Written Answers Nos. 314-329
314. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the current round of TAMS applications will be processed; when approvals will issue; and if the Department will commit to faster turnaround times going forward. [36701/25]
View answerThe Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
The schemes operates in tranches where more than 45,000 applications have been received across the first eight tranches of TAMS 3. This compares to 15,144 applications received over the same number of tranches in the 2014-2022 TAMS 2 scheme.
Tranche 8 of TAMS 3 closed for applications on 6 June last with a total of 5,364 applications received during the tranche period. Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 8 are currently being processed. Once the initial HQ processing is completed, all applications will be subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications.
Applications then undergo further processing at local office level, where a more detailed technical check is carried out.
Approvals are then issued to eligible applications in line with the Farmer's Charter agreement, within three months of ranking and selection and no longer than six months following the closure of a tranche.
Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received. My Department will continue to issue approvals in a timely manner to allow farmers sufficient time to proceed with their proposed on farm investments.
315. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average waiting time for payments under the young farmer capital investment scheme in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36702/25]
View answerThe Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme is one of eleven schemes within TAMS 3, designed specifically to provide an enhanced grant aid for qualified young farmers.
An analysis of all payment claims received for The Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme in the last twelve months shows that of the 580 claims submitted since 27 June 2024 , 413 have received payment. The remaining 167 claims are currently undergoing further investigation following submission of their application for payment.
The average time from submission of claim to the issue of payment is 52 days, which is within the agreed parameters as set out in the Farmers' Charter.
316. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers currently awaiting approval and payment under the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36703/25]
View answerThe Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) opened for new applications in October 2024. All applications from farmers who applied and were registered with either of the two Organic Control Bodies were accepted into the scheme provided they met the eligibility requirements. In the coming weeks, eligibility checks will commence on the new 630 applications following the submission of their 2025 BISS applications.
To date, over €57 million has been issued in 2024 OFS payments. Less than 5% of farmers are due their 2024 balance payment. These outstanding payments are being treated as a matter of priority.
317. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he has met with the Chairman of the Agri-Food Regulator following his request for a meeting in February; if so, the outcome of that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36710/25]
View answerI met with both the Chairman and CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator on 2 April 2025 and again with the Chairman, CEO and Board of the Agri-Food Regulator in May 2025.
At the meeting in April, the Chairman and the CEO reiterated the substance of the report communicated to my Department by the Agri-Food Regulator, recommending, in light of their experience in seeking information for the purpose of their price and market analysis and reporting function, that additional powers be granted to the Regulator to compel businesses to supply requested price and market information.
The current Programme for Government includes a commitment to enhance the powers of the Regulator in that regard. It also includes a commitment that any new legislation must consider the SME test, which is mindful of avoiding the creation of any unreasonable burden on small businesses. I advised the Chairman of this at the meeting.
I have informed the Chairman that I am fully committed to ensuring that the Regulator is equipped with the necessary powers to fulfil its statutory function subject to the necessary consultative and legislative process. As any potential Regulation is likely to be novel legislation, and above the current requirements of EU Regulation, I must complete an appropriate consultative and legislative process which is now on-going.
This matter is a priority issue for my Department.
318. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will grant the Agri-Food Regulator the additional powers it has requested to carry out its role effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36711/25]
View answerThe independent Agri-Food Regulator established under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 performs two key functions:
• It enforces the law on Unfair Trading Practices;
• It performs a price and market analysis and reporting function.
The Regulator has since its establishment at the end of 2023, been very successful in delivering on these functions.
On the price and market analysis function, over the last year the Regulator has published analysis on the egg and horticulture sectors. Such reports are important to assist food suppliers in their decision making.
However, while there has been much positive engagement with the Regulator from operators who have voluntarily responded to requests for information, there were a few operators who did not provide the requested data. As a result the two reports concerned were published using only publicly available data.
In light of its experience concerning those reports, the Regulator has reported to me that it requires enhanced powers to compel businesses to provide financial information that is not in the public domain. The Act, itself, does not permit the Regulator to compel such data. However, the Act provides that the Minister may make regulations on price and market information.
As I have previously stated, I am fully committed to ensuring that the Regulator is equipped with the necessary powers to fulfil its statutory function subject to the necessary consultative and legislative process. This is necessary to ensure that the additional powers granted are proportionate.
It is not possible for me to give a definite timeline for the consultative and legislative process but I want to assure the Deputy that the process is underway and that it is a priority for my Department. This role is separate to the strong powers of enforcement the Agri-Food Regulator already has in relation to Unfair Trading Practices in the Agri-Food supply chain.
319. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ACRES payment for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 will issue for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36741/25]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. An ACRES interim payment of €4,000 issued to the herd owner in February 2024.
My Department acknowledges the ongoing challenges faced by ACRES participants who have updated their herd number since the commencement of their ACRES contract.
The process of transferring ACRES contracts to a new owner, and updating the herd details across the various systems used by ACRES, is complex. My Department is actively working to resolve these issues as a matter of urgency. The required functionality is currently being developed and will be deployed when testing is complete.
I can assure you that everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks.
320. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has actively examined the growing of hemp, which is beneficial to many by-products that would help in industry and agriculture [36770/25]
View answerThe previous Programme for Government included a commitment to fully explore fibre crops such as hemp and consider whether these crops have a viable market. The report on this consultation was published in December 2022.
As part of the consultation, stakeholders were invited to consider a number of questions including existing markets, the strengths and weaknesses of fibre crops and the scalability of the Irish fibre crop/hemp industry, taking into account the market size and value, industry processing capacity and economic returns along the supply chain.
The main finding of the report was that the growing of fibre crops such as hemp for the purposes of fibre production only is not currently viable in Ireland. However, hemp can be successfully grown in Ireland and offers opportunities for diversification and crop rotation while delivering environmental benefits. Potential markets also exist for hemp fibre with its use in the construction industry offering the most significant opportunity.
While the overall outcome of the consultation undertaken by my Department is that the growing of fibre crops such as hemp is not currently viable, it is a matter for the industry to address and bring forward a proposal containing viable options that can be further explored.
Hemp is included as an eligible crop under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme. However, the Deputy will be aware that current legislation in Ireland does not allow for the growing of hemp unless a specific license has been granted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) which operates under the auspices of the Department of Health.
321. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the bus service for adults with special needs, who are in day services, has been cancelled for all new applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36714/25]
View answerThe HSE provides specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services, and people with intellectual disabilities would form the majority of service users who are supported by these services. While day service funding does not include transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
The HSE have been working with the National Transport Authority on this issue of transport to day services, through the ‘Open Routes’ project. Open Routes is based on the idea that transport to HSE services such as day services would be best served by accessible local public transport such as the Local Link, transporting people to their day services, but also serving the wider local community as well with enhanced public transport provision.
The approach is being piloted in Leitrim. The NTA advise that the Integrated Pilot Project was developed in close collaboration with the HSE, with a revised network that is designed to meet the needs of mainstream public transport users as well as the transport needs of passengers with disabilities and those accessing health care services in the county.
To date all feedback with regard to the pilot from stakeholders such as HSE, day service providers, external stakeholders and passengers has been very positive. In addition to the positive feedback, passenger numbers on Regular Rural Services has grown considerably since the introduction of the revised TFI Local Link network for County Leitrim. This is a model that could be applied in other parts of the country, with the NTA leading on this and working closely with local partners such as the HSE.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport. To develop proposals for better coordination of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities, a Transport Working Group was established to make progress under Action 104 of the NDIS. The Group’s final report has been published and it contains valuable proposals to inform future policy and action. It will be incumbent on all Government departments and agencies with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to consider the proposals in coordinating on next steps.
322. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to enact the Health Assisted Human Reproduction Act 2024 immediately and to extend leave entitlement to include surrogacy as no such leave is provided for within the public sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36849/25]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the challenges faced by couples pursuing surrogacy arrangements and reaffirm Government's commitment to recognising and supporting Irish families in all their diversity.
The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland's Future commits to introducing paid surrogacy leave and my officials are examining this commitment. They are also engaging with officials from the Department of Social Protection as the Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for the payment of any associated benefits.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Health leads on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, which includes provisions in relation to surrogacy which have implications for the introduction of surrogacy leave. Policy on parentage is a matter for the Minister for Justice. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has worked closely with the Department of Health and the Department of Justice on the development and enactment of the 2024 Act and continues to do so.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Family leave entitlements are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
323. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to intervene in a case where there are major safeguarding concerns in a disability services centre (details supplied). [36680/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
324. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time for access to the ECCE scheme places per county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36704/25]
View answerCurrently my Department does not collect data on waiting times for access to the ECCE Programme or scheme specific data on waiting lists and vacant places.
However, in relation to capacity Pobal compiles data, on behalf of my Department, on waiting lists and vacant places from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers through the Annual Early Years Sector Profile (AEYSP) survey.
The following figures reflect data for the age categories 3 to 4 years old and 4 to 5 years old (non-school going) which most closely align with the ages eligible for the ECCE Programme at the time of data collection.
The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 104,809 children aged between 3 and 5 years old (non-school going) enrolled in ELC and SAC services. This data also indicated that 35% of services had at least one vacant place and 39% had a waiting list for children aged between 3 and 5 years old (non-school going).
It is important to note that waiting list data should not be used as a measure of overall demand for ELC and SAC places. While waiting list data can be used to give an indication of demand for places for a given age group or service type not all services operate a waiting list. In addition, an individual child may be on multiple waiting lists in different services.
Further information can be found on the Early Learning and Childcare data website. The Capacity Section of the website provides information on the number of children enrolled, services with vacant places, and services with a waiting list.
325. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the length of the waiting list for adult disability respite in each county in Ireland for each of the past five years; and if she will ensure that there exists necessary resources to allow families receive respite in a speedy fashion. [36715/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
326. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the decision to not excavate Sean Ross Abbey will be revised; the person who decided that the report findings were not enough to warrant an excavation; the basis for that decision; the alternative action, if any, being taken to account for the over 1,000 missing children from Sean Ross Abbey; if the Government will commit to a full excavation to determine what happened to these children and provide closure to their families; if not, the alternative justice measures proposed by Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36722/25]
View answerI am very conscious of the pain caused by the death of children who were resident in the former Mother and Baby institution at Sean Ross Abbey.
The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including the former institution at Sean Ross Abbey, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. At the request of the Commission, which had specific investigative powers, a forensic archaeological investigation was conducted at the children’s burial ground at Sean Ross Abbey. The report, which was commissioned on foot of concerns about the burial ground in Sean Ross Abbey, found that infant human burials were located in the designated Children’s Burial ground and these had not been impacted by any utilities or drainage works. The report notes that coffins, or evidence of coffins, were located with the majority of remains (84%).
As set out in the Final report, the Commission was satisfied that the forensic report provided clear evidence that the coffined remains of children under the age of one are buried in the designated burial ground. It noted that, without complete excavation, it was not possible to say conclusively that all of the children who died in Sean Ross were buried in the designated burial ground and that it did not consider that further investigation was warranted.
I understand that, following publication of the Commission’s final report, the then Minister engaged with a local group in relation to their concerns that a privately owned area beyond the acknowledged burial ground at Sean Ross Abbey may also contain graves. In 2023, funding was provided to the group to support them in undertaking a survey of the land which was not subject to forensic archaeological investigation by the Commission.
The group submitted a copy of the report of the survey to my Department, and, as there is no expertise in the Department to assess it, the Chief Archaeologist in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was asked to review it. The Chief Archaeologist’s review, which has been shared with the group concerned, concludes that the survey report is inconclusive, with no clear evidence of burials.
The Institutional Burials Act 2022 provides a legislative basis for an intervention whereby the remains of those who died in residential institutions, and who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way. Section 7 of the 2022 Act requires that Government must be satisfied that burials have taken place and must have evidence that those burials are manifestly inappropriate in order to establish an Office of Director of Authorised Intervention to undertake the excavation and recovery of remains at a site associated with a particular institution.
Given that the designated burial ground has been forensically investigated and there is no evidence of manifestly inappropriate burials, and there is also no evidence of manifestly inappropriate burials in the area outside the designated burial ground, it is not possible to bring forward a proposal to establish an Office of Director of Authorised Intervention to excavate the site at Sean Ross Abbey.
The Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions sets out the suite of measures intended to respond to the priority needs and concerns of survivors, former residents and their families. Significant progress has been made in implementing these measures, including the introduction of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, the appointment of a Special Advocate for survivors, the opening of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payments Scheme and progressing the development of the National Centre for Research and Remembrance. Actions related to local memorialisation are being progressed by a working group established by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In addition, in November 2022, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage wrote to all City and County Councils requesting that Development Plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites associated with an institution.
327. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to revise the mother and baby home redress scheme to include those who spent less than six months in a mother and baby home institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36723/25]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme acknowledges circumstances experienced while resident in a Mother and Baby Institution and the associated conditions, shame and stigma endured over a period of time. Using time spent as the deciding factor, is intended to support a non-adversarial approach which avoids the need for applicants to have to bring forward evidence or prove abuse or harm. This non-adversarial approach ensures that those who spent longer periods of time in these institutions, and endured the harshest conditions, receive the highest level of support.
The six month eligibility criterion was initially presented in the Commission of Investigation report and was subsequently included in the report of the interdepartmental working group which was asked to scope out the Payment Scheme.
The underpinning legislation for the Scheme provides for a number of reviews to be produced. Section 48 provides for two reviews into the operation of the Scheme to be completed. The first is to be completed within six months of the Scheme’s second anniversary, by September 2026.
As I have not yet received these reviews, it would be premature to consider changes to eligibility at this time.
It is acknowledged that some survivors are not eligible for the Scheme and are disappointed by this. However, it should be noted that the Payment Scheme is just one of a large suite of actions being undertaken to respond to the legacy of these institutions under the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
For those who spent shorter periods of time in institutions as young children, the overwhelming priority need which has been expressed by survivors has been access to records. As of 23rd June 2025, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla have completed over 16,000 applications for information. All applications are processed in accordance with statutory timeframes.
Other actions in the Action Plan include the provision of counselling supports, the services of the Special Advocate, both already in place, as well as the ongoing development of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
328. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of providing an additional 1,000 personal assistance service hours in 2026. [36729/25]
View answerThe HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistance (PA) Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
PA is provided either directly by the HSE or indirectly though a range of voluntary and private service providers.
The average rate for PA service delivery is currently €25 per hour. The estimated full-year cost of providing 1,000 additional PA hours at the current rate is €25,000.
Budget 2025 provided approximately €3.5m in funding to commence the progressive alignment of the PA hourly rate with Older Persons Home Support Services, which is currently €31.47 per hour. When the rates are aligned, the estimated cost of providing 1,000 PA hours would be €31,470.
329. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated revised cost of meeting service provision and supports identified under the disability capacity review, published in July 2021, given rising costs in the past four years. [36730/25]
View answerThe Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 represents the first phase of implementing the recommendations of the Disability Capacity Review to 2032. It sets out a range of actions designed to provide better access to disability services. It intends to maximise the impact of service delivery through strategic change and to enable better planning and management through improved information and systems.
The planned improvements require additional investment which would see current expenditure grow by 25% over the 2023 levels indicated in the three-year Plan. Furthermore, the planned expansion of residential services will require significant capital investment in order to provide the necessary housing. It is important to note that, since the publication of the Plan, the cost of service provision has risen and the scale of the uplift required to meet targets has increased in tandem. Funding for the Action Plan is allocated on a year-to-year basis through the annual Estimates process.
In 2024, the Action Plan was supported by €72 million in New Development funding to provide extra residential services, day service places, new personal assistance hours, further de-congregation, and new therapy assistant posts for children's disability services.
In 2025, €42 million in New Development funding was provided for New Developments. This funding will deliver:
- 40 new therapy staff and 20 new therapy assistants for Children’s Disability Services
- Between 1,250- and 1,400-Day Service Places for school leavers
- Circa 70 new priority one residential placements
- 21 moves from congregated settings
- In the region of 4,060 additional overnight respite sessions and 8,000 day-respite sessions
- 95,000 additional PA hours
- 40,000 hours additional Home Support hours.
It should be noted that the rising cost of service provision was addressed through a significant Existing Level of Services (ELS) allocation of €290 million in 2025. Though this ELS funding was provided primarily to assist service providers with cost pressures, it will also contribute to some new service provision arising from demographic growth.
The Department is currently in the process of updating the Capacity Review for Disability Services in order to project service demand and required resourcing out to 2040. The analysis being undertaken to inform the review is multifaceted, taking account of inflation, regulatory costs, changing need and demographics among other factors. Findings from the analysis will feed into the Department’s strategic planning for service provision.
