Written Answers Nos. 613 - 634
613. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of money her Department spent on purchasing copies of the Public Sector Times magazine in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15419/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department did not incur any expenditure in 2015 on purchasing copies of the Public Sector Times magazine. Copies of this publication are provided free of charge by the publisher for circulation amongst staff in the Department.
614. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of money spent on daily newspapers in 2015; if this is an appropriate expenditure given the available and far cheaper online alternatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15435/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total expenditure on hard copy newspapers by my Department and Offices in 2015 was €21,530. The newspapers were purchased in respect of the Offices of the Minister, Ministers of State, the Press Office, Office of the Secretary General, members of the Management Board and include a number of business newspapers for Divisional use. Also, in 2015, my Department purchased ten online subscriptions to three daily newspapers at a total cost of €2,139.
The purchase of hard copy and online subscriptions to daily newspapers was authorised in accordance with procedures that were introduced in the Department in 2008 that significantly reduced the annual expenditure on newspapers. My Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum while ensuring that its business needs to purchases newspapers can be met in the most appropriate manner.
615. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff working in her human resources section. [15451/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra617. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the changes in the numbers employed in her human resources section following the introduction of PeoplePoint. [15483/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 615 and 617 together.
The Human Resources Unit is situated within the Corporate Services, EU Affairs and Trade Policy Division of my Department. The mission of Corporate Services is to further the development of staff, support structures and systems to assist the Department in achieving its objectives and in implementing a programme of continuous improvement. I have set out in tabular format the staffing of the Human Resources Unit both pre and post the introduction of PeoplePoint:
|
Human Resources Unit Staffing |
Mar-15 |
Jun-16 |
Decrease |
|
Personnel Officer (Principal Officer) |
0.75 |
0.65 |
-0.1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1.2 |
1.1 |
-0.1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
3.8 |
2.8 |
-1 |
|
Executive Officer |
5 |
2 |
-3 |
|
Staff Officer |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Clerical Officer |
3 |
2 |
-1 |
|
TOTAL* |
14.75 |
9.55 |
-5.2 |
*Full-time equivalent posts (for example 2 staff working 50% would equal 1 full-time equivalent post)
616. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff who work exclusively on constituency matters for her. [15467/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaffing limits in respect of Ministers’ Offices are set out in “Instructions” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). Within the current Instructions, two Clerical Officers have been assigned by my Department to work exclusively on constituency matters.
618. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the qualifications that are necessary for a person to act as a receiver; the circumstances in which receivers are appointed and regulated; the information to which the borrower is entitled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15510/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraReceiverships arise as a result of private contractual relationships, normally between a company and a lending institution (the creditor). In the normal course, receivers are appointed on foot of a power contained in an instrument such as a debenture. It is thus a matter for the lender to determine the qualifications of the receiver when making the appointment. Section 433 of the Companies Act 2014 sets out the categories of persons who are disqualified to act as the receiver of a company e.g. an undischarged bankrupt; an employee or an officer of the company concerned or a person who was such within the period of 12 months before the date of the commencement of the receivership; and certain specified family members of an officer of the company concerned.
Receivership is a remedy that derives from the courts of equity. The relevant law in relation to receivership is largely made up of rules which the courts have developed by applying general contract law and equitable principles. Under the Companies Act 2014 a receiver has specific statutory duties under section 439 which provides that:
(i) receivers must achieve the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of sale; and
(ii) the receiver must not sell by private contract a non-cash asset of a company to a person who is or who, within three years prior to the date of appointment of the receiver, has been, an officer of the company unless the Receiver has given 14 days’ notice of his or her intention to do so to all creditors of the company who are known to him or her or who have been intimated to him or her.
These statutory duties make it imperative that the receiver obtains expert legal and valuation advice in relation to the sale of property, consistent with the duty “to obtain the best price reasonably obtainable”. Breach of a receiver’s statutory duties may result in the receiver being held personally liable for any loss incurred. Conferring statutory powers on receivers is intended to alleviate many of the problems which may arise from poorly drafted debentures. It should be noted that receivers also have a duty to provide certain information to the Registrar of Companies and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.
619. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of chief executive officers in semi-State companies under the aegis of her Department who are employed on a Hay contract and the number who are not. [15677/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no commercial Semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department, and consequently no Chief Executive Officer on a Hay contract.
620. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland organised to County Donegal in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15743/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were six IDA Ireland-sponsored site visits to Donegal in 2014 and five in 2015. In the first quarter of 2016, there was one visit to the county.
It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. That is because approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies.
A prime example of this is the announcement last summer by Pramerica Systems Ireland of its intention to expand its operations in Donegal, with the creation of an additional 330 jobs and the construction of a new business campus.
As Enterprise Ireland’s core focus is supporting the internationalisation of indigenous companies it does not arrange site visits of a similar type to IDA Ireland.
621. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding her Department provided to a company (details supplied) or to its parent company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15938/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo grant funding has been paid by IDA Ireland to this company or to its parent company.
However in the period between 1971 and 2010 - when this company was in different ownership and trading under a different name - grant assistance of €5.986m was provided by the State in support of it. These grants were variously in respect of specific Capital, Research and Employment initiatives and helped to secure and develop the operation in Clonmel over many years.
622. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures in place to prevent so-called predatory pricing and the elimination of competition with the various sectors of the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15939/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPredatory pricing describes conduct on a market whereby a dominant firm sells its goods or services below a defined benchmark cost of production, with the intent of forcing its existing competitors from the market, and dissuading potential competitors from entering the market. Predatory pricing may amount to an abuse of a dominant position in breach of section 5 of the Competition Act 2002, and/or Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). By definition, a firm’s conduct can only be “predatory” if the firm occupies a dominant position. A firm pricing below cost will not breach section 5 of the Act or Article 102 TFEU if it does not occupy a dominant position on a given market.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State. Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged anti-competitive practices. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the Commission, I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct function in the matter.
Should the Deputy be aware of any particular alleged breaches of competition law, I would urge him to bring the matter to the attention of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission directly.
623. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the most recent engagement her Department has had with a company (details supplied) particularly in respect of its processing plant. [15940/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April, the indigenous enterprise agency of my Department, Enterprise Ireland met with a number of the senior executive team in the company concerned to discuss ways of supporting the sustainability of the plant in question. The challenges and opportunities of the sector concerned within the broader beverage industry were discussed and the company outlined their future plans for the site.
The biggest challenge experienced by the company in recent times has been the decline in the off trade business nationally and the difficulty of expanding their cider market share in established and competitive markets such as the UK. Seasonality is a big feature of the market and sales increase substantially when the weather is good, likewise there is a negative impact if the weather is bad.
Future plans include becoming a multi beverage manufacturing plant as the site concerned takes on the manufacture of bottled water, concentrate juices and cider products in addition to their own cider and beer production. 80 new positions will be created and it was hoped that a number of employees from the plant in Borrisoleigh which has closed will take on the new positions in the site concerned. A new warehousing facility is being built which will double existing capacity and will enable the business to increase their direct delivery service to their customers.
Enterprise Ireland outlined to the company the support provided to clients in relation to research and development, environmental improvements and achieving best practice through increased competitiveness. A follow up meeting with the company is currently being sought by Enterprise Ireland to progress discussions in these key areas.
624. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding support her Department offered to small businesses in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15941/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the Deputy's question, in the time available, it has not been possible for my officials to compile all of the information requested. Once the available information is collated, I will arrange for it to be forwarded to the Deputy.
625. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she is taking to safeguard business by tackling existing administrative burdens caused by regulation and legislation; the cost of such burdens to businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15942/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recent World Bank's Doing Business Report 2016 provides an assessment of a range of regulations affecting SMEs throughout their life cycle. In this Report Ireland is ranked 17th for Ease of Doing Business, out of 189 countries. This places Ireland 4th in the Euro area and 7th in the EU. In the latest IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2016, Ireland is ranked 7th (out of 61 economies assessed), an improvement of 9 places from last year. This is a significant improvement on 2011 when Ireland was ranked 24th, and represents Ireland’s highest ranking since 2001. Based on this report, Ireland is now the most competitive country in the Euro area and 3rd most competitive in the EU28.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report provides an assessment of the factors driving productivity and prosperity across 140 countries. In the 2015-16 report, Ireland is ranked 24th - an improvement of 1 place from last year, and up from 29th place in 2011.
Good regulation provides a stable base for economic activity and a level playing field for business, while also protecting workers, consumers and the environment. The goal of Better Regulation Policy is to ensure that the processes for generating new regulation, and for evaluating existing regulation, are as effective and efficient as possible. Regulation should achieve the policy goals underpinning it in the least costly manner possible, without undermining the protections that regulation provides.
To this end, my Department has worked for several years to identify administrative burdens on business and to reduce them wherever possible. Between 2008 and 2012, a project, driven by my Department, identified administrative costs faced by business arising from regulation across Government. My Department, the CSO, Revenue and the Department of Transport all met or exceeded the 25% reduction target that was set, and a reduction of more than 20% was achieved across Departments reducing the cost of administrative burdens for business by almost €320 million annually.
Since 2005, the High Level Group on Business Regulation, and its predecessor, the Business Regulation Forum, have worked directly with business and union representatives to identify the most important regulatory burdens faced by business and to find solutions, simplifications and clarifications from the relevant Departments, Offices and Agencies.
Other measures taken by my Department include:
- Reducing the time taken by businesses to find out about the regulations that affect them by developing the businessregulation.ie portal, accessible from the front page of my Department’s website, under the heading Making it Easier for Business;
- Running seven Taking Care of Business events, where up to thirty public bodies come together for a free half-day event to provide information and advice to more than 2,000 business people to date;
- Developing an Integrated Licensing Application Portal to help reduce the regulatory burden on the enterprise sector through the provision of a single portal for applying for, and renewing, a multiplicity of licences;
- Consolidating 17 Companies Acts into one in 2014, making it easier to operate a company in Ireland, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and making company law obligations easier to understand; and
- The Workplace Relations Reform Programme, has led to the establishment of the Workplace Relations Commission to deliver a world-class workplace relations service and employment rights framework by merging the activities of several existing Bodies of First Instance and all existing appellate functions into an expanded Labour Court.
626. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the European Commission's plan to reinvigorate the Mercorsor talks; if Ireland has an official position on these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9982/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraNegotiations between the EU and Mercosur had been in suspension for a number of years, but political developments in late 2015, particularly in Argentina and Brazil, generated a new momentum from the Mercosur side to make progress.
On May 11th 2016, the EU and Mercosur exchanged offers on access to their respective markets of goods, services and establishment and government procurement. This was the first exchange of offers since 2004. Significantly, and following representations made to the EU Commission by Ireland and other Member States, a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for beef was excluded from the offer. Both sides will now examine the respective offers in more detail. The EU and Mercosur will hold a chief negotiators meeting before the summer break in order to take stock of the negotiation and to prepare a schedule of meetings for the second semester of the year.
Ireland has long been a supporter an open trade agenda. However, it is essential for Ireland, and indeed other Member States, to have full information so as to be able to assess the potential impacts, both positive and negative, from the various elements of any perspective agreement, to enable us to calibrate our position in the negotiations. Ireland, like a number of other Member States has very strong concerns in relation to agriculture to the EU beef sector, in particular.
I believe that the inclusion of a TRQ would have been extremely unhelpful at this early stage of the negotiations and should only be considered as part of the “end game”, given the sensitivity of the issue. Furthermore, the cumulative impact of all the EU beef offers in Trade Agreements, both those completed and in development, will need to be assessed before a full evaluation of an offer to Mercosur, for this sector, can be considered.
Irish exporters are currently subject to trade tariffs, trade barriers and restrictions, when exporting to Mercosur countries. The EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement should reduce the cost of goods exported to the region which will make imports from Ireland more attractive and potentially increase demand for Irish goods. As in all the EU’s modern Trade Agreements, the agreement will seek to make the trading environment transparent and more predictable, with common rules and access to public procurement markets.
627. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the latest developments at European Union Council level on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10685/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was discussed at the last EU Council of Trade Ministers on 13th May 2016, which I attended.
The Council was informed about the latest developments regarding the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations. This included prospects for conclusion of the negotiations under the Obama administration. Member States considered that maintaining a high level of ambition in these negotiations was just as important as the ambitious timetable. They urged the Commission to advance the negotiations, whilst fully respecting its negotiating mandate and the EU interests. While many complex and difficult issues remain to be resolved, both the EU and the US negotiators remain optimistic than a comprehensive and ambitious agreement can be concluded.
This trade deal is important for Ireland. Almost half (49%) of Irish exports outside of the EU end up in the US, compared to the combined average of 16% for all Member States. 25% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland comes from the US.
Ireland’s enterprises are particularly well placed to take up opportunities to trade more easily with the US. This will build on our already rewarding economic relationship. It will also generate new opportunities to create employment and continue to grow our economy. Studies have shown that the benefits to Ireland will be proportionally greater than in the EU as a whole.
The Copenhagen Economic Report (2013) suggested that an ambitious EU-US Trade Agreement could boost GDP by 1.1%, grow Irish exports by almost 4%, increase investment by 1.5%, and increase real wages by 1.5%. It estimates a jobs gain of somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 additional export related jobs could be created. The study predicts new opportunities for many Irish industry sectors including pharmaceuticals and chemicals, Agri-food (notably dairy and processed food), insurance and machinery. The findings are backed up in a comprehensive independent report contracted by the EU Commission, carried out by Ecorys Consultancy and published on 13th May 2016. The report estimates that a comprehensive EU-US trade agreement would boost Irish GDP by 1.4 per cent.
628. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the University of Limerick study, A Study of the Prevalence of Zero Hour Contracts 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16035/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to considering an appropriate policy response to the report of the University of Limerick of their study of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts.
As Deputies will be aware, the University of Limerick (UL) was appointed in February 2015 to study the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts and their impact on employees. The study, published in November, 2015, found that zero hour contracts as defined within current Irish employment rights legislation are not extensively used in Ireland. It found low working hours can arise in different forms in employment contracts. There are regular part-time contracts with fixed hours or a contract with “If and When” hours only or a hybrid of the two. If and when contracts are contracts where workers are not contractually required to make themselves available for work.
The UL report made a range of recommendations relating to contracts, hours of work and notice, minimum hours, how contracted hours should be determined, collective agreements, data gathering and wider contextual issues.
It is important to point out that the UL study was an independent study and the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made in it are those of UL. Therefore, it was essential to seek the views of stakeholders.
To this end, my Department sought submissions from interested parties by way of a Public Consultation. A large number of submissions were received in response to the consultation. The responses contain a variety of views both for and against the findings and recommendations as made by UL. These responses require, and are currently being given, careful consideration by my Department. The study and the responses to it will be considered by Government with a view to agreeing the actions that should be taken.
629. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she intends to take to increase female participation in the labour market and to deal with the issue of part-time underemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16037/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s female seasonally-adjusted participation rate peaked at 54.7% before declining during the recession, dipping to 52.5% in 2012. Since then there has been a gradual recovery, with the figure reaching 52.9% in the first quarter of 2016.
Female participation rates have historically been relatively low in Ireland, even prior to the last economic downturn. Quality affordable childcare is seen as the single greatest obstacle to increasing the participation rate. The Programme for a Partnership Government agreed in May that childcare will not just be a priority for my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, but across government. The Programme commits the Government to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare in private and community settings, consistent with the principle of ongoing professionalisation of the sector. In addition the Pathways to work Strategy 2016-2020 includes a commitment to increase access to quality and affordable childcare for parents transitioning to employment. This strategy also confirms that in addition to focusing on people who are registered as unemployed, activation during a period of economic growth and recovery may seek to encourage other ‘non-active’ cohorts to participate in the labour market. This may be by means of supportive services (training, job search assistance, financial incentives etc.), by means of increased conditionality in relation to welfare entitlement or by a combination of both. Other efforts under the aegis of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs are ongoing.
The Deputy also referred to part-time underemployment. There has been a strong downward trend in the figures for part-time underemployment in recent years. After peaking at over 150,000 in 2012, this shrank to 99,100 in the first quarter of 2016. Significantly fewer people are now in a position where they would accept more work if it was available.
630. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to provide a detailed breakdown by sector of the employment status in terms of post, rate of pay, full-time and part-time, of the 3,500 new jobs supported by local enterprise offices in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16038/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business.
The purpose of the LEO Annual Employment Survey (AES) is to monitor the employment performance amongst micro enterprises employing 10 people or less that have received direct financial assistance through the LEOs. The results of the AES provide a statistical breakdown on a sectoral basis and the numbers of new full time and part time jobs supported by the LEOs in those sectors as set down in the table. The LEO AES does not monitor employee status or rates of payment in client companies.
|
Sector |
Full Time |
Part Time |
Total |
|
Business Services |
362 |
90 |
452 |
|
Clothing & Fashion |
62 |
21 |
83 |
|
Communications, Media & Entertainment Services |
214 |
137 |
351 |
|
Craft |
28 |
11 |
39 |
|
Customer Services |
224 |
208 |
432 |
|
Electronics |
34 |
-1 |
33 |
|
Engineering |
274 |
33 |
307 |
|
Environment/Green Technologies |
113 |
35 |
148 |
|
Food Manufacturing & Processing |
330 |
160 |
490 |
|
Food Primary Sectors |
79 |
17 |
96 |
|
Furniture/Light Consumer Goods Manufacture |
70 |
17 |
87 |
|
Manufacturing Other |
643 |
-8 |
635 |
|
Medical Devices Manufacture |
11 |
5 |
16 |
|
Packaging Manufacturing |
40 |
0 |
40 |
|
Software/IT |
260 |
38 |
298 |
|
Unknown |
28 |
-2 |
26 |
|
Grand Total |
2772 |
761 |
3533 |
631. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the assistance she will provide to a person (details supplied) to obtain documents from the State; and if she will meet the person to progress matters. [15674/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue referred to by the Deputy is a matter for Tusla the Child and Family Agency and I have asked them to reply to the Deputy directly.
632. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of increasing refuge spaces for women to 1.7 per 10,000 population. [16055/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency. I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.
633. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she is taking in relation to Health Information and Quality Authority's Annual Overview Report on the Inspection and Regulation of Children's Services 2015; in particular regarding timely access to full and appropriate assessments, the allocation of social workers and the timely reporting of alleged abuse to An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15356/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the findings of the Health Information and Quality Authority’s (HIQA) 2015 overview report of their independent inspections of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, child protection and children in care services. The report stated that, overall, HIQA found standards across all three areas of residential, foster care and child protection to be good. There was professional social work practice with children and families in foster care and the child welfare and protection services. HIQA identified that Tusla required more social workers and needed to increase standardisation of services around the country to ensure that all children received an equitable provision of care. The report also noted the need for continuing development of national policies and ICT projects.
The Government has provided Tusla with funding of over €676 million in 2016 - this is an increase of €38 million on the provision for 2015 and this increase was widely acknowledged as representing a significant strengthening of Tusla’s base funding level. The additional resources provided gives the Agency greater capacity to recruit social workers and other staff and to respond to identified risk and address areas of unmet need.
It is a positive sign that HIQA inspectors found that staff responded to the needs of children and focused on their rights and welfare. Children were encouraged to take part in decisions on their care, had access to advocates and were helped to keep positive attachments with their families. Children told inspectors that their lives had improved through contact with child protection social workers.
Tusla will continue its recruitment campaign to recruit the social work and social care staff to support families and to protect vulnerable children. The majority of HIQA findings related to standards that were deemed to require improvement. Tusla reports to my Department on the action plans they have put in place following inspections to deal with problems and areas needing quality improvement.
Tusla is engaged in a programme of service reform to ensure that a consistent quality of care is available to children and families across the country. I am confident that this process and the major recruitment campaign currently underway, will see a significant improvement in all child welfare and protection services.
634. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ratio of social workers to cases by county in each of the years 2013 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15357/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla is implementing a national caseload management system which allows management to monitor caseloads in terms of both number and complexity. It is recognised that, from time to time, individual cases can occupy a disproportionate amount of resources. The caseload management system gives managers a clearer insight into the pressures on staff. My Department continues to monitor the number of cases that are reported as awaiting the allocation of a social worker. The additional staff being recruited and the caseload management system will make an improvement in these figures.
The total number of additional social workers needed to deal with unallocated cases and keep within the caseload management system was estimated at 268, based on investment required over the next three years. At the end of March 2016, there were 1503.67 whole time equivalent social workers within Tusla. However, exact figures on the ratio of social workers to cases is not available, as these social workers work on a range of teams including Child Welfare & Protection Duty/Intake, Ongoing Child Protection work, Children in Care and Foster Care. A small number of social workers work in Adoption and other areas.
Tusla has been provided with additional funding of €38m in Budget 2016, including funding of over €6 million to reduce the number of cases awaiting allocation of a social worker. As part of its Business Plan for this year, Tusla has committed to a number of key targets to be achieved by the end of 2016. These targets include a 60% decrease of cases awaiting allocation; reducing the number of high priority cases awaiting allocation to less than 5% of the total number of unallocated cases; and ensuring that all children in foster care and residential care have an allocated social worker. Tusla has made progress in its targets.
The table below shows the number of cases allocated to a dedicated social worker between the 31st of December 2013 and the 31st March 2016, broken down by area level. The information requested is not available on a county basis.
|
No. of Cases Allocated by Area |
31/12/2013 |
31/12/2014 |
31/12/2015 |
31/12/2016 |
|
Dublin South Central |
1,131 |
782 |
752 |
988 |
|
Dublin South East/ Wicklow |
915 |
1,132 |
1,080 |
1,030 |
|
Dublin South West/ Kildare/ West Wicklow |
1,721 |
1,051 |
887 |
902 |
|
Midlands |
1,008 |
1,099 |
1,153 |
1,143 |
|
DUBLIN MID LEINSTER |
4,775 |
4,064 |
3,872 |
4,063 |
|
Dublin City North |
1,933 |
1,552 |
1,594 |
1,662 |
|
Dublin North |
1,162 |
1,454 |
1,940 |
2,379 |
|
Louth/ Meath |
902 |
831 |
1,209 |
1,125 |
|
Cavan/ Monaghan |
462 |
342 |
353 |
408 |
|
DUBLIN NORTH EAST |
4,459 |
4,179 |
5,096 |
5,574 |
|
Cork |
2,881 |
3,109 |
3,690 |
3,686 |
|
Kerry |
608 |
515 |
502 |
519 |
|
Carlow/ Kilkenny/ South Tipperary |
1,398 |
1,486 |
1,088 |
926 |
|
Waterford/ Wexford |
1,403 |
1,267 |
1,392 |
1,505 |
|
SOUTH |
6,290 |
6,377 |
6,672 |
6,636 |
|
Mid-West |
1,771 |
1,641 |
1,406 |
1,377 |
|
Galway/ Roscommon |
1,517 |
1,210 |
1,347 |
1,304 |
|
Mayo |
540 |
555 |
573 |
602 |
|
Donegal |
794 |
722 |
547 |
617 |
|
Sligo/ Leitrim/ West Cavan |
540 |
552 |
424 |
370 |
|
WEST |
5,162 |
4,680 |
4,297 |
4,270 |
|
NATIONAL |
20,686 |
19,300 |
19,937 |
20,561 |
