth and job creation in the region. There will, inevitably, be different challenges across the region, as well as different opportunities. The focus of the regional Action Plan will be on identifying actions that can be taken to overcome the challenges and maximise the opportunities of the region.
There will also be a facility to submit proposals for consideration for the Regional Action Plan to a dedicated mailbox in my Department.
251. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an education review office is proposed for the manned security industry; if the membership of the joint labour committee, dealing with this issue, will be identified; the nature of any representations that he has had on this matter; if he considers the time right for the re-introduction of an education review office in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10468/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the Deputy’s question relates to the current proposal for an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the Security sector. In January 2014, Orders were signed to effect recommendations of the Labour Court Review of the Joint Labour Committee System (JLC), including that relating to the continuation of a JLC in the Security Sector. Subsequently the Labour Court appointed members to that JLC. Before the members were appointed, the Labour Court consulted with IBEC, ICTU and the two employer bodies most associated with the security sector – the National Union of Security Employers (NUSE) and the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) who all nominated representatives for membership of the JLC. Having considered the names put forward by those organisations the current members of the JLC were appointed on 12 May 2014.
|
Employer Representatives |
Nominated by |
|
Bill Brown |
NUSE |
|
Brian Doyle |
NUSE |
|
Noel Fitzpatrick |
NUSE |
|
Alan Durnan |
ISIA |
|
John O’Donoghue |
ISIA |
|
Jim Dolan |
ISIA |
|
Employee Representatives |
Nominated by |
|
Gary Smith |
ICTU |
|
Ed Kenny |
ICTU |
|
Peadar Nolan |
ICTU |
|
Ian Black |
ICTU |
|
Tony Prior |
ICTU |
|
Christy Waters |
ICTU |
The Chairperson and Independent Member (and Chairperson in the absence of the Chair) are Anna Perry and Michael Keegan respectively, who are Industrial Relations Officers with the Labour Relations Commission.
The Court, both from its own knowledge and from a review of the Annual Report of the Private Security Authority, decided on the composition of the Committee.
I understand that the employer bodies represented on the Committee employ approximately 11,500 of the 14,700 employees that work in the sector and the employee representatives on the Committee represent approximately 5,500 of those employed in the sector. In this regard, it should be borne in mind that one of the purposes in general of the Employment Regulation Orders is to give protection to employees who are not otherwise represented.
In formulating possible proposals that might form the basis of an Order, the Security JLC is obliged to consider the criteria as set out in Section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act 1946, as amended, in formulating the proposals, and the Committee's consideration of these criteria is encapsulated in the Report of the Chairman which will accompany the proposals, if any, when they are submitted to the Labour Court.
Notice of the making of the proposals was published in the Legal Notices sections of three national daily newspapers, the Irish Times, Irish Independent and Examiner. They were also published on the Workplace Relations website. Submissions on the proposals were sought from interested parties.
If, after consideration of any submissions received, the Committee adopts the proposals it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. If the Court decides they should be adopted it will forward a copy of the proposals to the Minister, who, if it is considered appropriate to do so, will make an Order giving effect to them.
Representations have been received from a number of employers in the Security sector expressing concern at the proposals under consideration at the moment for an ERO governing terms and conditions of workers in that sector. Those employers have had an opportunity to raise their concerns directly with the JLC during the consultation process.
JLCs and the Labour Court are independent of the Minister in the carrying out of their respective functions. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in a process that is governed by statute.
252. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency sponsored companies, located in County Donegal, as a result of the six sponsored visits carried out by the agency, in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10494/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to specific locations in Ireland are only part of the long and complicated process involved in attracting foreign direct investment to this country. These site visits may take place at the beginning or end of the process and in some cases there are no site visits involved. Site visits, when they do occur, involve new companies visiting a location for the first time and senior executives of existing companies. For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, the IDA Ireland does not comment publicly on the success rate of such site visits.
While these site visits contribute to investment approvals and the creation of jobs, there is not always a direct correlation between site visits made and jobs created in any given year. It is important also to acknowledge the natural time lag between a decision being made to invest and that investment coming on stream. The time lag can be between 3 and 5 years in some cases. That time is required for such activities as locating and acquiring a suitable site for the company’s operations, constructing a facility, installing machinery and the recruitment and training of suitable staff.
The level of investment coming on stream is best captured in the number of jobs created in any given year as recorded in the Annual Employment Survey which shows that employment in IDA Ireland Client companies in Donegal rose from 2,106 in 2011 to 2,612 in 2014 an increase of over 20%. Indeed, the Quarterly Household Survey shows that in the past two years unemployment in the Border area, which includes Donegal, has fallen from 16.5% in Q4 2012 to 10% in Q4 2014.
As a Government, we are determined to ensure that every region in the country will benefit from recovery and we recently announced details of the Action Plan for Jobs-Regional initiative which will seek to maximise the strengths and assets of each region to support enterprise growth and job creation. The objective is that six Regional Action Plans will be launched by July, with two remaining Strategies in development at that stage.
Additionally the Government will provide up to €250 million over five years in additional capital funding to support regional enterprise development. This includes the roll out of a five year, €150 million property investment programme by IDA Ireland to attract foreign direct investment into the regions. This programme will build on the recent investment in or by delivery of a number of advance manufacturing and office facilities by the Agency in regional locations, including Letterkenny. A further sum of up to €100 million will be available to Enterprise Ireland to support enterprises in the regions to start-up, grow and export, thereby creating more jobs in regional locations.
I also recently launched IDA Ireland’s new strategy for the 5 year period 2015 to 2019. In that Strategy the Agency set itself a target of winning 900 investments over the 5 year period and of increasing the level of investments won into in each region by between 30% and 40% during the lifetime of the Strategy.
253. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly, under the 2008 single payment scheme and other area related schemes, in view of the fact that the person was informed on 16 May 2014 that the appeal was successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10022/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is making arrangements for any monies due, as a result of the outcome of the Agriculture Appeals Office appeal, to be issued to the person named shortly.
254. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to recent Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine eligibility land parcel identification system inspections on extensive farmland, his views on the potential environmental, economic, and social consequences for rural Ireland, as outlined in correspondence (details supplied) to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, recently published by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association, supported by a range of environmental organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10478/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department makes payments in excess of €1.5 billion annually to over 130,000 farmers in Ireland under EU funded or partially funded Direct Aid Schemes. This level of funding is vital for the maintenance of the rural economy. Therefore, it is important that the provisions of the governing EU Regulations are adhered to in the application of these Schemes.
I can also confirm that in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2014 and of other relevant regulations, Member States may decide that land which can be grazed and which forms part of established local practices where grasses and other herbaceous forage are traditionally not predominant in grazing areas is to be considered to be permanent grassland. The areas as described, excluding established scrub and ungrazed heather will, in general terms, be eligible under the Basic Payment Scheme provided there is evidence of an agricultural activity being carried out. In reality, such areas were already eligible in Ireland under the Single Payment Scheme provided that there was a farming activity on the land and this remains the position under the Basic Payment Scheme. The agricultural activity required must be appropriate to the type of land involved and should ensure that the area eligible for payment remains in this state.
255. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department imposed penalties and exclusions on entitlements under the single payment scheme for those areas of ground where trees were felled during the storms in 2014; if his Department provided reasonable time in all cases to landowners to have storm damage cleared to avoid penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9920/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to benefit from payment under the Single Payment Scheme (now replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme) farmers must declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held. The EU Regulations do, however, provide for issues that impact on the area declared, which arise and are outside of the control of the farmer. This is known as force majeure or exceptional circumstances. These circumstances can take into account the impact of weather conditions including damage caused by storms. Where such cases arise, they are examined on their individual merits and where circumstances allow, my Departmental will apply force majeure where non-compliances are caused by factors beyond the farmer’s control. Where temporary damage has, for example, been caused as a result of storms, the farmers involved are given the opportunity and sufficient time to undertake any remedial works necessary to rectify the non-compliance. Following the severe storms in early 2014, my Department made it clear to farmers that this was the position.
If the damage was permanent, the farmers will be impacted in the future as the new payment entitlements to be granted to farmers this year will be based on the number of hectares declared in 2013 or 2015, whichever is the lower.
256. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if penalties are applied, under the single payment scheme, for the non-cutting of rushes on eligible holdings; when these penalties were imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9922/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplicants under the Direct Payment Schemes, including the Single Payment Scheme, are required to conduct a sufficient level of agricultural activity on all lands declared for aid. Such activities include the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes and maintaining an agricultural area in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation.
The presence of species such as rushes or ferns does not lead to a reduction in eligible area where the farmer is maintaining them under control by carrying out a sufficient level of grazing. Furthermore, the topping of such species will normally be considered sufficient to maintain full eligibility. Where land is deemed ineligible, this, in the main, will be as a result of the inclusion of ineligible areas which do not have an agricultural activity being conducted such as grazing or topping. My Department does not maintain records specifically on the presence of such species as rushes in the Land Parcel Identification System database.
257. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding 60% grant-aid for farm buildings, in respect of a person (details supplied). [10029/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that there is a group of young farmers who established their holdings in 2008 and 2009 and who missed out on the Installation Aid scheme which closed to applications in 2008. The person named may fall into this category but in any case as he was set up in farming more than 5 years ago, he would not qualify under EU rules for the increased rate-of-aid being proposed for eligible Young Farmers under TAMS II. However, wherever possible, I intend to provide that applications from affected farmers are prioritised within the general stream of applicants for the new TAMS, with grant-aid payable at 40%. EU Commission approval is awaited for the proposed schemes under TAMS, following which the full terms and conditions can be settled.
259. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to refuse an application for a 15,000 tonne caged salmon farm off the Aran Islands, now that the Labour Party has passed a motion at its conference last weekend, calling on the Government to ensure that no caged salmon farms be allowed off the west coast, its surrounds, or in-lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10043/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application is under active consideration by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act.
A determination in respect of the application will be made following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.
As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
260. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will liaise with the Department of Social Protection and the Office of Public Works to ensure the social protection jobs are retained (details supplied) in Ballybay, County Monaghan; if he will ensure that Ballybay, as a rural town, does not suffer a wholly unnecessary blow with the loss of the second largest employer in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10116/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no statutory responsibility for the issues raised in this matter.
261. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the €27.2 million from the European Union, which was to be reimbursed to farmers who had deductions from their direct payments over €2000 in 2013 has been paid to farmers, as was promised, in early 2015. [10140/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the adoption of the CAP Reform proposals during the Irish Presidency in June 2013, work commenced immediately in Ireland on the implementation of the various Pillar I and Pillar II Schemes, which had to be introduced by January 2015. The main Pillar I Schemes are the Basic Payment Scheme and the Greening Payment. The two measures replaced the Single Farm Payment. Each year over €1.2 billion of payments under these Schemes will be paid to approximately 130,000 Irish farmers. In view of the level of payments involved, the implementation of the Schemes was prioritised by my Department. Having successfully launched the online application system for both the Basic Payment Scheme and the Greening Payment during the third week of February 2015, work will now commence on the processing of payments to farmers from the fund created to refund the 2013 Financial Discipline deduction.
262. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment, under the agri-environment options scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10143/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years.
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.
The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection, during which non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Riparian Margins action, which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The person named was notified of this on 15 October 2014. Officials are currently processing the application on the basis of the inspection findings and payment in respect of the 2014 Scheme year, less penalty, will issue at the earliest opportunity.
263. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a payment under the agri-environment options scheme; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10156/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is an applicant under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2010. A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants was undertaken in 2014. This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation is now underway into this matter and the application of the person named is included in this investigation. Further payments to AEOS participants included in this review are being withheld for the time being. My Department wrote to each of the applicants concerned on 28 January to explain the situation. Decisions on any future payment cannot be taken until the findings of the investigation are to hand.
264. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fenced mountain land owned by one farmer, which is not designated a natural heritage site, or for Natura 2000, and which does not qualify under condition five of the requirement of low input permanent pasture, will be eligible for an area-based payment under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; the reason that this type of land will not be eligible; when exactly the same type of land owned jointly, in shares by a number of farmers will be eligible; his views that it is fair to discriminate between farmers on the basis of the ownership model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10201/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPriority access to the GLAS scheme is based on the environmental assets found on individual farms, having regard to the priorities laid down by my Department, following consultation with other stakeholders and the EU Commission.
The payment offered on commonage land is justified on the basis of one management plan being put in place for the commonage with shareholders agreeing to implement that plan and to work together to protect against both over and under-grazing. There is no such requirement on privately owned land, which is not designated as habitat.
It is a matter, then, for each farmer to discuss with his or her advisor the actions best suited to the holding in the preparation of a GLAS application.
