Clare Daly
Ceist:58. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the six-month export licence statistics covering the period from July to December 2017 will be published. [5766/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraExports Data
Ceisteanna (58)
Freagraí scríofa
It is my intention to publish on my Department's website the six month export licence statistics covering the period July 2017 to December 2017 by the end of February.
The six monthly statistics provide summary, interim data on licensing activity and are made available in order to provide the public with a greater level of transparency about exports of controlled goods and services, and an understanding of how export control operates.
A more comprehensive and detailed report on licensing activity is published annually, as required by the Control of Exports Act 2008.
Industrial Development
Ceisteanna (59)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the various bodies under her aegis continue to establish new product manufacturing enterprises and new markets to the extent required to fill the likely vacuum in the aftermath of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6007/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The long-term response to Brexit is for companies to become more competitive, more innovative and to diversify their export footprint into more markets. I am confident that the agencies under my Department have the supports to enable companies to consolidate market share within the UK and also to become more resilient by broadening their sales to other international markets. Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the LEOs are actively supporting their clients to achieve this. My Department provided for additional monies in 2017 to enable EI and LEOs to ramp up its supports in light of Brexit to drive improvements in productivity, innovation, management capability and leadership skills, and really drive the ambition of managers to look to other markets around the world.
At the centre of EI’s strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 – 2020, are strategic targets focused on:
- Assisting clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 while sustaining the existing record level of jobs;
- Growing the annual exports of client companies by €5bn to €26bn per annum;
- Increasing the level of spend made by client companies in the Irish economy by €4bn to €27bn per annum by 2020; and
- Inspiring more Irish owned companies to have global ambition.
In support of this, EI is implementing extensive trade mission and event schedules focussed on global and sectoral opportunities, further developing in-market expertise and networks, placing greater focus on identifying new sectoral opportunities and stimulating demand for Irish products and services through international marketing campaigns. In 2017, EI launched a new Eurozone Strategy to increase exports to Eurozone countries by 50% by 2020.
The first year of the Strategy was a very strong year for job creation among EI clients with over 19,300 new jobs created in 2017, resulting in a net gain of 10,309 jobs across the country. In 2017 EI supported companies employed 209,338 people. 65 % of client employment is outside of Dublin.
We are seeing growth in traditional industry sectors such as construction and manufacturing as well as in the Digital technology and Life Sciences sectors.
The Local Enterprise Offices are supporting their clients by providing information, training and mentoring on Brexit related issues as well as advice on other sources of support. LEOs 2017 results are expected to be available in early March.
To support the eight Regional Action Plans, and as part of the Government’s strategic response to Brexit, additional funding of up to €60m is being rolled out by EI over the next 4 years. The Regional Enterprise Development Fund will support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. Twenty-one successful applicants representing all regions of the country have secured up to €30.5m for their projects in the first competitive call. The second call is planned to be launched by EI in March 2018.
A key priority of mine is to ensure that this Government remains true to our export led growth policies. We will continue to support start-ups and ambitious companies across the country and help them scale faster through the work of the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland. I will keep a focus on regional initiatives and on building strength and resilience among existing exporting companies and also on broadening the exporting base by doing all we can to get Irish companies the supports they need to get exporting and thereby create sustainable quality jobs.
Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 54.
Local Enterprise Offices
Ceisteanna (61)
Joe Carey
Ceist:61. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the way in which the local enterprise offices can be better utilised to support job creation in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5765/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My priority as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is to drive the creation of high-quality and sustainable jobs around all the regions and counties of Ireland. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play a critical role in supporting microenterprises in the start-up and expansion phases in every part of the country.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business and develop existing micro and small businesses.
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, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.
This year the Capital allocation made available to the 31 LEOs is €22.5m which is being used to fund LEO clients by way of financial assistance and a range of soft supports such as training and mentoring. This allocation is supplemented by a further €2 million investment fund for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Competition in 2018 which has attracted almost 1,500 applications nationwide.
A net total of 3,700 new jobs were delivered in 2017 by start-ups and small businesses from across the country that have been supported by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).
This brings the total number of new jobs created by LEO-backed companies nationwide to 15,000 since the LEOs were set up in 2014.
A new client portfolio management model will be rolled out this year nationally to the LEOs by Enterprise Ireland, which will support portfolio performance and potential.
Clients in each LEO portfolio will be evaluated and segmented with a view to identifying the most appropriate supports to meet their needs.
The LEOs will work with those clients to maximise the performance of their overall client portfolio.
The new model aims at driving effective client engagement, enhancing portfolio performance and increasing levels of client progression towards scale and exporting.
Nationally there are 8 Regional Action Plans and the 31 LEOs sit on the Implementation Committees of each and actively participate in the driving, progression and implementation of these Action Plans.
The LEOs also play a key role in the delivery nationally of four key objectives in the Action Plan for Rural Development including the ‘Options Plus’ programme for improving off-farm income generation of farmers and to link farm families with a variety of learning opportunities provided by other agencies including the ETBs, LDCs , third level institutions and the Department of Social Protection.
As part of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme under the National Digital Strategy, the LEOs approve a minimum of 1,000 vouchers per annum to micro businesses across the country of which approximately 60% will be from rural Ireland.
Brexit Supports
Ceisteanna (62)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Ceist:62. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available to SMEs in County Louth to help them prepare for Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5979/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the border regions are the first-stop-shop for anyone seeking guidance and support on starting or growing their business.
An extra €4 million in funding for the 31 LEOs in 2017 was allocated to fund a range of initiatives including Brexit supports across the country. These supports are aimed at strengthening the capacity of micro and small businesses to cope with the changing external environment, especially the impacts arising from Brexit. The supports include grants to assist LEO clients in diversifying their markets, targeted training and mentoring to address Brexit-related challenges and opportunities, as well as a Lean for Micro programme to help micro-enterprises to address competitive issues within their businesses. These supports are available throughout the country.
In addition, the six LEOs in the Border region are working together with their Northern Ireland counterparts under the EU Co-Innovate Programme. The aim of Co-Innovate is to give SMEs from the manufacturing and tradeable services sectors in the eligible regions the tools and tailored support to help them to innovate, differentiate and compete successfully.
In 2017 209,338 people were employed at Enterprise Ireland supported companies with Louth seeing a 5% increase on the 2016 figure.
Economic shocks, such as Brexit, places companies in the Border Region, whether exporting or not, in an area of uncertainty. It will drive companies to focus on increasing their competitiveness, innovative capability and product differentiation in parallel with targeting new export markets.
Activities currently being undertaken by Enterprise Ireland to ensure that client companies are resilient and agile include the following:
- Enterprise Ireland launched a new Market Discovery Fund to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets. This fund provides support towards internal and external costs incurred when researching new markets for products and services.
- Enterprise Ireland is working with its clients in the Border Region to drive to innovation activity via a number of supports that enable companies to diagnose their innovation readiness; that provides financial support for in-house R&D projects and also to foster collaborations between the research expertise within the Higher Education Sector and companies.
- Competitiveness is critical for companies to scale and internationalise. Enterprise Ireland is working with companies to identify and measure competitiveness issues and to support companies by providing access to a range of competitiveness building tools, including the Company Competitiveness Health Check, the Lean Offer and Green Offer.
Enterprise Ireland initiatives specifically aimed at mitigating the effects of Brexit include:
- The ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’, an interactive online platform which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit under six business pillars. 1,909 companies have used this Scorecard as of mid-December 2017.
- The Be Prepared Grant, which supports the costs of SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. This grant can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan.
- National Prepare for Brexit Breakfast Roadshows are taking place, engaging with companies throughout the country on preparing for Brexit.
- The launch of an in-market Irish Advantage campaign promoting Irish companies to buyers in key markets and sectors.
Enterprise Ireland is aware that further efforts are needed to ensure that companies in the Border Region are resilient to economic shocks, such as Brexit. To this end, the agency will continue to work with companies from the region to drive their innovation, competitiveness, internationalisation and Brexit preparedness.
Question No. 63 answered with Question No. 56.
Brexit Staff
Ceisteanna (64)
John Curran
Ceist:64. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 12 October 2017, the progress which has been made to fill these vacancies in view of the threat of Brexit for business here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5844/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers was taken, my Department and its Agencies have made progress in respect of filling Brexit related vacancies. These vacancies arose in respect of posts identified as a result of the additional €3 million that was secured in Budget 2017. I have set out the specific updates in respect of each separate body as follows:
With regard to my own Department and the Brexit Unit, there has been an increase in staffing of one Assistant Principal and one Higher Executive Officer since the question was last raised in October 2017. The dedicated Brexit Unit continues to be led by an Assistant Secretary, and is now supported by a staff complement of seven (one Principal Officer, three Assistant Principals, two Higher Executive Officers and one Clerical Officer).
In addition to this, the work of very many Business Units within my Department and our Agencies are impacted by Brexit. We are prioritising the Brexit challenges and will actively keep the staffing requirements under review through workforce planning.
Enterprise Ireland's Exchequer pay provision for 2017 included an additional €1.7 million to assist in the recruitment of an additional 39 Brexit specific posts. 36 of these posts have been filled to date and 3 are currently under active recruitment.
The IDA identified an additional 10 client-facing posts, in respect of the additional €750,000 it was allocated in 2017. It has filled all of these posts after a rigorous recruitment process across a wide variety of channels.
Science Foundation Ireland has filled three posts which have Brexit related activities attached to their roles, as a result of the additional €150,000 allocated to them in 2017. These successful applicants commenced their positions in November and December (2017), and in January (2018).
My Department provided an additional €150,000 to the Health and Safety Authority in 2017, in respect of the recruitment of three specific Brexit related posts. I understand from the HSA that the initial recruitment campaign did not result in the successful filling of the first two of these posts (Grade III inspector and a Socio-Economist). Consequently, a new recruitment campaign was launched in early December for the filling of both posts with a closing date of 10 January 2018. Shortlisting of applicants is now complete and preliminary interviews are being held on 8 February in relation to the Grade III Inspector post. As regards the Socio-Economic post, the response rate was very low and unfortunately no suitable candidates were identified from the shortlisting process. The HSA will review its position over the coming weeks and consider how best to market this post so as to attract suitable candidates.
Recruitment planning is underway for a third post (Grade II Brexit related Accreditation Officer) that was sanction in December 2017. The HSA hope to advertise this post within the next fortnight.
A further €3 million in respect of Pay has been secured for my Department in Budget 2018, for the purposes of recruiting additional staff resources to further respond to Brexit and help meet the Government plans to double Ireland's global footprint.
Job Creation
Ceisteanna (65)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:65. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the need to establish a task force or commission similar to the Western Development Commission with specific focus on job creation in the midlands region. [2018/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Western Development Commission (WDC) was established in 1999 to promote, foster and encourage economic and social development in the Western Region, which covers counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare. I understand the Commission has invested over €45 million in enterprises in the Western region during this period. As the is aware, my colleague, Michael Ring, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, has policy responsibility in relation to the Western Development Commission.
Enterprise development and job creation in the regions of Ireland is a key policy priority of this Government and my Department has been actively engaged in the regional jobs agenda through the Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJ) initiative for the past two years.
In addition, in December last year I announced an allocation of €30.5 million in funding to support enterprise capability in the regions, with 21 projects from all over the country receiving funding. This Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) totalling €60 million is being rolled out by Enterprise Ireland over the next 4 years to support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. The Fund supports the ambition, goals and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs.
The Irish Manufacturing Research CLG project located in Mullingar was one of the significant funding recipients under Stream 1 of the REDF, which will be an important support to manufacturing activity in the Midlands region. In addition, Longford is a partner in a Stream 2 project to develop a network of three Digital and Innovation Hubs with Leitrim and Cavan.
I look forward to launching a second competitive call under the REDF in March this year, which will make available the remainder of the €60 million.
The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is a central pillar of the Government’s ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, 135,000 of which are outside of Dublin. The Midlands Regional Action Plan for Jobs was launched in June 2015, one of a series of eight Regional Plans, and is the key policy response for supporting employment growth in the region.
Some 9,500 more people are in employment in the Midlands region since Q1 2015 (baseline year) to Q2 2017, representing very good progress against the target of 14,000 jobs by 2020 as set out in the Midlands Plan.
Live Register numbers have fallen in all four Midland counties in the past 12 months. However, CSO figures show that the unemployment rate in the Midlands is currently at 9.3% (Q3 2017), which places the Midlands in a small group of those (including the South-East and Mid-West) whose unemployment rates are more than one percentage point higher than the State average. This is too high, especially since the Q3 2017 State average is 6.9%, and underlines the importance of retaining a focus on regional enterprise development and job creation in the Midlands.
Importantly, the Midlands Plan has been embraced within the region and the Enterprise Agencies are working hard to drive local job creation and contribute to the job creation targets set out in the Plan. In 2017, both Enterprise Ireland and IDA reported job increases in the Midlands of 6% and 1% respectively.
The Local Enterprise Offices operating under the auspices of the Local Authorities and Enterprise Ireland in Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath continue to play a vital role in providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own businesses in the region. In 2016 client companies of the four Midlands LEOs collectively added 327 new jobs, bringing total LEO supported employment in the region to 3,842. Results for 2017 are expected to be published shortly.
My priority is to continue to work with stakeholders collectively within the Midlands to build on the progress to date on implementation of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs over the period to 2020, and to focus on leveraging the key strengths of the region. My Department is also working closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to the National Planning Framework and development of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, and with the Department of Rural and Community Development on roll out of the Action Plan for Rural Development.
Against that backdrop and the collaborative efforts continuing in the Midlands under the RAPJ, I have no plans to replicate the WDC model or establish a task force in the Midlands region, nor am I aware of any such plans.
Legislative Process
Ceisteanna (66)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:66. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill 2017 will be supported when it moves to Committee Stage. [5953/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since receipt of the submissions to the public consultation on the resale of tickets, officials of my Department have engaged in follow-up discussions with sporting bodies, event promoters, consumer bodies, primary ticketing service providers and secondary ticket marketplaces. My officials have also liaised with public authorities in EU and EFTA member states with laws that prohibit or restrict ticket resale on the experience with, and effectiveness of, these laws. I am currently considering a range of options aimed at helping ensure that ticket markets work better for consumers in the light of these discussions and enquiries and of the responses to the public consultation . The outcome of this process will inform both me and the Government on the approach to be taken on this matter, including the approach to the Deputy’s Private Member’s Bill entitled Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill 2017.
Enterprise Support Services Provision
Ceisteanna (67)
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:67. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if training and financial support for businesses setting up online to meet the support needs arising from the growth of e-commerce will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5962/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the small & micro-enterprise sector. The LEOs are the first port of call for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business, in terms of advice, training, sign posting to other support providers and, in certain circumstances, grant support. The LEOs undertake a number of activities to encourage businesses to build their online presence and compete in the online market place.
The LEOs nationwide actively promote the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) on behalf of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The TOVS offers matched financial assistance of up to €2,500, along with training and advice, to micro companies (10 or less employees) who want to establish an online presence for the first time, or who wish to expand a basic existing website to incorporate a more substantive online trading capacity. Since the start of the scheme in July 2014 to date almost 3,000 micro companies have availed of the TOVS.
The LEOs also offer a wide range of short training programmes to support their clients in building their online presence and to compete in the online marketplace. These programmes are focused on different elements which aim at maximising outputs from investment in online trading such as :
- Marketing, focused mainly on development of an online/mobile marketing strategy;
- Social Media, with the majority of programmes focused on educating the client base on how to use the different social media platforms to support their business;
- eCommerce Sales Strategy, including how to convert website visits into sales; and
- Search Engine Optimisation, including web analytics and video optimisation for web.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) works with 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies, and building an online presence is part of the range of supports offered to those clients. EI has supported projects focused on developing innovative products on new product platforms for international markets. However, EI cannot support companies whose only function is in the area of sales/distribution.
Working closely with the Irish Internet Association, EI delivers a range of funded and advisory eCommerce supports for its clients to develop their online marketing capabilities, for example:
- ‘Marketing Funding Support’: under a Business Process Improvement Grant client companies can apply for grant support to plan and implement significant strategic e-marketing projects.
- ‘Measuring your Internet Marketing Maturity’: to help clients develop an understanding of their web presence and activity.
EI regularly organises events which can connect clients with leading experts and inform them on best practice. Topics covered include Developing an Online Strategy; Online Localisation for International Markets; Search Engine Optimisation; Pay Per Click Marketing; Branding and Getting the Web Content Right.
EI also offers an Excel @ Export Selling Workshop Series which includes creating a digital marketing strategy. This workshop is aimed at senior management executives with responsibility for selling high value products and services into business-to-business markets.
Finally, one of the key challenges identified by members of the Retail Consultation Forum which I chair is developing digital capacity across the retail sector. As set out in the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs, a pilot scheme to support retailers to scale up their online trading activity and expand into international markets is currently being developed. This initiative is being driven by DBEI, working with members of the Retail Consultation Forum.
Regional Action Plan for Jobs
Ceisteanna (68)
Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:68. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in the Border region under the regional action plan for jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5759/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enterprise development and job creation in the regions of Ireland is a key policy priority of this Government and my Department has been actively engaged in the regional jobs agenda through the Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJ) initiative for the past two years.
The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is a central pillar of the Government’s ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, 135,000 of which are outside of Dublin. A key objective of each of the 8 regional plans is to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the unemployment rate of each region not more than one percentage point greater than the national average.
The North-East/North-West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is the key policy response for supporting employment growth in the Border region. It includes a series of practical actions to support enterprise growth and job creation in the region, with clear timelines for delivery. The Action Plans seek to capitalise on the particular strengths and opportunities of the region and has been developed by my Department, with the support of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, in close consultation with regional stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
A central aim of the regional Action Plans for Jobs is to champion the concept of regional collaboration from the ‘ground up’ to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the region that grows jobs and enterprises. The Local Authorities, enterprise agencies, and other key public and private sector stakeholders across counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth have been strongly involved in, and are key drivers of, the NE/NW Action Plan.
The core objective of the NE/NW Action Plan is to have a further 28,000 at work in the region by 2020. The Plan aims to stimulate 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.
Sectors targeted as part of the Border plan include traditionally strong sectors for the region like agrifood, manufacturing/engineering and tourism.
Implementation of the Plan’s 194 actions continues and is overseen and monitored by two Implementation Committees covering the North-West and the North-East regions which are composed of key regional stakeholders from both the private and public sector, and chaired by a regional enterprise champion.
Importantly, the Plan has been embraced within the regions and over 90% of the Plan’s actions are on track to be delivered or have been completed. The Progress reports are available at www.regionalapj.ie.
In terms of impact, 12,000 more people are in employment in the Border region from Q1 2015 (baseline year) to Q2 2017, representing good progress towards the target of 28,000 jobs by 2020 as set out in the Regional Action Plan.
In December last year I announced an allocation of €30.5 million in funding to support enterprise capability in the regions, with 21 projects from all over the country receiving funding. This Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) totalling €60 million is being rolled out by Enterprise Ireland over the next 4 years to support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. The Fund supports the ambition, goals and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs.
Three projects from the Border region were successful under Call 1 of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund: a network of three Digital and Innovation Hubs (incl. in Co. Leitrim); a new Digital Innovation Hub and enterprise capacity building programme in Co. Donegal; and a Regional Food Centre of Excellence in Co. Monaghan. I look forward to launching a second competitive call for projects under the Enterprise Ireland Regional Enterprise Development Fund in March this year, which will make available the remainder of the €60 million in funding to support enterprise capability in the regions following the initial allocation under Call 1.
The enterprise agencies continue their work to contribute towards the ambitious targets set out in the Regional Action Plan. Enterprise Ireland recently announced a 4% employment growth in its client companies for the Border region, which now employ almost 11,500 people. On the FDI front, the number of IDA-backed jobs grew by 4% as a whole last year, with almost 12,500 people employed in IDA companies in the region.
Through partnership between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) supported 1,152 small and micro-businesses employing over 5,720 people in the Border region during 2016. The LEOs continue to play a vital role in providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own businesses. Results for 2017 are expected to be published shortly.
Of course, the Regional Action Plans on their own are not sufficient. They are being complemented by other programmes that the Government is working on at national level, including the national Action Plan for Jobs, the Action Plan for Rural Development, Regional Skills fora, and the forthcoming National Planning Framework.
Regional Action Plan for Jobs
Ceisteanna (69)
Pat Deering
Ceist:69. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has reviewed the Action Plan for Jobs for the south east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5944/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enterprise development and job creation in the regions of Ireland is a key policy priority of this Government and my Department has been actively engaged in the regional jobs agenda through the Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJ) initiative for the past two years.
The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is a central pillar of the Government’s ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, 135,000 of which are outside of Dublin. A key objective of each of the 8 regional plans is to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the unemployment rate of each region not more than one percentage point greater than the national average.
The South East Action Plan for Jobs is a key policy response for supporting employment growth in the South East, with public and private stakeholders currently engaged in driving the range of innovative and practical actions set out in the Plan. It includes a series of practical actions to support enterprise growth and job creation in the region, with clear timelines for delivery. The Action Plans seek to capitalise on the particular strengths and opportunities of the region and a central aim is to champion the concept of regional collaboration from the ‘ground up’ to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the region that grows jobs and enterprises.
Progress on implementation of the Regional Action Plans is constantly under review and two Progress Reports on the implementation of the Plan’s 194 actions have been published to date, with a third one currently being finalised that will cover the second half of 2017. All reports show that good progress is being made, and over 90% of the Plan’s actions are on track to be delivered, or have been completed.
Importantly, the South East Regional Plan for Jobs has been embraced within the region and the efforts by stakeholders and businesses in the region are paying off: 16,200 more people are in employment in the South East from Q1 2015 (baseline year) to Q2 2017, representing significant progress towards the 25,000 target for 2020 as set out in the plan.
Also, over the 12 months to Q2 2017, there has been a slight improvement in the number of people employed in the region (+700).
However, while Live Register numbers have fallen in all south-eastern counties in the past 12 months, CSO figures show that the unemployment rate in the South East is currently at 8% (Q3 2017), which places the region in a small group of those (including the Midlands and Mid-West) whose unemployment rates are more than one percentage point higher than the State average.
This is too high, especially since the Q3 2017 State average is 6.9%, and underlines the importance of retaining a focus on regional enterprise development and job creation in the South East.
In 2017, both Enterprise Ireland and IDA reported job increases in the South East of 4% and 9% respectively, the latter figure being the largest increase of all regions in the State in this period.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) operating under the auspices of the Local Authorities and Enterprise Ireland continue to play a vital role in providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own businesses in the region. The LEOs in the South East had 1,274 clients in 2016 employing 6,690 people. Results for 2017 are expected to be published shortly.
Building on the strong progress and the momentum of collaboration achieved to date in the South East through the Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is my priority and I and my Department look forward to further engagement with regional stakeholders in relation to prioritisation and focus of actions to achieve the employment targets set out to 2020.
My Department is also working closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to the National Planning Framework and development of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, and with the Department of Rural and Community Development on roll out of the Action Plan for Rural Development.
Enterprise Ireland Data
Ceisteanna (70)
Peter Burke
Ceist:70. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland in County Westmeath; the steps being taken to increase the figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5769/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enterprise Ireland’s results for 2017 reported the highest employment in the history of the agency, the highest net job creation in the history of the agency and the lowest number of job losses since 1998. There were 10,309 net new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland supported companies during 2017, bringing the total number to 209,338.
In Westmeath, Enterprise Ireland (EI) supported companies employed 3,741 people during 2017, which represents a 7% increase on the 2016 figure.
In the period 2014 – 2017, EI paid €8 million to client companies in Westmeath to support them to innovate, improve competitiveness and diversify their global footprint.
Activities currently being undertaken by EI to sustain and create new jobs in Westmeath include:
- Working with established client companies in Westmeath through their teams of sectoral focused development advisors. Using a company led diagnostic approach, the agency can tailor support packages based on ambition, capability and need.
- EI, in partnership with the Institutes of Technology, has established a nationwide network of 15 Technology Gateways which deliver technology solutions for Irish industry close to their market needs and are open to all sizes of companies. Westmeath is home to 2 Technology Gateways; Applied Polymer Technologies and Connected Media. Since 2013, 552 industry research projects have been carried out at these Gateways.
- EI has approved €5.5 million in funding to the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre, which is part of Athlone Institute of Technology.
- EI’s New Frontiers Development Programme, the national entrepreneur development programme for early-stage startups, is run in the Athlone Institute of Technology in partnership with Maynooth University, and it supported 13 entrepreneurs in 2017.
- In EI supported the ‘Opportunity in a Million Limited to establish a HQ’ 100Mb Super-speed Enterprise Hub – a smart technology incubator in Monksland, on the Roscommon side of Athlone Town, with ‘hands-on’ support aimed at fostering enterprise and jobs in new/growth sectors in collaboration with local partners.
- In late 2017, twenty-one successful applicants representing all regions of the country have secured up to €30.5m for their projects under EI’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund. Over €11m was approved for projects in the Eastern and Midlands region including funding to the Irish Manufacturing Research CLG in Westmeath.
I am committed to work closely with EI to drive its strategy, to ensure that it continues to support companies in rural and urban areas to start, innovate, increase our exports and provide sustainable quality jobs.
Job Creation Targets
Ceisteanna (71)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:71. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans for targeted investment in job creation measures for north Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5756/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.
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, Credit Review Office, Microfinance Ireland.
The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations affecting business.
The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) 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 in areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as this may give rise to duplication of services or the displacement of existing businesses.
As well as promoting the full suite of Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Services to support enterprise and job creation in the north of the county, Fingal County Council is rolling out the following initiatives in North Fingal:
- Fingal County Council is currently developing a new business park by servicing over 50 acres of land at Stephenstown in Balbriggan. Fingal will work with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to promote the new park as an investment location and the business case for the investment forecasts the creation of 900 jobs in the medium-term.
- The Fingal Skills Strategy is being developed in response to priorities identified in the Fingal Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2016 – 2021. The strategy, which is nearing completion, provides clear evidence, based on extensive consultations with industry, on future skills needs to ensure Fingal and has the necessary talent pool to meet industry demands. The strategy has particular implications for education and training providers, with whom Fingal are working closely.
- Fingal County Council has actively engaged with national schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to improve towns and villages throughout the County. Fingal County Council has also developed bespoke town improvement schemes such as the Balbriggan Town Centre Shop Front Refurbishment Scheme which has assisted 36 businesses to a total amount of €53,000 leading to clear public realm improvements in the town.
- Fingal County Council has connected with the business community in the County to develop corporate social responsibility schemes that facilitate engagement with local schools to promote student engagement in STEM subjects.
- Ardgillan and Bremore Castles and Newbridge House have been identified as strategic tourist attractions which have the ability to attract a large number of visitors to the area . A capital programme of approximately €7 million has been assigned to develop these attractions . Building on the success of the Council’s investment in Malahide Castle, this development will promote North Fingal as a major tourism hub in the Dublin Region and adjacent to Ireland’s Ancient East, significantly increasing visitor numbers. This investment and development has the potential to create 700 direct and indirect jobs in the town of Balbriggan, which currently has an above average unemployment rate.
- Fingal County Council continues to support the provision of workspace facilities for small businesses through the BEAT Enterprise Centre in Balbriggan, one of three very successful community-based Enterprise Centres in the County.
Brexit Supports
Ceisteanna (72)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:72. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of Brexit-related supports for Irish enterprise and farming, including relaxation of state aid rules, European and Irish grant funding and in market supports in the EU26 for businesses seeking to increase trade. [53147/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Brexit presents a significant challenge for Irish companies and the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, is seeking to build resilience within client companies. Brexit will drive companies to focus on increasing their competitiveness, on innovation and product differentiation in parallel with targeting new export markets.
In January 2017, Enterprise Ireland launched a new strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 – 2020. At the centre of this strategy are strategic targets focused on:
- Assisting clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 while sustaining the existing record level of jobs;
- Growing the annual exports of client companies by €5bn to €26bn per annum;
- Increasing the level of spend made by client companies in the Irish economy by €4bn to €27bn per annum by 2020; and
- Inspiring more Irish owned companies to have global ambition.
In May 2017 Enterprise Ireland launched a new Eurozone Strategy to assist Irish exporters increase exports in Eurozone countries by 50% by 2020. This strategy is accompanied by the ‘Irish Advantage’ communications campaign which will target Eurozone buyers to buy Irish innovation in key Brexit impacted sectors, such as medtech and engineering.
Enterprise Ireland is constantly developing its offer and services to better react to client needs. For example, Enterprise Ireland has made changes to its Research, Development and Innovation offer to enable “Agile R&D projects” to meet immediate market and customer needs. In addition, Enterprise Ireland organised 57 internationally focused trade events in 2017 including trade missions to Canada; Singapore and China; the UAE and Oman and a major trade programme as part of the State’s visit to Australia. Led by Irish Government Ministers these trade missions are a central element of Enterprise Ireland's strategy to support companies with global ambition.
In March 31, Enterprise Ireland launched its ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’, a new interactive online platform which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit under six business pillars. The Scorecard generates an immediate report which contains suggested actions and resources, and information on events for companies to attend, to prepare for Brexit. To date 1909 companies have engaged with the Brexit Scorecard.
Enterprise Ireland has also launched a “Be Prepared Grant” that supports the costs of SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. It can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan. To date, 80 companies have been approved for a “Be Prepared Grant” by Enterprise Ireland.
A lot can be done within the existing EU State Aid Framework. In October 2017, the then Tánaiste announced a Brexit Loan Guarantee scheme for SMEs. The Scheme will provide affordable working capital loans of €25,000 to €1.5 million to eligible Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit, or will be in the future.
The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) recently issued an open call inviting finance providers to participate. This closed on 8 December. It is expected that the Scheme will be launched in the first quarter of 2018 and will run for two years.
My Department is also exploring the development of a Longer-Term Brexit Investment Loan Scheme, as well as a Business Advisory Hub. The advisory hub will serve to ensure that SMEs are well informed of their funding and financing options and strengthen their financial planning skills.
In November 2017, the EU Commission approved a Rescue and Restructuring scheme for Ireland which is now available to SMEs in difficulty. Under the scheme an undertaking is considered to be in difficulty when, without intervention by the State, it will almost certainly be condemned to going out of business in the short or medium term. This scheme has been put in place as it was considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary. However, I do not expect that there will be a need for the State to provide rescue/restructuring aid to companies.
All these schemes detailed above will operate within existing state aid rules.
In addition, in November 2017, the then Tánaiste, Francis Fitzgerald, met with the Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Working Group comprising representatives from DG Comp, my Department, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture. The objective of the Group is to scope and design further schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with current applicable State Aid rules. The work of this Group has already commenced and will continue into 2018. Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing State Aid rules, this will be raised as part of the Working Group discussions.
Supports for the farming sector comes within the remit of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine and I understand that Minister Creed has introduced a range of budgetary measures under competitiveness and market/product diversification pillars to help mitigate the more immediate impacts of Brexit on the agrifood sector.
Brexit Supports
Ceisteanna (73)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:73. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of progress made in securing EU level support for Irish business exposed to Brexit, including relaxation of state aid rules and adaptation funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3753/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Extensive work has been ongoing in my Department to prepare for all Brexit eventualities. This includes both research and the development of specific supports. Officials of my Department have had discussions with senior officials from DG Competition on the potential and the real difficulties encountered by Irish businesses as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. In November 2017, the then Tánaiste met with Commissioner Vestager and the issue of State aid was discussed. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Working Group comprising representatives from DG Comp, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and Department of Agriculture. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with current applicable State Aid rules. Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing State Aid rules, this will be raised as part of the Working Group discussions.
The work of this Group has already commenced and it is due to have its third meeting in February 2018. In between these meetings, there has been engagement on specific issues to continue to progress matters.
A Rescue & Restructuring (R&R) Scheme was approved by the Commission in late November 2017. This scheme has been put in place as it was considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances if necessary.
A Brexit Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2018. This will provide affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit, or will be in the future. The recent signing of the counter guarantee means the €23 million exchequer funding (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) can be leveraged to provide a €300 million fund from the European Commission and EIB Group through its InnovFin Loan Guarantee Scheme. The Scheme will be open to businesses of less than 500 employees, which can demonstrate that they are significantly exposed to the impact (or potential impact) of Brexit. They must be a viable business, doing business in Ireland, and they must have a business development strategy demonstrating that they plan to innovate or adapt in response to Brexit.
The agencies of my Department are also fully engaged in preparing for Brexit. Enterprise Ireland’s (EI) #PrepareforBrexit communications campaign, featuring the ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’, was launched last March. The Scorecard is an interactive online platform which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit.
EI has introduced a ‘Be Prepared Grant’ which offers up to €5,000 for exporting client companies to conduct further research and use external expertise to develop a Brexit Action Plan.
The funding to the Local Enterprise Offices has been increased by 22% and they, with InterTrade Ireland are offering a range of Brexit focused supports to companies, including those engaged in cross-border trade with Northern Ireland.
This work, along with market developments as a result of Brexit, and ongoing engagement with the business community, will inform further discussions with the Commission. I will be maintaining a strong focus on the SME sector and will consider the development of further initiatives to support business as required.
IDA Ireland Data
Ceisteanna (74)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:74. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA has made to counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath and all other counties to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6018/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The IDA remains committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of Ireland by 30% to 40% by the end of the Agency's current strategy in 2019. Progress is being made towards that target and the Agency's results show, that in the first three years of the strategy, half of all jobs created have been based outside of Dublin.
IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in the regions to its client base and it makes every effort to ensure that FDI is spread as widely as possible across the country. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as at least 70% of all new FDI comes from existing IDA Ireland client companies.
Site visits nevertheless do represent an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that investors consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland.
The following table outlines site visits to counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath and all other counties for the year 2017. Figures for Q1 2018 will be compiled in April.
|
County |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
8 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
|
Clare |
22 |
|
Cork |
51 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Dublin |
327 |
|
Galway |
62 |
|
Kerry |
9 |
|
Kildare |
10 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
|
Laois |
4 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
|
Limerick |
42 |
|
Longford |
7 |
|
Louth |
22 |
|
Mayo |
7 |
|
Meath |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
|
Roscommon |
3 |
|
Sligo |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
8 |
|
Waterford |
11 |
|
Westmeath |
42 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
Brexit Supports
Ceisteanna (75)
Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:75. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available to SMEs in counties Sligo and Leitrim to help them prepare for Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5760/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The North East/North West Action Plan for Jobs is a key policy response for supporting enterprise development in the Border region including counties Sligo and Leitrim. The Plan 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, via Enterprise Ireland (EI) to support regional enterprise projects. Sectors targeted include traditionally strong sectors for the region like agrifood, manufacturing/engineering and tourism.
In May 2017 EI launched the €60m Regional Enterprise Development Fund designed to support the ambition, goals, and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs. The first call under this Fund concluded last August, with results announced on 11 December and 21 projects were successful, totalling €30.5m in aggregate grant support. The second call is expected to issue in Q1 2018.
EI together with the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play a critical role in driving and nurturing entrepreneurship all the way from an originating idea at local level, to taking-on global markets. An extra €4 million in funding for all the LEOs, including Sligo and Leitrim, in 2017 was allocated to fund a range of initiatives including Brexit supports across the country. The supports include grants to assist LEO clients in diversifying their markets, targeted training and mentoring to address Brexit-related challenges and opportunities, as well as a Lean for Micro programme to help micro-enterprises to address competitive issues within their businesses by building the capability of their employees to identify problems and improve operations. In addition, the six LEOs in the Border region are working together with their Northern Ireland counterparts under the EU Co-Innovate Programme.
Economic shocks, such as Brexit, places companies in Sligo and Leitrim, whether exporting or not, in an area of uncertainty. It will drive companies to focus on increasing their competitiveness, innovative capability and product differentiation in parallel with targeting new export markets. Activities currently being undertaken by EI to ensure that client companies are resilient include:
- EI is actively working with companies with global ambition to internationalise, and in doing so, diversify their global footprint. To support this, on 1 February, EI launched a new Market Discovery Fund to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets.
- EI is working with its clients in the Border Region to drive innovation activity via a number of supports that enable companies to diagnose their innovation readiness, provides financial support for in-house R&D projects and fosters collaboration.
- EI is working with companies to identify and measure competitiveness issues and support companies by providing access to a range of competitiveness building tools, including the Company Competitiveness Health Check, the Lean Offer and Green Offer.
In addition, EI provides supports to assist companies, such as those located in Sligo and Leitrim, to be aware and to prepare for Brexit, for example:
- Launched a ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’, a new interactive online platform which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit under six business pillars. Over 2,000 companies have utilised this Scorecard.
- Launched a Be Prepared Grant that supports the costs of SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. This grant can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan.
- Ran a national Prepare for Brexit Breakfast Roadshows and is currently engaging with companies throughout the country on preparing for Brexit.
- Launched the in-market Irish Advantage campaign promoting Irish companies to buyers in key markets and sectors.
I am very conscious that further efforts are needed to ensure that companies in Sligo and Leitrim are resilient to economic shocks, such as Brexit. To this end, I am committed to ensure that the agency will continue to work with companies from the region to drive their innovation, competitiveness, internationalisation and Brexit preparedness.
IDA Ireland Portfolio
Ceisteanna (76)
Pat Deering
Ceist:76. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the advance facility planned for County Carlow; the timeframe for planning application, commencement and completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5758/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The IDA’s Regional Property Programme (RPP), as announced in 2015, committed €150 million in Exchequer funding over five years to drive the growth of regional FDI by providing property solutions outside Dublin. As well as upgrading existing facilities and acquiring strategic sites suitable for investment, this programme also includes the construction of nine new advance facilities around the country.
As part of the RPP advance buildings were constructed and completed in Athlone and Waterford in 2014 and early 2015. Last year IDA Ireland also completed buildings in Sligo, Tralee and Castlebar. Buildings in Galway, Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone (2nd build), Carlow and Waterford will be completed over the next two years.
The Carlow building is currently at design stage. I am advised by the IDA that it expects to begin construction on the building this year with the aim to complete the facility by Q2 2019.