Written Answers Nos. 148 - 165
148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied that all means of assistance available to the indigenous business sector are readily available and accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7725/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ State support service for micro and small businesses in each local area. The LEOs provide advice and direction, covering all government supports and requirements, to anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. This information is easily accessed through the ‘Supporting SMEs’ online search tool at: www.actionplanforjobs.ie.
The LEOs can also provide funding for projects that meet certain criteria, generally with regard to export potential, and other non-financial supports such as training and mentoring. Businesses should contact their local LEO by telephone or by email - contact details for all LEOs are available at: www.localenterprise.ie.
A new online tool which sets out the variety of supports available to all enterprises across all sectors is embedded or linked to over 30 Government websites including my Department’s website and the websites of the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. They provide funding and supports for companies - from entrepreneurs with business propositions for a high potential start-up through to large companies expanding their activities, improving efficiency and growing international sales. Availability of all EI supports are communicated via www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/ and also through EI’s Development Advisors, EI Regional Offices and through public calls for applications.
In September 2015 I launched a new guide setting out the range of State supports available for the manufacturing sector. As part of the Government’s plans to support employment growth in the manufacturing sector, a key step is to ensure that businesses in the sector become more aware of the Government supports that are available to support them in their expansion. This new brochure which is available on my Department’s website brings together all these services in a single publication to assist the sector to tap into these supports and clarify the details of what is available from the various Government Organisations and Agencies. Details are at: https://www.djei.ie/en/News-And-Events/Department-News/2015/September/14092015.html.
In the area of access to finance, the last Government introduced a range of initiatives - from Microfinance Ireland to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, and from the Credit Guarantee Scheme to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund - and continued to invest in seed and venture capital through Enterprise Ireland. These initiatives remain available and accessible to business and continue to provide increased access to credit and finance for Irish enterprise.
The Design and Crafts Council works closely with Enterprise Ireland to create and sustain jobs, and grow exports in the design sector. Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2016, the Council will continue to work to increase the profile of the design and craft sector in Ireland through its involvement in a number of key initiatives which will seek to maximise the economic impact and job creation potential of the sector. Information on the work of the Council including opportunities for those involved in the sector can be found at: www.dccoi.ie.
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he expects foreign direct investment to play a part in job creation over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7726/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraForeign Direct Investment (FDI) continues to be a key contributor to Ireland’s economic development and growth. Over 3,300 foreign-owned companies have put down roots in Ireland. These include many of the world’s most successful global businesses, which have chosen Ireland as their strategic base in Europe.
The number of new investments secured by IDA Ireland in 2015 rose by 8% against a background of global economic uncertainty, intense competition from other jurisdictions and a changing global taxation landscape. There are now 187,056 people employed in IDA Ireland client companies. This is the highest in the history of the Agency.
More than one in five private sector jobs in the economy result from FDI, representing a vital economic contribution by the multinational sector. Net job creation by the IDA supported client companies was 11,833 in 2015. This was as a result of the strong pipeline of new investments and the lowest ever level of job losses as a percentage of overall employment by the sector. 54% of all jobs created in 2015 were based outside of Dublin, demonstrating the strength and resilience of FDI in regional locations.
More broadly, our efforts to continue to attract international investment in Ireland will be guided by both my Department’s Policy Statement on Foreign Direct Investment and IDA Ireland’s own five-year strategy “Winning - Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019”. The strategy details both how the Agency will broaden its target sectors further and seek new markets over the next five years. Its ambitious targets include boosting FDI in Ireland by over 40% and creating 80,000 new jobs in the economy.
As part of the growth strategy, IDA Ireland is committed to increasing the level of investment into each region of Ireland by between 30% and 40% by working closely with local stakeholders. This investment includes a €150m property investment plan, which will support the achievement of the organisation's regional goals. The funding will be used to upgrade Ireland's business and technology parks, make investments in a number of strategic utility-intensive sites and build new advanced technology buildings in regional locations.
A strong economy with full employment that supports vibrant public services for our people is within our grasp if we make the right choices.
150. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits to County Kerry by prospective Industrial Development Agency Ireland companies to date in 2016; the details of these visits; if he is content with this level of visitation and if not, the action he will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7781/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland markets Kerry as part of its South West region, along with Cork. There are 12 IDA Ireland client companies employing 1,931 people in the county.
In the first quarter of 2016, there was one site visit by a potential investor to Co. Kerry. For reasons of client confidentiality, it is not possible for IDA Ireland to provide details of the visit. It should be noted that data on site visits is not a true measure of FDI activity in a region or county, given that 70% of all new FDI investment comes from existing client companies.
This Government, through the development of the Action Plan for Jobs – Regional, has placed an increased emphasis on supporting business development and jobs growth in all regions. Published last July, the South West Action Plan for Jobs (SWAPJ) focuses on Cork and Kerry. This plan aims to develop the full potential of the region through the delivery of 261 collaborative actions focusing on increasing the number of start-ups, developing the capacity of existing enterprises, winning new IDA Ireland investments and capitalising on the strengths and opportunities of the region.
While my Department has facilitated the compilation of the SWAPJ through engagements with stakeholders in the South West, ownership of the Plan – and ensuring its delivery - rests with the people, businesses, education providers and public bodies in the South West Region.
As part of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs process, IDA Ireland is set to invest €150 million over five years in property solutions designed to allow it to create opportunities to win additional projects for all regions. This investment includes the delivery of an advance facility in Tralee, Co. Kerry.
The IDA Ireland property investment programme is a positive development for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into regional locations. It will provide access to modern property solutions which, when combined with a strong local talent pool and existing FDI cluster, will give these locations an enhanced proposition to offer international investors.
The tender process is underway for the appointment of a contractor for the construction of the facility in Tralee. The notification of the decision to grant planning permission was received from Kerry County Council on 25 February 2016 and the contractor will be appointed after the final grant of planning permission is received by IDA Ireland. The anticipated completion of the building is quarter 1 2017.
151. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the rationale for regional adjudications by the Workplace Relations Commission for Waterford taking place in Gorey, County Wexford; his views on whether this is a cost effective situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7820/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 October 2015, the activities of the Labour Relations Commission, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court were merged into a new Body of First Instance, known as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). From 1 October 2015, all complaints fall to be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission in the first instance, and, on appeal, to the Labour Court.
The WRC’s core services include the provision of early resolution, mediation, conciliation, facilitation and advisory services, adjudication on employment and equality complaints, the monitoring of employment conditions to ensure the compliance and enforcement of employment rights legislation, the provision of information, and the processing of employment agency and protection of young persons (employment) licences.
The WRC is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations.
I am informed that the WRC is working in conjunction with the Office of Public Works to identify offices/venues for possible use for hearing venues. While the WRC is currently using the venue in Gorey, this may change in the context of developments in other venues on a regional structure and having regard to other related factors such as case volume in different regions, development costs, adjudicator location, and transport links. It is a work in progress to arrive at a regionalised hearing structure for the WRC, which will simplify matters for both parties and will reduce costs to the state.
I understand from the WRC that the regional venues for hearings are not set in stone and the venues will be reviewed in light of experience, volume of claims in different locations, costs, availability of adjudicators in proximity to hearing venues, etc.
152. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has finalised arrangements for the establishment of a compensation scheme for the replanting of forestry damaged by the recent storm events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7372/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproval to fund a reconstitution scheme for forests affected by the winter storms of 2013/2014 was sought by my Department from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has sought further information on the impacts of such a scheme on the insurance market for forestry and also on other issues of concern. My Department is currently examining these requests.
153. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farm inspections carried out by his Department in 2015 and in 2016 to date, by county and in tabular form. [7593/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe wide-ranging information requested is in the process of being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.
154. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of holdings which were inspected more than once in 2015 and to date in 2016 by county and in tabular form. [7594/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe wide-ranging information requested is in the process of being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.
155. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the penalties imposed on farmers as a result of inspections carried out on their holdings in 2015 and to date in 2016 by county and in tabular form. [7595/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe wide-ranging information requested is in the process of being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.
156. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for farm payments by a person (details supplied). [7250/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease as Transferor. A review of this case showed that the Transferee under this application already held the allocation right and value for the entitlements that were the subject of the transfer application. On that basis the transfer application submitted was not required and has therefore been deemed rejected and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue very shortly.
157. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application under the national reserve young farmers' payment by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7253/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. The application for the National Reserve was not successful as the applicant was deemed to have exceeded the €40,000 off farm income limit. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.
My Department has now received an appeal from the person named in relation to their National Reserve application. This appeal will be considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicant and a decision with regard to the outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the applicant as soon as possible.
The application for the Young Farmers’ Scheme has been fully processed and payment issued on 23 February 2016.
158. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing payment under the basic payment scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7281/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named established 33.27 Entitlement Allocation Rights under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme with a total value of these entitlements is €3,215.97 including the Greening payment. The person named formed a registered farm partnership with another party, and submitted an application on behalf of the farm partnership under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.
A farm partnership is a legal business arrangement where two or more individuals come together combining their respective resources to achieve mutual benefits. Members of a farm partnership who own individual sets of entitlements receive a combined payment. It is therefore incumbent on my Department to identify and ensure that entitlements held are licensed for use in the partnership. Consequently, should the partnership dissolve the entitlements return to the relevant owners.
The total entitlement value including greening established under the registered Farm Partnership is €11,044.97 and 97% payment has issued to date. Balancing payment will issue when all cases are finalised.
A Private Contract Clause application to transfer of leased entitlements to the partnership was also received. Processing of this application has recently been finalised, and payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the Farm Partnership concerned.
159. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason maps issued for the 2016 single payment scheme, disadvantaged areas scheme and other area-based schemes show a reduction in area, when the area concerned is currently under appeal following the 2015 decision by his Department with respect to qualifying claimed area by a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7292/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is an applicant under the Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and was subject to an inspection under that scheme during 2015. This inspection resulted in findings whereby the area found to be eligible was less than the area claimed. The person named was notified of this decision on 8 January 2016.
Under EU regulations governing all Area Based Schemes, including the Basic Payment Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, the determined area following inspection is applied to all such schemes. Accordingly the maps that issued to the person named in respect of the 2016 schemes are based on the area determined for the 2015 schemes.
The person named has sought a review of this decision, which is currently being examined by the AEOS Regional Inspector. The person named will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as possible. In the event that the outcome of this process results in an increase in eligible area, all area based schemes will be up-dated appropriately.
160. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the rural environment protection scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7306/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced his REPS4 contract on 1 February 2009. He was a participant in the Scheme for a full 5 years and 11 months and his contract ended on 31 December 2014. All payments due to him have now been made and he is not due any further payments under the Scheme.
161. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that are available to control the pest, willow beetle, given that the growing of willow crop has become more prevalent in recent years; if he is aware that the willow beetle causes distress to householders in the vicinity of lands growing the crop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7382/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to draw the Deputy’s attention to a publication on ‘Short Rotation Coppice Willow – Best Practice Guidelines’ which is available on my Department’s website. This publication is the outcome of research by Teagasc and AFBI (Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute, Belfast) and contains information in relation to Pests and pest control. It is noted that beetle populations vary considerably from year to year and that a heavy infestation in a particular year does not mean that the following year will be equally affected. The Guidelines also advise that if population numbers are large, they can be reduced by target spraying the borders of the plantation with insecticide when the beetles are re-colonising the plantation from their overwintering sites in early spring. The Guidelines however advise that this is a one-off operation and routine spraying is not recommended for both economic and ecological reasons.
As there tends to be a large amount of parasitism and predation of willow beetle eggs from natural enemies, any chemical intervention needs to be sympathetic to natural control mechanisms. While currently there are no insecticides authorised for use on willow, my officials are examining the possibility of issuing such approval.
162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7395/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named has been approved under Tranche 1 of GLAS with a contract start date of 1 October 2015. GLAS applicants with a start date of 1 October 2015 are eligible for a 2015 part-year payment in respect of 2015 eligible actions, for the three month period 1 October 2015 - 31 December 2015.
My Department has reviewed this case and I can confirm an area of 2.56 ha which was excluded from the application will now be included in the payable Hen Harrier area for this case. The 2015 part year payment, to which the person named is entitled, will be recalculated and the 2015 balancing payment outstanding will include the full Hen Harrier area and GLAS+ when all required regulatory checks are fully completed.
163. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he received correspondence in March 2012 regarding allegations of serious fraud in an organisation (details supplied); and the action that was taken by his Department to investigate these allegations following receipt of this correspondence. [7407/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received correspondence in 2012 in which allegations were made against the named organisation. I asked officials in the Investigations Unit of my Department to examine the situation and meet with the person who submitted the correspondence.
Following their meeting, the investigating officers concluded that there was no evidence available to warrant an investigation under my Department’s legislation but advised the person alleging the offences that a number of allegations appear, of their nature, to involve matters for consideration by the Garda Síochána. My understanding is that the Garda Síochána were subsequently contacted.
165. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7423/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) 2015 – 2020 on 2 May 2015.
EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks including in some cases on the spot inspections be completed before any payments issue. These checks have been successfully completed, payment has been processed for the person named and will issue in the coming days.
