Micheál Martin
Ceist:293. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when youth unemployment was last discussed at an EU Council meeting. [7358/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraYouth Unemployment
Ceisteanna (293)
Freagraí scríofa
On 8 December 2016, the EPSCO Council discussed youth unemployment under the format of EU policies on the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Employment Initiative.
At EU level, discussions on youth unemployment fall under the remit of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, also known as EPSCO. While youth unemployment activation policies fall primarily under the responsibility of the Minister for Social Protection, my Department coordinates EPSCO ministerial meetings across Government.
At the 8 December 2016 EPSCO meeting, Ireland, represented by the Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, T.D. and the Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen, T.D. supported the adoption of Council Conclusions on the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Employment Initiative.
These Conclusions noted the significant progress on the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Employment Initiative to date and called on Member States the step up the implementation of these policies in Member States.
In addition, while not focused primarily on youth unemployment, the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council of 17 February adopted conclusions on Investing in Europe's Youth. These conclusions have a broad focus on youth affairs, including education, training, learning mobility and employment.
Ireland's youth unemployment rate continues to decline as the labour market improves. Eurostat measure Ireland's youth unemployment at 15.1% in January, down from 17.6% from January 2016 and significantly below the euro area average of 20%.
While this improvement is welcome, the Government recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to facilitate young unemployed people find and sustain employment.
The key objective of Ireland’s policy response to the EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee is to help newly unemployed young people find and secure sustainable jobs. In this regard, the Department of Social Protection is overseeing specific measures to address these challenges. I am confident these measures, and continuing economic recovery, will support further youth employment opportunities.
Economic Competitiveness
Ceisteanna (294)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:294. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will report on the research to benchmark Ireland's competitiveness against the UK in the post-Brexit environment, as mentioned in the Taoiseach's speech to the IIEA in February 2017. [10423/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) reports to the Taoiseach and the Government, through me on key competitiveness issues facing the Irish economy and offers recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland’s competitive position.
The Council is undertaking a benchmarking research exercise comparing Ireland and the UK across a number of dimensions based on key indicators relating to competitiveness. This will provide a comprehensive statistical assessment of Ireland’s competitiveness performance. Its objective is to fully understand Ireland’s strengths and weaknesses, both current and future, in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. It will highlight areas where policy attention should be focused to enhance Ireland’s offering.
The work is ongoing at present and will be completed by the end of Quarter 1 2017.
Benchmarking Competitiveness: Ireland and the UK
The Report will include a baseline of indicators, which will be broken down into all relevant aspects of competitiveness, from the essential conditions underpinning performance, to the policy inputs, outputs and competitiveness outcomes. These include the following:
1. Macroeconomic Performance
2. Competitiveness and Exchange Rate Performance
3. Trade
4. Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
5. Inward Investment
6. Labour Market
7. Prices and Business Costs
8. Productivity
9. Taxation
10. Access to Finance
11. Talent
12. Infrastructure
13. Innovation
14. Energy
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (295)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:295. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way her Department's officials are co-ordinating and targeting access to more EU markets following the Brexit referendum result, as mentioned in the Taoiseach's recent speech to the IIEA and at the all-island civic dialogue. [10422/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I secured additional monies for 2017 to provide for 39 targeted posts in Enterprise Ireland (EI) to enable it to support its clients across all markets. Extra staff will be placed in EI’s domestic and overseas offices with sectoral knowledge and expertise such as in engineering, food, life sciences and construction. This will drive export growth to other international markets where there are known opportunities and reduce reliance on the UK.
Enterprise Ireland’s new Strategy 2017 – 2020 will support more Irish companies to achieve greater scale and expand into new export markets. Though the ‘Global Ambition’ strategy we will continue our efforts in the established export markets of France, Benelux, Germany and the Nordics where Irish companies already have substantial exports. We will have a major focus on directing resources and expertise to the Eurozone markets, targeting a 50% increase in exports by 2020.
Furthermore, the US and Canada will continue to be key markets for Irish companies. We will also continue to support companies to build their market share in high potential markets of China, South Korea, India, ASEAN, the Gulf, Latin America and Africa.
A key element of the 2017 drive for expanding our global export footprint include an enhanced programme of trade and investment missions, market study visits and inward buyer visits from markets with specific sectoral opportunities.
Key events taking place in the Eurozone region will be Mobile World Congress [Spain], Paris Air Show [France], Batimat Construction [France], Datacentre Market Study Visit [Denmark and Sweden], Agritechnica [Germany], Port Development Infrastructure [Denmark], Med in Ireland [Dublin], Medica [Germany], PharmaBuild [Benelux], TV and Animation Market Study Visit [Italy], and Telefonica 2017 Opportunities [Spain].
In 2017, EI will also roll out the ‘Global Ambition’ communications campaign to promote Irish companies and their products and services to international buyers.
Enterprise Ireland’s Irish based team will be enhanced with additional staff to provide various targeted supports and programmes to assist companies before they enter the market. Training and supports in terms of management capability, leadership, marketing/sales skills, innovation and R&D will help companies to build market share and create new market opportunities.
Enterprise Ireland will also deliver a suite of supports that help clients reduce supply-chain costs and drive efficiencies and cost reductions as a means of improving operating margins, thereby increasing competitiveness.
Trade Agreements
Ceisteanna (296)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the passing of the CETA trade deal by the EU and its implications for trade here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8706/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) covers virtually every aspect of economic activity. It will remove over 99% of tariffs and will create sizeable new market access opportunities in services and investment in many sectors for Irish firms.
Irish firms will also be able to bid for Canadian public contracts at the federal and sub-federal level. They will benefit from the recognition of product standards and certification, thus saving on ‘double testing’ on both sides of the Atlantic. CETA provides significant opportunities for the Irish dairy industry and has strong protections for our beef industry through restricted quotas for Canadian beef entering the EU. There are a range of sectoral opportunities for Irish firms in Canada, including financial software, telecoms, digital media, agricultural machinery and life-sciences and medical devices.
I support the provisional application of CETA so that Irish firms may immediately benefit from the Agreement and to generate jobs and growth for Ireland. My Department is already working with our agencies and Business Groups to ensure that Irish firms take early advantage of the terms of the Agreement. I will be leading a trade mission to Canada in the first half of this year to promote the opportunities provided by CETA.
Commercial Property
Ceisteanna (297)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:297. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to tackle commercial vacancy rates, particularly in the north west and County Sligo, which has the highest rate of vacant commercial property here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14437/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Decisions in relation to the renting of commercial premises are a matter, in the first instance, for private sector enterprises and not a matter in which I have a function.
A key intervention in terms of tackling commercial vacancy rates lies in the setting, by local authorities, of incentivised business rates for unoccupied premises. To this end, a number of Local Authorities have introduced locally designed business incentive schemes which promote the use of vacant commercial property. These schemes give an incentive to new business owners to occupy vacant premises by lowering entry costs through a grant related to the level of rates payable on the property.
While the levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority, I understand that the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will shortly be bringing legislative proposals to Government to modernise the legislation relating to commercial rates. These proposals will include providing powers to local authorities to introduce rates alleviation schemes to promote national and local policy objectives.
Also, the recently published Action Plan for Rural Development provides a commitment for the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to review planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial properties in cities, towns and villages, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (298)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:298. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the targeted strategies IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are developing and implementing in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Cavan to entice clients and investment in view of Brexit negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14438/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am very much aware of the potential impact of Brexit on border areas and I am committed to doing all I can to assist enterprise in the region. I regularly engage with stakeholders from the area and, on 19 January, I hosted a large delegation of elected representatives from Cavan and Monaghan to discuss issues including Brexit.
IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are also working on an ongoing basis with client companies to both mitigate the challenges and maximise the opportunities arising from the UK’s decision to leave the EU. InterTrade Ireland is also working with companies engaged in North-South trade to ensure they are best prepared as possible to address the challenges Brexit may pose for cross-border commerce.
The wider strategy for increasing employment in the region is the Regional Action Plan for the North East/North West, which has a strong Brexit focus. This plan aims to support the creation of 28,000 new jobs across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth by 2020. I am pleased that there has been strong progress made to date towards that objective, with 5,600 more people in employment across the region since the start of 2015.
IDA Ireland Portfolio
Ceisteanna (299)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:299. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department and IDA Ireland have identified a client to invest in the new facility at the Finisklin industrial estate in County Sligo; when an announcement is expected regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14441/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am informed by IDA Ireland that the 31,000 square foot Advance Technology Building located in Finisklin Business Park Sligo is due for completion at the end of next month. I understand that this building is already being actively marketed by the Agency to all potential investors.
Job Initiatives
Ceisteanna (300)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:300. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the solutions the Government and its agencies have in place to tackle unemployment in rural Ireland in view of the delay in awarding of contracts under the national broadband plan. [14528/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Irish economy has come through an extraordinary period over the last ten years. Our enterprise base is more competitive, export oriented and more innovative. Jobs are being created by enterprises in every region and every sector in the country. The Action Plan for Jobs process, which I and my Department co-ordinate across Government, has been very successful.
Almost 206,000 more people are at work since the first Plan was launched in 2012 - that is an average of just under 40,000 per annum over the last five years. We want to add up to 45,000 more jobs in 2017.
As Minister, I want two of every three jobs created in the regions. I will shortly announce a competitive call for innovative proposals to boost regional growth, with funding of up to €60 million.
We will promote the development of a network of eHubs across the regions, beginning with an audit of all existing and potential hubs.
EI’s target is to add 15,000 gross new jobs in 2017, support 250 large scale investments, win an extra 1,000 sales contracts and increase exports to €23 billion.
The Local Enterprise Offices support a net increase in employment of over 3,800 in 2016 and we are targeting a similar increase in 2017.
We are also developing an integrated communications plan to raise awareness of the range of enterprise supports available and how to access them.
We also want to ensure that all sections of the workforce contribute to their full potential and as Minister, I am placing an emphasis on female participation and female entrepreneurship in particular. We are focusing on the older workers in the labour market through a combination of measures. This includes a new draft Code of Practice to set out best practice in managing the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement and measures to support senior entrepreneurship.
We will launch a toolkit for employers and employees to engage in workplace innovation and roll out a pilot programme.
We will harness the creativity of our citizens to address these challenges and opportunities. Creativity and our strength in design can give us a competitive advantage in all sectors of the economy from manufacturing to retail.
Maximising the retail potential of our town centres is vital and we are committed to developing a template for retail development in our towns.
I am also focusing on new opportunities arising from the digitalisation of the economy and society. We will develop a whole of Government approach to realise the digital economy opportunities across all sectors, including a stakeholder summit in the first quarter.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP), which is being delivered by my colleague Minister Naughten, aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
There has been significant progress in relation to broadband roll out so that today, approximately 1.4m or 61% of premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector, which is continuing to expand this footprint.
Minister Naughten has informed me that a formal procurement process is in train to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area. The procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years. The timeframe for the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders, during the procurement process.
Job Initiatives
Ceisteanna (301)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:301. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she is working to attract jobs and SMEs in the north west, thereby encouraging an overall balanced economy with consequent economic benefits for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14529/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Regional Action Plans for Jobs are aimed at maximising the strengths and assets of each region, to support enterprise growth and job creation.
The key strength of the stakeholders like the local authorities, the educational bodies, the enterprise development agencies and the private sector all working collaboratively to maximise opportunities, means that every county will benefit under this initiative.
The North East/North West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is stimulating job creation across the region, by facilitating collaborative initiatives between the public and private sector, and through the provision of new competitive funds awarded through Enterprise Ireland, to support regional enterprise projects.
The North East/North West Plan aims to support the creation of 28,000 jobs across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth by 2020.
Sectors targeted as part of the plan include traditionally strong sectors for the region like agrifood, manufacturing/engineering and tourism, including active promotion of the tourism potential of the Lakelands Region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan.
There has been a substantial improvement in the North East/North West region since the commencement of the National Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, with an additional 23,000 in employment in Q4 2016 compared to Q1 2012. Moreover, there are now almost 6,800 more people in work in the region since the launch of the Regional Action Plan initiative in Q1 2015.
The unemployment rate in the region has fallen from 10.2% in Q1 2015 to 8.0% at present, compared to the national rate of 6%.
IDA, Enterprise Ireland (EI), and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are making a significant contribution to employment in the three North West counties.
The three North West counties are home to 39 existing IDA Ireland clients who between them employ 5,742 people in a range of manufacturing and service operations. Since end-2014, IDA supported companies have seen a net increase of 505 jobs in the North West.
EI companies currently support 6,049 jobs in the North West counties. EI job announcements in 2016 in the North West included LotusWorks (50 jobs in Sligo) and VistaMed (200 jobs in Leitrim).
The North West LEOs are fully engaged in supporting the micro-enterprise and small business sectors in their areas to create and sustain jobs. The three LEOs have supported gross job gains of 1,281 in its client companies in the past 2 years.
My Department is providing additional funds through the agencies out to 2020. Together with Enterprise Ireland, I am currently finalising plans for a regional initiative of up to €60m to support collaborative approaches to grow and sustain jobs across the regions, and to encourage each county to reach its full potential.
Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (302)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:302. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way she plans to increase the number of persons with a disability at work, after an ESRI report showed that only 31% of persons aged 20 to 59 years of age with a disability were at work compared to 71% of those without a disability. [14557/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department’s mission is to encourage the creation of high quality and sustainable full employment by championing enterprise across government, supporting a competitive enterprise base, and promoting fair and competitive markets. My Department does not having a direct role on the formulation of policy on the provision of employment or other supports for people with disabilities.
Since the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012, almost 206,000 more people are at work. Over 66,000 jobs were created during 2016. Employment growth is spread across all regions and all sectors of the economy and society.
In February, we published the Action Plan for Jobs 2017. This Government's goal is to ensure that all of our people have the opportunity to enjoy rewarding work and to participate and contribute to their full potential to our economy and society.
The 2017 Action Plan sets out a whole of Government response to secure employment and retain jobs in the face of global uncertainty by strengthening the resilience and agility of our enterprise base.
In developing APJ 2017, I had a number of discussions with my colleague Minister Finian McGrath T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for Disabilities, and with representatives of the disability sector.
The 2017 Plan commits to the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities and ensures that people who are able to, and want to work are supported and enabled. This strategy falls under the remit of the Department for Justice and Equality. There are a range of measures to equip people with the skills to avail of job opportunities as they arise, including activation measures under Pathways to Work. The Government is also committed to increasing the target for employees with disabilities in the public sector towards 6.0% by 2024 from the current level of 3.5%.
We will continue to work across Government to ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate fully in the workforce. This includes continued participation in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with a Disability Implementation Group (CES) and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Group (NDIS), both of which are being led by the Department of Justice & Equality.
My Department has implemented a CES action to highlight the supports that are available to facilitate the employment of people with disabilities in the open labour market, or to retain in the workforce employees who acquire a disability.
The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 prohibits discrimination on nine grounds including the ground of disability. The Acts apply to prospective employees in claiming discrimination in access to employment. Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referring a complaint to the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission, which is an Office of my Department. A case may be lodged through the Workplace Relations Commission’s website at www.workplacerelations.ie. General information relating to employment rights is available on the website and from the Workplace Relations Commission’s Information Service at Telephone: 1890 80 80 90.