Alan Kelly
Question:158. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda training phases there are; the level and type of training occurring in each phase before attestation. [14492/25]
View answerAn Garda Síochána
Questions (158)
Written answers
It has not been possible to gather the required information and I will write to the Deputy when the information is available.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (159)
Alan Kelly
Question:159. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the Garda station’s that trainee Gardaí who have not been attested have been located to train in as part of their phased training for the years 2020 to 2024 and as of 20 March 2025, by county and year, in tabular form. [14493/25]
View answerWritten answers
It has not been possible to gather the required information and I will write to the Deputy when the information is available
An Garda Síochána
Questions (160)
Alan Kelly
Question:160. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if there is ever a situation where trainee Gardaí, who have never been attested, are put on patrol with attested Gardai as part of their training, even though the trainee Gardaí's vetting has not been fully concluded. [14494/25]
View answerWritten answers
It has not been possible to gather the required information and I will write to the Deputy when the information is available.
Weather Events
Questions (161)
Brendan Smith
Question:161. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14586/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has not been provided with any additional funding this year due to additional expenditure arising following Storm Éowyn.
Domestic Violence
Questions (162)
Aidan Farrelly
Question:162. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice the legislative protections that are in place for victims of elder abuse; and if he will further clarify whether the legislation around coercive control extends to children taking care of parents. [14599/25]
View answerWritten answers
Elder abuse causes great harm to the victim, and violates their human and civil rights.
The Health Service Executive leads the government’s approach to tackling elder abuse. Through the establishment of Safeguarding Ireland, the HSE has published a range of information to help those who may be at risk of elder abuse identify that they are a victim and access the supports they need.
If anyone believes they are the victim of elder abuse, or suspect that someone they know may be a victim, they should contact their nearest HSE Safeguarding and Protection Team. Alternatively, they should contact their local health centre, GP, public health nurse or An Garda Síochána and talk to someone about what has been happening.
The Department of Social Protection will also act on any reports it receives of alleged abuse of its pension/benefit recipients, consulting or involving as appropriate other relevant agencies such as the HSE or An Garda Síochána.
Investigations of alleged abuse are coordinated by the Safeguarding Unit in that Department.
While criminal offences in general - including coercion, harassment, theft and so on - apply across the board, including where the victim is an elderly relative or in other situations related to elder abuse, the coercive control legislation specifically applies to a spouse, civil partner or a person who is or was in an intimate relationship with another person. It does not extend to children taking care of parents.
The Programme for Government 2025, "Securing Ireland's Future", includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector. My colleagues the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth are taking this work forward, including a commitment to the preparation of a Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill.
Road Traffic Offences
Questions (163)
Paul Murphy
Question:163. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers disqualified in court each year from 2020 to 2024 who failed to comply with the requirement to surrender their licence to the Road Safety Authority and were summoned to court for failing to comply; the number convicted and the penalties imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14629/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution.
It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a function of the courts.
The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
To be of assistance I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for direct reply.
Tax Reliefs
Questions (164)
Albert Dolan
Question:164. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to including the MSc (Agri) Environmental Resource Management degree, completed at UCD's School of Agriculture and Food Science, under Schedule 2B of the Finance Act 2007, in order to allow graduates of the programme to qualify for the same tax benefits available to young, trained farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14395/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Finance Act 2007 (Schedule 2B) sets out the list of approved qualifications that enable young, trained farmers to avail of certain tax reliefs and scheme payments. The inclusion of qualifications on this list is subject to specific criteria, including their level on the National Framework of Qualifications and the course content.
Teagasc is responsible for assessing whether individual courses meet the agreed requirements. Any education provider seeking to have a course considered for inclusion under Schedule 2B can apply to Teagasc for assessment. Teagasc also provides guidance to education providers on the application process and the necessary criteria that have to be met.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (165)
Brendan Smith
Question:165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give detailed consideration to the issues outlined in correspondence from a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14274/25]
View answerWritten answers
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am also acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown, which causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families.
I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy, which aims to reduce and, ultimately, eradicate this disease in Ireland. Unfortunately, there has been a deterioration in the incidence of TB in recent years. However, stakeholders are working together to ensure that all steps necessary to control this disease are taken, with the ultimate aim of eradicating TB from the national herd.
The implementation of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum. The Forum is supported by three working groups – a Scientific Group, an Implementation Working Group and a Finance Group which aim to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. The Forum and its working groups are comprised of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers, farming organisations and my Department.
While significant progress has been made in some areas of the TB programme, there are other areas where further progress is required. My Department is in ongoing consultation in this regard with the farming bodies, through the TB Forum.
The details of the TB Strategy, along with details of TB Forum and working groups, are available on www.bovinetb.ie.
Land Issues
Questions (166)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:166. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14365/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been in contact with the person named in relation to their application. They submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) application for a Consent Decision in September 2024. As per EIA (Agriculture) S.I. No. 456 of 2011, this application was published on my Department’s website for a 30-day public consultation period.
The consultation period has ended, and my Department has finished the review of the application for a Consent Decision. It is in the process of preparing a decision on the application, which will be forwarded to the person named shortly.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (167, 168)
Ivana Bacik
Question:167. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a registered non-coursing greyhound (details supplied) is recorded on Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS); how a registered non-coursing greyhound (details supplied) was recorded on RCÉTS as at 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14428/25]
View answerIvana Bacik
Question:168. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if greyhounds born in Northern Ireland are traced from birth to retirement on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14429/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.
Rásaíocht 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.
Question No. 168 answered with Question No. 167.
Data Protection
Questions (169)
Alan Kelly
Question:169. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department officials last met with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure the highest standards are being met by the Department, and all agencies under its remit, in terms of compliance with data protection legislation. [14434/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of its requirements under Data Protection legislation, and is continuously working towards compliance with all aspects of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act.
My Department has a Data Protection Unit in place to assist in meeting its compliance requirements. It also has a Data Protection Officer to provide advice and guidance as necessary to all the business areas of the Department, and to be the contact point for the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
The Data Protection Unit and the Data Protection Officer are in regular and ongoing contact with the DPC. The Data Protection Officer last met with the Data Protection Commissioner on 7 November 2024.
In relation to the State Bodies under the aegis of this Department, each State Body is a separate Data Controller and is therefore responsible for its own data protection compliance.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (170)
John Connolly
Question:170. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all participants who participated in the sheep welfare scheme in 2024 who had penalties applied following an on-site inspection have received payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14478/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Sheep Welfare Scheme 2024 was in operation from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024. Payments under the scheme commenced in November 2024 to cleared cases, and thus far, €15.20 million has been paid to 16,336 participants in the scheme. Additional payments will continue to issue as cases are cleared for payment, including those selected for an on-farm inspection or a desk check.
If the Deputy requires assistance for an individual applicant, the Sheep Schemes Section of my Department is available to assist him or the applicant with the enquiry (sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie).
Weather Events
Questions (171)
Brendan Smith
Question:171. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14562/25]
View answerWritten answers
A number of measures have already been introduced to assist people impacted by Storm Éowyn.
I announced a targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to deal only with growers proposing investments in response to the damage caused by the Storm. This targeted re-opening responded to the call for assistance to growers impacted by Storm Éowyn who could apply for grant aid to invest in horticultural buildings and equipment to help their business recover from damage caused by the storm.
The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
I recently opened a new, short, TAMS tranche for a three-week period to deal specifically with storm-related damage on farms. This tranche will close this coming Friday, 28 March, and the specific items in respect of which applications are being accepted are (i) backup PTO Generators, (ii) sheep, bovine and equine fencing, (iii) wood/biomass chippers and (iv) mulchers. I would urge farmers to submit applications where appropriate, and I will ensure that they are processed as a priority.
I have also indicated that I intend to introduce grant aid support under TAMS for replacement of roofs. The application process for this specific investment will be available later this year.
My colleague, Minister Healy-Rae, and I, established the Forest Windblow Taskforce in the immediate aftermath of Storm Eowyn, with the express purpose of ensuring that storm-damaged forests are managed safely and appropriately. The Taskforce is comprised of stakeholders representing forest owners, forestry companies, Teagasc, Coillte and others, and is meeting on a regular basis. It is informing the Department’s, and the wider sector’s, response to recent storms, with particular emphasis on dealing safely with the large areas of forest that have been blown down. This includes the prioritisation of felling licences in respect of storm damage, and examination of any issues that arise in relation to the harvesting, haulage and sawmilling of the blown trees.
My Department has accelerated the process for issuing a felling licence, and is prioritising those licences needed to deal with fallen trees. We have also issued guidance to forest owners and registered foresters advising them to identify applications needed for storm-damaged sites. It is the case that over 63% of affected forests have licences in place already, with another 11% in the system, prioritised for processing. I would encourage those remaining 25% of affected forest owners to engage with their foresters and to submit a licence application to my Department as soon as possible, where it will be prioritised.
These measures are being funded from within my departments vote for 2025.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (172)
Brian Brennan
Question:172. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the outstanding ACRES payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14594/25]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. Payments in respect of scheme year 2023 have been finalised for this case.
The 2024 advance payment has not yet been made due to an issue with the claim for Rotational Actions on the contract. My Department is working to progress this issue as a matter of urgency. As is the case with all EU co-funded schemes, all ACRES applications must pass regulatory controls and validations before payment can issue.
My Department continues to work to expedite payments. Pay runs are taking place every 10 days in order to ensure that these payments are issued in a timely manner as cases pass the required validations.
Animal Welfare
Questions (173)
Barry Heneghan
Question:173. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he is going to undertake to improve welfare standards for pigs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14605/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department takes its responsibilities for protecting animal welfare most seriously and strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of animals. It should be noted that we have robust legislation in this country to protect the welfare of all animals and, in the case of pigs, there is sector-specific legislation in place which is based on existing EU rules. It is my Department’s policy to investigate all allegations of illegal or criminal behaviour and to pursue legal action where appropriate.
I can confirm that my Department received footage from the organisation named in the details supplied during the week of March 10th, regarding a number of pig farms they had investigated. I can confirm also that my Department is reviewing the footage and that action will be taken to fully investigate and follow up any evidence of breaches of the pig welfare legislation. My Department does not comment on individual investigations.
My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation.
Anti-Racism Measures
Questions (174)
Ivana Bacik
Question:174. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures proposed as part of the Programme for Government’s commitment to giving effect to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance ‘Working Definition of Antisemitism'. [14256/25]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my department are engaging with the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as with representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland, to discuss how the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism can be used as a tool to assist in addressing antisemitism in Ireland.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (175)
Robert O'Donoghue
Question:175. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will outline the Government's plan to introduce a maximum fee of €200 for early childhood and education places; how her Department intends to manage this fee reduction; and what measures will be in place to support providers to implement this while maintaining quality and ensuring affordability for parents. [14244/25]
View answerWritten answers
Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating Government commitment to this area.
As well as addressing affordability this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision.
A number of existing Schemes contribute to the goal of reducing the cost of childcare for families and the establishment of a €200 per month cap on childcare costs.
The ECCE Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96% each year. Over 70% of families on low income report that they would not be able to send their child to pre-school without this Programme.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) complements the ECCE Programme, providing subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in ELC and SAC.
The minimum NCS subsidy has steadily risen from €0.50 in 2022 to €2.14 per hour in September 2024 alongside extensions to eligibility. Additionally, families using a childminder can now avail of an NCS subsidy towards their childcare costs.
Record numbers of children and their families are now benefiting from the NCS. Almost 220,000 unique children benefited from an NCS subsidy in 2024.
The fee management system introduced through the Core Funding Scheme has ensured that the investment in affordability is not absorbed by uncapped fees. A cap on fees was introduced for services joining Core Funding for the first time in the third year. It was announced in June 2024 that a fee cap will apply to all services in Core Funding from September 2025.
The Core Funding Scheme also contributes to the quality of childcare provision in Ireland through grants for partner services to contribute to their operating costs. Partner services can chose how to spend their Core Funding grant provided the spending aligns with approved areas of expenditure such as staff pay. In line with Budget 2025, Core Funding will be worth approximately €390 million in year 4 of the scheme, contingent on updated Employment Regulation Orders.
The Government of Ireland is committed to continuing to improve affordability and reach the €200 per month cap within the lifetime of the Government. However, further progress on affordability cannot be made in isolation and must be integrated with our efforts to improve access, availability and quality.
Children in Care
Questions (176)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:176. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have gone missing while under the care of Tusla, in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [14266/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this relates to data held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
Children in Care
Questions (177)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:177. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have died while either in the care of the State or while known to child protection services, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025, in tabular form, including cause of death. [14267/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this relates to data held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.