Written answers

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Jobs Initiative

5:00 pm

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail, in tabular form, the amount allocated for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 for each current expenditure measure announced in the jobs initiative; the revised allocation following any subsequent policy decision; the outturn in 2011 for each measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4720/12]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government intention in introducing the Jobs Initiative 2011 was to focus our now more limited resources on measures that offer the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. The Jobs Initiative 2011 is one element of a wider strategy to support economic activity. The aim is to target key sectors of the economy that can assist in getting people back to work, providing opportunities for those who have lost their jobs to re-skill and building confidence in order to encourage consumer activity.

Given our commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support, and our current public finance difficulties, the Jobs Initiative 2011 was constructed to be budgetary neutral over the period to 2014. Funding of current expenditure measures announced in the Jobs Initiative is being met from a combination of re-prioritisation of existing resources and additional funding arising from the introduction of a temporary levy on pension funds. The total additional current expenditure to specified areas of €29 million in 2011 was to be funded by reallocations of €18 million from within existing current resources and €11 million from the introduction of the levy on pension funds in 2011.

In a full year the total additional current expenditure to specified areas of €45 million was to be funded through €15 million of the additional expenditure from within existing resources and €30 million from the levy on pension funds. The full set of current expenditure measures are set out in the table. The detailed allocations for voted expenditure in 2012 and the provisional outturn for expenditure in 2011 will be published next month as part of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2012 .

Current Expenditure

MeasureCost 2011€mCostFull Year€m
Labour ActivationAn additional 20,900 places will be made available for training, education and upskilling under the measures outlined below.National Internship SchemeThis is a time limited scheme operating for two years only with 5,000 places. Internship placements will operate for a 6 to 9 month period with the payment of €50 per week additional to social welfare entitlements. It will operate in the private, public and voluntary sectors.3rd level/SpringboardThis provides 5,900 places for 3rd level places/spring board at level 6 and over of the National Framework of Qualifications. It will be targeted at those exiting sectors with structural unemployment.Back to Education InitiativeThis provides 3,000 places in back to education part time modules mainly at levels 1-4 and some at 5-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. These places will be targeted at adults with less than upper second level education.Specific skills training (long-term)This provides 1,000 places in specific skills long term training at levels 4-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications to be delivered by FAS. These places will be targeted at adults existing sectors with structural unemployment.Specific skills training (short-term)This provides 5,000 places in specific skills short term training at levels 4-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications to be delivered by FAS. These places will be targeted at adults existing sectors with structural unemployment.Post Leaving Certificate (PLC)This provides 1,000 places in PLC courses which are generally one year, full-time courses at NFQ Levels 5 and 6. PLC courses are aimed at school leavers and adults returning to education who wish enhance their employability and re-enter the labour market.2945
EducationRelaxation of the Employment Control Framework for the Higher Education Sector by the removal of the numbers ceiling on non-Exchequer funded specialist posts funded on a full cost recovery basis, including the deferred pension cost. (Similar type arrangements to also apply to contract posts involved in research activity in non commercial state agencies).--
TourismShort-term Visa Waiver ProgrammeThis measure will apply to short stay visitors of 14 nationalities who ordinarily require a Visa to enter the State and will apply over a period from July 2011 to October 2012. Under the proposal, potential visitors who are in possession of a valid visa to enter the UK will have that Visa recognised by Ireland as sufficient to lawful entry to the State for short stay tourism and business purposes.--

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail, in tabular form, the amount allocated for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 for each capital expenditure measure announced in the jobs initiative; the revised allocation following any subsequent policy decision; the outturn in 2011 for each measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4721/12]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The capital expenditure measures in the Jobs Initiative announced by the Minister for Finance last year applied to 2011 only. The aim of these measures was to accelerate capital works that are shovel ready, have a local focus and are labour intensive. Schools and secondary roads works were identified as being the most appropriate for such purposes, while also representing areas where investment has broader benefits to society and the economy.

The Jobs Initiative provided an additional €30 million for labour intensive school works and associated works in 2011 over the existing allocation. Some €20 million of this was reallocated by the Minister for Education and Skills from within his own Department's allocation and the remaining €10 million was provided to the Department from the proceeds of the new pension levy announced in the Initiative. This was allocated to "ready-to-go" projects to be delivered by schools.

The Jobs Initiative also provided for an additional €60 million to be reallocated from within the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport's overall allocation to invest in our regional and local roads to carry out much-needed surface restoration and road reconstruction works. This important, remedial work allowed local authorities to bring forward important projects to 2011 that would not otherwise have progressed until 2012.

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