Matt Carthy
Question:331. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to support the mushroom sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45809/24]
View answerHorticulture Sector
Questions (331)
Written answers
I am providing a range of supports to the Irish mushroom sector, an important sector that makes a significant contribution to the rural economy.
I recently announced the opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector which provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production.This Scheme is 100% funded by the National Exchequer.
Funding has also been allocated under the recent Budget to re-open the Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Feasibility / Desk Studies) and the Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Capital Investments) for 2025. These schemes are designed to assist in increasing innovation and diversification among primary producers in the horticulture sector.
Mushroom growers are also eligible for supports under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The EU funded Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables provides an invaluable support to the mushroom sector. A large percentage of Ireland’s five Producer Organisation Scheme members are mushroom producers and can avail of significant financial supports across a range of measures.
In June 2023, together with my colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett, I launched the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. This stakeholder led strategy sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a road map for the sector to achieve this potential.
I am committed to seeing this sector, grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department is working collaboratively with stakeholders to progress all key strategic actions in the National Strategy for Horticulture.
Trade Agreements
Questions (332)
Matt Carthy
Question:332. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his engagements with his Cabinet colleagues regarding the Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45810/24]
View answerWritten answers
The European Commission reached political agreement in its trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries in June 2019. Ireland and other EU Member States raised concerns regarding the trade and sustainability commitments in the Agreement. As a response to those concerns, the European Commission commenced a process with Mercosur in 2023 on a joint legal instrument addressing sustainability commitments. The Commission continues to engage with Mercosur at negotiating team level to resolve the remaining differences between the sides. These negotiations are currently ongoing.
There is also ongoing consultation between officials from my Department and their counterparts in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which has lead policy responsibility in relation to trade policy. These discussions, in turn, have informed Ireland's position at EU level.
From Ireland’s perspective, there is no question of ratifying a Mercosur trade agreement without satisfactory and legally binding commitments on matters relating to trade and sustainable development, including climate, biodiversity, and deforestation protections. I reiterated these points at the Agri-Fish Council meeting in September.
Animal Welfare
Questions (333)
Pa Daly
Question:333. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided to Kerry Council for the control of horses in each of the years of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [45847/24]
View answerWritten answers
The table below sets out the amounts of funding provided to Kerry Council, for the control of horses, for the period 2019 – 2024.
Kerry County Council
|
2019 |
€5,260.00 |
|
2020 |
€2,300.00 |
|
2021 |
€575.00 |
|
2022 |
€750.00 |
|
2023 |
€450.00 |
|
2024 to date |
€725.00 |
|
TOTAL |
€10,060.00 |
Animal Welfare
Questions (334)
Pa Daly
Question:334. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control of Horses Act 2015 in each of the past five years, by local authority in tabular form. [45848/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders.
My Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures. The data submitted by local authorities to my Department relate to the total numbers of horses seized by local authorities.
The figures provided by local authorities to my Department in respect of equine seizures by county from for the last five years are provided in the attached table.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (335)
Pearse Doherty
Question:335. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if draft net licence holders are eligible under any of the recently announced fisheries grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45986/24]
View answerWritten answers
The responsibility for the licencing of commercial draft net fishing comes under the remit of Inland Fisheries Ireland. As such any queries regarding grant aid available to draft net licence holders should be addressed to Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is under the aegis of my colleague at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister Eamon Ryan TD.
My Department is the Managing Authority for the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) administers schemes funded under EMFAF which provide grant aid to the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Draft net licence holders who are also active in the commercial sea-fishing, aquaculture or seafood processing sectors may be entitled to grant aid under the schemes administered by BIM. Details of all schemes are available on BIM's website, www.bim.ie Potential applicants can submit queries to BIM by calling +353 1 2144100 or emailing info@bim.ie, or by contacting one of BIM Regional Development Officers, whose contact details are available on the website.
Land Issues
Questions (336)
Brendan Smith
Question:336. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if cross-Government measures will be introduced to reduce the sale of land to non-farming interests and particularly large-scale businesses with specific reference to the need to support small farm holders who may wish to buy neighbouring farm land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45991/24]
View answerWritten answers
Issues relating to the ownership of private property are subject to very significant and complex legal, constitutional and policy considerations. Any statutory limitations on the sale of farmland would be subject to such all of these considerations.
For example, from a policy perspective, limitations on the sale of farmland land for non-farming purposes , could reduce the availability of land for housing or other purposes consistent with broader public policy objectives.
Perhaps more significantly, any such proposals would involve significant restrictions on the constitutional rights of farmers, including small holders, wishing to sell their land.
However, this is not a question for my Department and I am not aware of any current Government proposals in this regard.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (337)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:337. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in Mayo waiting for GLAS and ACRES payments. [46003/24]
View answerWritten answers
Of the 5,664 Tranche 1 ACRES participants in county Mayo, 5,190 have had their 2023 payment claim fully processed. Work is continuing on the processing of the remaining 474 cases.
GLAS payments are also continuing to issue. At this point, 4,840 payment claims of Mayo participants have been fully processed for the final year of the scheme, while 157 payment claims remain to be processed. This figure includes 123 participants who are paid a year in arrears for the Rare Breeds Action, as outlined in the terms and conditions of the scheme.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (338)
Réada Cronin
Question:338. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons awaiting a needs assessment in CHO7; the number waiting less than 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45570/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (339)
Réada Cronin
Question:339. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in County Kildare that are currently awaiting an appointment for early intervention by therapy; the number waiting less than 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45572/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Child Detention Centres
Questions (340)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:340. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to increase capacity at a detention centre (details supplied) given recent cases in which places were required but were not available and the safety issues that arise as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45691/24]
View answerWritten answers
The maximum number of children that can be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus at any time is set by the Minister by way of a Certificate issued under sections 195 and 196 of the Children Act 2001.
In accordance with section 195 of the Children Act 2001, the maximum number of children who may be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus shall be 46 to include a maximum of 40 boys and 6 girls.
Under Section 96 of the Children Act 2001 detention of children is to be used as a last resort. The number of children in detention in Ireland has reduced significantly in recent decades. This is in part facilitated by the existence of a range of alternatives to detention such as the Bail Supervision Scheme and the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.
Furthermore the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2027 includes a commitment to implement a research based assessment of likely demands for Detention places and services and the consequent resource requirements to inform future strategic options as well as ongoing planning, budgeting and service development.
Child Detention Centres
Questions (341)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:341. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of places that are currently available and being used in a detention centre (details supplied). [45692/24]
View answerWritten answers
The maximum number of children that can be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus at any time is set by the Minister by way of a Certificate issued under sections 195 and 196 of the Children Act 2001.
The Certificate currently in place sets the maximum number of children who may be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus at 46, to include a maximum of 40 boys and 6 girls.
Disability Services
Questions (342)
Sorca Clarke
Question:342. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people in Longford and Westmeath, that are currently waiting an appointment for early intervention, broken down by therapy; the number that are waiting less than 6, 6-12 and those that are waiting more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45790/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (343)
Colm Brophy
Question:343. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of 100 new community based residential places for adults with disabilities. [45941/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (344)
Colm Brophy
Question:344. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing 1,000 disability home support hours. [45947/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (345)
Colm Brophy
Question:345. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing 100 disability intensive support packages. [45948/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (346)
Duncan Smith
Question:346. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarity on an aspect of the disability budget (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45500/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Budget 2025
Questions (347, 348, 349)
Duncan Smith
Question:347. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding allocated to deliver 40,000 additional home support hours in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45501/24]
View answerDuncan Smith
Question:348. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding allocated to deliver 20,000 additional personal assistance hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45502/24]
View answerDuncan Smith
Question:349. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding allocated to the progressive alignment of the PA rate and home support rate with older persons services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45503/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 347, 348 and 349 together.
The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant and Home Support Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
PA and Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.
The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 commits to a policy review of Home Support services in the light of the UNCRPD, and proposed statutory Home Care scheme being led by the Department of Health, to develop a formal policy and service description, develop eligibility and prioritisation criteria.
A policy review of PA services in the light of the UNCRPD is already underway, with a working group involving key stakeholders and disabled people's organisations, to develop formal policy and service description, develop eligibility and prioritisation criteria, and consider the best form of governance and regulation.
The precise level of service delivery for people with disabilities, based on the funding provided in the Budget, will be set out in the HSE's National Service Plan for 2025.
Question No. 348 answered with Question No. 347.
Question No. 349 answered with Question No. 347.
International Protection
Questions (350)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:350. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to a radio interview (details supplied), if he will provide details of his exit strategy for the Clare hospitality industry, which currently has 25% of its capacity being utilised for IPAS services. [44987/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has responsibility for providing accommodation for people in Ireland who are fleeing the war in Ukraine, and also for people applying for international protection.
Given the rapid increase in applications for international protection over recent years, alongside the arrival of over 111,500 people fleeing the war in Ukraine since 2022, the Department has worked hard to rapidly source and manage needs for accommodation for people in both groups. Tremendous support and participation has been seen from all part of the country, and from people, communities and businesses in Co. Clare as part of that.
People applying for International Protection.
As background, at the moment, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 7,000 people at the end of August 2021. Of those 32,000 people, approximately 9,000 are children.
People are accommodated at over 300 locations, in every county. As at October 27th, of the more than 32,000 overall applicants accommodated, there were 1010 residing in properties in Co. Clare.
The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking IP in Ireland and work is ongoing across the country to bring available accommodation into use to support our residents. This is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country, and intensive efforts are underway to source suitable accommodation, in line with the Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy. Despite this, since last December 2023, over 2,700 people who have applied for international protection since December 2023 have not been offered accommodation.
Due to the urgent obligation to provide safety and shelter to international protection applicants, the Department is not in a position to refuse offers of suitable accommodation, nor are we able to consider excluding offers of accommodation from any one county or local area.
In carrying out appraisals of any offer of accommodation, we do take into account the location and any circumstances that might impact on the integration of people being accommodated there. Over the last year or more, due to the very urgent needs for accommodation, and the priority to avoid homelessness for women and families in particular, our options or scope for selecting particular geographies or local areas have been extremely limited.
The Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for people seeking IP aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation and build a more sustainable system for the longer term. Accommodation in the new strategy is being delivered through the use of State land for prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties.
It will also involve design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.
In line with the Department’s community engagement approach, our Community Engagement Team send information on new properties and type of accommodation to be provided directly to elected representatives, the Local Authority and other relevant groups in advance of the arrival of people seeking international protection into an area. The CET aims to work with local integration supports and services to assist the settling in process for new arrivals.
People who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.
As at 5th of November 2024, there were 1,721 BOTPs in accommodation contracted to my Department in County Clare.
My Department aims to ensure that our portfolio of accommodation meets the evolving needs of the State’s response to the Ukraine Crisis.
In recent months we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, decreases in those arriving who request accommodation from the State and greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from State accommodation.
As a result, my Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its BOTP accommodation portfolio to ensure greater compliance with standards and better value for money. This has also resulted in a significant reduction in the use of tourist accommodation.
While my Department is grateful for the role that the tourism sector has played so far in accommodating BOTPs, we are aware that this is not sustainable over the longer term.
My Department is making decisions to end commercial contracts across the country, in accordance with contractual terms and conditions agreed with providers, on the basis of financial, administrative, other accommodation management reasons or at the request of the accommodation provider.
Family Resource Centres
Questions (351)
Martin Browne
Question:351. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated to a family resource centre (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; to provide detail of individual funding allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45610/24]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Family Resource Centres
Questions (352)
Martin Browne
Question:352. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to improving the allocation for grant funding for counselling towards resource centres; if particular consideration will be given to increasing the availability of counselling co-ordinators to areas of particular disadvantage (details supplied) where a co-ordinator is only available 2.5 days a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45611/24]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (353)
Martin Browne
Question:353. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare funding model that is provided through Pobal; if that model is based on service need or the availability of funding through Pobal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45612/24]
View answerWritten answers
Pobal is the scheme administrator for all funding programmes under the Together for Better funding model
This funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers.
It brings together the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), Core Funding, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and Equal Start.
The ECCE programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range (2 years 8 months before September 1st of the programme year). The programme is delivered over 3 hours per day, 15 hours per week and 38 weeks of the year. There is no charge to parents for the ECCE programme. ECCE capitation of €69 is paid to providers in respect of each eligible child enrolled.
The National Childcare Scheme is a national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of early learning and childcare. The actual subsidy payment is based on the hours of attendance by eligible children, which are agreed between the parent and provider.
Core Funding is designed specifically as a supply-side funding stream, paid directly to providers, related to the costs of delivery. Core Funding is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services, and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories, as well as allocations for graduate leaders in services. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity means that Partner Services have an allocation each year that does not fluctuate in line with children’s attendance.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with a disability can access and participate in the ECCE programme. AIM was designed and tailored to support ECCE-age children and as such AIM is directly linked with ECCE participation. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to pre-school settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability. Amongst other things AIM can provide for advice and supports, equipment to children within the ECCE-age range and can also allow for an additional educator to support children with higher levels of need.
Equal Start is a major new model of Government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.
Equal Start will include a suite of universal supports, child-targeted supports and setting-targeted supports to ensure every child and every early learning and childcare setting will benefit from a continuum of supports that reflects a continuum of need. Children to benefit from child-targeted supports will include children living in disadvantaged areas, Traveller children, Roma children, children availing of the National Childcare Scheme through a sponsor body, children experiencing homelessness and children in the International Protection system.