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Wednesday, 19 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1-39

Commissions of Investigation

Ceisteanna (20, 88)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

20. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach when the report on the first module of the commission of investigation into the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation will be published. [51496/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

88. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the status of the commission of investigation into IBRC; and the projected costs in this regard. [53039/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 88 together.

On 23 November 2018, the Commission submitted its Fifth Interim Report to me and requested a further extension of its deadline for reporting until the end of March 2020.

On 5 December 2018, I met with representatives of the Opposition parties in relation to the Commission's request. There was a strong shared concern by all parties in the Oireachtas about the level of progress achieved by the Commission to date, the timeframe now proposed for concluding the first module of the Commission’s work, and the risks of further delays and cost escalations.

As agreed at that meeting, I propose to request a Report from the Commission under Section 33 of the Commissions of Investigation Act before agreeing to the extended timeframe sought. I wrote to the leaders of the Opposition parties about this proposal and will take account of their views before responding formally to the Commission.

From the time of its establishment to the end of November this year the Commission spent €4.8 million on direct costs, including salaries, administration, overheads and its own legal counsel.

The Commission has not provided any estimate of the third party legal costs incurred to date but they are likely to be substantial and it would be prudent to assume the final cost of the Commission will exceed €30 million.

Questions Nos. 21 to 25, inclusive, resubmitted.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (26)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

26. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed in his Department in 2018; and the way in which this compares to 2017. [51838/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

There are currently 211.5 whole time equivalent staff working in my Department. This compares to a figure of 203.5 whole time equivalent staff on 31 December 2017.

Questions Nos. 27 to 36, inclusive, resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ceisteanna (37)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

37. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, when he was in Brussels on 13 and 14 December 2018; the issues that were discussed; and the responses that were made. [53434/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister May on the margins of the December European Council on 13 December. We discussed the state of play with Brexit. We also discussed the political situation in the UK following the Prime Minister's decision on the previous Tuesday to defer the meaningful vote in the House of Commons, and the vote by her party MPs in respect of her leadership of the Conservative Party on Wednesday, 12 December.

Question No. 38 resubmitted.

Job Creation Data

Ceisteanna (39)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

39. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach the additional jobs added in the 12 months to the third quarter of 2018 in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath from the latest labour force survey. [51615/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2018.

Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Cavan, Monaghan and Meath County estimates from the LFS.

Estimates of employment however, are produced by NUTS 3 Regions.

The NUTS 3 Border region includes counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo.

The NUTS 3 Mid-East region includes counties Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Louth.

The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS 3 Border and Mid-East regions in Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 and the annual change.

As the table shows the overall stock of persons employed at given points in time, the annual change which is calculated using these stock figures depends both on the number of jobs lost and jobs created over the period in question.

The LFS does not record whether a job is newly created.

Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by NUTS 3 Border and Mid-East regions, Q3 2017 and Q3 2018 - Annual change

'000

In employment

Q3 17

Q3 18

Annual Change

Border

180.4

178.3

-2.2

Mid-East

319.8

327.1

7.3

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q3 Jul-Sep.

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