Written Answers Nos. 578-594
578. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the terms of support for the plantation of new forestry; the increase that this represents compared to what was there before; the take-up of the new scheme since it was announced; and the take-up he projects over the period to 2030. [29496/24]
View answerThe new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 aims to encourage a substantial increase in afforestation by offering attractive and diverse options for planting, especially for farmers. This government has committed €1.3 billion of funding to the Programme in order to support our national ambition of 8,000 hectares of afforestation per year.
The Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. It provides generous incentives which cover the cost of establishment and fencing of the forest and an annual premium which will encourage landowners and farmers in particular to re-engage with forestry. Premia rates for Afforestation increased from between 46% to 66% compared to the old Forestry Programme, along with the introduction of a longer premia term of 20 years for farmers, compared to 15 years for non-farmers across most Forest Types. My Department has also launched a completely new Native Tree Area Scheme which facilitate small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence.
At present, there are approximately 4,273 hectares approved and available to plant through the Afforestation and Native Tree Area Schemes, of which my Department has received notifications of the intention to plant for 1,802 hectares. In addition, some 808 hectares have been planted and paid for to date in 2024, with applications for payment being submitted and paid on a weekly basis.
Afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners and I know that building confidence among landowners of the benefits of forestry is key to increasing afforestation rates. In order to encourage uptake we have engaged in extensive promotion of the new forestry options and enhanced payments available, including an ongoing media campaign across all communication channels. Furthermore we are funding 42 stakeholder projects which will promote the Forestry Programme through a wide variety of approaches. These will engage with the wider community to highlight the benefits of forests to deliver multiple societal objectives, including economic, social and environmental.
579. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the national beef welfare scheme 2024 will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/24]
View answerI can confirm that a new support scheme for the suckler sector will open on schedule in early August. I secured an additional €20m in the budget for 2024 for this scheme and when taken together with the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), this will once again deliver on my commitment to deliver €200 per cow to suckler farmers.
The focus of the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) will be on practical measures to enhance animal health on suckler farms. The scheme will consist of two measures aimed at improving on-farm efficiency: specifically, a mandatory meal feeding action and an optional vaccination action.
The 2024 BWS will support farmers in meal feeding suckler calves before and after weaning, and in vaccinating against clostridial diseases and calf pneumonia. While the meal feeding action is mandatory for scheme participants, farmers must indicate that they are selecting the optional vaccination action at application stage if they wish to be considered for payment under this action. Farmers can then decide during the implementation phase, where appropriate in consultation with their veterinarian, which disease they wish to target depending on the health status of their herds.
This scheme is worth €20 million in additional income to suckler farmers. When coupled with the SCEP, participants in the BWS will be eligible for €200 per cow/calf pair.
580. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish and or licence a new equine abattoir in the State; and if he will clarify the status of horses that were due to enter the now closed abattoir in Kildare. [29539/24]
View answerA number of enquiries have been made to my Department by parties who wished to explore the setting up of an equine slaughter facility. All enquires to date have been responded to. To date no formal application for approval or inspection of any proposed facility has been received, but any such applications if received will be considered expeditiously.
A number of horses that were due to enter the abattoir in Kildare prior to its closure are subject to a legal notice and compliance with that notice is being monitored by staff from my Department.
581. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of concerns about a licence application by an organisation (details supplied). [29572/24]
View answerA report from a member of the public in relation to this matter was received by the Felling Section of the Department on 23 February 2023. Following further investigation on the status of the site, the matter is under review by my Department, in particular regarding the mitigation design and existing felling licence conditions to protect water quality and aquatic ecosystems, as outlined in my Department's felling and reforestation standards.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
A report from a member of the public in relation to this matter was received by the Felling Section of the Department on the 23rd of February 2023. Following further investigation on the status of the site, the matter is under review by my Department, in particular regarding the mitigation design and existing felling licence conditions to protect water quality and aquatic ecosystems, as outlined in my Department's felling and reforestation standards.
582. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 370 of 28 May 2024, if his Department inspected a facility (details supplied) as a result of the recent information regarding the poor conditions in which dogs are being held there; his views on whether this situation is compatible with a group working as authorised officers on his Department's behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29574/24]
View answerAs part of the requirements of the Animal Welfare Grants programme, Department veterinary staff inspect all applicants on at least one occasion during the year. Any facility that does not meet expected standards will not be funded.
The facility mentioned was inspected on two occasions by Department inspectors in recent times. Any non-conformance issues identified at inspections are followed up by officials from my Department to check that they are closed out. Similarly, any reports of welfare issues received by my Department, including alleged breaches of the animal welfare legislation, are acted upon and investigated.
583. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if proposals to ban remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs will be referred to the high-level stakeholder group on dog control for consideration as part of a coherent policy response from Government on the matter of dog control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29582/24]
View answerThe Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, which I established under an independent chair, as part of my Department's wider animal welfare strategy, advises me on animal welfare matters and considered the question of whether the use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs and cats ought to be banned in Ireland. As part of this process, my Department held a public consultation, earlier this year, with the results available on gov.ie: www.gov.ie/en/publication/e881c-animal-welfare/#use-of-remotely-controlled-electronic-shock-collars-in-dogs-and-cats-consultation-results. I have no plans to refer the matter to the group mentioned.
584. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if proposals to ban remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs will be subject to public consultation, or be referred to the relevant Oireachtas committee, in order to ensure full and inclusive engagement with relevant stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29583/24]
View answerThe Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, which I established under an independent chair, as part of my Department's wider animal welfare strategy, advises me on animal welfare matters and considered the question of whether the use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs and cats ought to be banned in Ireland.
As part of this process, my Department held a public consultation, earlier this year, with the results available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/e881c-animal-welfare/#use-of-remotely-controlled-electronic-shock-collars-in-dogs-and-cats-consultation-results.
Having evaluated and taken into consideration the responses to this consultation, I am moving forward to ban the use of these devices on animal welfare grounds. However, I am making provision for the phasing out of their use where they are currently in use with individually identifiable dogs.
585. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied for the nitrates derogation in 2023 and 2024 to date for Cork county; the average amount those farmers received in any agricultural payments for the same periods for Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29748/24]
View answerIn 2023, 2,131 County Cork farmers who were eligible to do so, applied to avail of a Nitrates Derogation. These farmers on average received €23,216 in total CAP and non-CAP payments in the year 2023.
For 2024 my Department received 2,161 applications from County Cork farmers seeking to avail of a Nitrates Derogation. The total CAP and non-CAP payments these farmers received from my Department in 2024 up to 30 June is on average €4,703.
The average payment values outlined above include all payments for income support and well as incentives for specific works such as grant aid paid in response to capital investments and other voluntary measures implemented on these farms.
586. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking with concerns brought to him by the farming sector in relation to the over-regulation of this sector, and specifically in relation to the three-crop rule, ash dieback, retaining the derogation, duplications on farm inspections, late ACRES payments and the nature restoration law; the proposals he has put to the European Commission on the need to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29749/24]
View answerI am very much aware of the burden of regulation on farmers and the need to keep this regulatory framework as simple as possible is something I have advocated for continually at the council of Agricultural and Fisheries Ministers in Europe.
The pace of regulatory change in the European Union over the past few years has been extraordinary. European support schemes for farmers are there to support farm incomes and any transition to more sustainable farming systems that may be necessary. The payments that flow from these schemes are of vital importance to farmers.
I am therefore also very cognisant of the State's obligations to comply with the law, and the potential implications for farm payments of failure to meet these obligations. Against that background, my Department's objective is to meet its legal obligations while minimising the burden on farmers.
For example, my Department minimises the number of farm visits by stacking inspections where possible and by liaising with Local Authorities to ensure that duplication is avoided.
In addition, due to the very wet winter and spring periods, I have taken the decision to apply force majeure in relation to the GAEC 7 crop diversification requirement for 2024. This will ease the burden on farmers who were faced with a very difficult situation in trying to meet the crop diversification requirements as part of GAEC 7 (two/three-crop rule).
In July 2023, my Department launched the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback under the new Forestry Programme 2023-27. This operates pursuant to the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation (ABER), which declares specific categories of aid compatible with EU State aid rules. This simplified process allows Member States to provide aid quickly and in a transparent manner.
This scheme contains a number of enhanced features, including a doubling of the site clearance grant rate, enhanced replanting grant rates and the inclusion of a top up premium for those in receipt of farmer rate of premium. I understand that Minister Hackett will be bringing further proposals to Government shortly.
Our current Nitrates Derogation runs until the end of 2025. The Irish Government is absolutely committed to applying for an extension to the Derogation post-2025. That process will commence formally in the coming months. As part of that process, the Government will make the best case possible to retain the maximum stocking rates under a derogation post-2025.
The launch of the National Fertiliser Database has reduced the administrative burden for those availing of the Nitrates Derogation. They can now apply for the derogation without the need to submit fertiliser accounts to the Department in the subsequent year.
Following adoption of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) by the European Council, I have reiterated my assurance to farmers that all nature restoration measures will be voluntary.
This Government, and I through my position on the AgriFish Council, secured additional flexibilities in the legal text of the NRL to both support farmers and to recognise our specific Irish circumstances. As a result of this intervention, the targets for restoration and rewetting of drained organic soils have been reduced from the original proposal. This means the total area for restoration now targets 50% of such area by 2050, rather than 70% as originally proposed, with a third to be rewetted, rather than a half. In addition, other flexibilities have been secured including an emergency break provision to suspend implementation in agriculture in the event of circumstances with severe consequences on food security.
The Government is clear that all restoration measures will be voluntary and is committed to ensuring that nature restoration provides additional income streams for landowners and brings benefits to rural economies. Any restoration measures that landowners choose to participate in will be incentivised and resourced.
The Commission has confirmed that any restoration measures will not negatively impact any existing CAP commitment, or any other scheme or incentive delivered by my Department.
At National level, The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are leading Ireland's negotiating position on the Nature Restoration Law. My Department will continuing to engage with them as necessary.
Regarding the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), while advance payments totalling €88.4 million were made, between December and February 2024, to almost 20,000 participants, it was not possible, due to it being the first year of implementing a new innovative scheme, to issue advance payments to just under 46,000 participants in 2023 as planned.
In response to concerns about the timeliness of ACRES payments, I acted decisively earlier this year in a very practical way through the issuing of nationally-funded interim payments of €4,000 to ACRES General participants and €5,000 to ACRES Co-operation participants who had experienced delays in the processing of their advance ACRES payments.
In addition to the payments made since February, a further €25.4 million issued in balancing payments in June 2024. This has brought payments made to end June 2024 to ACRES participants to over €233 million. ACRES balancing payments in respect of 2023 will continue to be made on a fortnightly basis as cases are cleared.
Environmental regulations are there to mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity, and protect water quality. I accept that the regulatory burden for farmers and others is increasing. This is why we are listening to farmers and engaging with the European Commission to ensure that new regulations are as practical as possible and take into account the views of those who have to implement them.
At the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers I have supported the Commission’s proposals regarding increased flexibility in application of the GAECs in order to better respond to the challenges farmers are facing. While meeting their objectives, Member States need to have flexibility regarding how GAECs are implemented in order to address their national circumstances. Another issue I have raised is for the Commission to provide clearer guidance to Member States on flexibility in other areas included force majeure and how to manage simple unintentional errors made by farmers.
I consider that we need to keep a focus on simplification and I have called on the Commission and all Member States to commit ourselves to the goal of simplification as an ongoing and overarching objective and to ensure ongoing consultation with farmers as we do this.
587. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle sold through livestock marts in County Cork that were subsequently slaughtered within 20 days; the number that were not subsequently slaughtered within 20 days, for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29750/24]
View answerThe total number of cattle sales in 2023 through livestock marts in County Cork was 198,091. These sales related to 193,054 individual animals (some of these animals moved through livestock marts more than once).
Of the 193,054 individual cattle traded through livestock marts in County Cork 20,322 were slaughtered within 20 days of being sold at the mart. The remainder typically would have moved to farms for production, been slaughtered at a later date or exported.
588. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herds currently restricted for TB in County Cork in which cattle were purchased in the previous two years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29751/24]
View answerBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am committed to making real progress in controlling TB as I am aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown for farmers.
The table below outlines the number of herds restricted for TB in which cattle were moved into those herds in the previous two years prior to the date of restriction of those herds in County Cork. Note this refers to cattle moved in which could include both purchasing of cattle and the movement of contract reared animals.
Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme is guided by national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. This research has found that the principal causes of TB introduction and spread include:
• movement of infected cattle with undetected infection.
• residual infection in cattle previously exposed to TB.
• spread across farm boundaries from infected cattle to uninfected cattle.
• indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches, and/or
• spread from infected badgers to uninfected cattle.
Nationally as of 30th June 2024, on a 12-month rolling basis, herd incidence increased to 5.17% compared to 4.63% at the same time last year. In the past 12 months 5,280 herds were restricted, compared to 4,790 in the previous 12-month period.
Larger herds, fragmented farms, and herds that buy in cattle are all more at risk of TB breakdown. In addition, the expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 has had an impact on increasing TB levels also.
As the spread of this disease is multifactorial, it is being fought on many fronts. The TB programme in each county focuses on factors including how disease is distributed in the area, contiguous programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and swift isolation and removal of reactors and wildlife.
Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of every outbreak involving three or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and measures necessary to help reduce the risk of recurrence. Emphasis is placed on the biosecurity measures a farmer can take to reduce risks on their farm, including when buying in animals.
I am committed to reducing TB incidence rates across the country. Since I launched the TB Strategy in 2021 stakeholders have been working collectively to reduce TB rates. We must keep this going with the ultimate aim of eradicating TB from the herd.
The details of the TB Strategy along with the results of the review are available on www.bovinetb.ie.
|
Co. Cork number of herds restricted 12 month rolling 30th June 2024 |
Co. Cork number of restricted herds that moved in animals in the Previous Two years |
|
831 |
741 |
589. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what engagement he has had with the farming sector on the re-wetting of lands under the nature restoration Bill; the clarification he has given to the farming sector that any re-wetting of lands will be on a voluntary basis for farmers, and not compulsory at any stage in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29752/24]
View answerThe Nature Restoration Law was adopted on 17 June 2024. I have made it clear to farming bodies that re-wetting under the Nature Restoration Law will be voluntary. Indeed, the Regulation explicitly provides that it does not imply an obligation for farmers and private landowners to rewet their lands and that rewetting remains voluntary on agricultural lands.
This is in line with my previous public press statement which can be found at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/86414-mcconalogue-reiterates-nature-restoration-assurance/ .
Stakeholder engagement in relation to the Nature Restoration Law is led by National Parks and Wildlife Service.
590. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the number and detail of the public helplines operated by their Department; whether calls are recorded on each helpline; and if not, whether he would consider recording calls for transparency and training purposes. [29987/24]
View answerMy Department has a number of helplines and contact details available to provide advice to the public in relation to our schemes and services. Details can be found on the Gov.ie site here: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/9dc27-contact-us/#customer-service.
None of these helplines have a facility to record interactions between staff members and the public. At present there are no plans to implement such a system.
591. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child in County Kerry (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an early intervention assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29831/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
592. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the standard emergency plan that exists to accommodate adults in need of residential care if their carer, usually a family member, falls ill or unexpectedly dies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29917/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
593. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budgetary measures implemented since 2020 to support and improve services for adults with additional needs, including residential beds and assisted living placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29919/24]
View answerI wish to thank the Minister of State for raising this matter.
Residential Services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE, 58% of the total budget. As of April 2024, approximately 90 service providers provided residential services to 8,484 individuals throughout the country.
As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I am aware that there is a need for increased service provision within the disability sector and I have fought tirelessly to bring an unprecedented level of funding for specialist disability services.
The overall increase in recent years from €1.7 billion at the close of 2017 to close to €2.8 billion in 2024, reflects this Governments commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities, signalling to those with a disability that this Government is serious about making a difference.
Residential Placement Delivery
Across the four years from 2020 to 2023 budget, this Government have provided funding to the HSE for additional residential placements both on a planned and emergency/priority basis through the National Service Plan (NSP), to deliver the following:
• NSP 2020: 56 new Priority 1 (Emergency) residential placements. 86 placements were developed.
• NSP 2021: 44 new Priority 1 (Emergency) residential placements, 68 planned residential places (102 total).
• NSP 2022: 50 new Priority 1 (Emergency) residential placements. 66 planned residential places (106 total)
• NSP 2023: 43 Priority 1 (Emergency), 23 residential packages for young people aging out of TUSLA placements, 18 delayed transfers of care in line with the Winter Plan. At the end of December 2023, 160 Priority 1 (Emergency) Residential Places were developed. This is significantly in excess of the NSP target of 43.
• NSP 2024: circa 100 new Priority 1 (Emergency) residential placements.
It is important to note that residential capacity in the system can be reduced. When residents of congregated settings sadly pass away, their places are not ordinarily re-utilised. This is in keeping with Government policy which is to move away from institutionalised settings.
Under 65’s in Nursing Homes
For some people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate setting. The HSE Disability teams are identifying people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes. The HSE are working with them to discuss their supports required to move into more appropriate community settings or to enhance the quality of life for those who will be continuing their nursing home placement in line with their will and preference.
In 2021 Government provided investment of €3 million to enable people under the age of 65yrs to transition to their own home with support. Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5 million (rising to €13.5 million in 2023), to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes. Budget 2024 provides the basis to continue to improve access to enhanced disability services throughout the country.
The HSE is engaging with a cohort of 575 individuals for review and assessment for transition into the community or continued nursing home placements. As of April 2024, A total of 74 people have transitioned to homes of their choosing in the community since 2021 (the start of the programme). A further 55 individuals are in active planning for potential discharge. Additionally, 36 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports, while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.
Time to Move from Congregated Settings
Time to Move On from Congregated Settings (TTMO) – A Strategy for Community Inclusion was established under the Transforming Lives Programme. It is a model of support where people with disabilities are supported to move from congregated settings, often large institutions, to their own homes in the community, with the supports they need.
Time to Move On from Congregated Settings is progressing and continues to demonstrate very positive results for service users who have transitioned to living in homes in community settings. Progress made since the Time to Move On report (2009) shows that:
• 4,099 people were living in congregated settings at year end 2009
• By year end 2023, 1,532 people remained in congregated settings.
• 74 people moved from congregated to community settings in 2023, against an NSP target of 73 for the year.
The 2016 Programme for Government identified that there should be a one- third reduction in the number of individuals residing in congregated settings by the year 2021. This target has been met.
Assisted Living – Intensive Support Packages
In 2020, the HSE developed Intensive Support Packages, a new development initiative. The rationale behind the initiative was to demonstrate a person-centred approach to targeted supports designed to maintain the person in their own home and community.
These intensive transitional support packages, as referred to in NSP 2020, were mainly aimed at children and young people with complex/high support needs experiencing substantial levels of need, but who do not, as yet, require a long term residential placement. Intensive support packages are provided in addition to the traditional services, such as Day Services; Respite Services; Personal Assistance and Home Support Services.
In 2020, Disability Services committed to provide 144 intensive transitional support packages. However, at end of December 2020, a total of 857 intensive home support packages were developed across the 9 CHOs.
In 2021, €6 million in funding was allocated to Intensive Support packages. Disability Services committed to developing 358 additional intensive support packages and by year end had put in place 497 intensive support packages. This included 437 new packages and 60 packages approved in 2020 against additional Q4 funding, which were maintained in 2021.
The significant increase on the NSP targets was thought to be indicative of the requirement for additional in-home services to compensate for the reduction in the delivery of traditional respite services as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In accordance with the NSP 2022, the HSE was allocated funding to provide 422 in home respite supports for emergency cases; this included 402 packages put in place in 2021, which have been maintained in 2022, plus 10 new supported living packages and 10 new intensive support packages to support transitions and discharges from acute services and the National Rehabilitation Hospital. At end of December 2022, 18 new intensive support packages and 19 new supported living packages were developed. As per the 2022 National Service Plan, funding for this was provided under all new measures.
In accordance with NSP 2023, Disability Services committed to the provision of 447 in home respite supports for emergency cases; this includes 420 packages put in place in 2022 which have been maintained in 2023, plus 27 additional in-home respite packages to children and young adults outlined in NSP 2023.
In 2023, we also developed a further 45 in home respite supports for Priority 1 cases, which added to the packages put in place in 2022 and were maintained in 2023, brings the number of in home respite supports for Priority 1 emergency cases delivered during the year to 465.
In accordance with NSP 2024, Specialist Disability Services is committed to providing 469 intensive support packages for priority 1 cases. This includes packages put in place in 2023 which have been maintained in 2024.
Future Planning
This Government is committed to the expansion of specialist services for people with disabilities. The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, which I published on 14th December 2023, represents a national strategy for capacity increases and service and policy reform in disability services. It was informed primarily by findings from the Disability Capacity Review, published in 2021. The Action Plan seeks to meet extra need over the 2024-2026 period in residential services through:
• Around 900 additional residential care places to tackle unmet needs and ensure supply keeps pace with demographic change;
• 500 new community-based residential care places to replace disability care in large institutional and campus-based settings, with a view to ending that form of provision by 2030;
• Increase support for people with disabilities to access supported independent living
• Provision of supports to live at home, in order to phase out long-term care in a nursing home for younger people with disabilities
• Around 550 additional intensive support packages to be put in place over 2024-2026, to limit need for high-cost residential care places.
€74 million has been allocated for new development measures in 2024. This will provide for greater investment across a range of disability services and contribute to the progressive realisation of the Action Plan. Of this, €20.5 million has been provided for circa 100 Residential placements for children and adults.
594. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps the Government is taking to address the drop in the number of Naíonraí in the country, from 173 to just 53, in the past four years. [29930/24]
View answerMy Department is working closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education to implement a comprehensive set of actions that were agreed as part of the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. These actions are designed to affirm the importance that early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) settings have in encouraging the development and revitalisation of the Irish language. The aim of these actions is to build on the existing measures, supports and partnerships in place in the area of Irish-medium early learning and childcare, and to further improve these supports and services.
Funding provided by my Department for ELC and SAC services is the same for both Irish-medium and English-medium services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas. My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, provides additional supports for Irish-medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through her Department and its agencies. In addition, in June of this year, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht, to be administered by Gaeloideachas.
Inter-Departmental coordination in relation to supports for Irish-medium provision of ELC and SAC, both inside and outside the Gaeltacht, takes place through the National Early Years Oversight Group (established as part of the 5-Year Irish Language Action Plan), which is chaired and coordinated by officials in my Department.
In line with the commitments in the 5-Year Action Plan, the development of a Comprehensive Plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and SAC sector has commenced. A survey of Irish-medium ELC and SAC settings including childminders was conducted in 2023 to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector. The survey report, published in October 2023, will complement other research and consultation processes, currently on-going, as well as the work of an Advisory Group which was established to support the drafting of the Comprehensive Plan. It is intended that the Plan will be published later in 2024.
