Written Answers Nos. 76-100
76. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the percentage and number of Irish SMEs active in manufacturing, by micro-sized enterprises, medium-sized enterprises and SMEs; and the equivalent figures for the EU from the latest available data, in tabular form. [49983/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are defined as having less than 250 persons employed. In 2015, the latest year for which data is available, Ireland had 15,090 SMEs in manufacturing. The EU-28 total was 2,081,796 SMEs in manufacturing.
The following table gives a breakdown of manufacturing enterprises by size of enterprise in each EU Member State, distinguishing the number of micro-enterprises (less than 10 persons employed), small enterprises (10 to 49 persons employed), medium enterprises (50 to 249 persons employed), and large enterprises. The figures are based on EU results published by Eurostat. Irish figures for 2016 will be available in June 2018.
Number of Manufacturing Enterprises by Size Class and Member State, 2015
Size of enterprise (persons employed)
|
Micro (<10) |
% |
Small (10-49) |
% |
Medium (50-249) |
% |
SMEs (<249) |
% |
Large (250 or more) |
% |
All Manufacturing Enterprises |
|
|
EU - 281 |
1,735,311 |
82.7 |
275,207 |
13.1 |
71,278 |
3.4 |
2,081,796 |
99.2 |
16,100 |
0.8 |
2,098,630 |
|
Belgium |
27,932 |
82.7 |
4,396 |
13.0 |
1,151 |
3.4 |
33,479 |
99.1 |
309 |
0.9 |
33,788 |
|
Bulgaria |
22,785 |
73.8 |
5,697 |
18.4 |
1,743 |
5.6 |
30,225 |
97.9 |
285 |
0.9 |
30,879 |
|
Czech Republic |
159,760 |
92.9 |
8,381 |
4.9 |
3,052 |
1.8 |
171,193 |
99.5 |
861 |
0.5 |
172,054 |
|
Denmark |
10,523 |
70.9 |
3,149 |
21.2 |
958 |
6.5 |
14,630 |
98.6 |
202 |
1.4 |
14,832 |
|
Germany |
131,323 |
64.1 |
52,905 |
25.8 |
16,464 |
8.0 |
200,692 |
97.9 |
4,336 |
2.1 |
205,028 |
|
Estonia |
5,369 |
76.1 |
1,182 |
16.8 |
438 |
6.2 |
6,989 |
99.1 |
64 |
0.9 |
7,053 |
|
Ireland |
13,048 |
85.6 |
1,540 |
10.1 |
502 |
3.3 |
15,090 |
99.0 |
152 |
1.0 |
15,242 |
|
Greece |
59,886 |
93.7 |
3,330 |
5.2 |
563 |
0.9 |
63,779 |
99.8 |
111 |
0.2 |
63,890 |
|
Spain |
139,733 |
83.7 |
22,232 |
13.3 |
4,220 |
2.5 |
166,185 |
99.6 |
752 |
0.5 |
166,936 |
|
France |
184,489 |
86.5 |
21,974 |
10.3 |
5,486 |
2.6 |
211,949 |
99.4 |
1,354 |
0.6 |
213,303 |
|
Croatia |
16,351 |
82.9 |
2,570 |
13.0 |
646 |
3.3 |
19,567 |
99.2 |
149 |
0.8 |
19,716 |
|
Italy |
321,837 |
82.7 |
57,930 |
14.9 |
8,338 |
2.1 |
388,105 |
99.7 |
1,212 |
0.3 |
389,317 |
|
Cyprus |
4,504 |
89.7 |
445 |
8.9 |
64 |
1.3 |
5,013 |
99.9 |
6 |
0.1 |
5019 |
|
Latvia |
8,569 |
81.4 |
1,457 |
13.8 |
442 |
4.2 |
10,468 |
99.5 |
54 |
0.5 |
10,523 |
|
Lithuania |
16,399 |
84.5 |
2,163 |
11.2 |
704 |
3.6 |
19,266 |
99.3 |
132 |
0.7 |
19,398 |
|
Luxembourg |
481 |
61.2 |
.. |
.. |
83 |
10.6 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
786 |
|
Hungary |
41,545 |
84.3 |
5,686 |
11.5 |
1,659 |
3.4 |
48,890 |
99.1 |
420 |
0.9 |
49,310 |
|
Malta |
1,787 |
86.1 |
.. |
.. |
56 |
2.7 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
2,076 |
|
Netherlands |
55,117 |
87.0 |
5,962 |
9.4 |
1,935 |
3.1 |
63,014 |
99.5 |
323 |
0.5 |
63,337 |
|
Austria |
18,401 |
72.7 |
5,015 |
19.8 |
1,432 |
5.7 |
24,848 |
98.1 |
475 |
1.9 |
25,323 |
|
Poland |
164,535 |
87.8 |
15,057 |
8.0 |
6,193 |
3.3 |
185,785 |
99.2 |
1,589 |
0.8 |
187,374 |
|
Portugal |
54,653 |
81.9 |
9,693 |
14.5 |
2,120 |
3.2 |
66,466 |
99.6 |
263 |
0.4 |
66,729 |
|
Romania |
34,974 |
72.3 |
9,509 |
19.6 |
3,147 |
6.5 |
47,630 |
98.4 |
775 |
1.6 |
48,405 |
|
Slovenia |
16,700 |
88.6 |
1,562 |
8.3 |
487 |
2.6 |
18,749 |
99.4 |
104 |
0.6 |
18,853 |
|
Slovakia |
59,413 |
92.9 |
3,261 |
5.1 |
1014 |
1.6 |
63,688 |
99.6 |
281 |
0.4 |
63,969 |
|
Finland |
16,821 |
81.3 |
2,922 |
14.1 |
825 |
4.0 |
20,568 |
99.5 |
200 |
1.0 |
20,678 |
|
Sweden |
47,435 |
88.3 |
4,735 |
8.8 |
1,255 |
2.3 |
53,425 |
99.5 |
287 |
0.5 |
53,712 |
|
United Kingdom |
100,941 |
77.0 |
22,454 |
17.1 |
6,301 |
4.8 |
129,696 |
98.9 |
1,404 |
1.1 |
131,100 |
Indicates that the data has been suppressed for confidentiality reasons.
1 Total values exclude data from countries whose values have been suppressed.
77. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of active enterprises, by size (details supplied) according to the latest Business In Ireland 2015 CSO data; and the corresponding number of persons engaged in each such size category. [49986/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy was published by the CSO on 17 November 2017 in Table 3.1 of the Business in Ireland 2015 report. The same information is set out in a table.
Number of active enterprises and persons engaged by sector and size class, 2015
|
Industry |
Industry |
Construction |
Construction |
Distribution |
Distribution |
Services |
Services |
Financial and Insurance1 |
Financial and Insurance1 |
Total Business Economy |
Total Business Economy |
|
|
Size Class |
Active Enterprises |
Persons Engaged |
Active Enterprises |
Persons Engaged |
Active Enterprises |
Persons Engaged |
Active Enterprises |
Persons Engaged |
Active Enterprises |
Persons Engaged |
Active Enterprises |
Persons Engaged |
|
Micro (<10) |
14,760 |
26,159 |
49,192 |
71,430 |
40,537 |
89,882 |
118,674 |
189,213 |
6,308 |
10,041 |
229,471 |
386,725 |
|
Small (10-49) |
1,705 |
35,900 |
1,240 |
22,362 |
5,315 |
99,792 |
7,231 |
139,641 |
511 |
9,930 |
16,002 |
307,625 |
|
Medium (50-249) |
545 |
56,317 |
101 |
8,898 |
684 |
61,385 |
1,371 |
135,137 |
128 |
12,794 |
2,829 |
274,531 |
|
All SMEs (<250) |
17,010 |
118,376 |
50,533 |
102,690 |
46,536 |
251,059 |
127,276 |
463,991 |
6,947 |
32,765 |
248,302 |
968,881 |
|
Large |
166 |
103,421 |
13 |
6,030 |
90 |
94,852 |
209 |
164,726 |
62 |
65,071 |
540 |
434,100 |
|
All sizes |
17,176 |
221,797 |
50,546 |
108,720 |
46,626 |
345,911 |
127,485 |
628,717 |
7,009 |
97,836 |
248,842 |
1,402,981 |
Source: CSO Business Demography
1 Excludes activities of financial holding companies (K642)
78. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of young persons aged 15 to 29 years of age classified as not in employment, education or training, NEET; the percentage of NEETs as a proportion of the unemployed here; and the corresponding EU average rate. [49987/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of unemployment (International Labour Organisation - ILO) in the State. The latest annual (average) unemployment data available for Ireland is for 2016.
The table provided shows, for Ireland, the number of persons between 15-29 years of age classified as, not in employment, education, or training (NEET) and the total number of those classified as NEET being unemployed (ILO) for the years 2015 and 2016. The table also includes for Ireland the percentage share of all unemployed persons aged between 15 and 29 years represented by those classified as NEET above.
The most recently available annual unemployment data for the EU28 is for 2016.
Unemployed (ILO) persons aged 15 - 29 years classified NEET, 2015 and 2016
|
Unemployed (ILO) persons aged 15 - 29 years |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Total number of persons aged 15-29 years classified as NEET - Ireland ('000)1 |
135.6 |
121.3 |
|
of which:NEET (unemployed) - Ireland ('000) |
59.4 |
48.1 |
|
Total number unemployed persons aged 15-29 years - Ireland ('000) |
68.5 |
58.7 |
|
Percentage share of total unemployed persons aged 15-29 years |
||
|
represented by those classified as NEET for the same age group - Ireland |
86.7% |
81.9% |
|
Percentage share of total unemployed persons aged 15-29 years |
||
|
represented by those classified as NEET for the same age group - EU28 |
75.9% |
75.4% |
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland and Eurostat.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
1 Includes persons who are unemployed and active.
79. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the number of vacancies in each State board under the aegis of his Department, in tabular form. [49943/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appoint members to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the National Statistics Board (NSB).
I appoint members to the NESC in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the Alteration of Composition Order 2010. The legislation provides for nominations from five sectors - business and employer, ICTU, farming and agricultural, community and voluntary and environmental; public servants; and independent experts. Four vacancies remain in the independent members category. These vacancies will be filled in accordance with the process set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards.
I appoint members to the NSB in accordance with the Statistics Act 1993. The Act provides for an eight member National Statistics Board, including the Director General of the CSO, ex officio, and an Assistant Secretary from my Department and the Department of Finance. Two members are nominated by the Taoiseach and three by organisations representative of the users of official statistics and providers of information under the Act. There are currently no vacancies on the NSB.
The table provided shows the number of vacancies in the NESC and NSB.
|
State Board |
Number of Vacancies |
|
NESC |
4 |
|
NSB |
0 |
80. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach when the quarter three 2017 figures for the Quarterly National Household Survey will be published. [49826/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEffective from Q3 2017, the CSO is compiling Labour Market Statistics from a new Labour Force Survey (LFS). This new survey has replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and will see the introduction of Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), a redesigned questionnaire and enhancements to the survey methodology. As a consequence, the results for the LFS Q3 2017 have been rescheduled from their planned publication on November 21st 2017 until the 16th January 2018. These results will incorporate the revision of population estimates arising from the 2016 Census of Population along with a back-cast series of the existing data for the QNHS to ensure comparability of the headline indicators.
81. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach the spend on social media campaigns by his Department and the agencies under its aegis on issues related to Brexit; the spend by campaign, platform and State agency. [49962/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and agencies under its remit has had no spend to date on social media campaigns on issues related to Brexit. However, the Strategic Communications Unit will be working with other Departments on a cross Government campaign on Brexit in the coming months.
82. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach the amount spent promoting and advertising the video Ireland At Its Best in respect of the Rugby World Cup bid on social media; and if promotion on social media of this video was carried out outside the State. [49963/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key part of the modernisation of Government communications is the greater use of social media. Merrionstreet.ie has a presence on a number of social media platforms. The amount spent on advertising the video" Ireland at its best" for Ireland's Rugby World Cup bid was €9,500, sponsored posts appeared on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The posts were targeted at "all adults" to both a national and international audience.
83. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the names of persons he has appointed to each State board under the aegis of his Department who have not come from the Public Appointments Service list of suitable candidates, in tabular form. [50005/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appoint members to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the National Statistics Board (NSB).
I appoint the NESC in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the NESC (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 - SI 603/ 2010. I appoint members to the NSB in accordance with the Statistics Act 1993.
In the case of the NESC the legislation provides that I appoint members on the nomination of the organisations and interests set out, ie. business and employer, ICTU, farming and agriculture, community and voluntary and environmental sectors, public servants and independent members.
Since becoming Taoiseach I have appointed three members to the NESC following nomination by the farming and agricultural interests.
These are:
Damien McDonald, IFA
John Enright, ICMS
TJ Flanagan, ICOS.
84. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the bodies under the aegis of his Department to which his Department provides in excess of €1 million funding per annum; the public funding received by these bodies; the bodies in which 50% or more of their income comes from public sources. [50122/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Economic and Social Council (NESC), is the only State Agency in under the aegis of my Department.
The NESC receives an annual grant from my Department’s Vote. NESC allocation from my Department’s Vote is €2.01m in 2017.
In addition, in 2017 the Council will receive ca. €90,000 from the Environment Fund, managed by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in relation to sustainable development work.
85. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of women appointed at senior level (details supplied) within his Department; the number of men employed in each of these roles; and the total number of employees in his Department. [50348/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is a total of 196.1 whole-time equivalent staff members employed by my Department.
The gender breakdown of staff employed by my Department in the relevant roles is outlined in the table provided.
Department of the Taoiseach Staff by Gender
|
Role |
Female |
Male |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
|
Second Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
2 |
4* |
|
Deputy Secretary |
0 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
6** |
6 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
19 |
12 |
* Following a retirement next year, the number of male Assistant Secretaries employed by my Department will fall to three.
** My Department is in the process of recruiting a female Principal Officer for the Strategic Communications Unit which will bring the number of female Principal Officers employed by my Department to seven.
Female representation on my Department's Management Board currently stands at 40% and will rise to 44% following the planned retirement at Assistant Secretary level referred to above.
The gender balance at Principal Officer level in my Department is currently 50:50 (with female officers at Principal Officer level rising to 54% in the coming weeks). Female officers at Principal Officer level currently hold the posts of Head of Section/Division in Economic Division; Britain and Northern Ireland Affairs Section; EU Section; Protocol and General Division; Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division; and Corporate Affairs Division.
86. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of persons working in his constituency office and private office; and the levels at which they work. [50349/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe tables provided outline the number of staff employed by my Department to work in my constituency and my private office. This includes both politically appointed staff and established civil servants.
Taoiseach's Private Office
|
Salary Scale (Equivalent) |
Number of Employees |
|
Deputy Secretary |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
3 |
|
Principal Officer |
2 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer (Higher) |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
3 |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
6 |
Taoiseach's Constituency Office
|
Salary Scale (Equivalent) |
Number of Employees |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
87. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the public contracts between his Department and companies (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2016; and the value of each contract. [50408/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department did not have any contracts with the companies in question between 2011 and 2016.
88. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the person who sent him or presented him with the email from the Department of Justice and Equality he referred to on Leaders' Questions on 21 November 2017; the time it was presented; and the format in which it was presented. [50411/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt 23:27 hours on 20 November 2017 one of my staff emailed me a copy of the email I referred to during Leaders Questions on 21 November 2017. The email was sent to my Department by the Department of Justice and Equality very shortly before this.
89. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Taoisigh cén líon iomlán foirne atá fostaithe ina Roinn faoi láthair; cé mhéid post atá daingnithe nó aitheanta ag an Roinn (i scéim teanga, nó ar aon bhealach eile) mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo; cé mhéid duine atá ann ag a bhfuil líofacht i nGaeilge agus atá ag feidhmiú sna poist sin atá daingnithe no aitheanta mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo; an bhfuil sé beartaithe ag an tráth seo aon phost eile de chuid na Roinne a aithint mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge. [50689/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra90. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Taoisigh cé mhéid folúntas a líonadh ina Roinn ó thús na bliana seo; cé mhéid de na folúntais sin a bhain le poist a bhí sainaitheanta mar phoist a raibh Gaeilge riachtanach ina leith; cé mhéid folúntas atá le líonadh faoi láthair agus cé mhéid de na folúntais siúd atá sainaitheanta mar fholúntais a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo. [50706/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
Baineann príomhobair mo Roinne le hobair an Rialtais agus pléimid den chuid is mo le ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí rialtais eile. Mar thoradh air sin, ní bhíonn éileamh mór ón phobal ar sheirbhísí i nGaeilge.
Tá coibhéis lánaimseartha 196.1 ball foirne fostaithe i mo Roinn faoi láthair. Tá sé tugtha le fios ag roinnt den fhoireann i mo Roinn go bhfuil roinnt Gaeilge acu agus go bhfuil an inniúlacht acu réimse seirbhísí a chur a fáil trí Ghaeilge. Ina measc, tá beirt beirt oifigeach atá ardlíofa i nGaeilge – duine i m’Oifig Phríobháideach agus duine i bPreasoifig an Rialtais – atá ainmnithe chun seirbhísí a chur ar fáil don phobal i nGaeilge faoi Scéim Teanga 2016-2019 mo Roinne.
Is leor an méid sin post ainmnithe chun freastal ar an éileamh atá ann ar sheirbhísí Gaeilge.
Earcaíodh 30 duine ag mo Roinn go dtí seo in 2017 tríd an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí. Ba ó phainéil Gaeilge a tháinig beirt acu sin.
91. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of vacancies in each State board under the aegis of his Department, in tabular form. [49929/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table details the number of vacancies currently on each of the State Boards under the aegis of my Department.
|
Agency |
Number of Vacancies |
|
NSAI |
1 |
|
IAASA |
0 |
|
HSA |
0 |
|
PIAB |
0 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
1 |
|
IDA Ireland |
1 |
|
SFI |
0 |
|
WRC |
0 |
Details of all appointments and vacancies on the State Boards under the aegis of my Department are available on the State Boards website at www.stateboards.ie.
92. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the advance IDA facility in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49974/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe IDA's Regional Property Programme was announced in 2015, with €150 million designated for investment in property solutions outside Dublin. The Programme includes the construction of nine new advance buildings around the country. Carlow was selected as a location for one of these facilities. The building there is currently at concept and design stage with construction expected to begin in 2018 and complete by early 2019.
93. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the names of persons she has appointed to each State board under the aegis of her department that have not come from the Public Appointments Service list of suitable candidates, in tabular form. [49991/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince I have taken up the position of Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation I have made the following appointments/reappointments to the State Boards under the aegis of my Department.
|
Agency |
Details of Appointment |
|
PIAB |
Dermot Gorman, Insurance Ireland was appointed to the Board of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) on 26th September 2017. Under section 56 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 Insurance Ireland is designated to nominate one person to the Board of PIAB. |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
Declan Hughes, Departmental Representative was appointed to the Board of Enterprise Ireland on 4 September 2017. The appointment was on the basis of office held. |
|
Helen Ryan, Geoff Meagher, Colum Horgan and John McMahon were reappointed to the Board of Enterprise Ireland on 10 July 2017. |
94. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the IDA search for a replacement industry for a plant (details supplied); his views on whether the issue is a lost cause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50031/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs we are aware, in November 2015 AG announced the regrettable decision to close the facility in Clarecastle following a review of Roche’s worldwide manufacturing network for small molecules. This review also resulted in closures at plants in other international locations.
Prior to Roche confirming its decision to close the plant, IDA Ireland engaged with management at the site and with the parent company in Switzerland on how jobs could be retained. This engagement is continuing and the Agency's officials met with senior management of the company in Switzerland in September. At this meeting, the company outlined its commitment to continue working with the IDA to find a buyer for the site. The Agency has itself been actively promoting the site to existing clients and potential investors and will continue to do so in the time ahead. I am hopeful that a new investor will be identified in due course and that further employment opportunities will in turn be created for the people of Clarecastle and the surrounding area.
95. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if he has used a private email account to send or receive official documents or positions on Brexit; and if so, the details of this correspondence. [50052/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not used a private email account to send or receive official documents or positions on Brexit since my appointment as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
I have been informed by the Department of Justice & Equality that in April 2016 a briefing note on Brexit was sent from the former Minister's Department of Justice & Equality email account to her personal email account on 20/04/2016 at 05:37am.
A version of the relevant briefing document is already in the public domain and available on the website of the Oireachtas at http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/TAOdoclaid260416_171147.pdf
96. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of financial assistance aid and grants that have been provided to a company (details supplied) over the past seven years; the amount of financial assistance, aid and grants planned to be provided to this company in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50075/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe level of grant assistance provided by IDA Ireland to the company referred to by the Deputy during the last seven years is as follows:
- 2010: €5,071,416; and
- 2013: €3,093,054
It is not possible at this stage to detail how much grant aid, if any, will be paid for the period between 2018 to 2020.
97. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the bodies under the aegis his Department to which his Department provides in excess of €1 million funding per annum; the public funding received by these bodies; the bodies in which 50% or more of their income comes from public sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50108/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table provided outlines the 2017 allocations to those bodies who receive more than €1 million from my Department’s Vote
|
Office/Agency |
Total 2017 funding provision as per Revised Estimates Volume (gross) |
|
InterTrade Ireland |
€7.960 million |
|
IDA Ireland |
€179.264 million |
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland |
€5.802 million |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
€269.5 million |
|
Local Enterprise Offices (x 31) |
€32.931 million |
|
Patents Office |
€2.841 million |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
€172.631 million |
|
Tyndall National Institute |
€4.500 million |
|
Labour Court |
€3.648 million |
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
€13.379 million |
|
Employment Appeals Tribunal |
€1.709 million |
|
The Health & Safety Authority |
€18.112 million |
|
Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement |
€4.895 million |
|
Competition & Consumer Protection Commission |
€12.138 million |
|
Companies Registration Office (including the Registry of Friendly Societies) |
€7.488 million |
|
Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority |
€2.105 million |
Of these bodies, only the National Standards Authority of Ireland and the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority receive less than 50% of their funding from public sources. The NSAI receives the majority of its funding from fees that it imposes for services to clients. IAASA receives the majority of its funding from levies that it imposes on entities that it regulates.
98. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce the necessary measures being sought by the chairperson of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to provide for greater powers of sanction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50303/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume that the Deputy is referring to the publicly stated desire of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) that it would be given the power to impose administrative/ civil fines for breaches of competition law.
The current legal position is that civil fines are not provided for in Irish law for anti-competitive practices. My Department obtained advice on the issue of civil fines from the Office of the Attorney General to the effect that civil fines are not provided for in Irish law for anti-competitive practices having regard to Article 38.1 of the Constitution which provides that no person shall be tried on any criminal charge save in due course of law. In that context, any national legislation to introduce civil fines that would lower the burden of proof from beyond reasonable doubt to the balance of probability would pose constitutional difficulties having regard to the protection afforded in Article 38.1 of the Constitution.
On 22 March 2017, the EU Commission published a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council to empower the competition authorities of the Member States to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market. One of the Directive’s aims is to ensure that all National Competition Authorities are able to impose effective deterrent fines. The proposal is currently being debated at the Council Working Group on Competition and is also being considered by the European Parliament.
I am aware that the Law Reform Commission published an Issues Paper entitled "Regulatory Enforcement and Corporate Offences" on 27 January 2016. The Issues Paper invited views on the supervisory and enforcement powers of the State’s main financial and economic regulators (including the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission)(CCPC) and the issue of administrative and civil fines was raised. I understand the CCPC made a submission to the Law Reform Commission on 19 September 2017 in response to the Issues Paper requesting the power to levy such fines. Any recommendations or proposals that may emanate from this exercise in due course will be carefully considered by my Department.
99. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the public contracts between his Department and companies (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2016; the value of each contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50394/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of contracts between the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the companies in question during the period 2011-2016 are set out in the tables.
2011
|
Company |
Details of Contract |
Value of Contract |
|
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
2012
|
Company |
Details of Contract |
Value of Contract |
|
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
2013
|
Company |
Details of Contract |
Value of Contract |
|
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
2014
|
Company |
Details of Contract |
Value of Contract |
|
Ernest & Young |
Analysis of Sectoral Ecosystems – Input to Enterprise Policy 2025 – Strategic Policy Division |
61,461.00 |
2015
|
Company |
Details of Contract |
Value of Contract |
|
*Deloitte & Touche |
Forensic Accounting and Analysis |
€23,249.46 |
2016
|
Company |
Details of Contract |
Value of Contract |
|
*Deloitte & Touche |
Forensic Accounting and Analysis |
€8,260.68 |
*Both sets of data relate to a single contract, which was paid for in phases; the total paid was €31,510.14.
100. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Meath were not allocated funds from of the €93 million in funding for grant aid that was distributed by the Industrial Development Authority to help develop and support foreign direct investment in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50670/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegional development remains a key priority of mine and I am determined to help drive job creation all over Ireland, including in counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Meath. Increasing and sustaining foreign direct investment (FDI) outside of our main urban areas represents an important part of this wider approach.
IDA Ireland’s strategy for 2015-2019 includes a commitment to increase FDI in every region outside Dublin by 30%-40%. The Agency made good progress towards achieving this goal in 2016, with 52% of all jobs created by IDA Ireland's clients last year based outside of Dublin. Mid year results for 2017 provide evidence that further strides are being made, with 54% of all job approvals in the first six months of the year being based outside of Dublin.
It is important to note that grants paid in a particular year are not necessarily linked to either the investments won or the jobs created in that 12-month period. Grants are generally drawn down over the lifetime of a project which is normally over a period of three to five years. Some investments which result in job creation may not be grant aided and some well established firms may no longer be receiving grant payments.
In relation to the specific counties mentioned by the Deputy, companies based in all three have received significant grant assistance over the last ten years. The table below outlines the total grants paid in the three counties since 2007.
|
County |
Grants received by companies based in the County since 2007 |
|
Roscommon |
€3,359,963 |
|
Leitrim |
€2,480,200 |
|
Meath |
€7,073,070 |
