Tuesday, 21 Mar 2017

Written Answers Nos. 1277-1300

Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration

Ceisteanna (1277)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1277. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will confirm that in line with the one person, one salary principle, no public servant who is a member of a State board or agency under the control of her Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees and if any such remuneration is being paid that such payment will be discontinued and payments that were wrongfully paid will be reclaimed. [13333/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The following State Boards are under the remit of my Department:

- The Competition and Consumer Commission

- Enterprise Ireland

- The Health and Safety Authority

- IDA Ireland

- The Personal Injuries Assessment Board

- Science Foundation Ireland

- The National Standards Authority of Ireland

- The Low Pay Commission

- The Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority

In line with the once person one salary principle, I can confirm that no public servant who is a member of these Boards or Agencies is in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees.

Residency Permits

Ceisteanna (1278)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

1278. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has a record of any employer making an inquiry regarding employing and sponsoring the residency of a person (details supplied) on the basis of their skills. [13494/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Employment Permits Acts 2003 – 2014 provide that in order to work in the State all non-EEA nationals require a valid Employment Permit from my Department or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality which allows them to reside and work in the State without the requirement for an Employment Permit.

The Irish State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the European Union and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA, an employment permit may be sought by an employer to hire a non-EEA national for a specific position.

The Employment Permits Section of my Department processes applications for employment permits and they have no record of an application in respect of the named individual.

Business Regulation

Ceisteanna (1279)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1279. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will ensure more regulation in the beauty industry (details supplied). [13538/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct policy function in relation to this matter. I note, however, that my colleague, the Minister for Health, already has policy responsibility for some existing issues relating to the beauty industry including the use of sun-beds and cosmetics.

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Ceisteanna (1280)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

1280. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there is grant assistance or other supports available for SME companies in the services sector towards the cost of helping them with the cost of the required training courses when employing new staff (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13551/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

There are over 170 different Government supports for Irish based start-ups and small businesses. 'Supportingsmes.ie' is a cross-governmental initiative to help start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government supports available.

By answering the eight quick questions in the Online Tool, a small business will, in one location be able to:

- Find out which of the over 170 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them; and

- Obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit.

The tool is available at: www.supportingsmes.ie

The company in question might also like to make contact with its Local Enterprise Office. The 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business.

In the first instance, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through Agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, Skillnets and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations of relevance to micro-enterprises and SMEs.

The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (up to 10 employees) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories, i.e., Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea) Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up) and Business Development grants for existing businesses that want to expand. (It should be noted that the LEOs do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses).

For anyone interested in starting or growing a business, the LEOs may be able to offer ‘soft’ support in the form of training and/or provide a mentor to work directly with the business proposer. The suite of training programmes provided by the LEOs covers a variety of business functions such as: financial management, sales & marketing, social media, HR, operations, customer care, innovation, competitiveness and management development.

Anyone with a viable business proposal can also use the LEO to make an application to Microfinance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks.

Further information on the services available from the LEOs can be accessed at www.localenterprise.ie.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (1281)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

1281. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff employed within her Department for each of the years from 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 in tabular form; the number of staff recorded as on sick leave or absent during each of these years, in tabular form; the number of days lost in each of these years as a result of sick leave or other non-holiday absences; the grades most affected; the provision in place for such absences of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13750/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table:

	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	01/01/2017 - 10/03/2017
Number of Staff Employed (year-end figure)	843	857	854	848	857	864
Number of Staff who had a Sick Leave Absence during the year	599	580	557	533	560	244
Number of Days Lost due to Sick Leave	8774	8496	8101	7248	7764	1404
Number of Days lost due to Non-Holiday Absences **	2049	2534	2722	2137	3046	494
Total Number of Work Days in year	229	229	229	229	229	229

** Non-Holiday Absences include:

Paid Adoptive

Parental

Paid Compassionate

Paid Examination

Paid Family Illness

Paid Force Majeure

Paid Jury Service

Paid Marriage

Paid Paternity

Paid Reserved Defence Forces

Paid Study

Paid Union Business

Paid Witness at Court

Unpaid Domestic Reasons

Unpaid Marriage

Unpaid Study

Unpaid Unauthorised Absence

Across my Department the Grades that were most affected by sick leave over the period 2012 to 10/03/2017 on average were Clerical Officers and Executive Officers.

In accordance with the practices set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform my Department does not hire temporary staff to cover sick leave.  Therefore cover for a staff member who is out sick falls to the other members of staff.

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna (1282)

Noel Rock

Ceist:

1282. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the drop in the number of students applying for third level courses in engineering and technology; her further views on the future impact it will have on the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13974/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation I am fully cognisant of the need to focus on ensuring that the numbers of students being educated in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) match the skills needs of the economy in Ireland. I am working very closely with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure we have the required pipeline of skills supply in terms of both quantity and quality to meet the current and future needs of the enterprise sector.  I am particularly pleased that there has been an increase in the level of uptake of STEM at second level according to Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). This has increased to 273,000 in 2016 compared to 253,000 in 2015.

I have noted the early indications of a drop in the number of students applying through the CAO to do third level courses in engineering and technology in 2017 as against 2016.  However, I note also that the number of students applying in 2017 (34,850) is similar to the numbers that applied in 2015 (35,210) and is higher than the number of students who applied in 2014 (32,444) and in 2013 (29,730).  We will continue to focus on promoting the opportunities in STEM-related careers over the coming months as students consider their options and aligned with the CAO change of mind timelines.   

In addition, I would draw the Deputy’s attention to a number of initiatives being undertaken by my Department and its Agencies to promote STEM careers. For example, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), an Agency under the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, leads the Smart Futures initiative, which focuses on driving awareness of careers in STEM at post-primary level.  It is a government-industry-education programme, which is co-ordinated and managed by SFI, in partnership with the Engineers Ireland's STEPS programme. It is supported by over 50 organisations from research and academia, as well as partners such as BioPharma Ireland, the Royal Society of Chemistry, ICT Ireland, the Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA), the Institute of Physics, the American Chamber of Commerce and many other stakeholder groups.  The smartfutures.ie website, developed as part of the programme is a rich information resource for students, teachers, parents and guidance counsellors providing information on the four streams under STEM (S – Science), (T – Technology), (E – Engineering) and (M- Maths) and the career pathways available to students. 

Separate to the Smart Futures Initiative, SFI continues to promote the advancement of STEM education and learning.  The Government’s National Skills Strategy was published in January 2016.  The Strategy identifies Ireland’s current skills profile, provides a strategic vision and specific objectives for Ireland’s future skills requirements, including in the STEM area and sets out a road map for how the vision and objectives can be achieved.  During the Strategy’s first year, progress has been made and a number of initiatives have been actioned, including: 

Action 18 - Increase support for the Smart Futures and SFI Discover programmes and build on success of initiatives including Student Enterprise Awards, CoderDojo, Science Week Ireland, BT Young Scientist. (Innovation 2020).

Smart Futures continuing ongoing activities with over 100,000 students engaged and over 1,600 role models trained over the first three year strategy. Women in STEM forum held in SFI to connect programmes targeting young females. Science Week audience reach broadened including two new regional festivals, an extensive programming schedule on RTÉ and a larger social media presence. Science Rising communications campaign delivered through 2016 highlighting the science of the everyday to Irish public. 42 projects supported through the SFI Discover programme call to promote and support STEM engagement and education of Irish public.

Action 28 - Work with the National Parents Councils for Primary and Post-Primary to disseminate skills and labour market information to parents in accessible formats.

SFI and National Parents Council completed a survey of primary school parents to inform activity.  A parents’ advice brochure has been developed. Parent information sessions have been delivered. Skills and labour market information aimed at parents are available on the Smart Futures website.

Action 62 - Working with industry volunteers and schools, seek to ensure every second level school is offered at least one school visit annually through the Smart Futures School Visit Programme.

Every school has been contacted and offered a visit. Every school may request a Smart Futures visit on the Smart Futures website. SFI attended student & teacher conferences and events e.g. BT Young Scientists Exhibition and TY Expo, advertising Smart Futures to teachers.

Action 113 - Increase enrolments of postgraduate researchers to address demand in the economy. (Innovation 2020).

Funding has been secured to increase activity across SFI programmes, most of which fund postgraduate researchers. SFI is designing a PhD programme to develop and enhance the skills of PhD students through cohort-based, discipline centric, PhD programmes to ensure the provision of a skilled in demand workforce to meet the demands of industry and academia.

Workplace Relations Commission

Ceisteanna (1283)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

1283. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 8 March 2017, the number of workplace inspections and total amount of wages recovered in 2016 for the child care sector alone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14065/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC 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.

Inspectors of the WRC carry out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights and employment permits legislation. These inspections arise:

- In response to complaints received of alleged non-compliance with relevant employment rights legislation;

- As part of compliance campaigns which focus on compliance in specific sectors or specific pieces of legislation, or

- As routine inspections, which act as a control measure.

The WRC’s aim is to achieve voluntary compliance with employment law through the provision of education and awareness, inspection of employers’ employment records and enforcement where necessary.

The Deputy will be aware from my previous reply that in 2016 the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) recovered a total of €1,521,600 in unpaid wages in 4,830 cases.

Details in relation to the number of workplace inspections undertaken by the WRC in 2016 in the childcare sector alone are not available as employers engaged in childcare related activities are included with the health and nursing sectors for statistical purposes. In addition, inspections of employers of domestics workers may include some childcare cases but these childcare cases are not identified separately. The overall numbers for the year 2016 are as follows :

Sector	Number of Employers Inspected	Amount of Wages Recovered
Domestic Worker	22	€4,728
Health Nursing and Childcare	82	€156,071

Job Losses

Ceisteanna (1284, 1285, 1286, 1287, 1288, 1289)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1284. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the contact she had with the owners and or management of a company (details supplied) in Nenagh over the past 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14117/17]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1285. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when her attention was drawn, either orally or in writing, to the planned job losses at a company (details supplied) in Nenagh; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14118/17]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1286. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to support the retraining of those staff members who have recently lost their jobs at a company (details supplied) in Nenagh; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14119/17]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1287. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will establish a specific jobs task force for north Tipperary in view of the recent job losses at a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14120/17]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1288. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has contacted the Department of Social Protection requesting it to provide advice to the staff of a company (details supplied) on their entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14121/17]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1289. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if SOLAS has been requested to provide guidance to the staff of a company (details supplied) regarding training and skill needs to seek other jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14122/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1284 to 1289, inclusive, together.

Over recent months, since this company began a global assessment of its international operations, the Government, through IDA Ireland, has been intensively engaged with its senior management to try and safeguard their continuing presence in Nenagh. These efforts included highlighting the supports which the State could offer to help secure the future of their operations there. I myself also spoke to senior management two weeks ago. Unfortunately, however, the company could not ultimately be persuaded to maintain its facility in Nenagh.

My Department contacted the Department of Social Protection immediately after the closure announcement was made to ensure that appropriate arrangements would be made in relation to the provision of relevant assistance services to the affected workers. All relevant State bodies will now seek to ensure that appropriate services are provided to the company's employees in the time ahead.  I have also directed that the remit of an Inter-Agency group - that is already in place in Tipperary - will be extended so that it can too assist the company's employees. I want to emphasise as well that a particular effort will be made to identify and secure new job creation projects in the county to replace the positions that will unfortunately be lost.

Departmental Legal Cases Data

Ceisteanna (1290)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

1290. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total amount spent externally by her Department on legal advice for each year since 2015; the solicitors firms involved; the barristers, junior and senior, that provided services to her Department for each such year; the amounts paid to each firm or person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14135/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

1st January to 31st December 2015

Legal Advice Provider	Description of Service	Amount paid - €
Ailill O’Reilly BL	Counsels’ Advices	5,842.50
David Dodd BL	Counsels’ Advices	3,690.00
Philip Rahn BL	Counsels’ Advices	2,263.20
Sean Gillane SC	Counsels’ Advices	7,687.50
Kilroys Solicitors	Legal advice on Export Credit Insurance issues	4,802.00
Conor Feeney BL	Legal advice re online employment permit application forms.	308.00
Jennifer Goode BL	Legal advice on the transposition of EU directives	2,152.50
Alan Haugh BL	Fees paid to barrister for legal advice, assistance in drafting Workplace Relations Bill	17,066.26
Alan Haugh BL	Fees paid to barrister for regulatory advice	824.00
Anthony Kerr BL	Fees paid to barrister for legal advice on domestic workers	615.00
Conor Power BL	Fees paid to barrister for E-commerce advice	1,030.00
Rosemary Healy Rae BL	Fees paid to barrister for legal advice on taxation	1,030.00
Paul Anthony McDermott BL	Fees paid to barrister for legal advice data protection	2,460.00
Conor Bourke BL	Counsel’s Advices, Drafting Relevant Papers & Representation in Proceedings Before the Dublin Circuit Court	11,562.00
Maurice Collins SC	Counsel’s Advices, Settling Pleadings & Representation in Proceedings Before the High Court	9,225.00
Paul Greene SC	Counsel’s Advices, Settling Pleadings & Representation in Proceedings Before the High Court	4,526.40
Brian Murray SC	Counsel’s Advices, Settling Pleadings & Representation in Proceedings Before the Court of Appeal	42,189.00
Paul O’Higgins SC	Counsel’s Advices, Settling Pleadings & Representation in Proceedings Before the High Court	3,997.50
Diana Stuart BL	Counsel’s Advices, Drafting Pleadings & Representation in Proceedings Before the High Court	3,394.80
Conor Feeney BL	Legal scrutiny and settlement of draft Employment Permit Regulations	3,075.00

1st January to 31st December 2016   

Legal Advice Provider	Description of Service	Amount paid - €
Conor Feeney BL	Legal Scrutiny and Settlement of Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Electromagnetic Fields) Regulations 2016	1,845.00
Conor Feeney BL	Legal Scrutiny and Settlement of Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) (Amendment) Regulations 2016	307.50
Kilroy’s Solicitors	Legal advice on Export Credit Insurance issues	925.58
Nessa Cahill BL	Legal services for the Report by Nessa Cahill BL and Kevin Duffy, Chairman of the Labour Court “Expert examination and review of laws on the protection of employee interests when assets are separated from the operating entity”	12,300.00
Jennifer Goode, BL	Legal advice on the transposition of EU directives	10,455.00
Aillil O’Reilly BL	Counsel’s Advices, Drafting Pleadings & Representation in High Court Proceedings	8,333.25
Brian Murray SC	Counsel’s Advices & Representation in Court of Appeal Proceedings	861.00
Declan Murphy BL	Counsel’s Advices & Drafting Pleadings and Inter-Partes Correspondence, & Representation in High Court Proceedings	16,555.80
Douglas Clarke BL	Counsel’s Advices	14,353.54
Maurice G. Collins SC	Counsel’s Advices and representations in Supreme Court Proceedings	9,225.00
Sean Gillane SC	Counsel’s Advices	4,674.00
Rochford Brady Legal Services	Presentation of Court Documents for ODCE	981.60
Brosnan Investigations	Service of Summons for ODCE	282.12
J & A Davis	Service of Summons for ODCE	795.66
Kellkee Services	Service of Summons for ODCE	151.60
Peter Fallon BL	Service of Summons for ODCE	1,269.16
O’Mara, Geraghty McCourt Solicitors	Professional Fees for Consultations	984.00
Connellan & Co Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	615.00
Dermot G O'Donovan & Partners	Legal services (Prosecutions)	747.75
Donal W. Dunne BL	Legal services (Prosecutions)	8,702.25
Emma Muldowney BL	Legal services (Prosecutions)	8100.00
Fiona Sheehan BL	Legal services (Prosecutions)	571.95
Frank Nyhan & Associates Solicitors	Civil enforcement fees	735.54
Gary Irwin Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	1,168.50
Gerald Meaney State Solicitor	Legal services (Prosecutions)	2,952.00
Geraldine Gillece B.C.L.	Legal services (Prosecutions)	2,583.00
Jeremiah Healy, Healy Crowley & Co Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	4,674.00
John Brosnan & Company, Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	1,230.00
John Hughes, Solicitor	Legal services (Prosecutions) and Civil enforcement fees	10,276.75
Leahy & Partner Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	12,982.70
Liddy Scollan Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	3,874.50
Martin G Linnane & Co. Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	1,168.50
Millards Solicitors & Notary Public	Legal services (Prosecutions)	2,829.00
Niamh Tuite & Company Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	12,883.81
O'Doherty Warren & Associates Solicitors	Civil Enforcement fees	1,045.50
Paul Fitzpatrick	Legal services (Prosecutions)	1,527.66
Peter D. Jones & Co. Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions) and Civil enforcement fees	3,249.66
Rory Hayden & Co. Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	6,949.50
Rory P. Benville Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	8,425.50
Rosemary Healy-Rae BL	Legal services (Prosecutions)	5,043.00
Sharon E. Murphy State Solicitor	Legal services (Prosecutions)	10,086.00
Steen O'Reilly Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	1,168.50
Vincent Deane & Co. Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	1,291.50
Wolfe & Co. Solicitors	Legal services (Prosecutions)	10,190.19
Mazars	Legal Advice	11,047.86
Allan Crann BL	Legal Representation, High Court	4,800.00
Gerard Durcan SC	Legal Representation, Supreme Court	6,150.00
Grainne Gilmore BL	Legal Representation, Supreme Court	12,915.00
Conor Power SC	Legal representation, Supreme Court	18,450.00
Breffni Gordon BL	Judicial Review 2016 344 JR	64,218.30
Emma Muldowney BL	Judicial Review 2016 344 JR	5,750.00
Michael McDowell BL	Judicial Review 2016 344 JR	9,225.00
Niamh Tuite & Co. Solicitors	Judicial Review 2016 344 JR	78,451.08
Shane Murphy BL	Judicial Review 2016 344 JR	51,045.00
Ivan Gramatikov	Legal Research	23,985.00
Conor Feeney BL	Legal scrutiny and settlement of draft Employment Permit Regulations	1,230.00
Kilroys Solicitors	Legal advice on Export Credit Insurance issues	925.58

  

1st January to 15th March 2017

Legal Advice Provider	Description of Service	Amount paid - €
Remy Farrell SC	Counsel’s Advices	4,612.50
Sean Guerin SC	Counsel’s Advices, Settling Draft Pleadings & Representation in High Court Proceedings	13,837.50
Sinead McGrath BL	Counsel’s Advices, Drafting Pleadings & Representation in High Court Proceeding	3,413.25
Declan Murphy BL	Counsel’s Advices, Drafting Pleadings & Representation in Court of Appeal Proceedings	37,318.20
Brian Murray SC	Counsel’s Advices & Drafting of Statutory Production Requirements	12,177.00
Paul O' Higgins SC	Counsel’s Advices, Settling Draft Pleadings & Representation in High Court Proceedings	5,535.00
Aillil O' Reilly BL	Counsel’s Advices, Drafting Pleadings & Representation in High Court Proceedings	3,708.00
Anthony Thuillier BL	Counsel’s Advices & Drafting of Intended High Court Proceedings	1,657.50
Conor Feeney BL	Legal scrutiny and settlement of draft Employment Permit Regulations	1,230
Donal W. Dunne State Solicitor	Legal Fees	2,460.00
Fergus Mullen State Solicitor	Legal Fees	950.00
Francis W. Hutchinson Solicitor	Legal Fees	1,168.50
Frank Nyhan & Associates Solicitors	Legal Fees	774.59
Gerald Meaney State Solicitor	Legal Fees	1,107.00
Ivan Gramatikov	Legal Research	9,360.00
John Hughes Solicitor	Legal Fees	1,860.00
Leahy & Partners Solicitors	Legal Fees	1,806.56
Liddy Scollan Solicitors	Legal Fees	2,337.00
Niamh Tuite & Company Solicitors	Legal Fees	3,034.98
Paul Fitzpatrick Solicitor	Legal Fees	2,337.00
Peter D Jones & Co. Solicitors	Legal Fees	2,337.00
Rory P. Benville Solicitors	Legal Fees	1,168.50
Rosemary Healy-Rae BL	Legal Fees	922.50
Steen O’Reilly Solicitors	Legal Fees	3,505.50
Venetia R Taylor BL	Legal Fees	300.00
Vincent Deane & Co. Solicitors	Legal Fees	1,414.50
Wolfe & Co Solicitor	Legal Fees	3,699.05

Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (1291)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

1291. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if it is standard practice for a private consultant to be used to recruit for non-commercial State employment vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14262/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

In general, recruitment within the State Agencies under the remit of my Department is carried out by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

However, in some instances where it has not been possible to use the services of PAS, for example, for certain specialist posts, or where PAS are not in a position to assist due to the volume of campaigns on hand, the services of an external recruitment agency has been used.

The Commission for Public Service Appointments' Code of Practice on Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service sets out the standards to be observed in relation to appointments in the public service.  The Code allows for the use of listed recruitment consultants providing the Agency concerned complies with the terms and conditions of the recruitment licence, the Code of Practice and other guidelines issued by the Commission.

Ministerial Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1292)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1292. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will confirm that no Minister or Minister of State under her remit since 2011 has claimed overnight expenses for staying in Dublin. [14567/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Since 2011 no Ministers or Ministers of State at my Department have claimed overnight expenses for staying in Dublin.

In July and September 2016, the Department paid for the hotel accommodation costs for three separate nights for Minister John Halligan T.D. who needed to have overnight hotel accommodation adjacent to Dublin airport. The total costs borne by the Department for the three nights amounted to €443.

The overnights were required on two occasions as the Minister had very early morning flights out of Dublin.

The third overnight was necessitated by a late evening flight arrival into Dublin whereby the Minister had an early morning meeting in the Oireachtas the following day.

Child Care Services Funding

Ceisteanna (1293, 1302)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1293. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a community group (details supplied) can apply for funding and support to her Department in the provision of a community crèche and playschool that will consist of an extension to the existing community hall; the programmes they can apply under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13500/17]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1302. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are any schemes that a community group (details suppled) can apply to for funding and support to her Department in the provision of a community crèche and playschool which will consist of an extension to the existing community hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13501/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1293 and 1302 together.

In relation to the Early Years Capital programme for 2017, yesterday I announced that funding will be made available under this programme in three strands, as follows:

- Strand 1: New Places (€3 million total available – maximum €50,000 per grant);

- Strand 2: Building improvements and maintenance/refurbishment (€500,000 total available, maximum €20,000 per grant, Community childcare services only);

- Strand 3: Natural outdoor play area (€500,000 total available, maximum €5,000 per grant).

Pobal will be responsible for administering the programme on behalf of my Department. Further details and information on how to make an application for funding will be available shortly on the Pobal website www.pobal.ie.

Additionally, at the recent launch of the Action Plan for School Age Childcare I announced a separate €3 million in capital funding for services providing school age childcare. This capital scheme will open in April and will encourage expansion in the number of school age childcare places along with enhancements to quality.

Child Protection

Ceisteanna (1294)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

1294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12824/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am deeply concerned by the plight of the young people who were in the Calais camp, and particularly the many unaccompanied minors who were at the frontline of this terrible situation. The All Party Dáil motion, approved by Government on 10 November last, called on the Government to work with the French authorities, to identify up to 200 unaccompanied minors previously living in the unofficial migrant camp in Calais, and who have expressed a desire to come and stay in Ireland. An initial group of 16 young people have been identified by French officials to be the first to go through the assessment process to come to Ireland.

When this issue was first coming to public prominence I obtained a clear plan from my officials and from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla provided me with cost estimates but has correctly added the proviso that these will have to be monitored as the needs of the young people are not yet fully known. This estimate was provided prior to individual assessments regarding age or needs of the young people concerned. Due to trauma experienced by the young people and personal challenges the most suitable service to meet the needs of the young people may be a residential setting. As the Deputy will understand residential care is the most expensive type of care provided by Tusla. Additionally, included in the estimate was the provision of therapeutic and legal supports. As the young people arrive, we will get a better understanding of their needs.

The estimate refers to a full year cost but as the young people will be arriving on a phased basis the cost for 2017 should be considerably less. I am closely monitoring the emerging situation and I am in close contact with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure this whole of Government response to this humanitarian effort is successful.

Child Care Services Funding

Ceisteanna (1295)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1295. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12842/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs believes that staff in the childcare sector have a critical role to play in delivering high quality childcare services and that they deserve to be valued and respected for the important role they play with our children. Because childcare costs to parents in Ireland are one of the highest in the OECD, there is a need to address affordability and quality at the same time.

The Programme for Government commits to carrying out an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme which is due to be introduced later this year, and the Department is progressing this work in that context. The review will feed into future policy development, including in relation to levels of payments to services.

The last two budgets delivered a 35% increase each year in funding for childcare. However, it is recognised that there is a need to continue to invest and a strong case will be put forward for more resources in 2018. To go some way towards addressing cost pressures faced by providers in the sector, €10m has been secured to enable providers to be paid for non-contact time, where they will have no children present and they will be able to pay staff to concentrate on administrative workload. Services themselves can decide how to use the payment when it is received.

While my Department is not an employer of childcare workers it is a significant funder of childcare services and very conscious that there is an issue with regard to the pay and conditions of workers in the sector. My Department is engaging with the early years sector, including through the National Collaborative Forum for the Early Years Care and Education Sector (The Early Years Forum) to explore how this can be addressed in the short, medium and long term. The Early Years Forum has been established to allow issues of relevance, such as these, to be discussed with key stakeholders. The Forum has enabled consultation and engagement between myself as Minister, key Department of Children and Youth Affairs officials, and key representatives of the sector. I have chaired the first two meetings of the Early Years Forum which has deepened my understanding of the issues facing the Early Years Sector and allowed me to share my vision of the sector moving forward.

Child Care Services Funding

Ceisteanna (1296)

James Lawless

Ceist:

1296. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review the single affordable child care scheme with a view to allowing a subsidy for those in part-time care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12879/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Affordable Childcare Scheme will provide childcare subsidies for both full-time and part-time childcare, including after-school childcare. While the number of hours of childcare subsidised per week will be capped at a maximum of 40 (or 15 for families in which a parent is neither engaged in work nor in study), it is not intended that there will be any minimum number of hours of childcare for participation in the scheme. Parents availing of subsidies under the scheme – whether for part-time or for full-time childcare – will be subsidised on the basis of the number of hours of childcare per week, with the subsidy per hour determined by the age of the child and the family income. Maximum subsidy-rates, for families with the lowest incomes, will range from €3.76 per hour for school-age childcare to €5.11 per hour for children between 6 and 12 months. Recognising the importance of flexibility to families, arrangements in terms of the numbers of hours per day or days per week of childcare that is used will be a matter for parents to decide, depending on the childcare options available to them locally.

The Affordable Childcare Scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare.

The universal element of the Scheme will be available to all families with children between the age of 6 months and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later than 36 months). The targeted element of the scheme will involve a progressive system of income-related subsidies for parents with children between 6 months and 15 years, with eligibility based on net parental income. A family may receive either the universal or the targeted subsidy per eligible child, not both. The subsidy provided will be whichever of the universal and targeted payment is most favourable to a family.

Child Care Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1297)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

1297. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12920/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs believes that staff in the childcare sector have a critical role to play in delivering high quality childcare services and that they deserve to be valued and respected for the important role they play with our children. Because childcare costs to parents in Ireland are one of the highest in the OECD, there is a need to address affordability and quality at the same time.

The Programme for Government commits to carrying out an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme which is due to be introduced later this year, and the Department is progressing this work in that context. The review will feed into future policy development, including in relation to levels of payments to services.

The last two budgets delivered a 35% increase each year in funding for childcare. However, it is recognised that there is a need to continue to invest and a strong case will be put forward for more resources in 2018. To go some way towards addressing cost pressures faced by providers in the sector, €10m has been secured to enable providers to be paid for non-contact time, where they will have no children present and they will be able to pay staff to concentrate on administrative workload. Services themselves can decide how to use the payment when it is received.

While the Department is not an employer of childcare workers it is a significant funder of childcare services and very conscious that there is an issue with regard to the pay and conditions of workers in the sector. It is engaging with the early years sector to explore how this can be addressed in the short, medium and long term.

Child Care Services Funding

Ceisteanna (1298)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the financial supports available to parents that return to work regarding child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13246/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department currently provides childcare funding under the following programmes:

1. Early Years Care and Education (ECCE):

The ECCE programme provides free pre-school three hours per day, five days per week. From September 2016 children are eligible to start free pre-school once they turn 3 (and are not more than 4 years and 8 months), and can continue in free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the relevant pre-school year i.e. end June). Children are able to enrol in free pre-school at three different points in the year - September, January and April - so that they can access free pre-school as soon as possible after they reach the age of 3. Prior to Budget 2016, families benefitted from 38 weeks of free pre-school. This has now been increased to 61 weeks on average (ranging from 51 weeks to 88 weeks). It has been estimated that this 61 weeks of ECCE reduces parents childcare costs by €4,000 (per child).

2. Community Childcare Subvention (CCS):

The CCS Programme provides support for parents on various social protection payments, in low paid employment, and training or education, by enabling qualifying parents to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating community childcare services. A childcare funding subsidy is provided to childcare services and the parent pays the remainder of the services childcare fee. CCS is available through participating community not-for-profit childcare services and is also available through participating private providers through the CCS Private programme. The maximum subsidisation/payment per child, per week, is €95.00 (to be deducted from the weekly childcare fee).

3. Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Programmes:

The objective of the TEC Programmes is to support parents on eligible training courses and eligible categories of parents returning to work, by providing subsidised childcare places. The TEC programmes are;

3.1. Childcare Education and Training Support programme (CETS). The CETS Programme formerly catered for FAS and VEC training course participants and now provides childcare on behalf of the Local Education and Training Boards.

3.2. After-School Child Care programme (ASCC). The ASCC is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and provides afterschool care for primary school children for certain categories of working parents and parents on DSP employment programmes (not including Community Employment).

3.3. Community Employment Childcare programme (CEC). The CEC is administered on behalf of DSP and provides childcare for children of parents who are participating on Community Employment schemes.

The Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) is due to be introduced later this year. It will subsume and replace all existing childcare programmes mentioned above, with the exception of the ECCE Programme, and will have both a universal and a targeted element. The universal element of the scheme will cater for all children between the ages of 6 to 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later) who are availing of childcare by a Tusla registered childcare service. The targeted element of the scheme will cater for children aged from 6 months to 15 years. This element of the scheme will be means tested and will be based on a parent’s net income. This will be a progressive system that ensures that those on the lower end of the income scale will receive the greatest subsidy. I will be publishing information on this Scheme in the coming months.

It would be advisable for parents returning to work to contact DSP in relation to financial supports, if any, that they may be entitled to avail of from that Department.

In addition, parents may find it of value to contact their local City and County Childcare Committee for further information.

Child Care Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1299)

Declan Breathnach

Ceist:

1299. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to the circumstances of a person (details supplied) who now falls outside of the criteria outlined in the early years preschool regulations and her Department's child care programmes qualification requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13254/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 are designed to address fundamental quality issues within early years services. They provide that each employee working directly with children attending a service must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification deemed to be equivalent. The Regulations state that each service provider must ensure that their staff meet this standard. This section of the regulations took effect on 30th June 2016 for new services registering after that date, and for all other services it took effect on 31st December 2016.

My Department introduced this regulatory change following many years of consideration and consultation with the sector. Notwithstanding that the requirements set out in the Regulations were well flagged for the past number of years, and mindful of the challenge that it would present to the sector, the Department introduced the following supportive measures:

a) Learner Funds to provide sector workers with an opportunity to upskill to a Level 5 qualification.

b) A qualifications assessment procedure, put in place by DCYA in the latter half of 2015, allows for applications to be made for individual qualifications assessment. This is conducted by DCYA in consultation with the Early Years Policy Unit of the Department of Education and Skills, and is available to anyone who applies. Each application is dealt with on a case by case basis.

c) The Regulations provide an exemption for certain existing childcare staff who intended to retire from the sector in the near future, did not hold the minimum qualification and who did not wish to undertake a course of training at that stage. The Regulations stipulate that persons seeking to avail of this exemption had to, by 30th June 2016, have signed the necessary declaration and be in possession of a letter from the Minister confirming that the exemption had been granted.

It is my understanding that the person in question submitted an application to the qualifications assessment procedure, at b) above, and based on the documentation submitted it was deemed that they did not meet the minimum qualification requirement.

In conclusion, staff who have completed a relevant award at NFQ Level 5 or above by the 31st December 2016, or who were granted an exemption before the 30th June 2016, will meet the regulatory standard. Staff who are currently undergoing education to achieve a Level 5 award will not meet the regulatory standard until that award has been achieved.

Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration

Ceisteanna (1300)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1300. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will confirm that in line with the one person, one salary principle, no public servant who is a member of a State board or agency under the control of her Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees and if any such remuneration is being paid that such payment will be discontinued and payments that were wrongfully paid will be reclaimed. [13336/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I can confirm to the Deputy that in line with the one person one salary principle, no public servant that is a member of a State board or agency under the control of my Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees.