Bríd Smith
Ceist:1634. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has made contact with the owners or workers of a company (details supplied) in Dundalk to help avert redundancy. [41563/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWritten Answers Nos. 1634-1651
1634. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has made contact with the owners or workers of a company (details supplied) in Dundalk to help avert redundancy. [41563/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1635. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the reasons given to workers for redundancies at a company (details supplied) is that the lease has run out on the current premises where work is being carried out; and, if this is the issue, whether she will request IDA Ireland to seek a suitable alternative premises for the company. [41564/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1634 and 1635 together.
I understand that Probiotec Ltd, an Enterprise Ireland client, was acquired by LS Nutricare Ltd in September 2016. LS Nutricare Ltd is an Irish subsidiary of a Seychelles registered entity called the Lilium Stanley Group. Officials from Enterprise Ireland made contact with LS Nutricare Ltd in December 2016 in relation to the ongoing situation in Dundalk and are currently awaiting a response.
1636. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if IDA Ireland has been approached by any other company to inform them that they will be taking over a premises on the Finnabair industrial park in 2017. [41565/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of property solutions for specific client companies is a day to day operational matter for the Agency.
For reasons of commercial sensitivity and client confidentiality, IDA Ireland cannot provide details of its specific engagement with potential investors.
1637. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the legislation she plans to bring forward to deal with the issue of accounting convergence in relation to international Irish companies listed on the US stock exchange; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41644/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1638. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the Companies Act 2014 or to use statutory audit legislation to deal with the issue of accounting convergence in relation to international Irish companies; when she expects the legislation to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41645/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1637 and 1638 together.
Section 279 of the Companies Act 2014 provides that in limited cases for a particular transitional period, US Accounting Standards may be used by certain companies. This is conditional on compliance with Irish company law and is subject to the company meeting a number of qualifying criteria. Section 279 is due to expire on 31 December 2020.
In light of the approach of that deadline, the Government is considering whether to propose an extension, and I expect an announcement in that regard shortly.
In any case, if the deadline is in fact to be extended, it will need to be done in primary legislation, which is ultimately a matter for the Oireachtas.
1639. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the value of capital investment projects and grants under way or approved for funding by her Department for County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41766/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is assisted in the delivery of its programmes by a number of offices and agencies. Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) all play a vital role in promoting and implementing policies which support enterprise growth and job creation.
Enterprise Ireland has approximately 100 clients in County Wexford. Across the period 2015-2016 Enterprise Ireland invested in excess of €3 million in Wexford across a range of funding supports such as capital, employment, R&D, training and equity.
The following Wexford projects involving local and regional initiatives were approved for funding under Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Calls in 2016:
Project Name |
Project Details |
Status |
Enniscorthy Enterprise and Technology Centre Limited
|
Creation of an Innovative Hub within the Enterprise Centre where innovative start-ups can work together and receive mentoring from the centre’s staff.
|
Ongoing |
Project Name |
Project Details |
Status |
‘Take Off’ Programme
|
To aid a carefully selected cohort of client companies to deliver scalability with the assistance of an expert advisory panel
Project partners: LEO Wexford (lead), Waterford, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow, Kildare, Tipperary, Kilkenny.
|
Ongoing |
Ag Technology Project
|
To explore the potential for higher levels of innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity in agricultural technology (AgTech).
Project partners: LEO Tipperary (Lead), Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, and D/AFM
|
Ongoing |
Project Name |
Status |
‘Take Off’ Programme
|
Ongoing |
Ag Technology Project
|
Ongoing |
South East Artisan Food Initiative
|
Ongoing |
Creative Corridor
|
Ongoing |
Capital funding from my Department for Local Enterprise Development is allocated to the LEOs through the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland. This funding is allocated among the LEOs to support clients through the provision of grants (Measure 1) and soft supports (Measure 2), such as training and mentoring, and used to fund the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) programme. Details of the overall funds allocated to LEO Wexford together with the value of Measure 1 projects approved and Measure 2 funding drawn down by LEO Wexford in 2016 are set out below:
Total Capital Allocation (Measure 1) |
Total Capital Allocation (Measure 2) |
Additional Capital Allocation (if any)* |
Total Approved (Measure 1) |
Total Drawdown (Measure 2) |
€225,105.00 |
€209,727.00 |
Measure 1 - €69,500.00
Measure 2 - €23,500.00 |
€389,034 |
€233,227.00 |
IDA Ireland is the principal agency charged with attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland and provides a wide range of supports and grants to both new and existing clients. Details of IDA announcements for Wexford since 2011 are as follows:
Date of Announcement |
Project Name |
Project Details |
Status |
2011 |
Coca Cola (Atlantic Industries) |
Opening of Wexford Manufacturing Facility |
Ongoing |
2014 |
Indos Financial Limited |
Financial Services |
Ongoing |
2014 |
ClearStream Technologies |
Medical Devices |
Ongoing |
2015 |
United Chemical Technologies (Through Connect Ireland) |
European Manufacturing Facility |
Ongoing |
2015 |
CRI Wexford |
Medical Devices |
Ongoing |
1640. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.1 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to age friendly workplaces, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41809/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1641. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.2 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to contracts of employment for older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41810/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1642. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.3 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to flexible workplace practices for older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41811/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1643. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.4 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to supporting gradual retirement for older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41812/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1644. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1.5 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to supporting retirement planning older workers, is assigned to her Department; the progress made by her department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective.. [41813/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1645. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.2.2 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, relating to retraining and upskilling for employment for older workers, is assigned to her department; the progress made by her department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective.. [41814/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1640 to 1645, inclusive, together.
My Department has responsibility, amongst other matters, for ensuring that all workers, regardless of age, enjoy the protections afforded by Ireland’s robust employment rights legislation and have safe working conditions which meet stringent health and safety requirements.
It would appear that the attribution of responsibility to my Department for objectives under the National Positive Ageing Strategy may stem from responsibilities attributed to the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment prior to the significant reconfiguration of Government Departments in 2010 and 2011. My Department has brought these changes in Departmental remit to the attention of the Department of Health, which has overall responsibility for implementation of the Strategy and for co-ordinating with relevant Government Departments to ensure delivery of the Strategy.
The Deputy may be aware that the Inter-departmental Group on Fuller Working Lives (IDG), chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), was established by the Government last year to consider policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors. The IDG concluded its work last summer and the Group’s report was published in August by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The IDG made a number of recommendations, one of which related to my specific area of responsibility. On foot of that recommendation I wrote to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to request them to prepare a Code of Practice under Section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990 around the issue of longer working, which should set out best industrial relations practice in managing the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including requests to work beyond what would be considered the normal retirement age in the employment concerned. I understand that the WRC has commenced work on preparing the Code, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
1646. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of times and dates she has met with the chief executive officer or chairperson of every organisation under her remit, in tabular form. [1000/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of formal meetings with CEOs and Chairpersons of Agencies of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation are set out below:
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)
12/10/2016 Meeting with Isolde Goggin, Chairperson
Enterprise Ireland
15/09/2016 Meeting with Terence O'Rourke, Chairperson and Julie Sinnamon, CEO
08/12/2016 Meeting with Julie Sinnamon, CEO
IDA
09/05/2016 Meeting with Martin Shanahan, CEO
07/07/2016 Meeting with Martin Shanahan, CEO
15/12/2016 Meeting with Frank Ryan, Chairperson and Martin Shanahan, CEO
InterTrade Ireland (ITI)
08/07/2016 Meeting with Thomas Hunter McGowan, CEO
Low Pay Commission (LPC)
15/07/2016 Meeting with Donal de Buitléir, Chairperson
National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)
29/08/2016 Meeting with Julie O’Neill, Chairperson
Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)
03/08/2016 Meeting with Dermot Divilly, Chairperson and Conor O'Brien, CEO
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
22/06/2016 Meeting with Professor Mark Ferguson, CEO
23/11/2016 Meeting with Professor Mark Ferguson, CEO
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)
28/07/2016 Meeting with Oonagh Buckley, Director General
21/11/2016 Meeting with Oonagh Buckley, Director General of the WRC and Kevin Foley, Chair of the Labour Court
Insofar as the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) is concerned I look forward to meeting the new Chairperson and CEO in due course.
Mr Martin Sisk was appointed Chairperson of IAASA on the 21st of December 2016. Mr Kevin Prendergast was appointed CEO on the 14th of November 2016.
While I myself have yet to meet with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) I understand my colleague Mr Pat Breen T.D., Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, has met with Mr Michael Horgan, Chairperson and Mr Martin O’Halloran, CEO.
Finally, in my role as Minister I routinely meet the CEOs', Chairpersons’ and agency officials at jobs announcements, trade and investment missions and related events.
1647. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will outline all funding announcements made by her or by her Department for projects in County Mayo since January 2015, in tabular form; the details of each project; the status of the project at 31 December 2016; the amount of funding drawn down at 31 December 2016; and the reason for the delay in the project or funding draw down. [1062/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question is understood to refer to projects being realised through funding disbursed by my Department or its agencies, the details of which have been the subject of announcements since January 2015 by way of a press release or similar announcement.
Details are as follows:
Agency |
Project Name |
Amount Approved |
Project Details |
Status at 31/12/16 |
Amount drawn down by 31/12/16 |
Reason for delay in project or funding draw down, if any |
Science Foundation Ireland |
Mayo Science and Technology Festival 2015 |
€16,000 |
Mayo County Council for delivery of Mayo Science and Technology Festival in November 2015 |
Closed |
€16,000 |
N/A |
Science Foundation Ireland |
Mayo Science and Technology Festival 2016 |
€16,000 |
Mayo County Council for delivery of Mayo Science and Technology Festival in November 2016 |
Festival delivered. Final report due mid-February 2017 |
€14,400 |
Balance to be paid on receipt of satisfactory final report. |
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs |
Love Castlebar Community Project Limited |
* |
Community Creative Hub. The project is a maker space for local innovators, artists and entrepreneurs to create launch and scale new ventures. |
Ongoing |
* |
n/a |
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs |
I.R.D. Kiltimagh Limited |
* |
Community Enterprise Initiative supporting Entrepreneurship and existing business in the Kiltimagh area. |
Ongoing |
* |
n/a |
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs |
Partners: Mayo, Roscommon and Galway LEOs |
* |
iFactory West aims to scale up 30 companies with growth potential across the West region through an intensive innovation programme suited to their individual needs. |
Ongoing |
* |
n/a |
Enterprise Ireland/LEOs |
Partners: Mayo, Roscommon and Galway LEOs |
* |
Creation of a gateway to the London market for West-based micro food and drinks enterprises, through a shared co-opetition logistics and market development model. |
Ongoing |
* |
n/a |
* Due to commercial sensitivity Enterprise Ireland does not reference drawdown figures externally.
In addition:
- The Local Enterprise Office also funded a number of business development projects out of their total drawdown of €554,308.
- Enterprise Ireland paid €1,179,945 to clients in Mayo in 2015 and €1,705,354 in 2016. An IDA Advanced Technology facility is under construction in Castlebar, with an anticipated completion date of the first quarter of this year.
- Since January 2015, two IDA supported companies, Coca-Cola (Ballina) and Fort Wayne Metals (Castlebar), announced investments of €26m and €10m respectively, for expansions of existing operations in Mayo.
1648. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of foreign direct investment, FDI, jobs in counties Clare and Limerick and in north Tipperary in the years 2014, 2015, 2016, in tabular form; the number of FDI jobs created and lost respectively in counties Clare and Limerick and in north Tipperary in the years 2014, 2015, 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s Mid-West Region comprises Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North. All three counties have seen gains in FDI employment over each of the last three years. Total employment in IDA supported companies in the Mid-West at the end of 2016 stood at 17,143 people across 129 companies, up from 15,627 in 2015. Further details of jobs created, lost and total jobs are set out in the table below.
IDA Ireland Total Jobs, Jobs Created and Jobs Lost 2014-2016 in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North
County |
- |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Clare |
Total Jobs |
6,486 |
6,607 |
6,662 |
Clare |
Gross Gains |
443 |
530 |
295 |
Clare |
Losses |
-310 |
-409 |
-240 |
Limerick |
Total Jobs |
7,930 |
8,702 |
10,153 |
Limerick |
Gross Gains |
764 |
950 |
1,634 |
Limerick |
Losses |
-282 |
-178 |
-183 |
Tipperary North |
Total Jobs |
298 |
318 |
328 |
Tipperary North |
Gross Gains |
25 |
10 |
|
Tipperary North |
Losses |
-8 |
-5 |
0 |
1649. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost per year for the past three years of the storing and archiving of her Department's files and records at off-site locations by third party companies and at State-owned storage facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1120/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of storage and archiving files for my Department for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 is set out in tabular format below. Certain offices of my Department use State owned buildings for some offsite file storage at locations in Carlow and Mullingar. However, this is provided by the OPW at no cost to my Department.
External file storage costs:
Year |
€ Total |
2014 |
148,647.13 |
2015 |
123,835.60 |
2016 |
153,667.23 |
1650. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide the research and statistics, including a listing of possible sites, that IDA Ireland holds for the old urban district council area of Tipperary town, County Tipperary, which can be made available to a prospective foreign direct investor that is being shown the opportunities in that region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1143/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTipperary Town forms part of the IDA’s wider South East region, along with the remainder of Tipperary South and counties Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny. There are 73 client companies in the region, which collectively employ 14,403 people. A breakdown of this employment by county is set out in the table below. Abbott Ireland (1,176 people) and Boston Scientific (831 people) are the two largest foreign direct investment (FDI) employers in South Tipperary.
I understand that IDA Ireland owns a site at Knockanrawley in Tipperary Town, which is currently available for FDI. IDA Ireland continues to market the site to all relevant potential investors.
In total, there were eight site visits by potential investors to County Tipperary up to the end of the third quarter of 2016. The final figures for 2016 are expected to be available early next month. IDA Ireland cannot provide details of specific sites visited for reasons of client confidentiality.
Employment in IDA Ireland Client Companies in South East Region
County |
Number of Companies |
Number of Employees |
Waterford |
35 |
6,135 |
Wexford |
17 |
2,630 |
Tipperary South |
8 |
3,040 |
Carlow |
7 |
802 |
Kilkenny |
6 |
1,796 |
1651. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of visits by the IDA with prospective foreign direct investors to the old urban district council area of Tipperary Town, County Tipperary, each year from 2010 to 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1144/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland maintains statistics in relation to site visits by potential investors on a quarterly basis. The latest data available covers the first three quarters of 2016 only. Since 2010 to the end of quarter 3 in 2016 there were a total of 34 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Tipperary. It is expected that data on site visits for quarter 4 2016 will be available early next month. The attached table sets out the breakdown of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to County Tipperary for each year from 2010 to quarter 3 2016.
It is important to note that data on site visits is not necessarily an accurate measure of the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) activity in a region or county, partly because approximately 70% of all FDI won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies. The true level of FDI in Ireland is better gauged by reference to the IDA’s record 2016 results. The Agency’s client companies created just under 19,000 (18,627) jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs.
The following table sets out the breakdown of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to Co. Tipperary for each year from 2010 to quarter 3 2016.
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 (end Q3) |
Tipperary |
1 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
12 |
8 |