Written Answers Nos. 800-814
800. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will pay what was awarded to a person (details supplied) by the Labour Court in 2012 to the person's estate; if she will outline the determination of the Labour Court in this case and her Department's response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20834/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Labour Court that they do not record PPS numbers or the date of birth of individuals who collectively or individually have cases before the Court. An individual’s name in itself has not enabled my officials to identify with certainty the specific case which the named individual was involved with or had before the Court.
If the Deputy provides the Labour Court case reference number, I will arrange for my office to forward a response to the deputy.
801. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the outcome of any reports her Department sought from agencies under its remit that related to health and safety and working conditions in the waste industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20838/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMindful that proper compliance with employment rights and health and safety legislation is in the interest of workers and the wider public, reports from the relevant agencies under the aegis of this Department on the operation of the waste collection sector were sought in September 2014. Such reports were furnished by the National Employment Rights Authority (now the Workplace Relations Commission), the Health and Safety Authority and the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority (now known as the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission).
In this regard, the contents of these reports were compiled and brought to the attention of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to ensure that issues arising are comprehended within that Department’s new regulatory framework to reform the regulation of the collection of household waste.
802. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when she plans to officially open a local enterprise centre (details supplied). [20870/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMitchelstown Community Enterprise Centre is located at Coolnanave, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. It comprises circa 27,000 square feet and occupies an advantageous site off the main Cork/Dublin road. It was established by Mitchelstown Community Forum Limited and financially supported by Enterprise Ireland, Cork County Council, and the Mitchelstown Community. The completed centre opened for business in June 2015.
I have been informed that the former Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation received an invitation to visit the Centre. I have not however as yet received an invitation to visit the Centre concerned.
803. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the National Standards Authority of Ireland has ever carried out checks on the weighing mechanisms on the back of refuse collection trucks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraNSAI Legal Metrology is responsible for the implementation of the Metrology Acts 1980-1996 and related Regulations. It does this through certifying and inspecting measurement instruments and the quantities of pre-packaged products. A wide range of measuring instruments, including bin weighing systems on refuse collection trucks are subject to legal metrological control when used for trade purposes.
The Metrology Act 1996 and Legal Metrology (General) Regulations 2008, provide that only nationally approved instruments or instruments that have undergone European conformity assessment and bear the CE mark can be used for trade. The primary responsibility for design approval and conformity assessment rests with the manufacturer. The trader is obliged to ensure that only such a measuring instrument is used for trade and that it is correct and verified at all times. Re-verification must be carried out after the instrument has been repaired, re-calibrated or failed inspection. The process of re-verification involves establishing that the instrument complies with regulations, in particular, testing for accuracy against applicable measurement tolerances and the application of tamper evident seals.
In order to ensure sufficient resources are available for traders to keep their instruments in compliance, Legal Metrology have authorised private operators, subject to specific conditions, under Section 12 of the 1996 Act, to undertake verifications at the request of the instrument owner. To monitor compliance, NSAI Legal Metrology Inspectors, operating out of seven offices countrywide, carry out inspections of bin weighing systems on refuse trucks on the basis of risk-based enforcement.
There are approximately 750 bin trucks operating in the country of which 299 have been verified and sealed to date. NSAI understands that approximately 15% of waste company customers are currently on a pay by weight price plan. Details of inspections undertaken for the years 2014 to 2016 to determine the verification status of bin weighing systems in trade use are given below in table 1.
From 1 July Legal Metrology is putting in place an inspection regime that will inspect the performance of bin weighing systems used for pay by weight purposes. NSAI Legal Metrology continues to review its enforcement strategy on the basis of inspection information allocating resources as necessary to the areas of highest risk.
Table 1. Inspections of Bin Weighing Systems
|
Year |
Instruments Inspected |
|
2014 |
28 |
|
2015 |
52 |
|
2016* |
54 |
*Up to and including 8 July
804. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts she is making to promote Mullingar, County Westmeath, as an enterprise hub considering the large and underutilised IDA Ireland park, its central location and skilled workforce. [21132/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra805. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action she is taking to source alternative industry for Mullingar, County Westmeath, considering her recent visit to the IDA Ireland park and the loss of 90 jobs in the region at a company (details supplied). [21135/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 804 and 805 together.
On the Deputy’s invitation, I visited Mullingar in late June where I met with the local Chamber of Commerce and visited the IDA Business Park. The same day I also visited nearby Castlepollard where Enterprise Ireland client company, Mergon International, celebrated the launch of their global innovation centre.
In County Westmeath, there are sixteen IDA Ireland client companies employing approximately 2,300 people. Given the recent global economic environment, the existing foreign direct investment (FDI) client base has performed consistently and retained its presence in the county. In 2015, 212 new FDI jobs were created in the county as a whole.
IDA Ireland actively engages with its existing client base to support them in growing their business to retain jobs and expand their existing footprint in the region. An example of this is Patterson Pumps, who in September 2015 announced a 30-person expansion at the opening of its new manufacturing facility.
I am aware that Mullingar suffered some bad news recently with the announcement by Imperial Tobacco of the loss of jobs in the area. This is very much regretted and I am very conscious of the need to pursue replacement jobs. I have therefore asked IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to see what they can do to actively work on this.
I want to see job creation in every region of the country. My Department has published eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, including a plan for the Midlands, which includes County Westmeath. The Plan for the Midlands targets manufacturing, tourism, food and energy as key sectors.
As part of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs, 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. As part of this programme of investment, the Agency is building nine advance facilities around the country, focused in particular on locations where the private sector has been slow to build. An advance office building is planned for 2017 for County Westmeath as part of the programme.
These new advance facilities are a positive development for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into regional locations. They 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.
806. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether it is appropriate for the European Commission to progress and provisionally apply the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, CETA, prior to its ratification by member state parliaments in view of a comment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21191/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) is a new generation agreement that will remove over 99% of tariffs between the EU and Canada and will create sizeable new market access opportunities in services and investment. It will end limitations in access to public contracts, open-up services market, and offer predictable conditions for investors.
It will save on duty costs as 99.6% of all industrial tariffs will be eliminated on entry into force. Irish firms will also benefit from the recognition of product standards and certification, thus saving on ‘double testing’ on both sides of the Atlantic. These are some of the benefits of the trade deal with Canada as well as providing new market opportunities in many sectors for Irish firms.
In May this year, the Council had an exchange of views on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the process towards signature and provisional application of the agreement. The European Commission and Member States highlighted the high quality of the agreement reached with Canada and expressed the desire to work towards signature of the agreement at the October EU-Canada Summit. The Commission published their proposals for signature, conclusion and provisional application on the 5th July 2016 which are available on the European Commission Register of Documents. The proposal is for CETA to be a mixed agreement.
At the last EU Council of Trade Ministers on 13th May 2016, I made Ireland’s approach clear, that based on our assessment of its provisions, we viewed CETA as a mixed Agreement, in terms of EU and Member State competency. In view of the position taken by Ireland and other Member States I note that the Commission have now decided to submit CETA to the Council for decision as a mixed agreement. This means that each Member State will be required to ratify the agreement under its own procedures. The Oireachtas will be part of the final decision on ratification. It will now be a matter for the Council and the European Parliament to decide on the signature, conclusion and provisional application of CETA.
Provisional application is provided for in the EU’s Free Trade Agreements. This means that those areas where the EU has full competence may be applied immediately once the Agreement comes into force. It is an important mechanism that allows companies and consumers to benefit from a trade agreement at an early stage. Provisional application of CETA would be without prejudice to national ratification by Member States.
807. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the policies she and the agencies within her remit are pursuing to protect the interests of businesses exporting to the United Kingdom, in particular in the food sector, given the result of the British referendum to exit the European Union and the depreciation of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21300/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra808. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her proposals to assist small and medium enterprises that are totally or heavily dependent on the Northern Irish and British market for exports, given the weakening of the value of sterling; if she is aware that such companies are experiencing difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21339/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 807 and 808 together.
Volatility in exchange rates always presents challenges and the trade performance of a small open economy such as Ireland will always be conditional on the ebb and flow of global markets. The present exchange rate volatility highlights the importance of focusing on a wide spectrum of competitiveness policies, in particular policies to enhance competition and productivity. A competitive, sustainable, cost base can help to create a virtuous circle between inflation, wage expectations and productivity and can provide a buffer against such exchange rate fluctuations and other uncontrollable, external factors.
On 24 June 2016 the Government published a contingency plan identifying key policy issues to be managed by Government Departments arising from the referendum vote in the UK to leave the EU. Details of this framework plan are available on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach.
In relation to my own Department and its Agencies, we are very focused on our exporters. Enterprise Ireland plays a key role as the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. It works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. The Local Enterprise Offices are the first stop shop for anyone seeking to start or grow a business in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland's (EI’s) UK team, based in London, will provide support to clients to help identify key business opportunities in the short and medium terms. It will advise on responding to the implications of Brexit such as improving competitiveness and reducing supply chain costs. EI will intensify its International Trade and Investment events schedule for the rest of 2016 to include trade missions and events to Northern Europe, USA, China, India and other high growth markets and will also host an International Markets week in the first week of October in Ireland, to provide Irish exporters with access to its overseas market advisers.
EI will run an information campaign to include practical guides, online information and webinars, an updated UK market access guide and regional seminars in Ireland and the UK. These will provide guidance on issues including: the implications of trading with the UK, improving competitiveness, reducing supply chain costs, accessing funding, finance, foreign exchange, employment regulations and legal issues. There is also a dedicated email address: brexithelp@enterprise-ireland.com; an Enterprise Ireland helpline: 01-7272727 and dedicated webpage: www.enterprise-ireland.com/brexit.
IDA Ireland is constantly engaged with clients across its entire portfolio and in the months leading up to the UK referendum it engaged with clients and prospective clients in relation to the potential impact of a vote in the UK referendum to leave the EU. IDA Ireland has in place a team involved in strategic scenario planning which ensures that the Agency’s strategy is fit for purpose. IDA Project Managers are currently in contact with clients and prospective clients across the globe and continue to market a competitive value proposition to attract mobile foreign investment from global locations including the UK.
In the longer term, Enterprise 2025 highlights the importance of continuing to diversifying our export markets and the products which we export. We will continue to implement Enterprise 2025 through the Annual Action Plan for Jobs and work across government to progress any additional specific measures necessary to sustaining and growing jobs in the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs.
809. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of agency and-or locum staff hired by her Department for each of the years from 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21670/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAcross the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices, the only instance of use of an employment agency relates to the provision to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) of legal secretarial services. There is no equivalent civil service grade for “legal secretary”. Given the need for these specific skills in the ODCE, an employment agency is used to source the requirement.
The relevant employment agency is responsible for all administration costs in respect of the worker including, for example, administration of payroll and any human resource costs arising. In addition, they would be responsible for discharging employer’s PRSI liability in respect of the worker, out of this fee. The breakdown of fees paid to the employment agency concerned each year, including VAT, is as follows:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2011 |
60.7k |
|
2012 |
58.0k |
|
2013 |
59.6k |
|
2014 |
56.3k |
|
2015 |
57.6k |
|
2016 to 8 July |
30.3k |
810. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department's website is accessible to persons with a disability; if the accessibility of her website is regularly reviewed to take account of new and emerging technologies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21675/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recognises the importance of ensuring that its websites are accessible to everyone and is committed to achieving a minimum of conformance level Double-A with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). An accessibility review of the Department’s main website (www.djei.ie) was commissioned earlier this year and is due to be completed this month. Any accessibility improvements recommended in the review will be implemented as soon as possible.
My Department also provides supports to a number of stakeholders through a range of smaller websites and any lessons learned in the review of the Department’s main website will be used to improve the accessibility levels of these websites. These websites include:
www.businessregulation.ie
www.clrg.org
www.pointofsinglecontact.ie
www.solvitireland.ie
www.csrhub.ie
www.lowpaycommission.ie
www.competitiveness.ie
www.skillsireland.ie
With regard to the Offices of my Department, the websites of the Companies Registration Office and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement were upgraded within the last three years with a view to enhancing their accessibility features.
The Workplace Relations Commission’s website was designed in accordance with W 3C Content Accessibility Guidelines and conforms with most of the priority 1, 2 and 3 checkpoints. Development and review of the content of this website is ongoing, and accessibility of the site for persons with a disability will continue to be assessed and prioritised as part of this process.
The website of the Patents Office is currently in the process of being redesigned. This work will include updating accessibility features and allowing for easier customer access across different devices.
My Department, its Offices and the advisory groups that it supports continue to monitor developments and changes in accessibility guidelines and general website best practice with a view to ensuring that their websites can be accessed by all.
811. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is aware of the lack of funding for a centre (details supplied) and the impact this is having on service provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20558/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the difficulties the proposed closure of Larchville Lisduggan Childcare Centre will have on families who avail of the service and staff who work there. My Department has provided significant funding over the years to the service through various childcare schemes such as the free pre-school year, the Community Childcare Subvention, the various Training and Employment Childcare programmes and through some capital funding.
My Department, Waterford County Childcare Committee (CCC) and Pobal have been working with and supporting Larchville Lisduggan Childcare Centre since November 2014 when sustainability issues arose, primarily as a consequence of a reduction in funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and operational matters within the Childcare Centre. In March 2016, following intensive developmental and support assistance from both Pobal and Waterford CCC to the service, the Board of Management advised Pobal and Waterford CCC that the service would close over the summer months to reduce costs. However, on 4th July 2016, Waterford CCC notified Pobal of the Larchfield Lisduggan's Board of Management's intention to close the service. Pobal subsequently received a letter from the Board of Management advising that, further to legal advice, the service would close and enter into liquidation. On hearing of this decision, Pobal and Waterford CCC immediately sought a meeting with the Board to offer further support in seeking alternative options for the service and the use of buildings.
My Department, Pobal and Waterford CCC will continue to work over the summer months with the Board of Management of Larchfield Lisduggan Childcare Centre to advance options for the families who avail of this service. All payments made for children attending the service can be reactivated and with the expansion of ECCE from this September, and CCS places still being available, an opportunity exists for a new provider to increase income generation.
812. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding model which is in place for the various county child care systems; to outline the weighting system for this funding and if this has changed recently; the particular services her Department requires county child care committees to provide; and the level of funding the child care committees of Longford and Westmeath have received in each year from 2008 to 2015 and 2016 to date. [20569/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. They comprise local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, childcare providers and parents. There are now 30 CCCs, as Limerick City and Limerick County CCCs have amalgamated, as have Waterford City and Waterford County and North and South Tipperary. Each committee has a distinct legal identity and board of directors. City and County Childcare Committees receive funding from my Department for the operations of the Committee, allowing each one to employ staff and implement actions contained in its strategic plan, which is approved by my Department to reflect national policy objectives. Pobal acts as managing agent on behalf of the Department in relation to the performance of individual CCCs. Pobal appraises and monitors the local planning and implementation of activities and outcomes of each CCC associated with my Department's funding, and supports CCCs individually and collectively.
The CCCs support the delivery of the three national childcare programmes; the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Programme, the CCCs provide support and guidance to local service providers and parents in relation to the childcare programmes and support quality in keeping with national frameworks and policy objectives. CCCs are also available to co-ordinate and provide training to providers and offer support to families with regard to Early Years services within their respective catchment areas.
Following the economic downturn, the funding of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) nationally was cut in Budget 2011 by 12.5%. My Department communicated the rationale for the cut in funding to the CCCs at this time. It is also my understanding that my Department advised the CCC Chairpersons of the requirement to implement reductions to CCC staff salaries aligned to the agreed Local Authority pay scales.
In 2012, my Department and Pobal conducted a review of funding allocations to the CCCs under a Revised Allocations Framework. The rationale for the Revised Allocations Framework was to implement a more balanced allocation of available funding and also to implement further required savings of 8% in the overall CCCs' budget over the two years 2013/2014. The analysis of funding allocations indicated that a number of CCCs, when compared with each other, had allocations that appeared to be disproportionate to their population and service profiles. The review resulted in a reduction in the funding to some CCCs in the years 2013/2014. The relevant CCCs were informed by my Department of this reduction and the rationale and methodology used to arrive at this decision.
Under the Revised Allocations Framework, each CCC was weighted with a combination of 4 variables:
1. (% of National Population of 0-4 years Census 2011) x 0.35;
2. (% of National Population of 5-12 years Census 2011) x 0.15;
3. (% of DCYA contracted services 2011/2012) x 0.35;
4. (% Pobal-HP Deprivation Resource Allocation Model) x 0.15
The result was a relative percentage weighting for each CCC area. The weighting was compared to the percentage of funding each CCC was allocated in 2012 in order to identify those CCCs that were relatively underfunded and to inform funding allocation options and implications. Since 2014, there have been no further reductions in the funding allocations to the CCCs.
The Deputy refers to funding allocations to Westmeath and Longford CCC between 2008 and 2016. The allocation of funding to these two CCCs is outlined as follows. Both CCCs were affected by the cuts outline above and levels of funding have remained unchanged since 2014.
|
Operational funding |
Westmeath CCC |
Longford CCC |
|
2008 |
305,500 |
273,260 |
|
2009 |
316,705 |
285,432 |
|
2010 |
316,829 |
285,432 |
|
2011 |
277,226 |
249,753 |
|
2012 |
277,000 |
249,000 |
|
2013 |
256,000 |
227,000 |
|
2014 |
241,000 |
209,000 |
|
2015 |
241,000 |
209,000 |
|
2016 |
241,000 |
209,000 |
813. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of pre-financing by programme her Department has applied for in the current phase of EU funding programmes; the amount that is likely to be reimbursed to the European Commission; the reason this money will be reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20574/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy might note that my Department does not administer or manage EU co-funded programmes.
814. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of positions on the boards of bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department; the number of vacant positions; when each vacancy occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20679/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position with regard to the bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the following table:
|
Agency |
Number of positions on each Board |
Positions currently vacant |
Date of Vacancy |
|
Child and Family Agency (Tusla) |
9 |
2 |
1 since March 2016 1 since April 2016 |
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) |
7 |
0 |
|
|
Board of Management for the Children Detention Schools |
13 |
0 |
|
|
Gaisce |
15 |
6 |
4 since March 2015 1 since January 2016 1 since February 2016 |
