Written Answers Nos. 620-639
620. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through his Department for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply; the purpose of each grant scheme; the eligibility criteria; the application process; the opening and closing dates for application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53409/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the primary supports provided to individuals and community groups are agricultural support schemes most of which fall under the Common Agricultural Policy, and are either wholly EU funded, co-funded between the EU and national exchequer, or wholly exchequer funded. Full details of the purpose and application process for each scheme is available on our website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/collections/schemes-and-payments/
In addition to the above, other grant schemes currently available through my Department, for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply, are listed below, with further details available on my Department’s website.
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Details of Grant Schemes |
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Non-Productive Investments |
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Landscape Actions |
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Animal Welfare Grants Programme |
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iPLAN |
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Open Call for Proposals for Forestry Promotion Projects |
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Open Call for Proposals for Forestry Skills Training |
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Climate Action Performance Payment (CAPP) |
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Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Capital Investments) |
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Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Feasibility/Desk Studies) |
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Scheme of Investment Aid for Process and Organisational Innovation in Horticulture for Large Enterprises |
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Seafood Capacity Building Scheme |
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Fleet Safety Scheme |
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Seafood Training Scheme |
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Marine Tourism Safety Scheme |
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Collaborative Farming Grant |
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BVD Tag Testing Scheme 2026 |
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On-Farm Badger Biosecurity Scheme - see www.bovinetb.ie |
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National Farm Safety Measure 2026 |
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Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) for Farm Safety Equipment |
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RIDF Agri-Food Tourism Funding - 2026 |
621. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €16,000 awarded to an organisation (details supplied), the specific marketing activities that are eligible for funding under this grant. [53517/26]
View answer622. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €16,000 awarded to an organisation (details supplied), the proportion of the grant that is allocated towards the engagement of a digital marketing consultant or contractor. [53518/26]
View answer623. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €16,000 awarded to an organisation (details supplied), the expenditure categories that have been approved under the grant. [53519/26]
View answer624. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €16,000 awarded to an organisation (details supplied), the proportion of the funding intended for social media management, content creation, website updates, advertising, or other digital promotion activities. [53520/26]
View answer625. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €16,000 awarded to an organisation (details supplied), if his Department received a detailed breakdown of the way this funding will be spent; and, if so, if this breakdown will be made available. [53521/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 621 to 625, inclusive, together.
My Department provided funding to the named organisation under the Equine Technical Support Scheme (ETS) in 2025 under the General Programme for marketing activities. The application was evaluated in line with the 2025 ETS Terms and Conditions.
Funding was provided for this project to engage a consultant to implement the following marketing activities
• Marketing Strategy Development,
• Content Creation,
• Public Relations,
• Advertising Campaigns,
• Analysis, and
• Reporting.
A breakdown of funding allocated to each marketing activity was received by my Department. However, given the commercial sensitivities associated with providing funding proportions of the allocation, it would not be appropriate to make these publicly available.
Project summary extracts for all ETS 2025 beneficiaries are published on my Department's website at the following link: www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/7c1d3c24/2025_ETS_Project_Overview.pdf
626. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the marketing grant of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, the rationale for approving this expenditure. [53522/26]
View answer627. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, if he is aware that the organisation has not organised or held a show since 2024. [53523/26]
View answer628. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, if he is aware that the former society show ground has been leased for an initial period of at least three years to a private group for a fee. [53524/26]
View answer629. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, if his Department has assessed whether this expenditure represents value-for-money; and whether the system will be used for events directly organised by the grant recipient. [53526/26]
View answer630. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the allocation of €9,275 awarded to an organisation (details supplied) for an online show entry system, the safeguards in place to ensure that publicly funded equipment or systems are not used primarily for the benefit of third-party private organisations. [53527/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 626 to 630, inclusive, together.
The Connemara Pony Show is a showcase for marketing and promoting the Connemara pony breed nationally and internationally. This is consistent with the objectives of the named organisation. I understand that the Connemara Pony Show Clifden CLG was set up in 2025 to independently run and manage the show and secure the future of the four-day show programme.
The project application was evaluated and approved in line with the Terms and Conditions of the Equine Technical Support & Equine Breeding Schemes (ETS) 2025. This project enables the named organisation to provide a service to the Show committee by verifying eligibility of entries against their database of the Connemara pony breed.
I am satisfied that this project represented value for money as it modernises the entry process by streamlining their verification, reduces the administration for the named organisation, avoids administrative errors by ensuring only animals that meet the criteria are accepted, creates the catalogue of entries and provides an enhanced service for Connemara pony breeders and owners. This system could also be used for events organised by the grant recipient.
Project summaries for the 2025 Scheme, as provided by the project beneficiaries, are published on my Department’s Website at the following link:- www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/7c1d3c24/2025_ETS_Project_Overview.pdf
Leasing of assets such as the show ground does not fall under the remit of my Department.
631. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to examine concerns raised in relation to an aquaculture licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53609/26]
View answerAll applications for aquaculture and foreshore licences are considered in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 as amended, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation, which for this application was held from 11th December 2023 – 12th February 2024.
Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations which in respect of this application also included an Appropriate Assessment and an Environmental Impact Assessment. These assessments are available to view on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/aquaculture-licences/t06-202-silver-king-seafoods-ltd-aquacultureforeshore-licence-application-east-of-deenish-island-co-kerry/
As the licence application is currently under active consideration by my Department as part of a statutory process, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.
632. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider dividing Castlemaine Harbour for the purposes of the appropriate assessment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53674/26]
View answerMy Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process is complex and involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.
The time for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. The Department also takes full account of all scientific and technical advice, in addition to all issues identified during the public and statutory consultation phases. Further factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the requirement for an Appropriate Assessment and whether the application is required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report; the need for additional underwater or archaeological assessments; consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period, etc. Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.
As the Competent Authority for aquaculture licencing, my Department is responsible for ensuring all applications are appropriately assessed in the context of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The Marine Institute (MI), as my Department’s scientific advisor, is requested to undertake appropriate assessments.
Appropriate Assessments for marine based extensive aquaculture applications, which includes shellfish and aquatic plants, are undertaken at a bay wide level. In the case of Castlemaine Harbour, the Appropriate Assessment process is already well underway, with the Appropriate Assessment Screening and Annex IV Risk Assessment for 74 applications receiving Ministerial determination in December 2025.
The Marine Institute is currently preparing a Natura Impact Statement which will be published as part of the future public and statutory consultation on these applications.
633. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to expedite the processing of aquaculture licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53684/26]
View answerMy Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process is complex and involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.
The time for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. My Department also takes full account of all scientific and technical advice, in addition to all issues identified during the public and statutory consultation phases. Further factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the requirement for an Appropriate Assessment and whether the application is required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report; the need for additional underwater or archaeological assessments; consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period, etc. Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.
Every effort is being made by my Department to expedite the determination of all outstanding applications having regard to the complexities of each case and the need to fully comply with all relevant national and EU legislation.
As the application referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
634. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53121/26]
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.
635. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of the transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive into Irish law; when the relevant legislation is expected to be introduced and enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53579/26]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to the complete and meaningful implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive.
The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 transposed a large portion of the Pay Transparency Directive, particularly in relation to Article 9 on Gender Pay Gap Reporting. The implementation of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act and associated regulations require employers to report their gender pay gap each year, and the measures that are being taken to eliminate or reduce the gap.
The full and complete implementation of the EU Pay Transparency directive is a challenge for many EU member states, with the majority indicating they were not in a position to meet the June 7 deadline, including Ireland. While the June 7 date for full transposition of the Directive has not been achieved, the remaining work to achieve transposition is a priority for the Department.
The Department continues to engage constructively with the European Commission to advise of the ongoing work to transpose the directive as soon as possible, with partial transposition already notified to the Commission.
Work is ongoing at pace to develop the necessary legislation to transpose the remaining provisions of the Pay Transparency Directive as soon as possible, including the obligation for employers to carry out Gender-Neutral Job Evaluation and to categorise employees and calculate the gender pay gap in such categories. A dedicated Irish Employer Gender-Neutral Job Evaluation toolkit, based on the recently published EIGE toolkit, is being commissioned by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Employers will be invited to attend training workshops based on this adapted toolkit.
The Department will also continue to work with employers, employees and their representatives to support to enable implementation of the Directive, which will be on a phased basis once the passage of the legislation is complete.
Employers will not be penalised for not having all elements of Directive completed in June 2026 and the Department has been working with stakeholders to communicate this message.
At present, employers will remain obligated to calculate and publish information on their gender pay gap by the end of November and, following a small amendment to the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, employers will be obligated to report that information to the Minister via the dedicated Gender Pay Gap Portal for the 2026 Reporting Cycle.
636. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out whether her Department has conducted or intends to conduct any review of the current two-week paid paternity leave entitlement, with particular reference to international best practice and the evidence supporting longer periods of leave for fathers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53638/26]
View answer637. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for maintaining the current two week paid paternity leave provision in circumstances where a number of EU member states have significantly expanded entitlements for fathers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53639/26]
View answer638. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined the potential social, economic and health impacts of extending paid paternity leave to eight weeks, including impacts on child development, maternal recovery, workplace retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53640/26]
View answer639. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details of any engagement her Department has had with stakeholders, including employer groups, trade unions and family advocacy organisations, regarding proposals to extend paid paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53641/26]
View answer640. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will confirm whether her Department has developed or intends to develop a timeline for reviewing or expanding paid paternity leave entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53642/26]
View answer641. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on any analysis undertaken by her Department regarding the uptake of paternity benefit since its introduction; whether this data informs consideration of an extended leave period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53644/26]
View answer642. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider piloting an extended paternity leave scheme or phased increase in entitlements, in line with international developments and domestic demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53645/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 642, inclusive, together.
There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years.
The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are now entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Parent's Leave is an individual separate entitlement and is non-transferable between parents.
Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’. Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of their caring responsibilities.
A key priority in First 5, the whole of Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families (2019-2028) is to support parents to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year given the benefits of parental care in that first year for children’s outcomes.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families and are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being finalised and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work.
The first Action Plan is due to be brought to Government in the coming weeks. Any further changes to supports and family leave entitlements will be considered within this context.
The Programme for Government also commits to introducing Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. A pay-related model was introduced on 31 March 2025 for Jobseeker’s Benefit. The Department of Social Protection will draw on the learnings and operational experience from that scheme to inform the development of options for Parent's Benefit and other family leave schemes.
