Written Answers Nos. 69-84
69. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she accepts that the Workplace Relations Commission is significantly under-resourced and that this impacts its ability to carry out its statutory functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22823/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015, and has responsibility for information provision, workplace advice, mediation, conciliation, adjudication, inspection and enforcement in relation to employment rights, equality and equal status matters and industrial relations.
The overall objective of the Workplace Relations Reform Programme is to deliver a world-class workplace relations service and employment rights framework that serves the needs of employers and employees and provides maximum value for money. The formation of the WRC therefore was intended to generate significant productivity through the bringing together of the services and staffing complements of the pre-existing bodies. In addition there is a significant multi-annual programme of investment in ICT systems which further contributes to the efficiencies within the organisation.
Staffing resources are allocated across my Department in the context of the requirement to manage the pay bill and staff numbers in accordance with Government policy, utilising available resources in the most effective and efficient manner as appropriate to business needs and priorities. On a day-to-day basis the HR Unit of my Department works with individual Business Units and the Department’s Management Board team on the allocation of staff resources and this would include the WRC. As an “Office” of my Department, this allows the Secretary General and his HR team the freedom to reallocate resources from one Business Unit to another as priorities change, always mindful that the pay-budget limits do constrain our capacity to grow staffing levels as well as having regard to strategic priorities captured through the workforce planning process, the latest iteration of which is currently under way in the Department.
70. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures and contingency plans both her Department and the enterprise agencies under her remit have to deal with the future changing trading relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom; her Department and enterprise agencies' plans to keep all international business stakeholders and investors here fully informed of the commitment to the European Union; the timescale for these plans and measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22771/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has a clear plan in place to respond to the referendum outcome and has a Contingency Framework which maps the key issues that will be most important to Ireland in the coming weeks, months and years, including the future changing trading relationship between the UK and Ireland. A summary of the key actions that will be taken to address the contingencies arising from the UK’s decision has been published.
As outlined previously, my own Department has been, and will continue to be, fully engaged in the risk analysis and contingency planning work that is being undertaken at cross-Government level, led by the Department of the Taoiseach.
Since the announcement of the UK referendum result on 24 June, as part of my contingency plans, I have established a Coordination Group within my Department consisting of relevant enterprise, single market, and trade officials, together with the Chief Executive Officers of IDA and Enterprise Ireland, to oversee the management of our immediate response, including the messaging to businesses both at home and overseas. I chair this Group, and I will continue to do so as part of my Department’s ongoing response as developments unfold at EU level and bilaterally with the UK.
Also on that day, I met with representative business organisations, including IBEC, ISME, the SFA, and the Irish Exporters Association, to provide an update on immediate responses to reassure business in the aftermath of the result.
Since then, I have had meetings with a range of other representative organisations, including American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham), Dublin Chamber of Commerce, and the Irish Farmers Association.
I have also written to my newly-appointed counterparts in the new UK Government – Liam Fox, the Secretary of State for International Trade, and Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – to confirm my intention to work together with them as the upcoming negotiations develop, and to request an early opportunity to discuss our priorities.
In addition, the enterprise agencies under my remit will continue to deliver on their commitment to supporting business and jobs in this period of heightened uncertainty.
In this regard, on the day after the referendum result, the CEO of IDA Ireland, wrote to the 1,200 Foreign Direct Investment companies who have operations in this country. That contact was designed to reassure those companies regarding Ireland’s ongoing commitment to the EU and on our commitment to FDI. He reassured those companies that the IDA will work with them to help sustain their existing business in Ireland and to grow additional business opportunities here.
Engagements by the IDA both with their existing client companies and with new prospective investors, on issues arising as a result of the UK Referendum will, of course, continue on an ongoing basis. Ireland’s commitment to our membership of the European Union, which provides for full access to that market for businesses located in this country, and our specific advantages for inward investment, will be highlighted by my Department and by the IDA at every opportunity.
Earlier this month, Enterprise Ireland reported that its client companies saw an increase of 10% in exports in 2015 amounting to an all-time high of €20.6bn. The export figure is now almost double what it was 10 years ago (€10.73bn in 2005).
As regards the UK vote to leave the European Union, and the importance of the UK market, EI client exports to the UK increased by 12% last year to reach €7.5bn. Significantly however, in the context of Brexit, UK exports, as a share of total exports, have reduced from 45% to 37% over the period 2005 to 2015 as EI clients have diversified their export base. High Growth Markets (e.g. China, Brazil, etc.) have continued to increase in importance over the past 10 years and now account for 12% of total exports compared to 7% in 2005.
Despite the continued diversification of the Enterprise Ireland client export base, the UK’s vote to leave the EU will present significant new challenges for Irish companies exporting to the UK. In response, Enterprise Ireland has begun its plans to support clients exporting to the UK, including:
1. Information and Guidance:
Enterprise Ireland will run an information campaign including: practical guides, online information and webinars, an updated UK market access guide and regional seminars in Ireland and the UK. Further details are available at www.enterprise-ireland.com/brexit.
2. UK Market Support:
Enterprise Ireland's UK team will support clients to identify key business opportunities in the short and medium terms. They will also provide advice and support on responding to the implications of Brexit such as improving competitiveness and reducing supply chain costs.
3. Competitiveness and Market Development Supports:
Enterprise Ireland will intensify its work with clients, to improve their competitiveness in the market, through its management capability and development programmes.
4. Market Diversification Support:
Enterprise Ireland will intensify its strategy of supporting clients to diversify into new markets. As part of this strategy, Enterprise Ireland will intensify its International Trade & 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.
5. International Sector Clustering Strategy:
Enterprise Ireland will expand its focus on promoting Irish sectoral cluster capabilities in key sectors to international buyers in growth markets including Northern Europe, USA and Asia Pacific.
Regarding specific North South Enterprise development issues, my Department co-funds InterTrade Ireland the Cross Border body which operates a range of programmes to develop businesses on a cross border basis. The cross-border market on the island is particularly important for small firms with nearly two thirds of NI small firm exports going South and one sixth of Ireland’s small firm exports going North.
Already the Body has published a factsheet for companies providing helpful information on this issue. In the short term InterTrade Ireland is planning to make information available to SMEs on any changes that could affect cross-border trade. It will also keep abreast of business needs and challenges through its Business Monitor survey process so that it is in a position to respond quickly to business concerns.
Ireland will be working closely with the UK and other EU member States to ensure that any potential disruption to trade and investment is minimised.
We will continue to support the EU in creating open markets and will endeavour to ensure that our interests are to the fore in future negotiations with the UK. We will also continue to make the most effective use of the framework of bilateral trade agreements and multi-sectoral trade agreements that the EU already has in place under the World Trade Organisation, and to support the opening of new markets through the EU.
71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff currently working in the Workplace Relations Commission and the numbers that worked in the previously named Labour Relations Commission and Employment Appeals Tribunal and associated bodies. [22767/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015, and has responsibility for information provision, workplace advice, mediation, conciliation, adjudication, inspection and enforcement in relation to employment rights, equality and equal status matters and industrial relations.
The WRC assumed the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), Equality Tribunal (ET), Labour Relations Commission (LRC), Rights Commissioners Service (RCS), and the first-instance (Complaints and Referrals) functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT), and the WRC staff complement forms part of my Department’s total staffing.
The overall objective of the Workplace Relations Reform Programme is to deliver a world-class workplace relations service and employment rights framework that serves the needs of employers and employees and provides maximum value for money. The formation of the WRC therefore was intended to generate significant productivity through the bringing together of the services and staffing complements of the pre-existing bodies. In addition there is a significant multi-annual programme of investment in ICT systems which further contributes to the efficiencies within the organisation.
The staffing figures requested by the Deputy have been set out in the table.
Staffing resources are allocated across my Department in the context of the requirement to manage the pay bill and staff numbers in accordance with Government policy, utilising available resources in the most effective and efficient manner as appropriate to business needs and priorities. On a day-to-day basis the HR Unit of my Department works with individual Business Units and the Department’s Management Board team on the allocation of staff resources and this would include the WRC. As an “Office” of my Department, this allows the Secretary General and his HR team the freedom to reallocate resources from one Business Unit to another as priorities change, always mindful that the pay-budget limits do constrain our capacity to grow staffing levels as well as having regard to strategic priorities captured through the workforce planning process, the latest iteration of which is currently under way in the Department.
|
September 2015 |
FTE Staff No. |
July 2016 |
FTE Staff No. |
|
National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) |
99.43 |
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) |
159.76 |
|
WRC Advance Post-Registration Unit |
12.03 |
||
|
Labour Relations Commission (LRC) |
30.50 |
||
|
Equality Tribunal |
15.00 |
||
|
‘WRC’ Total: |
156.96 |
WRC Total: |
159.76 |
|
Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) |
29.38 |
Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) |
28.95 |
|
Labour Court |
22.50 |
Labour Court |
27.50 |
|
Total Full-Time Equivalent Posts Sept. 2015 |
208.84 |
Total Full-Time Equivalent Posts July 2016 |
216.21 |
72. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to report on progress regarding the updating of the book of quantum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22547/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is an independent statutory agency charged with assessing claims for compensation arising from personal injuries sustained as a result of a motor, workplace or public liability accident and where both parties, claimant and respondent, consent to an assessment. It is a matter for the parties concerned whether or not they wish to accept the assessment. I have no direct function in relation to the day to day operational matters of PIAB.
Section 54 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 sets out the principal functions of the Board. Section 54(1)(b) states: ‘to prepare and publish a document (which shall be known as the ‘‘Book of Quantum’’) containing general guidelines as to the amounts that may be awarded or assessed in respect of specified types of injury’.
The Book of Quantum was last produced in June 2004 and data was sourced by independent consultants on behalf of PIAB from a number of sources including, the Courts Service, the Insurance Industry and the State Claims Agency. I am informed that PIAB engaged outside consultants to assist it in reviewing the Book of Quantum. PIAB hope to have the revised Book of Quantum ready as soon as possible.
The Book isn’t a recommendation for compensation levels but rather a reflection of the prevailing level of awards, i.e.:
- compensation values awarded by the courts
- settlements agreed by the Insurance Industry
- settlements agreed by the State Claims Agency; and
- settlements agreed through the PIAB process.
73. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is aware of the urgent need to provide much-needed additional job opportunities throughout County Cavan following the further loss of jobs at a company (details supplied); the proposals that she and the State's industrial promotion agencies have to assist in job creation and in the maintenance of existing employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22787/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI share the Deputy’s concern in relation to the recent developments at that company, where job losses were announced last month. IDA Ireland is engaging with the company so that it can develop a skills profile of the affected workers and will aim to match them with other potential employers.
I have asked both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to redouble their efforts to secure new projects and expand existing operations in Cavan, and to explore all opportunities to replace the jobs being lost there. Enterprise Ireland’s job creation work in County Cavan has been particularly successful in recent years with 300 and 190 net new jobs added in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
In addition, the Local Enterprise Office in the County has been working to develop the micro-enterprise sector in Cavan and has helped to develop start up enterprises. That work will also continue.
The Regional Action Plan for Jobs for the North East and North West is now in place and will be a key instrument in driving job creation in the region. That Plan aims to increase employment in the region by 10-15% over the period to 2020, resulting in the delivery of 28,000 additional jobs to the region.
74. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress being made on section 4.1(c) of the programme for Government, regional spread of growth and jobs, in view of the fact there appears to be no evidence of any activity that would suggest that this issue is being treated as an urgent matter by the Government. [22793/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 4.1 C) of the Programme for Partnership Government provides for a commitment to implement regional jobs plans, with local input, to help spread growth to all areas. 4.1 C) also provides that Local Enterprise Offices will be mandated to set county-specific targets on job creation.
I am fully committed to ensuring that the 8 Regional Action Plans for Jobs deliver on the ambitious targets set out in each plan. The aim of the 8 Plans is to strengthen and develop regional collaboration by encouraging state agencies, local authorities, regional bodies, higher education institutions, the private sector and communities to come forward with innovative ideas to boost job creation in their respective regions.
A key objective of each of the plans is to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the aim of having the unemployment rate of each region within one per cent of the national average.
In total, 246,000 additional jobs are targeted in the Regional Action Plans for 2015-2020 inclusive. With 45,000 jobs created last year, this leaves 200,000 to be achieved by end 2020, as per the Programme for Government.
Achieving these ambitious targets at regional level requires a renewed focus on building on regional strengths, assets and areas of competitive advantage to develop the attractive and competitive environments for business to start, grow and succeed on international markets and to attract inward investment. That is what each of the regional Action Plans sets out to deliver. Collaboration between the private and the public sector has been a core element in each plan’s development, and will be central to each plan’s delivery.
Supporting the implementation of the Regional Action Plans is a fund of €250 million announced in February 2015 to be provided over the next five years to Enterprise Ireland and IDA.
This comprises a €150m Regional Property Programme delivered by IDA and up to €100 million available through three Enterprise Ireland competitive calls. These competitive calls are open to all regions, and are targeted at innovative and collaborative approaches to supporting local job creation. In June this year, I announced an initial allocation of €5 million in competitive funding for 48 local and regional initiatives across the country under two competitive regional funding calls administered by Enterprise Ireland; the LEO Competitive Fund and the Community Enterprise Initiative. Further competitive regional funding calls will be rolled out on a phased basis.
Delivery of each Plan is being overseen by a Regional Implementation Committee, with membership drawn from industry, local authorities, Enterprise Agencies, education sector and other key stakeholders and agencies. Each of the Regional Implementation Committees has met at least once, with the first meeting of the Dublin APJ Committee due to take place in September.
The Regional Action Plan process is underpinned by robust reporting arrangements, with twice yearly updates to be published in each region, setting out the progress on each of the actions due for delivery. The first Progress Reports on the implementation of the Plans, covering the period to end-June 2016 are currently being prepared and will be completed and published in Q3 2016.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established in April 2014 as the “First Stop Shop” support service for micro and small businesses in each Local Authority area. Their aim is to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation and to provide accessible high quality supports for their clients’ business ideas.
Under the terms of the Service Level Agreement between Enterprise Ireland and each Local Authority, the LEOs are required to produce annual Local Enterprise Development Plans (LEDPs) setting out clearly what the LEO intends to deliver over the following 12 months, including jobs directly related with each investment. The Plans identify and prioritise the key enterprise sectors and entrepreneurial capacity challenges that need to be targeted in each LEO’s functional area.
75. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach when or if his Department will utilise section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 to confirm a new title for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23355/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to change the name of my Department.
76. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to issue a visa waiver programme for diplomatic passport holders from Georgia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23177/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe requirements for which countries are visa required to come to Ireland are kept under regular review in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Government is pursuing a strategy of greater co-ordination and co-operation on visa issues with the United Kingdom in the context of the Common Travel Area (CTA). This is exemplified by the operation of the British Irish Visa Scheme in China and India which allows for travel to and around Ireland and the UK on a single visa.
As part of this greater co-operation, the matter of alignment of those States whose citizens are visa required is also being kept under review. The greater the extent of alignment between the two jurisdictions, the greater the opportunity to increase the numbers of tourism and business visits to the CTA. At present, both Ireland and the UK require all citizens of Georgia to be in possession of a visa for travel to their jurisdiction and any proposals for change will need to be considered in this context.
77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the current resources being provided for the detection of drugs in the Border, midlands, west region and the State in general [22957/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau continues to lead out the policing strategy for tackling drugs supply working closely with the local Divisional Drug Units across the State including in the Border, Midlands, West Region area. This approach allows for the co-ordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime, including illicit drug activity nationwide. As the Deputy will appreciate it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for determining the distribution of Garda resources among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts.
The overall response to the problem of drug misuse is set out in the National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009-2016. The Strategy provides a co-ordinated and comprehensive response to the issue of drug misuse and is very much founded on a partnership approach.
Tackling the supply of drugs remains a key element of our overall Strategy and, in line with it and the Policing Plan, An Garda Síochána continues to prioritise tackling drugs and organised crime as a core focus of its work. In this regard multi-disciplinary approaches are utilised to ensure that those involved in illicit drugs activity are effectively targeted including through the use of drugs legislation, the proceeds of crime legislation, money laundering legislation and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau.
In addressing drug trafficking An Garda Síochána also has in place a number of strategic partnerships both nationally and internationally including with Revenue's Customs Service, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the Irish Naval Service, Europol, Interpol and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics based in Lisbon.
Substantial Government resources are being provided to support all of this work and in also supporting the considerable work in drug detection being done by Revenue's Customs Services to prevent the importation of drugs into the State.
Notable successes continues to be made by our law enforcement authorities in this area including, for example, the work done by the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau which led to 51 significant seizures of a wide range of controlled drugs with an estimated street value in excess of €24 million being made during 2015 and the related arrests of the persons involved in the trafficking of these substances.
Finally I can advise the Deputy that the level of resources being provided to address the problem of drug supply is one which is subject to ongoing assessment including through the oversight of our National Drugs Strategy. In this regard I would point to the 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána which includes over €67 million in additional funding which, in addition to the recruitment of new trainee Gardaí, also provides additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing, all of which will be of assistance to our overall drug law enforcement response.
78. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently stationed at Clondalkin, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations. [22978/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits assigned to Clondalkin, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations in the years 2015 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22979/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I have been informed that as of the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 676 Gardaí assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region West (D.M.R. West) of which there were 88 assigned to Clondalkin, 92 Gardaí assigned to Ronanstown (Rowlagh) and 74 Gardaí assigned to Lucan Garda Stations.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 851 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 350 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 534 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide with another 150 more planned to attest in November. Of the newly attested members, 50 have been assigned to the DMR West Garda Division.
The Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" commits to continuing the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000. Taking account of projected retirements, the current rate of recruitment will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year. We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake in coming years.
In accelerating recruitment it is, of course, essential to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to train larger numbers without any diminution in the quality of its training programme, and to provide appropriate supervision and support to newly qualified Gardaí to ensure that victims, and the public generally, are well served by their policing service. My officials are also engaging with Garda management as a matter of priority in relation to the preparation of a recruitment plan for the next five years that will deliver increased numbers of Gardaí without any compromise on the quality of those recruited or the training programme.
80. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to regulate property management companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23004/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). These are companies registered under the Companies Act, the members of which are the owners of residential units within the development, which are established for the purposes of ownership and management of such areas. The 2011 Act contains provisions relating to matters such as:
- the transfer of common areas to the OMCs (sections 4 and 5);
- voting rights of members of OMCs (sections 14 and 15);
- the provision of annual reports by OMCs to members (section 17);
- arrangements for the holding of annual meetings to approve annual service charges (section 18)
- establishment of a sinking fund to cover refurbishment outlays (section 19)
- arrangements for the making of House Rules (section 23); and
- establishment of a court-based dispute resolution process (section 24).
The Act also contains provisions which encourage the resolution of disputes that may arise between parties by means of mediation rather than recourse to court proceedings.
81. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe in which revaluations for commercial rate purposes will be carried out for County Kildare; when they will be completed by the Valuation Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23005/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that the Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 to maintain a valuation list for each Local Authority, of all commercial properties in that Local Authority area, which is used to calculate the rates due from individual ratepayers. Section 9(10) of the Act provides that the Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions and decisions with regard to the revaluation of rating authority areas is his sole prerogative and the statute does not accord me, as Minister, any role in this regard.
The national revaluation programme is the first general valuation of all commercial property in the state since the middle of the 19th century. It is a very significant undertaking and involves the valuation of some 146,000 properties. Completing the first revaluation and getting every Local Authority onto the subsequent, recurring 5-10 year cycle of revaluations, provided for in the legislation, will represent a sea-change for the rateable valuation system.
Significant progress is being made and the programme has established a momentum which is being built upon as the Commissioner has made valuation orders for the revaluation of seven more Local Authority areas which are the County Council areas of Kildare; Leitrim; Longford; Offaly; Roscommon; Sligo and Westmeath. I wish to inform the Deputy that the work of revaluation is currently well under way in County Kildare as it is in the other six counties and the initial results are expected during the first quarter of 2017.
In accordance with the terms of the valuation order for the Kildare County Council Rating Authority Area which the Commissioner signed on 23 November 2015, the publication date for the valuation list of all relevant properties in the County following revaluation will be 15 September 2017 and for rating purposes, the effective date for the valuation list will be 31 October 2017. Initially, and in keeping with the legislation, during the first quarter of 2017, it is expected that proposed valuation certificates will issue to all commercial ratepayers informing them of the proposed valuation of their property and advising them that if they are dissatisfied with the proposed valuation or with any other particular stated in the certificate, they have a right to make representations to the Valuation Office within 40 days. Any such representations received will be considered and final certificates of valuation will issue informing them that if still dissatisfied with the valuation or with any other detail therein, they have the right to make a subsequent appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, an independent body, established for that purpose.
82. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions in County Kildare that have been brought to court and the number of convictions secured for fraudulent insurance claims with a breakdown between the class of insurance, such as car insurance, fire insurance, flood insurance, house insurance, public liability for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23006/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I understand that while statistics in relation to fraud offences generally are produced, the breakdown in relation to insurance fraud requested by the Deputy is not recorded in the official crime figures. However, to be of assistance I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics in relation to the matters referred to directly to the Deputy.
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects the strength of An Garda Síochána to increase over the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23061/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of An Garda Síochána at present; the extent to which it is expected to increase Garda numbers over the next 12 months; if particular attention will be paid to areas experiencing an increase in crime when numbers are deployed in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23063/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 85 together.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.
I have been informed that as of the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available there were 12,801 members of An Garda Síochána.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 851 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 350 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 534 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide with another 150 more planned to attest in November.
The Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" commits to continuing the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000. Taking account of projected retirements of around 300 this year, the current rate of recruitment will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year. We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake in coming years.
In accelerating recruitment it is, of course, essential to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to train larger numbers without any diminution in the quality of its training programme, and to provide appropriate supervision and support to newly qualified Gardaí to ensure that victims, and the public generally, are well served by their policing service. My officials are also engaging with Garda management as a matter of priority in relation to the preparation of a recruitment plan for the next five years that will deliver increased numbers of Gardaí without any compromise on the quality of those recruited or the training programme.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which her Department and the Garda authorities have identified the total membership of criminal gangs operating in all parts of the country; if continued action is planned to combat them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23062/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána.
An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána in tackling organised crime activity including its continued commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including organised criminal activities.
In tackling such activity, An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement operations and strategies aimed at targeting, dismantling and disrupting criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methodologies. Multi-disciplinary approaches are also utilised to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted, including through the use of the proceeds of crimes legislation, money-laundering legislation, the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 relating to organised crime and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau.
While we should not underestimate the difficulties which the Garda authorities face in tackling organised crime activity, we continue to see the significant results of their efforts in the arrests made and persons being brought before the Courts, as well as the ongoing drugs and firearms seizures made.
With regard to the question of membership, I am advised that membership of criminal groups tends to be fluid with groups merging and splitting on an ongoing basis. In addition many modern groupings are transnational in nature. With this in mind, the Deputy will appreciate the difficulty in attributing precise figures to membership at any particular point in time.
In support of the efforts of An Garda Síochána, the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly-mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities. Since 2012, over €34 million has been invested in renewing the Garda fleet to support front line Garda responses with over 720 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015 and a further €46 million is being provided under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. The Government is also investing in airborne surveillance and enhanced technology and ICT systems. The increased budget allocation for 2016 will also facilitate additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing.
Having regard to more recent serious organised crime activity, a number of targeted additional measures have been announced in support of the work of An Garda Síochána.
I have recently announced a range of measures including legislative proposals to provide additional powers to the Criminal Assets Bureau in targeting the proceeds of crime, an additional allocation of €55 million to be made available to An Garda Síochána this year in support of targeted measures and a review of our legislation to see whether there are other changes in the law which might be made to address the reality of groups intent on carrying out a sustained series of killings while endangering the safety of communities.
The Garda Commissioner has also announced the establishment of a new Garda Special Crime Task Force to augment existing responses to organised crime at a local level.
In addition, at the request of the Garda Commissioner earlier this year, funding was approved for the establishment of a dedicated Armed Support Unit (ASU) for the Dublin Metropolitan Region in order to enhance armed support capability in Dublin and to free up the resources of the Emergency Response Unit.
These measures have been brought forward alongside the proposals announced for accelerated recruitment into An Garda Síochána.
