Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Forfás, we have worked out a protocol to ensure that it continues to have independent capacity to publish research. It continues to work to an independent National Competitiveness Council which, as members will be aware, I have reconstituted and has been working on delivery of the various NCC reports on competitive challenges which are in the public domain. It is also involved in work on the strategic policy and in bringing together the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, which is a key piece of work put together each year that seeks to identify key changes that need to be made not only in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation but across the spectrum of Departments. A key part of this work is reports already assembled by the Departments, including the work of the high level group on skills to drive forward changes in areas where we need to make changes. Through integration within the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation we have strengthened its capacity to drive change through the new process of the action plan for jobs.

I agree with Deputy Calleary that independence is important but I am also very strongly of the view that we need a strong policy capability within the Department. It is the policy unit from which the agencies take policy direction. We need to have the resources and capacity commensurate with that. This is what Forfás is about.

The capital allocation to the local enterprise offices, LEOs, in respect of pay and non-pay matters is €18.5 million. This year we are rolling out a number of improvements in this area, including graduate recruitment, which will strengthen the base within the LEOs. As members will be aware, the business units of local authorities and LEO staff which have been merged have been very instrumental in particular areas, including the young entrepreneurs programme, which has been very successful and now includes more than 1,000 young people. Deputy Lawlor, who is not here today, and others long advocated for this initiative. It has been a huge success. Similarly, the flow of money through the microfinance scheme has doubled in the past year. Again, this has been pushed through the local enterprise offices. I am keen to see innovation through those offices.

On the low paid commission, an allocation for next year has been agreed and will be included in the Revised Estimates which will be published in due course. The sum of €500,000 is being made available to cover independent research as well as pay provisions. We are moving to place advertisements. There will be three staff initially. We will be moving to place advertisements through the Public Appointments Service for the membership of that commission. We are anxious to progress that as quickly as possible and will hopefully do so before the end of the year, as Deputy Tóibín is keen we would do.

Construction contracts only became our responsibility in late October. We are moving swiftly and the Minister of State, Deputy Gerald Nash, is keen to push ahead with codes of practice and recruitment of adjudicators, the full year costs for which will be around €0.5 million. It will require three staff which we will put in place. A statutory instrument will be required in early 2015 for the commencement of the legislation. We are moving to the appointment of arbitrators. There is no delay in moving to implement that swiftly.

The Deputy raised an issue about insufficient resources but the Chair has indicated an invitation to discuss that issue separately. I think we will take up the committee's request if the Deputy wishes to discuss that issue separately.