Written Answers Nos. 147-166
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice whether a person (details supplied) qualifies for naturalisation given their history in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39605/24]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Only once an application is received, can a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation be made.
Unfortunately, applications cannot be expedited due to the intended purpose of naturalisation such as travel, or to join family members.
The Citizenship Division of my Department have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the Naturalisation process for applicants, including introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are significantly reducing processing times. I expect that, going forward, the vast majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year.
In just over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023. Already in 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made in the first half of the year.
Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. To date in 2024, my Department has hosted 17 ceremonies with over 14,000 attendees, with further ceremonies planned for later in the year.
Further detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
148. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what is preventing his Department from funding preparatory, preliminary and actual works to dredge Dungarvan Harbour sufficiently to facilitate access to and from Cé Heilbhic in Gaeltacht na nDéise; if he is aware that the indigenous fishing industry is under threat because of silting in the harbour, which is reducing the times daily when boats can get in and out of the quay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39481/24]
View answerThe responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority. The relevant local authority in the case of Cé Heilbhic is Waterford County Council.
However, as part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department has, in previous years, provided funding to assist coastal local authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership.
Between the years 2010 to 2021, Waterford City & County Council received funding of €3.64m from my Department of which €680k was in respect of works at Helvick pier. More recently, in 2022-2023, unprecedented funding was also provided through the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme, which was administered by my Department for capital works undertaken by the local authorities. Waterford City & County Council was allocated funding for 10 capital projects, all of which were completed, and it was reimbursed €3.11m through the scheme from my Department, of which €557k was in respect of repair and construction works at Helvick pier. The focus of my Department's scheme, as with previous programmes, was on supporting actual capital works and it was a matter for each local authority to progress any preparatory studies, permitting and design works.
Should any application be made for funding by Waterford City & County Council under any future programme in relation to dredging works at Helvick Harbour, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to the project by the Council, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a herd number will be reissued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39484/24]
View answerMy officials visited and met with the named person at his holding on Tuesday 24th of September 2024. Deficiencies were identified during the inspection as regards holding requirements for bovines. The named person was notified of the deficiencies and was advised to contact the Tralee Regional Veterinary Office, Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Spa Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry when the deficiencies were rectified. I can assure the Deputy that the named person’s application to reactivate his herd for bovines will be processed as soon as the deficiencies are satisfactorily addressed.
150. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has met with any or all of the approved lists of PV installers; the dates of any such meetings; the agenda for such meetings; the officials present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39510/24]
View answerMy Department met with the Micro Renewable Energy Federation (MREF), a representative body for solar PV installers, on two occasions in 2019. The meetings were attended by senior department officials and inspectors dealing with the TAMS scheme.
A further two meetings were held in 2024, with one solar PV installer, on 16 January and 1 October, respectively, and these were attended by TAMS Agricultural Inspectors and Assistant Agricultural Inspector.
A third, virtual, meeting was held on 15 February 2024 with a different solar PV installer, which was attended by Agricultural Inspectors in TAMS
The meetings focused on the level of grant aid available and the terms and conditions of the Solar Capital Investment Scheme, with the overall objective of minimising errors in submitted applications. System size limitations, reference costings for PV panels and battery storage were also discussed at these meetings.
151. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any plans to restore a scheme whereby a farmer could retire on pension aged 55 and pass on the farm to a family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39519/24]
View answerAssisting the next generation to take over the farm, when the time is right to do so, is one of my priorities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the family farm. While supporting young farmers and new entrants is critical to ensure a bright future for the agri-food sector, it is also important to consider the position of older and retiring farmers.
Food Vision 2030, highlights the challenge of generational renewal and proposes several actions, including maintaining the current strong level of support, the promotion of succession planning & land mobility, and increased education and promotion of the diversity of careers in the agri-food sector.
I ensured that under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, there was substantial investment focused on achieving generational renewal, including:
• The Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, to help young farmers establish their farming businesses, by dedicating some 3% of the direct payments ceiling. This allocation of approximately €35m per year will see young farmers, who qualify, benefit from payments averaging some €175 per hectare over the five years of the scheme.
• The National Reserve, which provides support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Successful applicants will receive an allocation of payment entitlements on land for which they hold no payment entitlements, and/or a top-up to the value of existing entitlements below the national average entitlement value to bring them up to the national average value, subject to an overall allocation of 50 entitlements per successful applicant.
• The TAMS capital investment measure, where a higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers is available.
• A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme to provide financial support to encourage older farmers to form partnerships with young, trained farmers.
• A Succession Planning Advice Grant to assist older farmers with the costs incurred for independent legal and financial advice on succession planning.
This is complemented with national supports, including strong taxation measures facilitating generational renewal and the early inter-generational transfer of family farms. In addition, long-term leasing income tax relief supports access to land for young farmers and provides a route to retirement for older farmers.
More recently, I announced my intention to establish a Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. Farm succession is a complex area and there are many factors that impact farmers’ decisions. Preparations for the new CAP, post 2027, will also look at the optimal policy tools and other supports to encourage generational renewal.
152. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39522/24]
View answerAssisting the next generation to take over the farm, when the time is right to do so, is one of my priorities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the family farm. While supporting young farmers and new entrants is critical to ensure a bright future for the agri-food sector, it is also important to consider the position of older and retiring farmers. Food Vision 2030, highlights the challenge of generational renewal and proposes several actions, including maintaining the current strong level of support, the promotion of succession planning & land mobility, and increased education and promotion of the diversity of careers in the agri-food sector. I ensured that under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, there was substantial investment focused on achieving generational renewal, including: The Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, to help young farmers establish their farming businesses, by dedicating some 3% of the direct payments ceiling. This allocation of approximately €35m per year will see young farmers, who qualify, benefit from payments averaging some €175 per hectare over the five years of the scheme.
The National Reserve, which provides support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Successful applicants will receive an allocation of payment entitlements on land for which they hold no payment entitlements, and/or a top-up to the value of existing entitlements below the national average entitlement value to bring them up to the national average value, subject to an overall allocation of 50 entitlements per successful applicant.
The TAMS capital investment measure, where a higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers is available.
A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme to provide financial support to encourage older farmers to form partnerships with young, trained farmers.
A Succession Planning Advice Grant to assist older farmers with the costs incurred for independent legal and financial advice on succession planning.
This is complemented with national supports, including strong taxation measures facilitating generational renewal and the early inter-generational transfer of family farms. In addition, long-term leasing income tax relief supports access to land for young farmers and provides a route to retirement for older farmers. More recently, I announced my intention to establish a Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. Farm succession is a complex area and there are many factors that impact farmers’ decisions. Preparations for the new CAP, post 2027, will also look at the optimal policy tools and other supports to encourage generational renewal.
153. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in derogation (details supplied); and the number above 700 units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39534/24]
View answerI note the Deputy’s question requests the number of livestock units (LU) on derogation farms broken into bands of LU.
Unfortunately, this data is not currently available within my Department, however my Department does have a value for the total nitrates produced on the each derogation applicant’s holding in 2023.
Eurostat define an LU as “a reference unit which facilitates the aggregation of livestock from various species and age as per convention, via the use of specific coefficients established initially on the basis of the nutritional or feed requirement of each type of animal."
A dairy cow is generally taken as representing one LU, with other livestock given equivalence factors in accordance with the proportion of an LU they represent.
For the purpose of replying to this question, an LU has been calculated by dividing the total Nitrogen from cattle produced on each derogation applicant’s holding by 92kg. This value has been selected as 92kg equates to the livestock manure nitrogen output for each dairy cow in the majority of dairy herds nationally.
It should also be noted that the data analysed is based on the farmers who applied for a Nitrates Derogation in 2023, which is 7,298 applicants. When all checks have fully concluded the final number of farmers approved for the Nitrates Derogation in 2023 will be slightly lower than the number of applicants.
The following table details the breakdown of livestock units held by the 2023 Nitrates Derogation applicants as per the methodology outlined above.
2023 Nitrates Derogation Applicants
|
Number of Livestock Units (LU) held by Derogation Applicant in 2023* |
Number of Applicants |
|
0 - 50 |
293 |
|
51 - 100 |
1,301 |
|
101 - 150 |
1,910 |
|
151-200 |
1,460 |
|
201-300 |
1,382 |
|
301-400 |
514 |
|
401-500 |
227 |
|
501-600 |
94 |
|
601-700 |
57 |
|
> 700 |
60 |
|
TOTAL APPLICANTS |
7,298 |
Note: *Calculated as per methodology set out in reply to the Parliamentary Question
154. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all payments due to a person (details supplied) under the basic income support for sustainability scheme have been paid to date. [39557/24]
View answerApplications for participation in the 2023 and 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and ECO schemes was received from the above-named applicant.
These applications were made using a temporary reference number as a change of ownership request on a herd number was being processed at the time.
The change of ownership on the herd number is now finalised, however, there were issues linking the reference number to the applicants herd number. My officials have been in communication with the applicant and are working through the issues to rectify any outstanding problems and will continue to keep the applicant informed of progress.
155. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal lodged by persons (details supplied) under the young farmer supports scheme will be expedited; and if the sanctions being suggested will be put on hold until a final decision is made. [39561/24]
View answerThe persons named submitted an application under the 2023 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF), with the second named person as the young farmer, and this application was subsequently selected for inspection. The on-the-spot-check involves an interview with the young farmer and a series of checks to verify that the young farmer has financial and managerial control of the holding. Following completion of this inspection the applicants were deemed not to be meeting the eligibility requirements, and this decision was upheld following a review requested by the applicants.
The applicants subsequently submitted an appeal to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office and officials in my Department have been advised that the oral hearing of this appeal has been scheduled for 10th October 2024.
As set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, where an applicant is deemed not to be meeting the eligibility requirements of the scheme following an on-the-spot-check, they are excluded from receiving aid under the scheme for the year concerned. In addition, a penalty applies which is calculated on the basis of the amount the applicant would have received in the scheme year concerned.
EU Regulations governing the operation of the CISYF set down the requirements for the recovery of debts. These regulations require my Department to recover debts within a reasonable timeframe and also provide for my Department to offset such amounts against any future payments in favour of the beneficiary. In this regard, the persons named have contacted my Department’s Accounts Division and alternative arrangements have been agreed.
156. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will list the most frequent errors identified under each scheme for which farmers applied in 2023; the steps he is taking to reduce this error rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39578/24]
View answerIt is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
157. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adult wards 'discharged completely from wardship or to the Decision Support Service for a support service since April 2023. [39583/24]
View answer158. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications made to the Decision Support Service for a decision-making representative, a co-decision-making agreement, and decision-making assistant agreement. [39586/24]
View answer159. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of family members appointed as a decision-making representative for a relevant person. [39587/24]
View answer160. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Decision Support Service decision-making representative, DMR, panel members appointed as DMRs. [39588/24]
View answer161. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications the Decision Support Service has received from the HSE for decision-making representatives. [39589/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 161, inclusive, together.
On the 26th of April 2023 I commenced the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act), along with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022, bringing an end to wardship in the State for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 and replacing the wards of court system with the new process for appointing tiered decision support arrangements that is now in effect. The Decision Support Service (DSS) commenced its operations in April 2023 and has statutory responsibility for the operation of many of the provisions of the Act.
The DSS is responsible for the processing of certain decision support arrangements under the 2015 Act, including Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs), Co-Decision-Making Agreements (CDMAs) and Decision-Making Assistance Agreements (DMAAS). The DSS does not receive applications for the appointment of decision-making representatives (DMRs), rather these applications are made to the Court.
The following sets out the information requested by the Deputy:
As of 1st October 2024, the total number of registered co-decision making agreements (CDMAs) is 51. In addition to this, there are 324 applications at various stages of progress. A further 51 applications have been submitted and are currently being reviewed by the DSS.
The total number of notified decision-making assistant agreements (DMAAs) is 38. In addition to this, there are 690 applications at various stages of progress. A further 44 applications have been submitted and are currently being reviewed by the DSS.
877 decision-making representative (DMR) applications have been made to the Circuit Court to date.
Since April 2023 the total number of wards of court who have been discharged from wardship is 73, with 14 of those being discharged with capacity, 4 moving to a CDMA arrangement, and 55 having a DMR put in place.
The Courts Service does not record figures on the relationship between a relevant person and their decision-making representative.
There are at present 118 decision-making representation orders appointing DSS panel members as DMRs. In a small number of cases, more than one panel member has been appointed, so there are 125 distinct panel appointments in these 118 orders. This figure does not include any panel members who are not currently active as a DMR, or any panel member DMRs appointed by the court under an order that has not yet been notified to the DSS.
The Courts Service does not distinguish between different types or categories of applicants, therefore the number of DMR applications made by the HSE is not immediately available. However, the HSE may hold a record of this information and I will be happy to revert to the Deputy with this information in due course.
More information on the operation of the Act is available on the Decision Support Service Website: decisionsupportservice.ie/
My Department will continue to support the DSS in discharging its statutory function in raising awareness around the operation of the new system of rights based decision supports.
162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which improved services for children diagnosed with autism are likely to become available in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39619/24]
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.
163. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the progress made on the reopening of a hydrotherapy pool (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38685/24]
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.
164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the case of a child (details supplied); to clarify the assistance that can be offered to ensure this child obtains the cognitive assessment within the required timeframe, before the school enrolment closing date of January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39503/24]
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.
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacant job positions in CHO 7; the plans for these positions to be filled before year end; the number of positions vacant for more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39611/24]
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.
166. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if a circular (details supplied) applied to the HSE and other departments of health-funded agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39575/24]
View answerThe 2001 Department of Finance circular for civil servants was not implemented in the public health sector, however certain staffing cohorts have provisions in place that may cover professional membership fees in certain circumstances.
