Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary)

1:35 pm

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister and would like to give a flavour of what I will be looking for. We had a discussion and parliamentary questions on the dissolution of Forfás. In that context, I will be looking to see what budget is available within the Department for independent research and what moneys have been spent within the Department since the end of July on research.

Great improvements have been made in the past few years in the presentation of the Estimates. However, under the subhead for Enterprise Ireland in the future I would like the Minister to outline how much goes to LEOs, rather than lumping everything together in one sum. For us to make a comparison as to the effectiveness of the LEOs, we need to see the money for them highlighted.

I welcome the transfer of responsibilities for construction contracts. However, I would like to see an action or a work plan laid out as to when the Bill will be commenced. My last job as Minister of State was to bring it before the Seanad in March 2011 and it has still not been commenced. It is a very good fit for the Department, given the impact on job creation.

On the low pay commission, I would like to see a work plan established. What resources will it have within the Department in terms of staff? What access will it have to a budget to fund independent research outside the Department to allow it to do its work?