Written Answers Nos. 68-87
68. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38219/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of a similar age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance ( DCA) in respect of their child was received by my Department from the person concerned on 09 August 2024.
I can confirm that a decision was made on their application and that the person concerned was notified of the details of that decision in writing on 18 September 2024.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
69. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the legal basis on which additional, non-means-tested benefits are being provided to Ukrainian nationals in a manner that exceeds the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37990/24]
View answer70. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice how the Government justifies preferential treatment through the means of additional benefits to Ukrainian nationals, which results in the unequal and discriminatory treatment of an Irish citizen who has contributed to the State over many years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37991/24]
View answer71. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the measures that will be implemented to rectify a disparity (details supplied) and ensure that Irish citizens are not disadvantaged in their own country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37992/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 70 and 71 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) was activated by the EU Council in March 2022 in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Directive establishes the minimum standards of protection to be provided by Member States in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who are unable to return to their country of origin. At a meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers on 13 June 2024, political agreement was reached to extend the Temporary Protection Directive until March 2026.Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and who meet the criteria set out in the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382) are eligible for this temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive remains activated. The Directive places specific obligations on all EU Member States, including Ireland, regarding the state supports and services Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTPs) should receive. These include accommodation, access to the labour market, and social welfare support. In Ireland, the Directive is given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015, which provides, among other things, that BoTPs are entitled to receive, subject to the same conditions as Irish citizens, the same social welfare benefits as Irish citizens, except where they are resident in a designated accommodation centre.
The provision of specific social welfare or other supports to BoTPs does not fall under the remit of my Department.
72. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the pathway being put in place to establish community safety partnerships and community safety plans across Dublin; and if she has set out timelines for key milestones on the journey. [38005/24]
View answerCommunity safety is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own communities. At the heart of this policy is the principle that every community has the right to be and feel safe in order to thrive and flourish.
Our approach to community safety is a whole-of-Government one. We want to bring the relevant social service providers, including the Gardaí, together with the community in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified by the local community itself.Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) are provided for in Part 3 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which was signed into law by the President in February 2024. Rollout of the LCSPs will commence shortly in each local authority area.
Work is underway to ensure local coordinators are appointed for each prospective partnership and that a chair is selected. An Expression of Interest process is currently underway in a number of Local Authorities, with other Local Authorities having already completed the process to identify a suitable chairperson for each LCSP to recommend to me as Minister. This is a key milestone on the rollout of LCSPs in communities across the country.
Assessment panels for the role of chairperson in a number of local authority areas are taking place currently and nominations for the first chairpersons are under consideration. I am hopeful that many communities will start to see LCSPs established in their areas over the coming weeks.
The Partnerships will operate at local authority level and they will replace Joint Policing Committees (JPCs). The Partnerships will have a wider membership than JPCs and will include residents, local councillors, community representatives (including representatives of young people, older people, new and minority communities), business and education representatives and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority.
Each newly established LCSP will be required to develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan and will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner; addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.
Pilot partnerships have been running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City, and each has published a local community safety plan, which are available on the respective local authority websites. The plans set out a number of agreed actions to be undertaken by the members of the Partnerships to enhance community safety in that area.I will also be formally establishing a National Office for Community Safety later this year. The National Office will provide training, guidance and other support to the Local Community Safety Partnerships and will have responsibility for delivering the objectives of the national strategy, once approved. A Designate Director of the National Office of Community Safety has now commenced in their role. A number of staff have also been appointed and have been working on matters related to the establishment of the office.
73. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the annual spend in 2021, 2022 and 2023 by An Garda Síochána on the rental and leasing of vehicles; the absolute number of rented and leased vehicles in the Garda fleet in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the number of those that were BEVs and PHEVs, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38043/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for operational policing matters such as those raised. I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested, regrettably this information was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is available.
74. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the review of the enforcement of child maintenance orders. [38098/24]
View answerThe Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, which was published on 8 January 2024, is one of the actions contained in Goal One of the Family Justice Strategy, that of ‘supporting children’.
The Review was led by my Department and builds on the report of the Child Maintenance Review Group.
The Review notes that the vast majority of parents take their financial and other responsibilities towards their children very seriously. It notes that many parents make private child maintenance arrangements, and that this is the best option and the one to be promoted and encouraged.
However, it notes that there will always be circumstances in which private arrangements are not possible or in which private arrangements breakdown and in these circumstances Government and the courts are tasked with safeguarding the financial welfare of children.
The Review puts forward 26 recommendations focused on generating maximum compliance with child maintenance orders, to ensure security and stability for children and to aid poverty prevention. The recommendations, while mainly focused on strengthening provisions for court enforcement of child maintenance orders, also look at ways to encourage voluntary payment and to assist people to make private arrangements. They focus on improving the way in which maintenance is agreed/ordered, the way in which payment is encouraged, the means by which default can be avoided and greater mechanisms for enforcement.
The key recommendations of the review include:
• Development of a set of child maintenance guidelines.
• Introduction of mandatory mediation information sessions.
• Strengthening attachment of earnings orders and exploring the possibility of attaching an order to a PPS number rather than employing entities, so that orders do not lapse when there is a change in employer.
• Introduction of a single enforcement procedure when the receiving parent makes an enforcement application, allowing the judge to choose the most appropriate enforcement option based on the circumstances of the case.
• Simplification of the bench warrant process.
• Placing the onus on paying parents to pay costs associated with enforcement proceedings.
• Allowing for deductions from social welfare, the paying parent’s bank accounts, from government grants and subsidies and allowing for the recovery of arrears from tax refunds.
An interdepartmental group was established in February of this year and work is underway to develop a set of child maintenance guidelines for use by all parties on a voluntary basis when putting child maintenance arrangements in place. Once these guidelines have been developed a calculator will be developed to increase the accessibility of the guidelines for the user.
I can confirm that engagement is ongoing with the Legal Aid Board on the development of a mandatory mediation information sessions pilot for child maintenance cases .
It is hoped that these initiatives will encourage voluntary child maintenance agreements and increase compliance with those agreements.
As you will have seen, a number of recommendations in the Review require legislative change and work on examining these recommendations with a view to identifying potential legislative measures that could be progressed will begin before the end of this year.
I can also confirm that officials in the Department are liaising with other organisations and bodies to implement the other recommendations in the review.
I, along with the cooperation of Minister Humphreys and Minister O’Gorman, intend to move forward on the other recommendations to implementation without delay.
75. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown of the total number of deportations to date in 2024, including a breakdown of enforced deportations and assisted deportations, in tabular form. [38190/24]
View answerI can advise the deputy that a deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked by the Minister for Justice – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carries out inquiries to confirm that people have removed themselves from the State and works closely with my Department to enforce deportations where this is not the case.In addition to the enforced deportations and those that are otherwise confirmed to have left, we know that a much larger number of people will have left the State without informing my Department; however, as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately quantify this number.Enforced deportation operations are complex and costly. They often involve investigations, detection, detentions in custody, legal challenges, flights costs and confirmation with the return country that the person is their citizen. Alternatives to forced removals, such as through the State’s voluntary return programme, are therefore preferable.The number of deportation orders signed up to 20 September 2024 (1508) has increased by 120% for the same period in 2023 (685 up to 22 September 2023).621 people have departed from the State under various mechanisms up to 20 September 2024 (i.e. forced return, voluntary return etc.). The overall number of returns has increased by 190% for the same period in 2023 (214 up to 22 September 2023).The number of enforced deportations has increased by 163% for the same period in 2023 (79 in 2024 and 30 up to 22 September 2023).The number of voluntary returns has increased by 244% for the same period in 2023 (506 in 2024 and 147 up to 22 September 2023).The Table below illustrates the total number of repatriations of persons in 2024 up to 20 September 2024.
|
Number of non-Enforced Deportations (1) |
14 |
|
Number of Enforced deportations (2) |
79 |
|
Number of EU Removals (3) |
15 |
|
Number of Dublin III transfers (4) |
7 |
|
Number of voluntary returns (5) |
506 |
|
Total |
621 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Information has come to hand or by inquiry to the effect that the individual has left the state following receipt of a DO.
Person escorted from the state by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
EU Citizen removed from the State under the Free Movement Regulations (generally criminals).
Transfer to another EU State to have their application for International Protection examined.
Persons who availed of the voluntary return programme without getting a deportation order.
76. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the review of the family reunification policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38191/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy, the review of the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification, including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. My Department has consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders and the expectation is that the review will be brought to a conclusion in the coming months.
While I fully understand that all people moving to Ireland to live and work would wish to have their family join them, the issues to be examined as part of a family reunification application are complex. An important consideration in all family reunification applications, for example, is the ability of the sponsor to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland.
With effect from 15 May 2024, the first part of the review has been implemented, in that eligible spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit holders who have been granted family reunification in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, are now permitted to take up employment without the need to obtain employment permits of their own. This was already the case for eligible spouses and partners of Critical Skills Employment Permits holders and researchers on Hosting Agreements.
77. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of fines and cautions imposed on airlines carrying passengers with inappropriate travel documentation. [38192/24]
View answer78. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice to outline the total number of passengers who have arrived in Ireland with inappropriate travel documentation since the start of 2024, in tabular form. [38193/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together.
The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004.
To the end of August of this year the Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has refused 3,395 individuals leave to land in the State. Of those a total of 1,590 presented with no documents and 672 were identified as false or as imposter.
My Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without the correct documentation. 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation. This is based on the work that the Border Management Unit is doing with Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The BMU of my Department is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only, as such the above figures reflect the position at Dublin Airport. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the GNIB.
The GNIB has responsibility for issuing Carrier Liability, notices and warnings and for the imposition of Carrier Liability Fines on carriers who permit a non-national to travel with their airline or ferry without the necessary documentation i.e. no documents, false document, no visa or improper use of genuine documents.
Last year, the GNIB issued approximately 1,000 fines and approximately 1,100 cautions to carriers.
Before the summer recess I brought forward legalisation which increases penalties for carriers who are found to not have conducted appropriate checks on the documentation of people boarding. The fines for carriers have increased from €3,000 to €5,000.
The BMU and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding. This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation. Border Management Unit officials are also available 24/7 to assist airlines with any immigration queries.
BMU and GNIB also have an ongoing intelligence-led programme of operations at airplanes to detect passengers who destroyed documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers.
I also strengthened visa requirements to travel to Ireland, provided funding for an increase in the Garda Airport Liaison Officers network across European transport hubs and assigned additional resources to the Border Management Unit to facilitate disembarkment checks.
79. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the total number of international protection applications to date in 2024, in tabular form. [38194/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
I have significantly increased investment into the international protection system, which has allowed for a major increase in processing capacity and the introduction of accelerated processing.
Last July, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme involved unparalleled investment in staff, panel members, reengineered processes, and technology.
Measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants have been implemented. This has already demonstrated results with the International Protection Office (IPO) confident of delivering over 14,000 decisions this year.
Recent strategic policy and operational approaches to speed up applications from safe countries and the country with the highest number of applications are also proving effective. Applications from designated safe countries have dropped by more than 50% since I introduced the accelerated procedure.
Application figures in the International Protection Office so far in 2024 are set out in the below table:
|
2024 |
IP Applications |
|
Total* |
15,072 |
*as of 19 th September 2024
**Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however all statistics may be subject to data cleansing
The Deputy may also wish to know that I intend to substantially increase resourcing of the entire end-to-end International Protection process, including further additional staffing over the next 12 months, to improve processing times, significantly increase removals and enhance border security.
All aspects of the international protection modernisation programme will continue to be kept under review and improved on a continuous ongoing basis.
80. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 371 of 4 July 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to answer this PQ. [38201/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are unable to disclose details in respect of the Air Support Unit, due to the impact on operational effectiveness and security. Therefore I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
81. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the legislative programme within her Department. [38202/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government Legislation Programme for the Autumn 2024 Session was published on 18 September. As set out in the Legislation Programme, my Department currently has four Bills before the Houses as follows:
Gambling Regulation Bill - To provide for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling both in person and online, to update and streamline the licensing framework and to provide for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. Seanad Committee Stage is expected on 25 September 2024.
Family Courts Bill 2022 – Provides for the establishment of a Family High Court, Family Circuit Court and Family District Court. This Bill will establish new dedicated Family Courts within the existing court structures and put families at the centre of the family justice system. Seanad Committee Stage expected to be scheduled next week.
Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill – This Bill will be amended to remove the incitement to violence or hatred provisions, subject to Government approval. The revised Bill will provide for new, aggravated forms of certain criminal offences, with increased sentences, where they are motivated by hatred. The Bill was published in October 2022 and completed its passage through the Dáil on 26 April 2023. Seanad Second stage took place on 13 and 21 June 2023. A date for Seanad Committee stage is awaited.
Defamation (Amendment) Bill - The Bill will update aspects of defamation law following the statutory review of the Defamation Act 2009, was published on 2 August 2024. Dáil Second Stage took place on 19 September. A date for Dáil Committee Stage is awaited.
In addition to the Bills listed above, the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill was published on 19 September and passed Second Stage in the Dáil on 25 September - The purpose of this Bill is to make an amendment to section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1990 to address a recent High Court judgment which found that the mandatory life sentence for murder does not apply to a person who committed the murder when they were still a child but are sentenced after their 18th birthday.
The Deputy should note that the timetabling of legislation before the Houses is not a matter for my Department but for the Government and the Houses respectively.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department also has five priority Bills for publication as follows:
Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill - To codify police powers of search, arrest and detention and procedural rights of suspects through rationalising and modernising those powers to take into account developments in modern technology to provide clarity and transparency. Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was completed in June 2022. Drafting is ongoing.
Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill - To provide for retrospective searching of images which are legally in the possession of An Garda Síochána through the safe and ethical use of biometric identification (which includes facial recognition technology) in limited circumstances only and in relation to specific serious offences. Drafting is at an advanced stage and the Bill is expected to be ready for publication in October 2024.
Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill - The purpose of this Bill is to strengthen the State’s ability to target the proceeds of crime. Ongoing review of the operation of the civil forfeiture regime in Ireland (grounded in the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996) has identified a number of areas of improvement and the Bill will propose refinements to the regime informed by legal and operational developments. Drafting is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for publication shortly.
Intoxicating Liquor Bill - To introduce certain key reforms from the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 including the introduction of late bar and nightclub permits, the licensing of outdoor seating areas and the transfer of jurisdiction, in licensing matters, from the Circuit Court to the District Court. Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was completed in March 2023.
Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill - To give effect to EU Directive 2017/541 on combating terrorism which is directed at the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon and includes offences of travelling to commit a terrorist offence, facilitating travel to commit a terrorist offence, and receiving training for terrorism. Work is ongoing.
My Department has four priority Bills for drafting as follows:
Inspection of Places of Detention Bill - To provide for inspection of all places of detention in the Justice sector - prisons, Garda stations, courts. The Bill also provides for the appointment and functions of the Chief Inspector of Places of Detention. Enactment will enable ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT). Pre-legislative Scrutiny was completed in March 2023 and drafting is under way.
Criminal Justice (Protection, Preservation of and Access to Data on Information Systems) Bill - To give effect to a number of the provisions of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, the E.U e-Evidence Regulation ((EU) 2021/784) and the E.U. Terrorist Content Online Regulation ((EU) 2021/784). Pre-legislative Scrutiny was completed in March 2024.
Life Sentences Bill - The primary purpose of the Bill is to provide for judges to recommend minimum periods in prison when a life sentence is imposed. The General Scheme of this Bill was approved by Government in July 2024 and was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Violation of Restrictive Measures Bill - This Bill will transpose Directive (EU) 2024/1226 on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures (sanctions). The Directive sets out the minimum scope of criminal offences applicable to sanctions breaches and penalties applicable to those offences.
In addition, my Department is continuing to progress the following legislation.
Children (Amendment) Bill - To amend the Children Act 2001 to provide for alternative sanctions to fully and partly suspended sentences, including for children who will transition to adulthood while subject to a court-ordered sanction. Heads of Bill were approved in July 2024.
Civil Reform Bill - To give effect to recommendations arising from the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice (Kelly Review).
Communications (Retention of Data) Bill - To replace the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 to reflect advances in technology and consolidate the law on retention of and access to data for national security and prevention of crime purposes.
Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill - To provide a modern statement of the law governing community sanctions and the role of the Probation Service in the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill - To update and strengthen the system of granting of criminal legal aid and to transfer the responsibility for the administration of the main scheme and ad-hoc schemes to the Legal Aid Board. Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was completed in December 2023.
Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 - To provide for various procedural reforms and efficiencies in the Criminal Justice System.
Criminal Justice (Passenger Name Record) Bill - To comply with an EU Council commitment to extend the EU Passenger Name Record Directive to internal EU flights
Criminal Justice (Disregard of Certain Convictions related to Consensual Sexual Activity) Bill - To establish an application-based scheme to enable the disregard of certain historical convictions relating to consensual sexual activity (primarily homosexual activity).
European Public Prosecutor’s Office Bill - To make the necessary legislative changes to enable Ireland to participate in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office Regulation.
Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill - To amend various pieces of legislation in respect of electronic communications.
International Criminal Court (Amendment) Bill - To give effect to the Kampala Amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in relation to the crime of aggression.
Irish Prison Service Bill - To establish the Irish Prison Service on a statutory basis with defined functions, and to provide for enhanced governance and oversight structures including a board and an audit committee. Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was completed in December 2023.
Personal Insolvency (Amendment) (no. 2) Bill - To update aspects of personal insolvency legislation, following statutory review of Personal Insolvency Acts. Drafting of General Scheme will commence after publication of Report.
82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has reviewed the take-up of new forestry planting schemes on offer from his Department; and his views on whether further measures are needed to achieve the ambitious targets which have been set. [38004/24]
View answerThe new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 aims to encourage a substantial increase in afforestation by offering attractive and diverse options for planting. 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. Compared to preceding schemes, premia rates for Afforestation have now increased from between 46% to 66% , 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 facilitates small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence.
The Department can confirm that, in the year to date, there has been 1,246 hectares of new forests planted (this means planted and first payments issued).
In terms of licences approved under the new Forestry Programme, the area covered is 6,328 hectares, of which 348 hectares has been approved under the Native Tree Area Scheme, which provides for tree planting of up to one hectare - and up to one further hectare of riparian margin - without a licence.
Therefore, there is still over 5,200 hectares currently available for planting. This is expected to commence when the tree planting season gets under way again in early November.
In addition, there are 3,657 hectares on hand in the system being processed towards additional afforestation licences. Of this total, 2,720 hectares is associated with applications received since the commencement of the new Forestry Programme, which falls under the Farmers Charter commitment to issue forestry licences within six months in respect of applications that are screened out for Appropriate Assessment, and nine months for those that are screened in.
The Department is about to heavily promote new planting under a new Strategic Communications Plan in order to encourage uptake and planting.
I am committed to undertaking a mid term review of the current Forestry Programme in 2025. This will be conducted in consultation with all stakeholders. Depending on the outcome of this review, certain proposed changes may be required to be notified to the European Commission under State Aid Rules. Any resulting changes will be implemented before the end of the current Forestry Programme 2023-2027 term.
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.
83. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1644 of the 23 July 2024, if he will confirm that the Department maintains a list of approved solar PV panel installers as used under individual applications for photovoltaic solar panels under TAMS 2 & 3; if the Department can give assurances that under the terms and conditions of this scheme (condition No. 10), it has the required evidence that each installer used has the requisite insurance cover to indemnify the Department; if will comment further on insurance cover where the installer as per the individual application sub-contracts the work and his views on these issues on the individual case, which he referenced in his reply to the above Parliamentary Question, with regard to safety issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38040/24]
View answerThe safety of Solar PV systems, both at installation phase and for subsequent use by farmers, is of paramount importance to me.
With this in mind, my Department maintains a list of approved solar PV panel installers from which TAMS applicants can select an installer to carry out the installation works. All registered solar installers that are included on this list must provide evidence of appropriate insurance cover to my Department.
In certain circumstances, a registered installer may subcontract the installation works. However, the contract for the installation of the solar PV system remains with the installer from the registered list. Therefore if problems arise, the applicant may seek recourse with the main contractor, who has the appropriate insurance cover in place.
84. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of vacancies at each grade of higher executive officer and above within his Department as of 18 September 2024. [38207/24]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its business needs and utilises workforce planning to identify and address these requirements for all our locations.
Recruitment is ongoing at present and the Human Resources Division of my Department utilises all mechanisms available to fill these posts.
I am conscious of the need for a prompt and efficient delivery of services and, to that end, all critical staffing vacancies are filled as soon as possible upon candidates becoming available.
My Department is currently carrying a number of vacancies within the administrative grades of Higher Executive Officer and higher. The table below gives a breakdown of the current vacancies at these levels:
|
Grade |
Number |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
23 |
|
Assistant Principal |
14 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
85. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the legislative programme within his Department. [38208/24]
View answerMy Department is currently progressing the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill the drafting of which is complete. The Bill is to be published in the Oireachtas in the coming term.
86. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to reduce the lengthy waiting times for children with autism to access urgently needed therapy services provided by the children's disability network team. [37959/24]
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.
87. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a national database can be established once children are diagnosed with autism to determine and fully plan for educational and therapeutic services. [37960/24]
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.
