Michael Cahill
Question:345. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farm payment can be urgently processed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72594/25]
View answerDepartmental Funding
Questions (345)
Written answers
The person named above made an application under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other Area Based Schemes 2025 which was received on 12 May 2025.
The application contained both private and commonage lands and is currently under review by my Department.
The applicant and all other claimants on the impacted commonages have received a letter from my Department setting out the issue namely that the commonages are over-claimed. The applicant has supplied information showing that a right does exist to the commonage lands in question but has not yet provided sufficient evidence to support the amount of the claims that are contained within the application.
EU Regulations
Questions (346)
Sorca Clarke
Question:346. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Ireland is in full compliance with EU reporting and regulatory requirements under the CAP and other schemes; and the amount of EU funding received in the current year. [72689/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is in full compliance with EU reporting and regulatory requirements. My Department is the accredited paying agency, responsible for the management and control of expenditure from the two funds of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) – the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Under the principle of shared management, paying agencies execute payments under the supervision of the EU Commission. All elements of the paying agencies’ management and control and governance systems are subject to checks and audits by the EU Commission and Certification Bodies under the financial assurance process.
My Department is subject to an annual Clearance of Accounts exercise as part of this process in respect of the EU funding it receives, and the account was successfully cleared in May 2025 in respect of the 2024 financial year (period 16/10/2023 to 15/10/2024).
EU CAP funding, which is claimed in arrears, amounted to almost €1.5 billion in 2025.
Departmental Data
Questions (347)
Ryan O'Meara
Question:347. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of partnerships registered annually under the succession farm partnership measure since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72858/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. Supporting young farmers and facilitating generational renewal is critical to ensure a bright future for the agri-food sector. While supporting young farmers into a career of farming, it is also important to consider the position of older and retiring farmers.
The total uptake of Succession Farm Partnerships since their establishment is 185.
The annual breakdown is as follows:
2017: 25.
2018: 25.
2019: 30.
2020: 14.
2021: 33.
2022: 23.
2023: 06.
2024: 05.
2025: 24.
In support of this, the Department launched the Succession Planning Advice Grant in September 2023 to assist farmers in obtaining advice regarding succession planning from accredited professionals. This is a practical initiative and to date over €285,000 has been paid out to over 230 farmers.
Departmental Reports
Questions (348)
Pa Daly
Question:348. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the two new actions and nine legacy actions due, as outlined in the Q1 2025 progress report (details supplied); to outline which actions they are; the reason for the delay; the state of the progress to date; and a timeline for completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72936/25]
View answerWritten answers
The tables at the following links outline the progress that has been made on Climate Action Plan actions from Q1 2025. The two new actions have been completed and four of the legacy actions are completed. On the five remaining legacy actions, significant progress has been made.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (349)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:349. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to Acres payments due for payment in 2025 that may not be paid until January 2026; that such payments will have tax implications for the recipients; if payment will be made by end of December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73252/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. There are currently just over 53,600 participants in ACRES.
Over €713.1 million has been paid in respect of the core ACRES scheme to date (16 December 2025) to ACRES participants, with over €294m issuing in the 2025 calendar year alone. Following the latest payrun on 16th December, I can confirm that almost €194.6 million has issued in advance payments in respect of 2025. I can confirm that a total of 46,599 participants, representing just under 87% of active participating herds, have now received their 2025 advance payments. There are just over 7,000 herdowners now awaiting their 2025 advance payments. Processing of these payments is ongoing and payment runs will continue next month.
The Deputy will be aware that taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and that the Office of the Revenue Commissioners has responsibility for the operation of the taxation system.
However, my Department does engage on taxation issues relating to the agri-food sector with a view to supporting Government policy in this regard.
In this context, there is a system for income averaging for farmers, and further information can be found at www.revenue.ie. This is an important agri-taxation measure and it assists in addressing income volatility in allowing farmers to pay tax based on the average of five years’ farming profits and losses.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (350)
Gillian Toole
Question:350. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the agrifood regulator will have authority to investigate competition and pricing in the sale of food products, meat and poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73254/25]
View answerWritten answers
On 16 December, I introduced regulations which confer additional powers on the Regulator. Under these regulations, the Regulator will have the capacity to compel price and market information from operators in cases where businesses have not complied with requests for information voluntarily.
The regulations will come into effect on 31 December 2026, allowing sufficient lead-in time for the Agri-Food Regulator to develop the necessary systems, processes and procedures to implement the new powers effectively. In the interim, the Regulator will continue to carry out its market analysis and reporting functions using publicly available information and data provided voluntarily by businesses.
Childcare Services
Questions (351)
Louis O'Hara
Question:351. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the way in which the unified referral service for children in Tuam, Athenry and Loughrea, County Galway will work in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73086/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Funding
Questions (352)
Johnny Guirke
Question:352. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any funding streams are available to upgrade accessibility access into private businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72823/25]
View answerWritten answers
Government is committed to ensuring that disabled people have access to services and supports on an equal footing to all other citizens. Under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, there will be more coordinated action on accessibility across government, with greater awareness of good practice in Universal Design, and the built environment, and good practice in how we provide information to the public, including through information and communications technologies, and in the design and delivery of services. The Strategy commits to strengthening capacity on accessibility across Government.
There will be key deliverables, including regular monitoring of the accessibility of civil and public services in line with current statutory accessibility obligations, as provided for under the Disability Act 2005, the EU Web Accessibility Directive 2016/2102, and the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.
Supports for private enterprise in ensuring the accessibility of their services for customers are appropriate to the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Funding to support private enterprises to ensure accessibility for employees is the responsibility of the Department of Social Protection, through the Work and Access Scheme.
Departmental Data
Questions (353)
Johnny Guirke
Question:353. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people in County Meath waiting on an assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72824/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Data
Questions (354)
Johnny Guirke
Question:354. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current average wait time for an assessment of need in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72825/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Data
Questions (355)
Johnny Guirke
Question:355. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people with a disability awaiting placement into residential care in County Meath if she will make a statement on the matter. [72826/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Childcare Services
Questions (356)
Johnny Guirke
Question:356. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans to open up additional children's respite services in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72827/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Departmental Data
Questions (357)
Johnny Guirke
Question:357. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children's respite services in County Meath for children with an intellectual disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72828/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Departmental Data
Questions (358)
Johnny Guirke
Question:358. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of adult respite services in County Meath for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72829/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Departmental Policies
Questions (359)
Johnny Guirke
Question:359. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has any plans to instruct local authorities to make a provision of housing to companies wanting to open up additional centres for adults with intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72830/25]
View answerWritten answers
Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities.
It is not appropriate that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality should have any co-ordinating or reporting role in relation to the range of matters that may come within the area of responsibility of another Department or State body.
Departmental Staff
Questions (360)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:360. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE dietitians, by grade, based at South Louth Children's Disability Network Team to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72840/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Staff
Questions (361)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:361. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE psychologists based at North Louth Children's Disability Network Team in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72841/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Childcare Services
Questions (362)
Naoise Ó Muirí
Question:362. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when locations will be prioritised under the forthcoming childcare capital investment programme; whether towns in Kildare North will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72843/25]
View answerWritten answers
Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. This work will be supported through capital investment under the revised National Development Plan.
The total capital allocation for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality under the revised National Development Plan for the period 2026-30 is €795 million including €197 million for early learning and childcare. As announced in the context of Budget 2026, €36 million of this will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include investment in new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme and investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the Building Blocks scheme as well as other quality initiatives.
The focus in the State-led services will be on services to meet demand for affordable, accessible, high quality early learning and childcare that is not otherwise being delivered, including on full day provision particularly for younger children.
Preparatory work for this programme of capital investment is underway, with the multi-year programme planned to commence from 2026 onwards. As such, no decisions on prioritisation or selection of certain locations have yet been made.
The Government is already supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. This allows existing Core Funding Partner Services to extend their existing premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds which will begin coming on stream from 2026. Two services in North Kildare are working to complete the legal formalities for the scheme.
The Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. Contact details for the Kildare County Childcare Committee may be found at www.kccc.ie.
Departmental Reports
Questions (363)
Naoise Ó Muirí
Question:363. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the outputs of the childcare forward planning model will be published; the way in which local population growth projections will be incorporated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72844/25]
View answerWritten answers
Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
Despite substantial growth in the capacity of the sector in recent years, demand for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
The development of a forward planning model to analyse childcare supply and demand nationally is currently underway. The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level.
An extensive data analysis and cleaning exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly subsidised supply. This involves combining data from multiple administrative sources, including child population data, using GIS (Geographical Information System) mapping tools.
The analysis of the Forward Planning model will provide a key input into the approach to the capital programme to be resourced through the allocation in the revised National Development Plan 2026-30.
The analysis of the forward planning model will be one of a number of factors that will be considered when selecting and prioritising capital investments in childcare. Other factors will also be taken into account, including demographic trends at a local level. Local areas will be analysed to assess the likely future demographic outcomes for the area using data sources such as planning applications, local area plans and statistical population projections.
The Forward Planning model is being designed primarily as a tool for internal analysis. The maps and data that the model will produce will contain protected categories of data and will therefore not be made generally available in full. As the model is further developed along with accompanying policy work related to supply, aggregated statistics, including statistics broken down by geographical area, may be made available if this is deemed compliant with data protection obligations.
Current data on childcare capacity at county level is available at www.pobal.ie/childcare/capacity.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (364)
Pa Daly
Question:364. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on CDNT waiting lists in Kerry, by team and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72941/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.