Written Answers Nos. 734-753
734. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has assessed the potential impacts on agricultural land, livestock and watercourses from contamination arising from battery-storage fires; if inter-agency protocols exist between local authorities, the EPA and the Department following such incidents; if he will provide copies of any such protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65927/25]
View answerThis is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
735. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of former secretary general’s, retired civil servants, directors of service, retired city/county managers or those of a similar grade in his Department that have subsequently served on State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66008/25]
View answerMy Department does not hold records of former staff serving on boards.
736. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he would consider directly contacting all EU member states’ ambassadors, including all non-coastal states, to convey to them the crises within the Irish fishing and processing sectors; if he would further outline the damage that third country coastal states are doing by fishing above their agreed shares; if he would underline as part of this process the importance that the EU Commission honour the Hague preference agreement that is an integral part of the CFP agreement since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66059/25]
View answerThe advice issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and informs the EU's negotiating position for consultations with Third Countries.
The ICES advice for 2026 shows a reduction of almost 70% for Mackerel.
Ireland has repeatedly raised the overfishing of mackerel by some Coastal States outside the EU over recent years.
I raised the issue as an AOB at the October Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, calling for urgent action at EU level to protect our key pelagic stocks. I reiterated this again last week at the November AgriFish Council Meeting. I will continue to highlight this critical issue for our fishers, and to engage intensively with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and other Member States on possible actions to protect our stocks.
At the November Council meeting, I also confirmed Ireland’s intention to invoke the Hague Preferences at the appropriate time. The Hague Preferences give Ireland an increased share of important fish stocks when Total Allowable Catch (TAC) levels reduce below a specified level. The Hagues are a matter for Member States at Council, rather than the European Commission. I made clear to Member States at the November Council meeting that the Hagues are a fundamental part of relative stability and have been recognised as such in the legal framework of the Common Fisheries Policy since 1983 when the CFP was established.
As we move towards the finalisation of setting the 2026 fishing opportunities at the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council, my focus over the coming weeks is to continue to work towards the best possible outcome for Ireland’s seafood sector in 2026 - one that ensures the sustainability of the stocks and a level playing field for our fleet.
737. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department and any body under his aegis have spent on the services of a company (details supplied), by year and organisation in the years 2020 to 1 November 2025, in tabular form. [66071/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not used the services of the company (details supplied) in the years 2020 to 1 November 2025.
As regards the thirteen State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
738. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department and any body under his aegis have spent on the services of a company (details supplied), by year and organisation in the years 2020 to 1 November 2025, in tabular form. [66089/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not used the services of the company (details supplied) in the years 2020 to 1 November 2025.
As regards the thirteen State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
740. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated for the monitoring, reporting or trapping of the Asian hornet that can be applied for by local authorities, beekeeping groups or individual beekeepers across the island. [66164/25]
View answerNational Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species such as the Asian Hornet.
My Department provides funding to the beekeeping associations through Annual Grants to Irish National Beekeepers Federations. Last year over €23,000 was paid out to the four main beekeeping associations to help their associated members to pursue the craft of beekeeping through various initiatives including also education around the Asian Hornet.
My Department also operates the Asian Hornet Monitoring Programme which is a voluntary programme for beekeepers in Ireland. The programme was established to assist in the early detection of the Asian Hornet.
741. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle slaughtered from factory controlled feedlots or related proxy therefore, by quarter, in each of the years 2024 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66255/25]
View answerAs part of the bovine TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds, if they meet the necessary criteria, are allowed to avail of a special status, termed 'Controlled Finishing Unit' (CFU). When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a CFU under the bovine TB eradication programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. The ownership or control of such herds, or the cattle within these herds, is a private matter and my Department's role with these herds in the TB eradication programme is concerned with the epidemiological status of these herds. Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements.
Restricted CFUs are TB tested at least once a year. This CFU status arrangement allows the delivery of an effective level of disease risk management while controlling the risk of further disease spread in compliance with animal health legislation, and enabling business continuity in this particular type of enterprise through the inward movement of cattle. Cattle from CFU herds restricted under the TB Eradication programme are only permitted to move to a EU approved slaughter plant.
My Department publishes data on a monthly basis which shows the number of cattle slaughtered from Controlled Finishing Units at approved beef exporting plants and this information can be found at gov.ie - Cattle (AIM) (www.gov.ie)
The attached table shows the kill numbers at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units by quarter in the years 2024 and to the end of October 2025.
Kill numbers at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units
|
Quarter |
Year 2024 |
Quarter |
Year 2025 |
|
Q1 |
115,000 |
Q1 |
125,000 |
|
Q2 |
112,000 |
Q2 |
117,500 |
|
Q3 |
102,500 |
Q3 |
94,500 |
|
Q4 |
129,000 |
Oct-25 |
34,000 |
|
Total |
458,500 |
|
371,000 |
742. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports his Department is providing, and will provide, to the fishing industry in light of recommended quota reductions for 2026. [66283/25]
View answer743. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to ensure the viability of Ireland’s sea fishing sector. [66284/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 742 and 743 together.
The advice issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and informs the EU's negotiating position for consultations with Third Countries.
The ICES advice for 2026 for a number of stocks of key importance to the Irish fleet is very concerning. The advice shows reductions of almost 70% for Mackerel, 41% for Blue Whiting, 22% for Boarfish and 21% for Nephrops (prawns).
I am acutely aware that the scale of the reduction indicated by the ICES advice is a matter of grave concern for Ireland’s seafood sector, and the coastal communities which are dependent upon it economically.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to working closely across Government Departments to assess what supports may be available to the seafood sector in the context of EU state aid rules, and within the constraints of both EU and national Exchequer funding. To this end, I have had initial discussions with the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, an Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
As regards existing supports, a range of supports and services are provided to the Irish fleet under Ireland's €258 million Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. These include the valuable work undertaken by the Marine Institute to support the sustainable management of our fisheries, and the supports and services provided directly to industry by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which, in addition to its technical and advisory services, also administers the grant aid schemes for industry.
744. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to ensure that fish caught in Irish waters are processed in Ireland. [66285/25]
View answerIt is a matter for individual operators to decide on where to land their catches, taking into account market factors and considerations in relation to weather, sea conditions and safety. Furthermore, Irish seafood processers compete for raw material with their counterparts in other EU countries, and this includes competing on price with processors in other countries for EU landings. It is a matter for processors to make commercial decisions as to the price they are prepared to offer for raw material landed into Ireland.
Notwithstanding, my Department has implemented a number of measures to promote landing of fish into Ireland.
This includes investments in the Department's network of six Fishery Harbour Centres to bring them up to best international standards. My Department administers the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme consistent with the objectives of the National Development Plan. The strategic objective of the Programme is to contribute to, from an infrastructure perspective, the future viability of the fishing industry and the sustainability of our coastal communities.
Since 2020, over €138.5 million has been invested in capital works in the Fishery Harbour Centres, Cape Clear and the piers lights and beacons; delivering key projects such as the Dinish Wharf Expansion and Breakwaters at Castletownbere, the Middle Pier at Howth and the Smooth Point Pier Extension at Killybegs.
In March this year, I announced a capital investment package of €23.4 million as part of the 2025 Programme. The allocation included capital commitments for ongoing projects and the commencement of some new projects.
The seafood processing sector has also had significant funding supports for capital investment projects in recent years, in particular under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Ireland now has one of the most modern seafood processing sectors in Europe, and this investment was designed to support measures to reduce operating costs through improved energy and production efficiencies, and new product development designed to add higher value, all with a view to improving their profitability and sustainability.
745. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the Department’s annual expenditure on State Claims Agency costs for the years 2020–2025. [66340/25]
View answerThe table below shows all payments made by the State Claims Agency, between 01/01/2020 and 20/11/2025, billed to my Department.
|
YEAR |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 to Date |
Grand Total |
|
AMOUNT PAID |
€466,066 |
€287,948 |
€214,591 |
€359,554 |
€392,441 |
€323,624 |
€2,044,224 |
Table: Total amount paid by the State Claims Agency for the period 2020-2025 (to 20/11/2025) and billed to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. All amounts are inclusive of VAT.
The information contained within this document was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and is correct as of 20/11/2025.
746. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes, in tabular form; the primary medical or support needs associated with these individuals; the average cost of providing their care in these settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65295/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
747. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a social worker has been appointed to the Dungarvan children's disability network team (CDNT 6) to advocate for children with disabilities [65616/25]
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.
748. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will review the AIM funding for a person (details supplied); the options available to the family in order that their child can remain in pre-school for a full day; the steps her Department is taking to address situations where a child’s right to equal participation is compromised due to funding or staffing limitations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66061/25]
View answer764. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if access and inclusion model support will be reviewed and increased for a person (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65407/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 748 and 764 together.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Access to AIM is based on the needs of the individual child, in the context of the pre-school setting, and does not require a diagnosis.
AIM Level 7 support enables providers to reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the ECCE setting. In recognition of best practice in this area, this support is designed to improve inclusion and ensure meaningful participation of all children in the room.
The ‘First 5’ whole-of-government strategy (2019) committed to the phased extension of AIM, a commitment reaffirmed by the findings of an independent end-of-year-three evaluation. Participants in the evaluation supported proposals that AIM be scaled up and were keen to see the extension of AIM support to hours outside the ECCE entitlement. Based on the evaluation AIM is now being extended on a phased basis as funding becomes available.
As a first step in this extension, all AIM targeted supports have, since September 2024, been available to ECCE children beyond the time that they spend in the ECCE programme, all year round. Children can now access these supports for up to an additional 3 hours per day during the ECCE term and up to 6 hours per day outside of the ECCE term (in holiday periods).
It is intended that over time, all children with additional needs in early learning and childcare services will have access to AIM supports. The next phase of expansion focuses on a redesign of AIM for children under three, to meet the specific needs of this younger cohort. Consideration will then be given to an extension of AIM for children attending school-age childcare.
An action plan has been developed to respond to other areas for improvement including increasing awareness of AIM, streamlining the application process and strengthening support for autistic children. A key step taken in this regard is the 2024 publication of Introductory Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care, School-Age Childcare and Childminding Settings, with the support of ASIAM.
While the Department oversees AIM, early learning and childcare providers are private entities and responsible for their own admissions policies, which are outside the Department’s remit. Parents and carers experiencing challenges in accessing early learning and childcare supports are encouraged to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee, who can provide advice and guidance on available options in their area. Contact details are available at: www.gov.ie/childcarecommittees.
749. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently awaiting first appointment by CDNT; and the waiting time in Cork. [66232/25]
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.
750. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the recognition of parents who must avail of surrogacy is treated differently when it comes to maternity or adoptive leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66279/25]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the difficulties 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 how best to implement 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, while policy on parentage is a matter for the Minister for Justice. It is not possible to finalise provisions in relation to surrogacy leave in advance of the commencement of that Act as it will determine who is to be recognise as a parent when a child is born through a surrogacy arrangement.
Decisions on the date of commencement of the 2024 Act are matters for the Minister for Health. I can assure the Deputy that this Department will work closely with relevant Departments, once the 2024 Act has commenced, to progress proposals for surrogacy leave.
The Deputy may be interested to note that under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to nine weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Intending parents from a surrogacy agreement may be entitled to Parents’ Leave, depending on their circumstances. The father of a child born through surrogacy can qualify for Parents’ Leave if he is the biological father of the child and declared to be the parent of the child. In these circumstances, the father's partner may qualify for Parents’ Leave if they are married to, or in a civil partnership with, the child’s biological father, or have cohabited with the child’s biological father for over 3 years.
The father of a child born through surrogacy can also qualify for Paternity Leave if he is the biological father of the child and declared to be the father of the child. The leave entitlement is for two weeks, to be taken within six months of the child's birth.
Both the biological father and the other parent can qualify for 26 weeks each of unpaid Parental Leave if acting in loco parentis in respect of a child under 12.
751. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders who have registered in County Clare to the end of October 2025; the number of people in County Clare who have completed the Children First E-Learning Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65136/25]
View answerIn County Clare, 5 Childminding Services were recorded as registered with Tusla at the end of September 2025, and a total of 26 people have completed the pre-registration training to date.
Childminders are a hugely important part of early learning and care and school-age childcare provision, and they continue to be the option of choice for many families.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of registration to childminders who work in their own homes. 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.
The regulation of childminding services is critical to the safeguarding of children. The route to registration under the new regulations requires childminders to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting certain regulatory requirements including Garda vetting, first aid certification and child safeguarding training.
We are now in a 3-year transition period (to September 2027) during which childminders are being encouraged and supported to register, but registration is not yet mandatory.
This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
Supports are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. Each City and County Childcare Committee employs a Childminding Development Officer, who provides a range of supports to local childminders, including delivery of the short pre-registration training course.
752. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to ensure that children in afterschool care receive AIMs support; and to consider granting funding to afterschool programmes that require special needs assistants for the children that would avail of SNAs in their mainstream school environment. [65196/25]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with disabilities can fully access and participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, a universal two year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months.
AIM provides a suite of universal and targeted supports across seven levels, tailored to meet the needs of children and pre-school settings. Importantly, access to AIM support does not require a formal diagnosis.
AIM does not operate a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) model. Instead, AIM Level 7 support provides additional funding to pre-schools where a child requires extra assistance. This funding enables providers to reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the ECCE setting. In recognition of best practice in this area, this support is designed to improve inclusion and ensure meaningful participation of all children in the room.
In line with commitments under First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, an independent evaluation of AIM has been completed. The findings are informing the extension of AIM beyond the ECCE programme and identifying potential enhancements to the model.
The first phase of this expansion commenced in September 2024, extending AIM supports for ECCE-age children for up to three additional hours per day during term time, and up to six additional hours outside of term time.
Work is now underway on a tailored model to extend AIM to children under three years of age, ensuring it meets the specific needs of this younger cohort.
Consideration will also be given, at a later stage, to extending AIM to children attending school-age childcare. It is critical that any extension of AIM supports to this age cohort is evidence-based and reflective of need.
753. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide all claims managed by the State Claims Agency for which her Department is liable for the years 2020 to 2025, including the number of claims, the category of claim, the total cost per category, the number of active claims, the number of settled claims and the median payout per category. [65240/25]
View answerThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
