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419 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 420[Mr. O’Donoghue.]required to update the Department on the statusof grant aided swimming pool projects after theyhave opened to the public. The expenditurereview is seeking to update all records in thisarea.Some 55 projects are being dealt with under thecurrent round of the swimming pools programme,which closed for applications on 31 July 2000.Some 25 of those projects have been grant aided,of which 15 have been completed. The completedprojects are located in Arklow, Courtown-Gorey,Dundalk, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Monaghan, Navan,Wicklow, Roscommon, two in Tralee, Ballinasloe,Finglas, Grove Island in Limerick city andClonmel. Ten projects are under construction, inBallymun, Ballyfermot, Cobh, Youghal, Churchfieldin Cork city, Drogheda, Letterkenny, Jobstownin south County Dublin, Monaghan townand Tuam.Some 30 projects are at various stages of theprogramme. Two projects are at tender stage, inKillarney and Ballybunion. Some 13 projects areat contract document stage, in Askeaton, Athy,Claremorris, Clondalkin, Dunmanway, Glenalbynin Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Longford,Naas, Portarlington, Portlaoise, Skerries, Thurlesand Tullamore. Some 15 projects are at preliminaryor feasibility report stage, in Ballaghaderreen,Ballybofey, Birr, Buncrana, Bray, Castlebar,Clara, Dundrum in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Edenderry, Ferrybank in Wexford,Greystones, Kilkenny, Loughrea, New Ross andRoscrea.Private sector involvement in the programmeis being considered in the context of the expenditurereview. The work of the interdepartmentalworking group, which was established in 1999 toadvise on key issues relating to the operation of apublic private partnership approach to swimmingpools, will be taken into account as part of thereview process. The experience of local authorities,national legislative and policy developmentsin the area of PPPs will also bepertinent.The arrangements and accompanying guidelinesin place for PPPs are geared towards majorand complex capital projects with significantongoing maintenance requirements — projectswith a capital cost of \20 million or more. ThePPP model should be used where it is appropriateand where it can deliver value for money. Themodel would not be appropriate where the transactioncosts of pursuing a PPP are disproportionateto the value of the project. The policyframework for PPPs in the local government sectorissued by the Department of the Environment,Heritage and Local Government and theimplementing guidelines issued by the Departmentof Finance are detailed and complex inimplementation terms.The project costs in the local authority swimmingpools programme are in the region of \8million and are not seen, therefore, as being ofsufficiently high cost to justify the extra resourcesinvolved in pursuing a formal PPP approach. TheDepartment of Finance confirmed some time agothat there were several considerations whichwould militate against a PPP approach to thisprogramme and that pool projects do not strictlycomply with the definition of a viable PPP interms of scale and optimal transfer of risk to theprivate sector.It is important to consider that the swimmingpools programme is just a grant scheme. Localauthorities can devise funding and operationalarrangements as they see fit to complement thegrant element. Experience shows there is potentialfor private sector involvement in the provisionand operation of local authority swimmingpool facilities. Many local authorities are exploringvarious ways of involving the private sector intheir projects. The Department of Arts, Sport andTourism does not object to the involvement ofthe private sector, as long as the generallyaccepted operational considerations of a publicpool form part of the project. The considerationsinvolve, for example, non-membership pay perswim access, concessionary rates as part of socialinclusion measures, etc.Sports Capital Programme.202. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism if he will approve an applicationby a centre (details supplied) in CountyLongford under the grants capital programme;and if he will make a statement on the matter.[6068/05]Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr.O’Donoghue): The national lottery funded sportscapital programme, which is administered by theDepartment of Arts, Sport and Tourism, allocatesfunding to sporting and community organisationsat local, regional and national level throughoutthe country. The programme is advertised on anannual basis. Applications for funding under the2005 programme were invited in press advertisementson 5 and 6 December last. The closing datefor the receipt of applications was 4 February2005. All applications, including one from theclub in question, are being evaluated against theprogramme’s assessment criteria, which are outlinedin the programme’s guidelines, terms andconditions. I intend to announce the grant allocationsunder the programme as soon as possibleafter the assessment process has been completed.Workplace Inspections.203. Mr. Connolly asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the numberof workplace inspections that were carried out bythe labour inspectorate in 2004; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [5572/05]204. Mr. Connolly asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the numberof workplace inspections that were carried out by
421 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 422the labour inspectorate in 2003; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [5573/05]Minister of State at the Department ofEnterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr.Killeen): I propose to take Questions Nos. 203and 204 together.The number of workplace inspections or visitsundertaken by the labour inspectorate in 2003was 7,168. In 2004, the number of workplaceinspections or visits undertaken was 5,160. Thereduced numbers of workplace inspections in2004 relates to the demands placed on the staffof the inspectorate by their work on the successfulIrish Presidency of the EU in the first halfof the year and the review of the mandate andresourcing of the labour inspectorate requiredunder commitment 12.4 of the mid-term reviewof Sustaining Progress.Job Losses.205. Mr. Neville asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the progressin establishing a replacement industry for a company(details supplied). [5579/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): The company has decided toclose its chicken processing plant on 4 Marchnext. There is overcapacity in the competitivechicken processing market. There is a trendtowards consolidation into larger processingunits. Further investment could not be contemplatedbecause the plant was deemed to be smallby industry standards. I understand thatemployees will be given an opportunity to takeup alternative positions in Charleville, where amajor expansion is taking place, and Listowel,where demand for workers is increasing. To get areplacement industry into the plant, it wouldneed to be decommissioned and fumigated andto be made available as a vacant unit. ShannonDevelopment, which is responsible for industrialdevelopment in the area, is ready and willing toexplore and consider eligible business proposalsfrom current employees or other parties. A smallgroup has been established to represent the community’sinterest. Shannon Development and thelocal county enterprise board are working withthe group on the future development of the area.Bullying in the Workplace.206. Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the progressbeen made within his Department on the proposalto create a new statutory body to investigatebullying in the workplace; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [5600/05]Minister of State at the Department ofEnterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr.Killeen): I understand that the expert advisorygroup established to look at measures for the preventionof workplace bullying and to identifyimprovements is finalising its report and will submitit to me shortly. I am committed to publishingthe advisory group’s report. I look forward to thereport, which I hope will be a useful input to theformulation of a policy to deal with workplacebullying.Job Creation.207. Mr. Fleming asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the positionon a year by year basis for each of the years from1998 to 2004, the number of jobs created with theassistance of Enterprise Ireland for each of theseyears; the number of Enterprise Ireland assistedjobs in existence in firms in Laois at 31 December2004. [5603/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): The following table providesdata on jobs created with the assistance ofEnterprise Ireland between 1998 and 2004. Thetable also provides data on jobs assisted byEnterprise Ireland in County Laois in 2004.All Counties 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004Total full-time jobs 131,469 138,838 147,263 149,856 146,978 143,432 142,115Gains 12,712 16,941 18,897 14,670 14,020 12,300 11,898Losses −8,288 −9,572 −10,472 −12,077 −16,898 −15,846 −13,215Net change 4,424 7,369 8,425 2,593 −2,878 −3,546 −1,317County LaoisTotal full-time jobs 1,292 1,397 1,252 1,416 1,361 1,352 1,263Gains 103 194 35 260 101 67 86Losses −33 −89 −180 −96 −156 −76 −175Net change 70 105 −145 164 −55 −9 −89208. Mr. Fleming asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the position,on a year by year basis from 1998 to 2004, on thenumber of job losses in IDA Ireland-supportedfirms in County Laois; the number of new jobscreated with IDA Ireland assistance in firms ineach of those years; the number of firms inCounty Laois with IDA Ireland-assisted employment;the number of IDA Ireland-assisted jobs inCounty Laois at 31 December 2004; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [5604/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): IDA Ireland is the agencywith statutory responsibility for the attraction of
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