Written Answers Nos. 756-775
756. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department’s identification of funding mechanisms that would support emissions reductions from land use, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Q3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55519/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, land use in Ireland is complex and multifaceted. The Land use, Land use change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector faces extremely difficult challenges in reducing emissions due to the biogenic nature of land use, historic land use, cultural and societal issues and uncertainty as our scientific understanding of emissions and activity levels for this sector advances.
My Department has invested heavily in recent years in research and projects, with the objective to reduce the uncertainty in the land use emission factors and sequestration. These include, but are not limited to, the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO), the National Soil Monitoring Program, the Signpost Farms, the Repeat Peat soil mapping project and the Teagasc led D-TECT project, which is investigating the drainage status of peat soils.
Peatlands cover 21% of our land area, and 64% of our total soil organic carbon stock. They are the largest store of carbon in the Irish landscape. However, this carbon store is very vulnerable. To address this, my Department funded two locally led European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects operating in the midlands, FarmPeat & FarmCarbon, exploring the potential for reduced management intensity of farmed peatlands. This has fed into the development of the results based scorecards in ACRES, with over 650,000 hectares of upland area scored to date.
Launched in 2023, the Forestry Programme (2023-2027) proactively assists and supports the planting of trees and forests in Ireland. The overall funding of €1.3 billion represents the largest ever investment by an Irish Government in tree planting. An expanded and sustained afforestation programme will improve the sink capacity of the national forest estate and contribute to LULUCF targets. Additionally, my Department secured a 5.7% increase in funding for the forestry sector in budget 2026.
757. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department’s development of a sectoral adaptation plan for the agriculture sector, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Q3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55520/25]
View answer758. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department’s development of a sectoral adaptation plan for the forestry sector, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Q3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55521/25]
View answer759. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department’s development of a sectoral adaptation plan for the seafood sector, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55522/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 757, 758 and 759 together.
My Department recognises the significant and growing challenges that primary producers face as a result of climate impacts such as flooding, drought, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Supporting resilience, sustainability, and long-term viability in the agriculture, forestry, and seafood sectors is a core objective under my Department’s Statement of Strategy, and climate adaptation is central to achieving this goal.
In line with the commitments set out in the Climate Action Plan and the National Adaptation Framework (NAF), my Department has prepared a new Agriculture, Forestry and Seafood Sectoral Adaptation Plan (2025–2030). A public consultation on the draft Plan was recently completed, and the final Plan will be published shortly. This Plan forms part of the whole-of-Government approach to climate adaptation and outlines practical measures to help agriculture, forestry and fisheries prepare for and respond effectively to the increasing risks posed by climate change.
The Plan sets out actions to build advisory and technical capacity, strengthen local climate preparedness, and enhance knowledge transfer and innovation across the sector. It also aims to integrate adaptation more closely with mitigation and sustainability measures under the CAP Strategic Plan, Food Vision 2030, the National Forest Strategy (2023–2030), and the Seafood Development Programme 2021-27. Through these efforts, my Department is ensuring that adaptation becomes an embedded and forward looking part of agricultural policy, safeguarding rural livelihoods and the wider agri-food system against future climate challenges.
760. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department’s development of a system for the monitoring and reporting of methane reducing feed and manure ingredients, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 4 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55523/25]
View answerUnder EU Law (Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003) feed additives must undergo a rigorous safety assessment before being placed on the market. This legislation ensures the protection of human health, animal health and the environment. All feed additives intended for use in animal nutrition must receive a favourable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before being considered for authorisation by the European Commission for their use and placing on the market. The European Commission decides whether to grant or deny the authorisation of feed additives through an Implementing Regulation. In doing so, the Commission is assisted by Member States (including Ireland) within the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed – Animal Nutrition. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine represents Ireland at this Standing Committee.
In April 2022, 3-Nitroxypropanol (trade name Bovaer) was authorised by the European Commission as a methane-reducing feed additive for use in feed for dairy cows and cows for reproduction. There are currently no other methane-reducing feed additives authorised for use in the EU.
In addition, the EPA has established a consultative group to evaluate the science underpinning new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. The group will evaluate a broad range of new technologies, including feed additives and technologies with the potential to reduce emissions from stored animal manures. The evaluations will be based on peer reviewed scientific literature to determine the potential mitigation of these new technologies and the requirements to facilitate inclusion in Ireland’s National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
761. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacancies by job title at Kilbarrack children's disability network team; the time frame for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form. [54616/25]
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.
762. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for a 20 month waiting time for an assessment of needs of a person in Laois (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54622/25]
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.
763. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54648/25]
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.
764. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54688/25]
View answerMy Department does not directly provide an Early Learning and Care or School Aged Childcare transport service. Services may at their own discretion provide for transport as part of their overall service offer and the substantial subsidies provided by my Department contribute to the cost of this throughout the offset of fees in those services.
Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey 2023/24 indicates that 21% of ELC and SAC services offer some level of transport (pick-up, drop-off or both). The provision of transport is more common in services offering both ELC and SAC, in large services and in private services. However, the data also indicates that the level of transport provision is lower, at 13%, in Mayo compared to the national average.
765. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that only 15 of the 26 High Court-directed special care beds in the State are currently operational due to ongoing staffing shortages; the steps being taken to ensure full capacity is restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54701/25]
View answerI am advised by Tusla that as of 10 October 2025, there are 15 young people in Special Care. At present, there are no young people who are currently the subject of a Special Care Order (in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991) and there are no young people awaiting placement within a Special Care Unit.
I am fully aware of the significant challenges facing special care services. While the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds is the statutory responsibility of Tusla, officials from my Department are actively engaging with Tusla in relation to the challenges impacting special care.
Tusla have indicated that difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff is the primary limiting factor on capacity in Special Care Units. Officials from this Department continue to work with Tusla to support them in addressing the immediate staffing shortages in special care provision.
Following extensive engagements between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation a new grade and pay scale for Special Care has been sanctioned in an effort to increase staff numbers. The new grade provides additional opportunities and a higher career salary scale for both Social Care Workers and Social Care Leaders. As of September 2025, this new Tusla Special Care Worker grade offers approximately 20% higher pay at top-of-scale compared to the Social Care Worker grade.
€26m has been allocated to special care in Budget 2026, an increase of over €6m on Budget 2025. This is to support the opening of all 26 special care beds by the end of 2026. This investment will facilitate an increase in capacity and enhanced provision by funding new special care staff grades, staff well-being initiatives and additional therapeutic supports. It includes €1.3m to provide an enhanced multi-disciplinary therapeutic service to children on the edge of special care, in special care, and transitioning from a special care environment.
Officials from my Department also support the ongoing work by Tusla to develop and introduce a Social Care Worker apprenticeship scheme. The scheme is currently being formulated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Tusla and the Higher Education Institutes and will serve as a further pipeline of recruitment into social care settings, including Special Care.
Tusla has implemented several measures to address the ongoing challenges, including the establishment of a dedicated retention team to lead on key initiatives, the launch of rolling recruitment campaigns, the introduction of a new grade within the service, the provision of psychological supports to staff and the introduction of various well-being initiatives.
Officials from my Department will continue to provide support to Tusla as necessary to address the current significant challenges facing this service.
766. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for the proposed restructuring of Tusla’s special care services of a facility (details supplied); whether a full consultation with staff and their representative union took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54702/25]
View answer767. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered the impact of the proposed restructuring on the regulatory responsibilities of persons in charge; if HIQA has been consulted regarding the potential implications for the registration of special care centres (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54703/25]
View answer768. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if an updated job specification has been issued for new and revised roles under the proposed restructuring of facilities (details supplied); if not, when these documents will be provided to staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54704/25]
View answer769. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if an equality or risk assessment has been undertaken on the proposed restructuring of Tusla’s special care services, given widespread staff concerns that the changes could result in centre closures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54705/25]
View answer770. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns that the proposed amalgamation of the social care leader and social care worker grades into a single “special care worker” grade will erode the supervisory and support structures essential for safe service delivery in special care centres (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54706/25]
View answer772. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify whether Tusla’s previous “agency incentive scheme” was approved by her Department; the cost implications of this scheme; the safeguards now in place to prevent pay disparities between agency and directly employed staff (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54708/25]
View answer773. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details of any proposals submitted by Tusla to increase the “special care allowance” to improve recruitment and retention; whether her Department supports these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54709/25]
View answer774. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the engagement that has taken place between her Department, Tusla, and a union (details supplied) to address ongoing staff retention issues in special care; if she will ensure that the restructuring plan is paused pending meaningful consultation with affected staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54710/25]
View answer775. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to explain the reason for the decision by her Department not to approve the proposed increase in the “special care allowance” for staff working in Tusla’s special care centres (details supplied); if she will reconsider this decision given the acute staffing crisis and associated High Court implications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54711/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 772, 773, 774 and 775 together.
Special care units are secure, residential facilities for children in care aged between 11 and 17 years. They are detained under a High Court care order for a short-term period of stabilisation when their behaviour poses a real and substantial risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare. In line with Article 37 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, such detention, which deprives a child of their liberty, is used only as a measure of last resort.
The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has statutory responsibility for the operation of Special Care in Ireland, and for the provision of Special Care beds. The total combined capacity of Special Care Units is 26 beds across three centres. At present the capacity in these Units is for 15 children. Tusla have advised that capacity issues arise primarily to challenges recruiting and retaining social care workers.[]
Following extensive engagements between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation a new grade and pay scale for Special Care has been sanctioned in an effort to increase staff numbers. The new grade provides additional opportunities and a higher career salary scale for both Social Care Workers and Social Care Leaders. As of September 2025, this new Tusla Special Care Worker grade offers approximately 20% higher pay at top-of-scale compared to the Social Care Worker grade.
In February 2025, Tusla opened a rolling recruitment and advertising campaign, while concurrently engaging with staff representatives regarding implementation matters for the recently introduced grade. This engagement has continued into October 2025. The changes proposed would provide for the creation of additional posts at existing supervisory levels and the introduction of ‘on-shift’ arrangements for new posts at Deputy Social Care Manager level, to ensure appropriate supervision and support to the new Special Care worker grade.
Tusla advised they are satisfied that appropriate line management and governance systems remain in place to support its implementation, and as such, additional risk assessments are not necessary at this point. Tusla will continue to keep the implementation of the new structure under review.
Tusla has actively engaged with staff representatives regarding implementation matters for the recently introduced Special Care Worker grade since February of this year. Officials from my Department continue to support Tusla as they engage with the trade union, and commence implementing the restructuring plan. Tusla has confirmed that there is no need to pause the restructuring plan.
The proposed new structure will continue to employ staff with the appropriate skills and knowledge. Tusla have advised that the Director of Special Care and their Deputy Directors and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) representatives have regular engagements, and should any difficulties arise, they will be addressed through these engagements. Any changes to the line management structure will be subject to an application to vary the registration of the special care centres in line with normal procedures and subject to HIQA’s agreement.
Regarding the job descriptions for the newly created Special Care Worker grade, Tusla advise that they will be shared with both staff and management in the coming days. Job descriptions for Social Care Managers and Deputy Social Care Managers are broad in scope as they cover roles in both special care, mainstream residential care and community services. Allocation of duties to individuals will continue to be the responsibility of service management and is based on service needs.
With respect to the "agency incentive scheme" Tusla have advised that this was briefly implemented in one special care centre to maintain operational capacity during significant staff shortages, although no staff were hired under this scheme.
While the overall operation of Special Care and the provision of Special Care beds is the statutory responsibility of Tusla, officials from my Department continue to actively engage with Tusla in relation to the issues impacting on Special Care and will continue to provide additional support to Tusla to address the current challenges.
771. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the outcome of Tusla’s recent overseas recruitment campaign for special care staff; the total cost of this initiative, including accommodation and relocation supports; whether it has delivered measurable improvements in staffing levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54707/25]
View answerThe Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has statutory responsibility for the operation of Special Care in Ireland, and for the provision of Special Care beds. The total combined capacity of Special Care Units across 3 Special Care Centres is 26 beds. The current capacity is currently for 15 children due primarily to challenges recruiting and retaining social care workers.
Tusla continues to prioritise recruitment initiatives for Special Care with a dedicated recruitment team carrying out a number of targeted campaigns and through a variety of media outlets, including recruiting internationally.
Tusla advise that as a result of their overseas recruitment campaign, there are currently an additional 9 Social Care Workers (SCWs) across two Special Care Units with an additional 4 SCWs due to begin work in the coming weeks. A further 6 SCW’s are going through the recruitment compliance process. Tusla have advised that the total paid year to date for this initiative has been €337,650.
Officials from my Department also support the ongoing work by Tusla to develop and introduce a Social Care Worker apprenticeship scheme. The scheme is currently being formulated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Tusla and the Higher Education Institutes and will serve as a further pipeline of recruitment into social care settings, including Special Care.
Tusla has implemented several measures to address the ongoing challenges, including the establishment of a dedicated retention team to lead on key initiatives, the launch of rolling recruitment campaigns, the introduction of a new grade within the service, the provision of psychological supports to staff and the introduction of various well-being initiatives.
Officials from my Department will continue to provide support to Tusla as necessary to address the current significant challenges facing this service.
