Written Answers Nos. 297-314
297. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the length of time the IDA site in Glenamaddy, County Galway has been vacant; the efforts being made to market it as a potential site of employment; the type of industries that might be best suited to locate there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5037/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland currently has a site of 0.9 hectares in Glenamaddy that is being actively marketed to its clients through its network of offices in Ireland and overseas. This is the remaining portion of land available following the sale of property there to a company in 1997.
Overseas firms continue to perform well in Galway. There are 81 IDA client companies in the County employing approximately 20,000 people, representing an increase of almost 8% over last year. Since 2012, Galway has maintained a strong reputation as a successful home to firms from the MedTech, Pharmaceuticals and E-Commerce sectors. Companies like Boston Scientific, Medtronic and Shopify are all located there and continue to perform well.
County Galway has also had a number of prominent announcements by IDA client companies in the last 12 months. Last November, for example, Genesys announced the creation of 200 new technology jobs over the next three years. In September 2018, SOTI announced the creation of 150 jobs over the next three years as part of its phase one expansion into Ireland.
The IDA and its staff are working hard to secure further such investments for Galway. With that goal in mind, they will continue to showcase sites like that in Glenamaddy to potential investors.
While progress has been made in helping to generating new investment in County Galway, the Government remains determined to attract more FDI to the County and the broader West region. The work of the IDA is obviously key in that respect and the Agency's staff will continue engaging with its clients, as well as the other enterprise agencies, to help create more jobs and economic opportunities.
298. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a change at EU level to state aid rules as a mitigation measure for Brexit has been requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5044/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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 & 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.
Through the mechanism of the Technical Working Group Ireland has fully utilised the provisions of the State aid framework to enable the investment by Enterprise Ireland of €74 million in Brexit impacted businesses in 2018.
On 24th January 2019, I met with Commissioner Vestager. The focus of the meeting centred around the severe challenges that Irish businesses, especially SMEs, will face when the UK leaves the European Union and the need for appropriate and timely State supports. It was agreed that Irish officials will continue to work closely with the Commissioner’s team in addressing any State aid issues that may arise to ensure a rapid and appropriate response as the ultimate shape of Brexit and its firm-level implications become known. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission stands ready to act urgently in mitigation against the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms.
299. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if representations have been made to her concerning the commercial, business or industrial impact of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5065/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo representations have been made to me concerning the commercial, business or industrial impact of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018.
300. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if grant support is offered to businesses seeking to avail of three-phase power; if investigations have been carried out on establishing such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5107/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for starting or growing your own business.
The LEOs offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors 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: 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 to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.
The LEOs through their Priming and Business Expansion grants can support grantee expenditure associated with general overheads such as the installation costs for three-phase power. It should be noted that the aim of these grants is to support the applicant business plan which may include installation costs for three-phase power.
It should be noted that matters relating to energy policy in Ireland are the responsibility for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
301. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the launch date and location of each refreshed regional action plan for jobs that will be launched in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5113/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2018, I asked all the Regional Action Plan for Jobs Implementation Committees to start a process to refresh and refocus all Regional Plans to ensure their relevance and impact out to 2020.
The refresh and refocus of the Plans will ensure that they remain effective and that they continue to deliver jobs across the country, in every region, and can be robust to address the challenges we face, including Brexit.
The outcomes of this refresh are nine new Regional Enterprise Plans that are focused on a smaller number of Strategic Objectives with time-bound actions to 2020.
The Strategic Objectives and actions in each Plan are set out alongside the Enterprise Agencies’ (EI, IDA, LEOs) core activities. So, the Plans add value to what the Agencies are doing on the ground, through collaborative actions.
As a ‘bottom-up’ initiative, the Plans complement national level policies and programmes emanating from the ‘top-down’ and there is strong alignment with Ireland’s national enterprise policy, Enterprise 2025 Renewed and the forthcoming Future Jobs Ireland initiative.
These are two-year focused plans which are ‘live’ documents so new initiatives can be taken on during their operation by the regional stakeholders working together.
I intend to launch the Plans at nine separate regional events over the coming weeks, in the following locations:
|
Region |
Date |
Venue |
|
Midlands |
6th February |
Mountmellick, Laois |
|
Mid-East |
7th February |
Naas, Kildare |
|
West |
11th February |
Galway City, Galway |
|
Dublin |
13th February |
Dublin City, Dublin |
|
Mid-West |
20th February |
Lisheen, Tipperary |
|
North-West |
25th February |
Leitrim |
|
North-East |
25th February |
Cavan |
|
South-West |
1st March |
Skibbereen, Cork |
|
South-East |
22nd March |
WIT, Waterford |
302. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA site visits by county in each quarter of 2018; the percentage of visits in each county as a percentage of the number of visits nationally in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5115/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland hosted 607 site visits in 2018, with over 55% of these visits taking place in regional locations. As I have said before, the IDA always does everything it can - whether through site visits or in direct engagement with potential clients - to encourage overseas firms to locate or expand in regional areas. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest rests solely with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant proportion of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country.
That said, I want to emphasise that creating jobs in the regions remains a top priority for both the IDA and my Department. The energy and resources we have invested into regional growth is, as the evidence illustrates, producing results. In 2018, for example, the IDA delivered 113 regional investments with 56% of net new jobs created outside Dublin. The last four years have seen 44,500 new FDI jobs created outside the capital. We will continue to do our utmost to encourage further such job growth across all parts of Ireland in the time ahead.
The table below outlines the number of IDA site visits by county in each quarter of 2018 and the percentage of visits in each county as a percentage of the number of visits nationally.
|
County |
Q1 2018 |
Q2 18 |
Q3 2018 |
Q4 2018 |
Full Year 2018 |
% of Total site visits |
|
Carlow |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
1.1% |
|
Cavan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0.3% |
|
Clare |
4 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
2.1% |
|
Cork |
10 |
14 |
21 |
16 |
61 |
10% |
|
Donegal |
0 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
1.4% |
|
Dublin |
69 |
72 |
68 |
60 |
269 |
44.3% |
|
Galway |
10 |
20 |
12 |
12 |
54 |
8.8% |
|
Kerry |
0 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
1.6% |
|
Kildare |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
1.3% |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0.8% |
|
Laois |
4 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
1.6% |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
1% |
|
Limerick |
8 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
35 |
5.8% |
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
0.8% |
|
Louth |
6 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
20 |
3.3% |
|
Mayo |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
1.6% |
|
Meath |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
1% |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0.5% |
|
Offaly |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
0.8% |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0.5% |
|
Sligo |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
15 |
2.5% |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
0.8% |
|
Waterford |
5 |
9 |
5 |
2 |
21 |
3.5% |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
22 |
3.6% |
|
Wexford |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0.5% |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.2% |
|
Total |
135 |
172 |
154 |
146 |
607 |
303. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA premises in Waterford city and county; the status of same; if they are occupied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5343/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra304. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason Waterford lags far behind other cities on IDA job creation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5344/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together.
My Department and its agencies continue to work towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are distributed as evenly as possible across the country. Significant progress is being made, with 58% of all IDA-supported employment now outside of Dublin. 2018 also saw more IDA jobs added in the regions than at any time over the past 17 years.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) levels in Waterford are also trending in the right direction. There are 38 IDA client companies in the County employing approximately 7,100 people, representing an increase of 3% over last year. Since 2012, Waterford has also witnessed a 38% increase in employment in overseas companies. Waterford has maintained a strong reputation as a successful home to firms from the MedTech and Pharmaceuticals sectors. Companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Opko's Irish subsidiary EirGen Pharma are all located there and continue to perform well.
In terms of recent investments, Bausch and Lomb announced in November that it will expand its contact lens manufacturing capacity at its Waterford site which will create up to 100 new jobs. In October 2018 Eurofins BioPharma opened a new extension to its laboratory facility in Dungarvan, more than doubling its facility footprint. Furthermore, last July, West Pharmaceuticals opened a new global centre of excellence in Waterford City for its advanced manufacturing network.
As regards IDA property, the Agency has a total of three buildings in County Waterford. All of these premises are available for investment and are being actively marketed to clients through its network of offices. Under its Regional Property Programme (RPP), the IDA also constructed an Advanced Technology Building in the city which is now home to EirGen Pharma. The next phase of the RPP will include the construction of a further facility in the County.
While progress has been made in helping to generating new investment in County Waterford, the Government remains determined to attract more FDI to Waterford City and the wider area. The work of the IDA is obviously key in that respect and the Agency's staff will continue engaging with its clients, as well as the other enterprise agencies, to help create more jobs and economic opportunities.
305. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has submitted or is considering a request that the state-aid ceiling under EU Regulation No. 1407/2013 be temporally adapted as a policy response to protect companies and exporting businesses here 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 the regulation to date or via the working group established with the Directorate-General for competition; and if not, the reason therefore. [5360/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware, since its establishment in November 2017 the Technical Working Group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been scoping and designing schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules.
Through the mechanism of the Technical Working Group Ireland has fully utilised the provisions of the State aid framework to enable the investment by Enterprise Ireland of €74 million in Brexit impacted businesses in 2018.
On 24th January 2019, I met with Commissioner Vestager. The focus of the meeting centred around the severe challenges that Irish businesses, especially SMEs, will face when the UK leaves the European Union and the need for appropriate and timely State supports. It was agreed that Irish officials will continue to work closely with the Commissioner’s team in addressing any State aid issues that may arise to ensure a rapid and appropriate response as the ultimate shape of Brexit and its firm-level implications become known. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission stands ready to act urgently in mitigation against the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms.
306. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to update the Employment Permits Act 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5436/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's economic migration policy provides the framework within which the State's employment permit system is managed. In response to our transformed economy and labour market, I requested my Department to undertake a fundamental review of the policies underpinning our employment permits system to ensure it is aligned with our current and emerging needs. The Review, which was published in September 2018, was overseen by an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) of senior officials of a number of Government Departments.
The report confirms that the current employment permits system is robust and has served the country well in recent years. It also highlights, in the context of strong employment growth, new pressures are emerging that need to be addressed and that some adjustments are needed so that the system continues to ensure that Ireland can attract highly skilled foreign workers and respond to proven labour shortages that arise in lower skilled occupations.
The recommendations include structural adjustments to the system to allow it to respond to a greater range of employment circumstances and to be more flexible so that it can keep pace with evolving enterprise requirements over time.
A number of the recommendations can be implemented either by administrative adjustments or by amendments to secondary legislation. This include changes to the process of reviewing the occupational lists, the remuneration thresholds, the labour market needs test and the 50:50 rule.
However in the medium term, amendments to primary legislation will be brought forward in order to facilitate the creation of a new seasonal permit type, as well as some adjustments to criteria built into the current legislation, including the labour market needs test as currently constituted and increasing the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection's engagement in this process. Work has commenced on the implementation of the review's recommendations, including scoping out the legislative changes required through both primary and secondary legislation.
307. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated cost in 2019 if the budget for Science Foundation Ireland increased by 8%. [5450/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has allocated €206.61m in current and capital funding to Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in 2019. This amount is comprised of €11.56m in current and €195.05m in capital funding.
SFI’s 2019 capital allocation includes an amount of €6.8m in capital carryover provision and €15.5m in dedicated funding for PhD/Research Masters enrolment through the new Centres for Research Training. This programme is administered by SFI and will fund postgraduate enrolments in disciplines under its remit.
A further increase of 8% in SFI’s 2019 budget allocation would cost an additional €16.53m.
308. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if Ireland has formally applied for a relaxation of state-aid rules to assist businesses as a consequence of the impact of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5558/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been working closely with the Commission and DG Competition since November 2017 through the Irish/EU Technical Working Group on State Aid. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules.
Through the mechanism of the Technical Working Group Ireland has fully utilised the provisions of the State aid framework to enable the investment by Enterprise Ireland of €74 million in Brexit impacted businesses in 2018.
On 24th January 2019, I met with the European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager. The focus of the meeting centred around the severe challenges that Irish businesses will face when the UK leaves the EU and the need for appropriate and timely State supports. It was agreed that Irish officials will continue to work closely with the Commissioner's team in addressing any State aid issues that may arise to ensure a rapid and appropriate response as the ultimate shape of Brexit and its firm-level implication become known. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission stands ready to act urgently in mitigation against the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms.
309. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 289 of 29 January 2019, the steps she will take to have the application for general employment work permit assessed pursuant to the trusted partners programme and have same expedited due to the importance of the matter to the business (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5696/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the Trusted Partner Initiative is to ease the administrative burden on employers and to remove the requirement that they replicate the same employer information in respect of each employment permit application made. It is aimed primarily at high volume users of the Employment Permit regime or those who expect to become regular users of the employment permits system.
An application to become a Trusted Partner can be made online via the Employment Permits Online System which can be accessed at https://epos.djei.ie/.
The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that the employer in question is not a registered Trusted Partner and, as such, applications made by this employer can only be considered as standard applications.
An application for a General Employment Permit for the individual concerned was received on 12th December 2018. As such, this application is scheduled to be processed within the next 4-5 weeks, however I have asked my officials to expedite this application.
Ireland operates a managed vacancy led employment permit scheme in which an occupation list system for in-demand occupations, the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List (HSEOL), and those occupations where the evidence suggests that there is a ready source of labour available domestically and/or across the EEA, the Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL). These lists of highly skilled and ineligible occupations are reviewed twice yearly in order to ensure that the employment permits scheme remains responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions.
A review of the occupation lists is being currently being finalised and I expect to receive a report of the review shortly.
310. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health when a payment similar to the mobility allowance will come on-stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4956/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra448. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when he expects a replacement scheme to be in place for the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5637/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 448 together.
The Deputies will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013.
My colleague, the Minister for Health and I brought a Memorandum to Government in May 2018 on proposals for a new Transport Support Payment Scheme in May 2018. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided to withdraw the Memorandum from the Cabinet Agenda at the time. I intend to revert to Government in due course with revised proposals to reflect the discussions at that Cabinet meeting and further discussions between myself and Minister Harris on the best way to progress the Transport Scheme.
It is important to note that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, remains in place. This scheme provides VRT and VAT relief, an exemption from road tax and a fuel grant to drivers and passengers with a disability, who qualify under the relevant criteria set out in governing regulations made by the Minister for Finance. Specifically adapted vehicles driven by persons with a disability are also exempt from payment of tolls on national roads and toll bridges. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responsibility for this particular scheme.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport support schemes available to persons with disabilities in the State and on-going work is being carried out by Government Departments, agencies and transport providers to further improve access to public transport services. Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of public transport for people with a disability.
311. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the person or body that will care for a child (details supplied) with severe autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5510/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
312. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all projects funded under the service reform fund that address the mental health needs for persons experiencing homelessness; the individual levels of funding provided; the portion of funding this makes up; and if a description, goal and the timeframe for the completion of each project will be provided in tabular form. [4949/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
313. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed as home help by the HSE in each year since 2010, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4953/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this.
314. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand funding and assistance in the area of community support for persons with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4954/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Dementia Strategy, which is being implemented under the leadership of the HSE's National Dementia Office, contains 35 priority and additional actions to meet the challenges faced by people living with dementia in Ireland and to provide services to meet growing demand in future years. The Strategy emphasises the need for a "whole community response" to dementia, as the majority of people with dementia live in their own communities and wish to avail of services in their local area.
To support future development of services and supports for people with dementia, the National Dementia Office and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland undertook a joint project in 2016 and 2017 to map dementia-specific community-based services across the country. Information from the project is included in an on-line service finder on the Understand Together website so people can find out what services are available in each county.
Gaps remain in access to services and there is a large variance in what services are provided across the country. The National Dementia Office has met with senior HSE officials in each CHO area to highlight service gaps in each area and to provide guidance and support on dementia service planning and development across the country. In addition a Dementia Needs Analysis Framework was developed to support services.
Considerable efforts have been undertaken to progress the National Dementia Strategy, and this has been recorded in the mid-term review of the Strategy, published last year. The review also highlights work to be carried out by the National Dementia Office to further implement the Strategy. In the medium term, the HSE is working to create compassionate, inclusive communities for people with dementia and their carers, by building a network of community activation champions and partnering with a wide range of businesses and organisations nationally as part of the Dementia Understand Together campaign.
Significant funding has been secured by the Department of Health from the Dormant Accounts Fund since 2016 to develop projects which seek to improve care and supports for people with dementia. Projects receiving funding include the delivery of post-diagnostic supports; a dementia diagnostic service for people with intellectual disability; a national network of memory technology resource rooms; the development of a national dementia registry; the national roll-out of a dementia training programme for HSE home care staff; the development of dementia resource centres; community support projects for people with dementia; funding for a Dementia Community Activation Co-ordinator to support community-based dementia champions across Ireland; and a review of young-onset dementia diagnostic processes and practices to inform future service development needs.
In addition to these community supports, in 2014 the HSE introduced Dementia-Specific Intensive Homecare Packages to test the feasibility of providing a high level of support to people with dementia with complex needs to facilitate them to remain living at home. These were initially co-funded by the HSE and the Atlantic Philanthropies and now fully funded by the HSE, which has committed to continue to provide approximately 120 packages at any one time. In addition to the IHCPs, people with dementia are also able to avail of standard home care services on the basis of need and within the resources available.
The Department of Health and the HSE are committed to further expanding the level of community supports for older people, including people with dementia, subject to the availability of resources, and cognisant of the large number of areas competing for finite resources. The National Dementia Office is also working to ensure that existing community health and social care services are optimised to meet the needs of people with dementia.
