Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Wednesday, 19 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 273-292

English Language Training Organisations

Ceisteanna (273)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

273. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process by which his Department conducts oversight of funds held on behalf of prospective English language school students; the process by which some schools were able to spend these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54024/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy may be aware that a whole of Government approach was developed and implemented following the unexpected closure of a number of English language schools in 2014 and 2015. A taskforce including officials from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department and the Department of Education and Science developed a joint policy and operational response to tackle this issue and concerns relating to immigration abuse.

This response included the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) as a means of identifying the educational programmes that meet eligibility criteria under Ireland's immigration policy for a non-EEA national coming to Ireland for the purpose of study.

I am advised by INIS that the joint arrangements put in place are designed to protect current and prospective students. The joint policy specifies the mandatory provision of learner protection insurance by providers to allow for the placement of affected students in another school to finish their studies or, where this is not possible, that students are refunded fees via the insurance policy.

In addition, there is a requirement for providers to operate an 'escrow' type account with a bank or financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Providers are required to hold funds on behalf of prospective students pending the outcome of their application for a visa. Where the visa decision is positive the funds are transferred to the provider. If the visa application is refused the funds (less any pre-agreed charges) are refunded to the student.

The Deputy will appreciate that any suggestion that an educational institution misused funds in respect of prospective students, should be reported to the relevant statutory authorities such an An Garda Síochána and the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

More broadly, the Deputy may wish to note that the Government is taking further steps to strengthen regulation of the English language sector.

The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018, which comes under the auspices of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills, is currently before the Seanad. The new Bill will establish the International Education Mark (IEM) and a Protection for Enrolled Learners (PEL) Fund.

The IEM is a core component of the Government's policy for the English language sector and will provide a full quality framework for the provision of education to international learners in the future. Only those providers who meet the robust quality assurance procedures of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) will be allowed to carry the Mark.

The Bill also contains provisions to provide QQI with additional statutory powers to examine a provider’s financial sustainability. Providers will have to satisfy QQI in relation to issues such as the legal personality, ownership and corporate governance arrangements in addition to examining that adequate financial resources are in place to ensure the viability of these businesses.

Upon enactment, the Bill will also empower QQI to establish a fund for the protection of enrolled learners (PEL). The fund will be used to ‘teach out’ a programme in the event that a provider fails to provide a programme. Should this not be possible, the fund will be used to reimburse students for the most recent fees that have been paid.

Garda Transport Data

Ceisteanna (274)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

274. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of four-wheel drive Garda vehicles in each district in the Dublin metropolitan region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54027/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.

I have requested the specific information from the Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy directly on receipt of same.

Garda Transport Data

Ceisteanna (275)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

275. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of four-wheel drive Garda vehicles in each station by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54028/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.

I have requested the specific information sought by the Deputy from the Commissioner and I will write to him directly on receipt of same.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (276)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

276. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí, Garda Reserve, community gardaí and civilian staff assigned to each Garda station in 2018. [54029/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the resources.

The Garda strength, The Garda Reserve strength, Community Gardaí strength and the number of civilian staff assigned to each Garda station in 2018 as provided by the Garda Commissioner from 2009 is available on my Department’s website through the links below.

Garda workforce

Civilian staff

Garda reserve

Community Garda

For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the link below

Justice

Brexit Negotiations

Ceisteanna (277, 281)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

277. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the recent EU-level agreement (details supplied) by both the European Council and Parliament on the tariff rate quotas that the EU will apply after Brexit in respect of a number of agricultural, fish, industrial and processed agricultural products; and if Ireland supported the position at Council level and or raised issues in this regard. [53655/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

281. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the recent EU-level agreement (details supplied) by both European Council and Parliament on the tariff rate quotas that the EU will apply after Brexit in respect of a number of agricultural, fish, industrial and processed agricultural products; and if Ireland supported the position at Council level and or raised issues in this regard. [53654/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 281 together.

On 26 June 2018, the European Council authorised the European Commission to open formal negotiations within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on how to divide up existing EU Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) between the EU-27 Member States and the United Kingdom (UK) in the context of the UK's exiting the European Union. The European Commission leads on these matters as competence on trade issues is vested in the Commission under the Common Commercial Policy of the EU Treaties.

TRQs reflect the maximum quantity of the imports of a given category of goods on which a country member of the WTO - the EU in our case - pledges to charge low import duties rates.

The UK’s withdrawal from the EU has implications beyond the bilateral relationship between the EU and the UK, in particular with regard to their commitments under the Agreement establishing the WTO. When the EU accepted the WTO Agreement and the Multilateral Trade Agreements in 1994, the schedule of concessions and commitments that was Annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 for the European Communities was thereby simultaneously annexed for the UK. As a consequence of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the EU’s existing quantitative commitments, notably the TRQs, require adjustment.

Given the time limits imposed on this process by the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union, it is possible that agreements may not be concluded with all WTO Members concerned in relation to all of the Tariff Rate Quotas before Regulation (EC) No 32/2000 (which provides and administers the EU’s TRQs) ceases to apply to the United Kingdom. In view of the need to ensure legal certainty and the continuous smooth operation of imports under the TRQs to the Union and the United Kingdom it is necessary for the EU to be able to proceed unilaterally to the apportionment of the TRQs.

To this end, the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation - COM (2018) 312 – on 22 May 2018 - which seeks to ensure that in the absence of such agreement, the EU can nevertheless proceed with the apportionment of the TRQs by modifying the WTO tariff concessions and that the Commission is given the necessary powers to consequently amend the relevant EU provisions on the opening and implementation of the relevant TRQs. Following its formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council, the Regulation will enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The new TRQs will apply to the UK as and from the day after the UK's withdrawal from the EU. However, the existing TRQ regime (Council Regulation No 32/2000) will apply to the UK during the transition period in the event that the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement is ratified by all parties and enters into force.

The products which have TRQs attached are primarily agricultural and fishery products (including specific beef, swine, sheep, poultry, dairy, fruit, vegetables, wheat, maize, rice and fish products), and a small number of industrial products (including specific wood, silicon, glass, flax and fructose products).

The methodology applied was to first determine the United Kingdom’s usage share for each individual tariff rate quota over a recent representative three year period (2013-2015). This usage is then applied to the entire scheduled tariff rate quota volume, taking into account any under fill, to arrive at the UK's share of a given TRQ. The EU’s share then consists of the remainder of the TRQ in question. This means the total volume of a given tariff rate quota is not changed (that is EU-27 volume = current EU-28 volume minus United Kingdom volume). The full product list including the EU share in quota is contained in the Regulation Annex.

Ireland has actively engaged with the discussions to date on this matter at EU level and has supported the Commission’s approach on the basis that it aims to maintain as close as possible to the status quo regarding the level of market access to the EU-27 after the UK's withdrawal. In this regard, we have prioritised the need to minimise disruption to trade as the UK leaves the EU and the importance of maintaining the existing levels of market access, which is the intention of the European Commission, insofar as the TRQ regime is concerned. Ireland was one of a number of Member States who sought to enhance the consultation requirements for the European Commission with Member States in the apportionment process and we were successful in that regard. This gave us assurances that any unintended consequences of the proposed approach, given the fluidity of the overall Brexit process, would be discussed by Member States at the relevant Committee, in particular, the Trade Policy Committee, where Ireland's representative is an official of my Department. In this process, my Department has liaised closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, along with other stakeholders including Revenue Commissioners.

Ministerial Meetings

Ceisteanna (278)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

278. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when she last formally met the director general of Science Foundation Ireland; and when she will next meet the director general. [53538/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The last meeting I had with the Director General of SFI was on Tuesday, 13 November 2018. I intend to schedule dates for meetings for next year early in 2019.

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Ceisteanna (279)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

279. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent by her Department on public advertising and the purchase of external communications and publicity in 2018 by advertising campaign including specific amounts on social media campaigns (details supplied) or other digital platforms; the amount spent on public relations or other communications support in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53569/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Details of expenditure incurred by my Department and its Offices to date in 2018 on advertising campaigns, including social media campaigns, and public relations and other communications support are set out in the table below.

My Department and its Offices use external advertising providers having regard to the business needs for such services. In engaging such providers, the Department and its Offices are mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strive to keep costs to a minimum.

Expenditure incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices to date in 2018 on advertising campaigns, including social media campaigns, and public relations and other communications

Description of Advertising Campaign

Company Engaged to Promote Department’s Policy/Programme

Cost Incurred to date in 2018

Advertisement in the August 2018 edition of the Accountancy Ireland magazine to create awareness of the supportingssme.ie online tool

Chartered Accountants Ireland

€3,247

Advertising Location Signs at the Tullamore Show

Tullamore & County Offaly Show

€100

Advertising costs relating to the recruitment of external adjudicators for WRC

Public Appointments Commission

€3,424

Adverts costs in Agriland (On Line advertising)

Fuzion Communications

€1,476

Newspaper advertisements seeking written submissions in respect of the Labour Court review of Joint Labour Committees 2018

Media Vest Limited

€7,169

Design of advertising for Workplace Relations Commission stand at National Ploughing Championships

Fuzion Communications

€2,287

Workplace Relations Commission seminar - The World of Work – A shifting landscape – design of brochures and PR

Fuzion Communications

3,266

Workplace Relations Commission employment rights public awareness campaign – Market Garden

Irish Farmers Journal

€8,467

Advertisement promoting Workplace Relations Commission stand at the National Ploughing Championships

Irish Farmers Journal

€3,764

Advertisement promoting Workplace Relations Commission stand at the National Ploughing Championships

Westmeath / Offaly Independent Print Co Ltd

€708

Radio advertisement promoting Workplace Relations Commission stand at the National Ploughing Championships

Midlands 103

€5,910

Advertisement promoting Workplace Relations Commission stand at the National Ploughing Championships

Guerin Media Ltd

€431

Newspaper advertising to promote awareness of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund and the launch of the first call for funding

Mediavest Ltd

€10,677

Targeted LinkedIn campaign to promote awareness of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund and the launch of the first call for funding

Spark Foundry

€2,742

Total Expenditure Incurred to date in 2018

€53,668

PR Company Engaged by Department/Office in 2018

Purpose of Engagement

Expenditure Incurred to date in 2018on Public Relations

Fuzion Communications

To provide communication services including PR, advising on the design, content and production of various WRC reports, brochures, documents and audio-visual concepts and productions including media monitoring during 2018.

€8,961

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Ceisteanna (280)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

280. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of site visits conducted by the IDA in counties Cavan and Monaghan in each of the past five years; and the number of these visits that were to locations in the two county towns and other areas of the counties, respectively in tabular form. [53594/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

IDA Ireland is working hard to promote Counties Cavan and Monaghan to potential investors. The Agency has a dedicated regional manager for the North East/North West Region and an office in the Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre. As part of its strategy to encourage investment in the area, the Agency is focusing, in particular, on new investors from key target sectors such as manufacturing.

The IDA also regularly engages with stakeholders on the ground in Cavan and Monaghan. This includes local authorities, the education sector and companies from both its own client base and the indigenous sector. IDA Ireland also owns sites in all three counties that are being actively marketed to its clients. As part of Budget 2019, I was pleased to announce an allocation of €10m for the next phase of the IDA’s Regional Property Programme to start building advanced facilities in a number of regional locations including Monaghan.

It is important to remember that foreign direct investment (FDI) forms only one part of the enterprise base in regional locations, such as Cavan and Monaghan. Indigenous business is responsible for a significant portion of employment growth, especially outside Dublin. My Department and all its agencies, including Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs, work together constantly to ensure that jobs and investment are spread as fairly as possible across the country.

As regards site visits, they do represent an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas. However, 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 almost 70% of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies.

Site visits are collated by the IDA on a county-by-county basis only and are released every quarter. Details on site visits to specific locations, such as towns or individual sites, is therefore unavailable.

The table below outlines the number of IDA site visits to Counties Cavan and Monaghan that have taken place from 2013 to Q3 2018.

County

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Q1-Q3 2018

Cavan

2

1

0

2

2

1

Monaghan

1

0

2

2

1

1

Question No. 281 answered with Question No. 277.

EU Meetings

Ceisteanna (282)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

282. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the date of each EU Competitiveness Council meeting since January 2016; the specific EU Competitiveness Council meetings at which she or her predecessors made the case for the need for a revision of state aid rules of Regulation (EU) No. 1407/2013 to protect exposed Irish enterprises and exporters from a potential Brexit; the date of each such meeting at which this was raised in tabular form; the status of progress being made at EU level to increase state aid thresholds to support Irish enterprises in the event of a hard no-deal Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53657/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since the Brexit Referendum, my predecessor, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, attended meetings of the Competitiveness Council on 29th September 2016, 28th November 2016 and 20th February 2017. My colleague, Minister Breen, attended meetings of the Council on 30th November 2017, 12th March 2018, 28th May 2018 and 16th July 2018. The meeting on the 27th September this year was attended by the Permanent Representative and I attended the most recent meeting on 29th of November 2018.

State aid rules did not feature on the agenda of these meetings. The Competitiveness Council is a consultative committee and is not a forum for direct representations from Member States. Changes to State aid rules is therefore not part of the remit of the Council.

My Department and its agencies are providing extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. In November 2017, the then Tánaiste met with Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy to discuss, amongst other things, the impact of Brexit on Irish businesses. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Technical Working Group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with 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.

Consumer Protection

Ceisteanna (283)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

283. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the consumer regulations in place to enable consumers to leave a service provider contract over the phone as opposed to in writing. [53658/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In the absence of information about the type of contract at issue and the terms and conditions of that contract, I am not in a position to give a full reply to this question. The general consumer protection legislation for which my Department has responsibility does not, with one exception, contain provisions on the means by which contracts are to be terminated or rescinded. That exception relates to the exercise by consumers of the right to cancel distance or off-premises contracts within a fourteen-day cancellation period under the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 484 of 2013). Regulation 14 of the Regulations provides that consumers must inform the trader of their decision to cancel the contract by using the model withdrawal form set out in the Regulations or by making any other unequivocal statement setting out the consumer's decision to cancel the contract. Contracts, particularly longer-term contracts, may contain terms on the means by which notice of termination is to be given. Any non-negotiated term of this kind is subject to assessment for fairness under the European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) Regulations 1995 (S.I. No. 27 of 1995). The indicative list of contract terms considered unfair in Schedule 3 of the Regulations includes a number of terms as follows that are relevant to the termination of contracts:

- inappropriately excluding or limiting the legal rights of the consumer vis-à-vis the seller or supplier or another party in the event of total or partial non-performance or inadequate performance by the seller or supplier of any of the contractual obligations, including the option of offsetting a debt owed to the seller or supplier against any claim which the consumer may have against him;

- authorising the seller or supplier to dissolve the contract on a discretionary basis where the same facility is not granted to the consumer, or permitting the seller to retain the sums paid for services not yet supplied by him where it is the seller or supplier himself who dissolves the contract;

- enabling the seller or supplier to terminate a contract of indeterminate duration without reasonable notice except where there are serious grounds for doing so;

- automatically extending a contract of fixed duration where the consumer does not indicate otherwise, when the deadline for the consumer to express this desire not to extend the contract is unreasonably early.

There may also be provisions on matters relating to contract termination in sectoral legislation for which my Department does not have responsibility, such as the legislation on electronic communications networks and services.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (284)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

284. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to the UK Government's decision to defer the House of Commons vote on the European Commission's draft withdrawal agreement with the UK and the President of the European Council's confirmation that preparedness for a no-deal scenario is being discussed, if her Department submitted a request formally to the Brexit preparedness group under the European Commission's task force on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom seeking mitigation funding for Irish businesses in order to safeguard enterprises and exporting companies from a no-deal hard Brexit and the UK becoming a third country; and when such proposals were formally submitted. [53660/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Any Brexit scenario will mean considerable change and impact for Ireland and extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work is being taken forward by my Department, working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and across all Government Departments and Agencies.

The Government focus continues to be on ensuring an orderly UK withdrawal through ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement endorsed by the European Council on 25 November and agreed with the British Government.

However, it is only prudent for the Government to prepare for all scenarios. My Department continues to plan and prepare for both the ‘central case’ scenario and a disorderly Brexit scenario and updated Departmental Action Plans have evolved and developed based on the changing situation. It is not possible to eliminate all risk but the Government is working at home and at EU level to mitigate damage to the greatest extent possible.

The underlying strength and resilience of our economy is critical in ensuring that Ireland is in the best possible position to respond to the challenges that Brexit will bring.

Given that in a number of key areas for Ireland, the appropriate response and mitigation will be at the EU level, we are continuing to engage actively with the Commission on areas of priority for Ireland, including through a series of expert level meetings with the Commission and the EU27 on key issues on a weekly basis until mid-January.

The EU Commission acknowledged the particular impact of Brexit on Ireland and Irish business in its contingency planning communication of 13 November. This communication also outlined some of the EU’s plans for a no deal scenario, including in the areas of financial services, citizens’ rights, air transport, road transport, and customs / SPS requirements. This has further informed our own domestic planning.

Ireland is also working closely with the EU and fellow Member States to discuss and progress areas of key concern, including facilitating the use of the UK as a landbridge post Brexit.

Informed by detailed research, my Department is putting in place a package of measures that will allow us to respond to the needs of businesses including a number of schemes which have been developed to mitigate against the effects of Brexit. Following a meeting at the end of 2017 between the then Tánaiste and Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy, a technical working group on State aid was established comprising representatives from DG Competition, my Department, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design supports for enterprises within existing State aid rules.

In late November 2017 a Rescue and Restructuring (R&R) Scheme was approved by the EU Commission. This scheme has been put in place as it is considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary.

The Brexit Loan Scheme was launched in April 2018 and provides affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or will be in the future. This is operated within State aid rules under the de Minimis regulation.

In May 2018, the Rescue and Restructuring scheme was extended to include temporary restructuring aid for enterprises experiencing acute liquidity needs. The aid is granted in the form of loans repayable over a period of 18 months. Together with the Brexit Loan Scheme, this temporary restructuring aid will provide valuable stabilisation to businesses as they respond to the immediate and long-term impacts of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. The scheme will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including those in the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic, long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. It is expected that this scheme will be operational in Q1 2019.

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 Technical Working Group discussions.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (285)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

285. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to the UK Government's decision to defer the House of Commons vote on the European Commission's draft withdrawal agreement with the UK and the President of the European Council's confirmation that preparedness for a no-deal scenario is being discussed, if she will request via the working group established with Directorate-General for Competition for changes to be made to state aid thresholds at EU level in order to protect Irish enterprises, exporting companies and related jobs from a hard no-deal Brexit WTO scenario; and if not, the reason therefore. [53661/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government remains focused on ensuring an orderly UK withdrawal through ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement endorsed by the European Council on 25 November and agreed with the British Government.

However, it is only prudent for the Government to prepare for all scenarios.

Officials from my Department are part of the Technical Working Group on State aid which also comprises representatives from DG Competition, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules.

Should Brexit related issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing State Aid rules, this will be raised as part of the Technical Working Group discussions.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (286)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

286. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to the UK Government’s decision to defer the House of Commons vote on the European Commission's draft withdrawal agreement with the UK and the President of the European Council's confirmation that preparedness for a no-deal scenario is being discussed, if her Department is preparing or considering requesting that the state aid ceiling under Regulation (EU) No. 1407/2013 be temporally adapted as a policy response to protect Irish companies and exporting businesses exposed to a no-deal hard Brexit and the UK becoming a third country; when such proposals will be formally submitted; if her Department and other Departments have had discussions with the European Commission regarding adapting Regulation (EU) No. 1407/2013 to date or via the working group established with the Directorate General for Competition; and if not, the reason therefor. [53662/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government remains focused on ensuring an orderly UK withdrawal through ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement endorsed by the European Council on 25 November and agreed with the British Government. However, it is only prudent for the Government to prepare for all scenarios and my Department is carrying out extensive work in preparation.

Informed by detailed research, my Department is putting in place a package of measures that will allow us to respond to the needs of businesses including a number of schemes which have been developed to mitigate against the effects of Brexit. Following a meeting at the end of 2017 between the then Tánaiste and Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy, a technical working group on State aid was established comprising representatives from DG Competition, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design supports for enterprises within existing State aid rules.

In late November 2017 a Rescue and Restructuring (R&R) Scheme was approved by the EU Commission. This scheme has been put in place as it is considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary.

The Brexit Loan Scheme was launched in April 2018 and provides affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or will be in the future. This is operated within State aid rules under the de Minimis regulation.

In May 2018, the Rescue and Restructuring scheme was extended to include temporary restructuring aid for enterprises experiencing acute liquidity needs. The aid is granted in the form of loans repayable over a period of 18 months. Together with the Brexit Loan Scheme, this temporary restructuring aid will provide valuable stabilisation to businesses as they respond to the immediate and long-term impacts of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. The scheme will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including those in the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic, long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. It is expected that this scheme will be operational in Q1 2019.

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 Technical Working Group discussions.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (287)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

287. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the preparations under way for a hard no-deal Brexit; the schemes being operationalised with other Departments; when these will be ready to be deployed; when she will publish such plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53663/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work is underway across all Government Departments and State agencies.

In a number of key areas for Ireland, the appropriate response and mitigation will be at the EU level. The EU Commission acknowledged the particular impact of Brexit on Ireland and Irish business in its contingency planning communication of 13 November. In tandem with this, many of the potential consequences of a “no deal” Brexit have already been set out in a series of European Commission notices dealing with key sectors. Firms should look at these notices with their representative bodies to better understand the possible impacts.

My Department has also participated in relevant expert level meetings organised by the European Commission with participation by the EU27 Member States in November/December 2018 on key issues.

Government's focus is to plan for an orderly Brexit based on the Withdrawal Agreement which provides for the backstop and a future partnership which is ambitious and wide ranging. Given the current uncertainty, Government will continue to work on Brexit preparedness for the central case scenario but is now giving immediate priority to preparations for a disorderly Brexit. My Department and its agencies, are working on a cross-government basis to help prepare for all Brexit scenarios

The Government has already taken actions to get Ireland Brexit ready, with dedicated measures announced in Budgets 2017, 2018 and 2019.

My Department, in particular, has developed a package of measures that allow us to respond to the needs of businesses affected by Brexit-related uncertainty, including in a worst-case scenario. Over the past two years, we have substantially increased the resources available to the Enterprise Agencies within my Department's remit and we have put in place a number of schemes to assist firms address the challenges posed by Brexit. Some of the main supports I have put in place include:

- Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Be Prepared Grant’ which offers up to €5,000 in funding to support exporting client companies to prepare a Brexit Action Plan.

- Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Act On’ Initiative to help Brexit-exposed client companies to strengthen their capabilities in key areas of Financial and Currency Management, Strategic Sourcing, Customs and Logistics. This is delivered at no cost to the company.

- The Local Enterprise Office’s (LEOs) ‘Lean for Micro Programme’ which offers clients the opportunity to incorporate Lean business principles to improve performance and effectiveness.

- The LEO’s ‘Technical Assistance for Micro Enterprises’, to support businesses to diversify into new markets, enabling them to develop new market opportunities outside of the EU.

- InterTrade Ireland’s ‘Start to Plan’ vouchers – worth €2,250 - to enable SMEs to purchase specialist advice on customs, tax, tariff and non-tariff barriers, legal and labour mobility issues, specifically in relation to Brexit.

- On 28 March this year, I, along with Minister Donohoe and Minister Creed, launched the €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme with the European Investment Bank Group and the SBCI. This scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses.

In allocating my Department’s budget for 2019, I stepped up our response to Brexit, basing my decisions on both an extensive body of research and direct feedback from the sector.

In addition to the above measures, the longer-term Future Growth Loan Scheme will help businesses invest strategically in a post-Brexit environment and will be available early in 2019. The scheme, which is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides up to €300m to support capital investment by business and offers loan terms of 8 to 10 years.

In the 2019 budget I have allocated €8m extra for Brexit staffing & supports across enterprise and regulatory agencies in order to prepare Irish businesses for Brexit; the roll-out of customs training through Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland; and, €1m additional funding for InterTrade Ireland.

At the beginning of this month, Enterprise Ireland, working with the Revenue Commissioners, launched an online “Customs Insights” course designed for Irish businesses dealing with customs for the first time. The course will give learners a firm understanding of customs, the implications for their business and the options from Revenue that are available to make the customs process more efficient.

Notwithstanding the uncertainty of Brexit, there are several areas where firms can take immediate action to prepare. I would ask firms now to take heed and to take action. My advice to businesses is to:

- Be alert to your supply chains and any possible disruption that might arise.

- Be alert to the potential for new customs procedures that might be required and the possible application of new tariffs and quotas in certain areas

- Be alert to certification, standards and licensing issues.

- Be alert to currency fluctuations.

- Be alert to the State supports and loans schemes available from Government, including through Enterprise Ireland, the LEOs and InterTrade Ireland.

The European Commission and Government have also made known their intention imminently to set out additional information relating to Brexit contingency planning for a no-deal scenario, including as regards necessary legislation that will be required.

Brexit Supports

Ceisteanna (288)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

288. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applicants and participants in all Brexit schemes and supports provided by her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department; and the amount allocated and expended to each such scheme in each year since being established in tabular form. [53664/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department and its agencies are providing extensive supports to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These supports aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming months.

The information is set out in the table below:

Scheme

Uptake (as of 17 December 2018)

Allocation/Expenditure by year

Brexit Loan Scheme

326 applications received, 287 approved by SBCI.Loans progressed to sanction at bank level to a value of €13.44 million

€23 million exchequer funding has been used to leverage a fund of up to €300million: €14million from DBEI and €9million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This Exchequer funding was allocated to the SBCI at the end of 2017.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) Brexit Scorecard - online platform for Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit

3,592 Brexit Scorecards have been completed, which includes 624 LEOsclients

2017 Expenditure: €25,5682018 Expenditure: €11,261

EI Be Prepared Grant

149 Be Prepared Grants have been approved

2017 Expenditure: €10,0002018 Expenditure: €178,921

EI Market Discovery Fund - A support to EI clients to research new markets

191 projects have been approved under this initiative

Market Discovery fund was launched in 20182018 Expenditure: €209,756

EI Agile Innovation Fund - Gives rapid fast-track access to innovation funding

37 Agile Innovation projects have been approved

Agile Innovation Fund was launched in 2018 2018 Expenditure: €355,245

EI Brexit Advisory Clinics

11 events been run with approx. 915 in attendance

2017 Expenditure: €55,7972018 Expenditure: €160,853

EI Brexit ‘Act On Programme’ – A support funding the engagement of a consultant to devise report with recommendations to help clients address weaknesses and improve resilience

130 ‘Act on’ Plans have been completed

2018 Expenditure: €259,000

EI Strategic Consultancy Grant – A grant to assist EI clients to hire a strategic consultant for a set period

1,047 Strategic Consultancy Grants have been approved

2016 Expenditure: €278,1372017 Expenditure: €482,6172018 Expenditure: €456,198

Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Mentoring

402 mentoring participants solely focused on Brexit

Not available

LEO Technical Assistance Grant for Micro Export - an incentive for LEO clients to explore and develop new market opportunities

376 clients have been approved assistance so far in 2018 under the Technical Assistance Grant

2017 Allocation: €785,0002017 Expenditure: €188,8292018 Allocation: €800,0002018 Expenditure: €365,774 up to 30/09/18

LEO LEAN4Micro – The Lean4Micro offer was developed in collaboration between the EI Lean department and the LEOs to tailor the EI Lean offer for LEO micro enterprise clients

211 LEO clients have participated in the programme

2017 Allocation: €882,5002017 Expenditure: €529,9222018 Allocation: €852,6202018 Expenditure: €518,411 up to 30/09/18

LEO Brexit Seminars/Events

3,996 participants at the Brexit Information events

2017 Allocation: €153,5002017 Expenditure: €85,5092018 Allocation: €177,8002018 Expenditure: €57,855 up to 30/09/18

InterTradeIreland Brexit Advisory Service

4,175 SMEs have directly engaged with the Brexit Advisory Service

2017 Expenditure: €342,0002018 Expenditure €918,586 up to 17/12/2018

InterTradeIreland (ITI) Brexit Start to Plan Vouchers

There have been 645 applications, with 549 approved and 25 pending.

2017 Expenditure: €7,4092018 Expenditure: €415,183

Pilot Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland

Total fund of € 1.25 million. The first call opened on 24 October. This call closed on 5December at 3pm.

Not available

Brexit Supports

Ceisteanna (289)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

289. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the latest figures regarding the Brexit SME loan scheme launched in March 2018 for items (details supplied). [53665/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and which meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding announced in the 2018 Budget (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300 million over the lifetime of the scheme.

The scheme features a two-stage application process. First, businesses must apply to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to confirm their eligibility for the scheme. Businesses can use guidelines provided on the SBCI website to determine if they are eligible, and if so, to complete the eligibility form. As part of the process, businesses must submit a business plan, demonstrating the means by which they intend to innovate, change or adapt to meet their Brexit challenges. The SBCI assesses the applications and successful applicants receive an eligibility reference number.

Successful applicants can then apply for a loan under the scheme with one of the participating finance providers using their eligibility reference number. Participating finance providers are the Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Allied Irish Bank. Approval of loans is subject to the finance providers' own credit policies and procedures.

The figures in the table below are those as to 10th December 2018. The Department will receive a report each quarter from the SBCI on the uptake of the scheme. A number of requested figures have not been included in this table as they pertain to the relationship between banks and their client SMEs and so are beyond the remit of these reports. Some questions requested the same information and have, therefore, been answered once.

Requested Details (as at 10 December 2018)

Number of businesses which have applied to the SBCI to confirm eligibility for the scheme

326

Number of businesses which have had their applications assessed by SBCI

287

Number of businesses which have not had their applications assessed by SBCI

33

Number of businesses which have had a successful application and received an eligibility reference number

287

Number of businesses which had a successful application and received no eligibility reference number

N/A

The number of businesses who did not have a successful application and received no eligibility reference number

6

List of current finance providers

Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and AIB

Number of SMEs which have progressed to sanction at finance provider level

58

Total value of loans progressed to sanction at finance provider level

€13.44m

Current interest rate for those in receipt of approved loans

Maximum interest rate under the scheme is 4%

Brexit Supports

Ceisteanna (290)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

290. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of SMEs that have received loan funding from an approved bank or financial institution after receiving final sanction approval under the Brexit SME loan scheme launched in March 2018. [53666/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Brexit Loan Scheme was launched on the 28 March this year. I am pleased to say there has been a steady stream of applications so far.

The SBCI have received 326 applications under the Brexit Loan Scheme up to 10 December 2018. 287 of those applications have been deemed eligible for a loan under the scheme, and of those, 58 have progressed to sanction at finance provider level to a total value of €13.44 million.

It is important to remember that this scheme is not a loan for businesses to carry on as usual. We are asking businesses to carefully consider what they need to do to successfully address their Brexit challenge through innovating, changing or adapting their business model in some capacity. These responses may include strengthening their product offerings, developing new markets to diversify their trade footprint, changing their organisational structure or developing new capabilities.

As part of the process, businesses are requested to complete a business plan displaying how they are going to innovate, change or adapt. There are guidelines available on what is needed in the business plan on the SBCI website.

Additionally, SMEs can use the InterTrade Ireland Brexit voucher of €2,250 to assist them with the completion of the Brexit Loan Scheme application.

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Ceisteanna (291, 292)

Lisa Chambers

Ceist:

291. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA premises in County Mayo; the status of same; and if they are occupied. [53769/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Lisa Chambers

Ceist:

292. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits to the vacant advanced factory building in Castlebar in the past 12 months. [53770/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together.

IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in regional areas to its clients. 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 almost 70% of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) comes from existing IDA 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.

Site visits are collated by the IDA on a county-by-county basis only and are released every quarter. Information on the number of site visits to specific locations and buildings is therefore unavailable.

In 2017, there were seven site visits to County Mayo by IDA client companies. In the first three quarters of 2018, there were a further seven such visits by prospective investors.

The IDA has constructed an Advanced Technology Building in Mayo, located in Castlebar. The building is complete and the Agency has been working hard, through its offices in Ireland and abroad, to secure an investor for the facility. Those efforts are continuing.

More broadly, the overall outlook for FDI in Mayo remains positive. There are 16 IDA client companies employing approximately 4,500 people in the County. Mayo has experienced a 26% increase in FDI employment from 2012 to 2017 with job numbers increasing from 3,537 in 2012 to 4,462 at the end of last year. IDA Ireland continues to engage with its existing client base there to support them in growing their business and footprint further.

Barr
Roinn