Written Answers Nos. 317-336
317. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sea-fisheries protection inspections (boardings of vessels) undertaken over the past five years, by the country of registration of the vessel, in tabular form. [21912/25]
View answer318. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions brought before the courts by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority over the past five years, by the country of registration of the vessel involved, in tabular form. [21915/25]
View answerThe monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational issues concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in such operational matters, including those in relation to law enforcement.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's requests to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
319. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that it is over a year since the closure of the public consultation on trawling within Ireland's six nautical mile limit, and given that trawling continues to take place within areas such as Kenmare Bay, which is part of the Kenmare River Special Area of Conservation, when the results of the public consultation will be published; when he will make a decision on this matter; if he is committed to implementing the commitment made in the Programme for Government to promote the sustainability of Ireland’s fish stocks and to support the inshore fishing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21986/25]
View answerIn 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was announced. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings resulting in the measure being overturned in 2023.
In 2024, over a period of eight weeks, the Minister held a new public consultation on a review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. The consultation took place without prejudice.
The purpose of this consultation was to invite stakeholders and interested parties to advise of their views on any changes to policy within the scope of this review. The volume of submissions received was considerable – over 5,500 submissions were received, which was more than six times greater than submissions received during the 2018 consultation, further highlighting the increased public interest in the matter. The sheer volume of detailed submissions takes time to collate and fully analyse.
320. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in establishing a compensation package for farmers whose plantations were damaged due to Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22009/25]
View answerI recognise that the recent storms Darragh and Éowyn have caused varying degrees of damage around the country, including significant damage to trees and that this presents challenges to all stakeholders in forestry. All licence applications with affected areas of windblow will be prioritised by my Department.
We are currently examining all potential options to support those affected, including a reconstitution scheme. However, without prejudging the outcome of these deliberations, I want to reassure affected forest owners that they will not be disadvantaged by undertaking clearance or replanting now and if they do not currently have a felling licence, they should consult with their forester about applying for one.
321. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the requirement to replant land where plantations were badly damaged due to Storm Éowyn will be reviewed, taking into account that some of these areas are not suitable for plantation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22010/25]
View answerForestry in Ireland operates within a legal and regulatory framework – the Forest Act 2014 and the Forestry Regulations 2017 (SI No 191 of 2017).
The Forestry Act requires that forest owners who wish to fell their forests require a felling licence. The reason why a felling licence is required, in general, is to ensure that trees in a forest are harvested and removed in a way that does not harm the environment and that there is an opportunity for a legal provision to have a replanting condition on that land. These reasons are still relevant where a forest is windblown.
Notwithstanding the requirement for a felling licence and the general policy to attach a replanting condition to clearfell licences as per good forest practice, my Department has laid out in its ‘Felling and Reforestation Policy’ document, certain instances where forest areas may be felled and the Department will not require that land to be replanted. For instance, where a case is put to my Department by the applicant that there are overriding environmental considerations, my Department will consider waiving the replanting condition.
I would also like to highlight that the EU Deforestation Regulation entered into force in June 2023 and under this Regulation, any operator or trader who places certain commodities (including cattle and timber) on the EU market, or exports from it, must be able to prove that the products do not originate from recently deforested land or have contributed to forest degradation.
322. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in ensuring that the State retains the Nitrates Derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22013/25]
View answerFirstly, the Programme for Government clearly sets out this Governments ambition to present the best case possible for continuance of Ireland's current derogation whilst working with farmers to deliver improvements in water quality.
To that end, a Cabinet Committee on Water Quality chaired by the Taoiseach to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors and work with farmers and industry to secure Ireland's Nitrates Derogation at EU level. This demonstrates the Government's commitments to commitment under the Programme for Government.
Last August my Department published the Nitrates Derogation renewal plan “Water and Agriculture - a collaborative approach”. This plan includes a range of measures under five key areas, including regulatory changes which have been implemented, a 70% capital investment grant aid slurry importation scheme, accelerated capital allowances for manure storage investment, a €60 million investment in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the 'Farming for Water' EIP, continuation of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and Teagasc's multi-actor water quality advisory campaign to name a few.
My Department attend the EU Nitrates Committee meetings and at the December 2024 Nitrates Committee meeting, my Officials advised that in accordance with Paragraph 2 (b) within Annex 3 of the Nitrates Directive, Ireland wished to apply for permission to continue applying in excess of 170 kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare from 2026, subject to a set of conditions that will ensure that application is scientifically justified and will continue to contribute to the achievement of the Nitrates Directives objectives of reducing and preventing water pollution caused by agricultural nutrients. Since then there have been three bi-lateral meetings with the European Commission and Ireland made its first presentation for renewal of the nitrates derogation at the March Nitrates Committee meeting.
My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to engage with the European Commission to ensure we get the best possible outcome for Ireland post- 2025.
323. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider a scheme to financially support early years childcare workers (details supplied) that do not get paid for their holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21747/25]
View answerAs the State does not employ staff in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services, neither I nor my Department set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services are private businesses and their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service during holiday periods, e.g. over the summer, lies with the service provider.
Social welfare entitlements fall outside the remit of my Department and are a matter for my colleagues at the Department of Social Protection.
However, I understand that the Department of Social Protection operate a system where those who are employed across the various educational sectors are supported in making their application to allow a for a more efficient processing of their claim when the period of unemployment arises.
324. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for further information on the Brief Project Description contained in the HSE Capital Plan 2025 described as the purchase & renovation of residential dwelling at Oranmore, County Galway as part of the decongregation strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21950/25]
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.
325. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of the prohibitive cost of daycare experienced by parents; and to provide a timeline for the implementation of a €200 per month childcare cap, as outlined during the previous general election. [21751/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to reducing the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child.
This will build on significant progress in affordability that has already been made through a number of existing Schemes.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96%. 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 early learning and childcare.
The NCS has undergone a number of enhancements in recent years to further improve affordability for parents. These include the extension of the universal subsidy to all children under 15 and two increases to the minimum hourly subsidy, which is now worth a minimum of €96.20 per week for 45 hours.
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.
Children in childminding settings that have come forward for registration, following changes to the childminder Tulsa registration requirements last September, can also benefit from NCS subsidies.
The fee management system introduced through the Core Funding Scheme has ensured that the investment in affordability is not absorbed by unnecessary fee increases and/or 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.
An evaluation of the National Childcare Scheme is due to start this year. This evaluation will review how the Scheme has performed to date and identify potential enhancements that could be made. The findings from this evaluation will inform the work of my Department in reaching the cap of €200 per month per child within the lifetime of the Government.
326. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will clarify if there is a position regarding tax relief or other supports available to parents who engage the services of childminders who are not currently registered with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21756/25]
View answerChildminders who provide childminding services in their own home may claim Childcare Services Relief each year, provided that they do not receive more than €15,000 income per annum from the childminding activity. The position regarding tax relief available to parents who engage the services of childminders who are not currently registered with Tusla is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
The National Childcare Scheme provides subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in early learning and childcare. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the Scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of registration to childminders. A key objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla and can therefore also take part in the National Childcare Scheme.
327. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all provisions of the Child Care Amendment Act 2024 will be brought into force. [21773/25]
View answerThe Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 was enacted in July 2024 and part commenced at the end of September 2024 with a focus on priority provisions mostly related to the regulation of childminding.
One of the main purposes of this legislation is to provide enhanced enforcement powers to the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and as such my Department is working closely with Tusla to determine an appropriate timeline for commencement and implementation of the remaining provisions of the Act.
It is my intention to commence the remaining provisions in a phased approach later in 2025.
328. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists, by grade working in south Kildare children's disability network team in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21791/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to address the urgent need to increase the wages of early childhood educators (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21872/25]
View answerPay is one of a number of issues impacting the early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce. As the State is not the employer of staff in the sector, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions.
There is however a formal mechanism established, in the independent Early Years Services Joint Labour Committee, where employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment including minimum pay rates for different roles in the sector.
Outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by the Government through the Core Funding scheme, which has an allocation for this programme year (2024/2025) of €331 million.
In Budget 2025, an additional €15 million was secured specifically to support employers meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay. This allocation, which is conditional on updated Employment Regulation Orders being negotiated by the Joint Labour Committee, translates into a full year allocation of €45 million for programme year 2025/2026.
In line with the Programme for Government I am committed to continuing to implement Employment Regulation Orders to attract and retain early years educators.
My Department also continues to implement, Nurturing Skills, The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. It includes a career framework and commitments to support early years educators to up-skill and develop their careers. It also includes commitments to reduce staff turnover, to attract graduates to enter and remain in the sector along with actions to actively promote careers in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sector.
330. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently awaiting an assessment of need, including the duration of their wait times, by county; and the measures being taken to address these delays. [21926/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
331. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason, despite the statutory requirement under the Disability Act 2005 for assessments of need to be completed within six months, only a small percentage were completed within this timeframe in recent years; and the actions that are being taken to improve compliance. [21927/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
332. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason behind the significant increase in overdue assessments of need in certain counties over the past year; and the specific interventions that are planned to address this surge. [21928/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
333. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the impact of the High Court ruling in March 2022 on the HSE’s assessment processes; and the way in which this has influenced the current backlog in assessments of need. [21929/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
334. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide information on the allocation and utilization of funds spent in recent years to address waiting lists for assessments of need, including outcomes achieved and any plans for additional funding. [21930/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
335. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to address the disparities in waiting times for assessments of need across different counties, particularly in areas with the highest numbers of overdue assessments outside Dublin. [21931/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
336. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the criteria used to include some institutions in the mother and baby homes institutions payments scheme; the reason selected institutions (details supplied) where children were accommodated for extended periods, were not identified as a relevant institution and were omitted from the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21935/25]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme provides payments and health benefits to people who spent time in any of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions that were identified by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The institutions covered by the Payment Scheme are set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023.
The institution at Temple Hill, Blackrock, commonly known as St. Patrick’s Hospital, was not investigated by the Commission of Investigation because it operated primarily as a children's hospital rather than as an institution providing ante and post-natal facilities.
Chapter 2 of the Social History section of the Commission of Investigation report - www.gov.ie/en/publication/89e43-chapter-2-institutions/ - details the different types of institutions that existed and whether they could be considered Mother and Baby Institutions. The Commission referred to Temple Hill as being “frequently wrongly described as a mother and baby home. It was an infants’ nursery and mothers were not resident there. As a hospital, it received funding from the Hospitals Commission.” For this reason it is not included in this payment scheme.
The Government recognises that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions. If it were to come to light that an institution, in which the State had a regulatory or inspection function, fulfilled a similar function with regard to single women and their children as those included in the Payment Scheme, section 49 of the Act provides that the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, may insert an additional institution into the Schedule.
It is important to emphasise that the Payment Scheme is just one element of the Government’s response to the country’s complex legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions. Of the seven major commitments set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors, six are now delivered and in place, while the seventh is well underway. Key actions include access to birth information, the services of the Special Advocate and counselling support, all already in place, as well as the ongoing development of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
