Written Answers Nos. 862-881
862. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds born between 1 January and 31 December 2023 that were subsequently registered with the Irish Coursing Club at microchipping stage. [44893/24]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has notified my Department that the number of non-coursing greyhounds born between 1 January and 31 December 2023 that were registered with the Stud Book was 8758 and the number that were subsequently registered at microchipping stage (via MicroDogID) was 8347.
863. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds born between 1 January and 31 December 2023 that were subsequently registered on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system at microchipping stage. [44894/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
864. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status, as of 29 October 2024, of the 10,914 greyhounds whelped in 2021 who were subsequently registered on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44895/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
865. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status, as of 29 October 2024, of the 9,900 greyhounds whelped in 2022 who were subsequently registered on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44896/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
866. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding cases where the scorecards of a plot or plots of applicants under ACRES were omitted inadvertently when the planner was submitting scorecards; if it is possible to make a late submission of such scorecards; if not, the reason this is not possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44926/24]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to scorecards in respect of the 2024 ACRES scheme year.
My Department is unable to determine whether an ACRES approved adviser did not submit a scorecard as planned, or whether a scorecard was omitted inadvertently. There are 11,675 herds in respect of whom at least one scorecard was not submitted (relating to owned and/or leased parcels) for the 2024 scheme year. Of this number, 1,546 herds had outstanding scorecards on owned parcels only. As the Deputy may be aware, there is no obligation for rented or leased parcels to be scored.
The ACRES terms and conditions state that only scorecards submitted within the allowed time frame will be eligible for payment in that year. ACRES circular 28 of 2024, issued on 30th of August 2024, stated that the deadline for submission of scorecards without penalty had been extended until the 7th of September 2024. However, scorecards could not be submitted after this date.
867. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE qualified horticulturists, by grade, employed by the Department in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [45016/24]
View answerMy Department engages in workforce planning to assess its current and future recruitment needs. The educational qualifications required and the relevant selection criteria are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis to ensure that they meet these needs. Tailored to specific grades, my Departments recruitment campaigns may invite candidates who hold qualifications in a variety of areas including for example, horticulture, plant health, animal health, animal welfare and food safety.
There is no specific competition which stipulates horticulture as the only entry requirement. Therefore I cannot answer this question with accuracy due to the broad range of qualifications candidates may hold which deem them suitable for our competitions.
868. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget allocation in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for capital works projects under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, in tabular form. [45031/24]
View answerMy Department has responsibility for the six State owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, Dingle, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth.
All capital projects are subject to rigorous project management processes including design, tender action and implementation stages; and ongoing monitoring, evaluation and review in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Capital Works Management Framework and the Public Spending Code. Additionally, all contractual projects are subject to the applicable conditions of contract and as such it is necessary to follow due process in accordance with such conditions. Larger capital projects are normally multi-annual projects and may be subject to phases of completion.
In February, I announced a capital investment package of €29.7m for the six Fishery Harbour Centres (including Cape Clear, Piers, lights and Beacons and Safety and Maintenance) as part of the 2024 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Details of the project allocations are available in tabular form online at: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1e320-minister-mcconalogue-announces-investment-of-297million-in-the-fishery-harbour-centres/
This programme is operated on an annual basis and not on a multi-annual basis. While some larger projects by their very nature carry over into subsequent years, these are treated as contractual commitments in the capital programme and funding is made available for these commitments on an annual basis. Expended funding for 2023 and estimated funding for 2024 and 2025 is outlaid at the following link.
869. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the 2024 and 2025 budget allocation for farm safety measures, in tabular form. [45032/24]
View answerMy Department is implementing a series of farm safety, health and wellbeing initiatives in 2024 through dedicated funding of €2.5m. These initiatives promote farm safety practices and risk awareness and encourage behavioural change around farm safety from a young age, while also supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.
The main initiatives in 2024 are outlined in the following table:
|
Farm Safety Health and Wellbeing Initiatives 2024 |
|
Open Call for Farm Safety, Health and Wellbeing Projects. |
|
A series of joint DAFM/Health and Safety Authority farm safety media campaigns. |
|
Agri Aware’s school children's farm safety initiative. |
|
On Feirm Ground 2. |
|
National Farm Safety Measure 2024. |
|
Agricultural simulators for use in agricultural colleges and Teagasc research centres. |
|
Farm safety Hi-Viz vests for children. |
Dedicated funding of €2.5m was also secured in Budget 2025 to continue to support existing initiatives and the introduction of new initiatives in support of farm safety, health and wellbeing. Plans are currently being developed for initiatives which will be delivered in 2025.
The Accelerated Capital Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment, which allows for the Accelerated Capital Allowances of 50% per annum over two years on qualifying farm safety and adaptive equipment, was expanded in Budget 2025.
In addition to the dedicated funding mentioned, the tables below outline the expenditure to date and anticipated expenditure in 2024 on farm safety related investments under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).
Table 1: TAMSII
|
Scheme |
Number of Sub Investments |
Sub Claimed Reference Cost |
Calculated Grant Value |
|
TAMS II Payments 2024 |
456 |
€1,076,375.21 |
€483,843.93 |
|
TAMS II - Safety Investments Approved but NOT yet claimed |
420 |
€768,515.24 |
€354,710.46 |
Table 2: TAMS3 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme - Applications Received 2024
|
Number |
Commitment Amount |
Grant at 60 % |
|
4028 |
€24,099,436.84 |
€14,459,662.10 |
870. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the IT issue preventing payment of a 2023 Acres scheme payment to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied) has been rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45093/24]
View answerThe person named was accepted into Tranche 1 of the Co-Operation stream of ACRES, and received an interim payment of €5,000 in February of this year.
Validation checks in respect of the final ACRES payment claim are ongoing. Once these validations have been completed the payment will be processed, and if the value exceeds the interim payment, the balance will issue to the herd owner.
872. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he intends introducing a farm retirement scheme; if so, when this is likely to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45115/24]
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, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector, 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 in 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 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 established a Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. I intend to make generational renewal a central feature of our preparations for the new CAP, post 2027. The Commission will adopt an objective, evidence-based approach to examining all the complex factors involved. It will engage closely with stakeholders before issuing a report on options as part of the Food Vision 2030 process, before the end of Quarter 2, 2025.
873. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pet passports issued by his Department in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [45183/24]
View answerThe number of pet passports issued by my Department in 2023 and to date in 2024 are set out below in tabular form.
|
Year |
2023 |
2024 (as of 04/11/2024) |
|
Pet Passports |
27,150 |
18,676 |
874. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the guidance his Department offers to individuals seeking to establish legal decision-making processes for elderly relatives to ensure that their wishes are respected and upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44216/24]
View answerOn the 26th of April 2023 the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was commenced, along with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022, marking a milestone for Ireland in 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. Under the legislation there are different levels or tiers of agreements an individual can enter into, depending on their particular circumstances and needs, and whether the help required relates to basic day-to-day decisions or more complex issues.
In that regard the DSS has responsibility for the processing and registration of decision making assistance agreements which allow a person to appoint someone they trust to assist if there are certain decisions they find difficult to make on their own. As an elevated tier of support co-decision-making agreements enable individuals to choose someone they know and trust to act as a co-decision-maker where decisions are made jointly. Enduring powers of attorney are also available where people would like to plan ahead for the future.
Advanced healthcare directives can also be made which enable people to document their wishes about healthcare and medical treatment decisions in case they are unable to make these decisions at some time in the future.
Additionally, the DSS has responsibility for the registration of decision-making representation orders notified to them by the Courts, whereby the Court may appoint a decision-making representative to a person to make certain decisions on their behalf, taking into account their wishes, should that person be unable to make certain decisions even with someone else’s support.
Improved safeguarding and ensuring a human rights-based approach to assisted decision-making were key considerations in the development of the Act. In replacing the outdated wardship system it is crucial to ensure that capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis in a manner that privileges the will and preference of the person being supported.
The protection of the will and preference of the relevant person is at the centre of the Act, and in that regard it is not open for a decision supporter to arrange for treatment or care of a person against that person's will and preference. The new system of decision support arrangements is supporting people to continue to exercise control over their daily affairs and to carry on with lives of their choosing, even in the context of diminished capacity.
The DSS is committed to providing effective support and assistance to all individuals seeking to put in place a decision support arrangement. The DSS website (www.decisionsupportservice.ie) provides an array of guidance material that clearly explains the different decision-making arrangements that may be put in place. Applicants with additional queries are encouraged to contact the DSS at 01 211 9750 or at queries@decisionsupportservice.ie should they require any assistance or advice.
875. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a meeting that groups in Donegal have requested (details supplied) with Minister of State Rabbitte to discuss issues with the children’s disability service grant fund, will happen; if so, when it will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45081/24]
View answerThe Children’s Disability Services Grant Fund was open to organisations, including community groups and service providers, with the aim of supporting children on a waiting list for Children’s Disability Network Team services and adding value to existing HSE children's disability services.
Minister Rabbitte’s office has received requests made on behalf of Inishowen Children's Autism Related Education (ICARE), Caring Capall and Bluestack, seeking a meeting with the Minister of State for Disabilities to discuss the above matter. A decision on any meeting with groups relating to the Grant Fund will not be made until discussions between officials in my Department, the HSE and DPENDR on the funding allocation for the Fund are concluded.
Finally, I can assure you that I am committed, alongside my Department, the HSE and its funded agencies to delivering real and tangible solutions to enhance services to better support the needs of children with special needs in Ireland.
876. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to support the children in the special care unit at Johnstown, Navan, as they transition to a school (details supplied), to ensure their educational and care needs are met; if HSE staff will move with them from the special care unit to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45090/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
877. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who is awaiting an assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43915/24]
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.
878. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will investigate Tusla’s involvement or lack of involvement in the case of a four-year-old boy whose custody was given to his father (details supplied). [43920/24]
View answerThe Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
879. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is funding available for upgrading existing playgrounds; to provide a list of such funding and timelines for applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/24]
View answerThe support my department provides for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people is through the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. Established in 2013, this grant scheme operates through and with Local Authorities. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play elements.
The criteria for the scheme were developed in partnership with the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network, established to bring a focus on play and recreation within each local authority.
For each project, 25% of the awarded amount must be provided by the Local Authority. Facilities and equipment funded must be accessible to children and young people of all abilities, as far as possible.
All facilities and equipment funded must be child-friendly and safe, and all projects funded under the scheme must provide evidence that children and young people living locally who will have access to the facility have been consulted about the project for which funding is sought.
All spaces and facilities for which funding is granted must be available for use by all children and young people in the locality at times when they are free to use them, including outside of school hours.
Children’s playgrounds and play areas should be places of fun and activity for all children to enjoy, so that every child can experience the joy and excitement that comes with playing outdoors.
Since 2021, funding of €450,000 per year has been made available to Local Authorities through this scheme. Applications must be made through the relevant Local Authority Play and Recreation Network member. Applications for the 2025 scheme will open in Q1 of 2025.
880. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is funding in 2025 for the play and recreation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43942/24]
View answerSince 2021, funding of €450,000 per year has been made available to Local Authorities through the Capital Grant scheme for Play and Recreation. I anticipate that Capital Grant funding for this purpose will be available again in 2025, and that a call for applications will issue in January.
Applications must be made through the relevant Local Authority Play and Recreation Network member. The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation supports the work of Local Authorities in improving access to quality play and recreation facilities within their communities. This can be through the refurbishment and upgrade of existing facilities or through the development of new ones. The scheme offers funding of up to €18,000 per project, an investment that will see positive impacts delivered to children and families across the country.
Many of the projects funded under the scheme give particular focus to inclusion and access, and help to ensure that children with a diverse range of needs can avail of the benefits of high quality play facilities, alongside their peers.
881. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any funding available for local authorities to draw down to run community fun days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43944/24]
View answerMy Department provides grant funding for National Play Day. This is provided to Local Authorities to allow them to create and host play and recreational opportunities for children and young people in their communities. The 2024 National Play Day took place on a series of days, between July 13th and 21st 2024.
The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children all across the country. Applications are received from Local Authorities for the implementation of a programme of a range of activities to support National Play Day. Each Local Authority that applies for funding under this grant scheme can receive funding up to a maximum of €3,000.
National Play Day funding can also be used by Local Authorities to purchase and distribute play packs to children and young people. These play packs are targeted at children in the wider community in addition to children who may have fewer play opportunities. Play Packs can include items such as skipping ropes, soft balls, crafts or drawing materials, toys for communication, toys for socialisation, toys for sensory, toys for manipulation, and toys for movement.
This year, 30 local authorities successfully applied for funding under this scheme, totalling €90,000.
It is anticipated that similar funding will be available for National Play Day in 2025.
