Written Answers Nos. 132-146
132. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ban the live export of livestock for slaughter to non-EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23032/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department facilitates the lawful export of animals in line with government policy and in compliance with EU and National legislation.
There are currently no plans to ban the export of livestock for slaughter to non-EU countries.
133. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can clarify whether all animal organisations are treated equally in terms of information being sought from them (details supplied). [23034/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnimal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. Considerable funding is provided to support animal welfare charity organisations in their valuable work through the animal welfare grants programme. In December 2023, I announced record funding of €6 million to 101 animal welfare charities, through the animal welfare grants programme. In April 2024, I announced the opening of this years animal welfare grants programme application process.
As part of a robust and comprehensive application process, applicants are asked to provide information on their activities, with successful applicants allocated funding on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis. These awards align with government policy and the goals set out in my Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, Working Together for Animal Welfare, which I published in 2021.
Governance and appropriate oversight are key elements of the animal welfare grants programme, as it involves the allocation of public funds. Organisations wishing to apply to the animal welfare grants programme are asked for information relating to their activities, governance and procedures as part of the application process. Organisations which do not apply are not asked for this information.
The Dog Breeding Establishment Register (DBE) is public and published online by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and is available here: gov - Dog Control (www.gov.ie).
134. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update with regard to a lime spreading grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23120/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Liming Programme was launched in March 2023 to incentivise the use of ground limestone, a natural soil conditioner which corrects soil acidity, makes nutrients more available for plant uptake, and improves overall soil health.
In late October 2023 some quarries expressed concerns that they would not be able to process payments and provide invoices for all farmers seeking to forward buy ground limestone before the Liming Programme's original claim deadline of the 31st October. In response, I granted a one-week extension to the deadline for the submission of claims. Claims for payment were accepted up until midnight on the 7th November 2023.
A search of Department records has identified that the person named did not submit a claim within the required time period for the Liming Programme and is therefore not eligible to receive aid under the Programme.
The Terms and Conditions for the programme state “To be eligible for this measure all invoices must be up-loaded in ONE claim (a maximum of 5 Invoices can be submitted). Invoices may be lodged from the date the claim system is available on Agfood until the 7th November 2023”.
The claims I.T. system closed in November and to be fair to all farmers it is not possible to process late claims.
135. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was not included in the Shannon Callows scheme even though they are within the Shannon SPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23215/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare. This is for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation (SAC) impacted as determined by my Department's Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
My officials have examined the relevant records and have confirmed that, although the herd owner has LPIS parcel(s) within the Shannon Callows SAC declared on their 2023 BISS application as forage, they have not met the minimum requirement of flooding on at least 6 of the 30 occurrences i.e. 20% minimum flooding identified over the time period.
The herd owner has recently submitted a request to have this decision reviewed. That process is currently taking place and advice on the outcome of that review will issue to the herd owner upon completion.
136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if she has engaged with Coillte on the issue of gravel cycling events on their lands; the reason Coillte is not allowing gravel cycling events take place on their lands; if she is aware that this decision is affecting ten events across Ireland and approximately 10,000 cyclists who cannot take part in the sport because of it; if she recognises that gravel cycling and gravel events are actively promoted in Northern Ireland and all across the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988, and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The matter raised is an internal operational/policy matter for Coillte. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
137. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the plans to develop new residential places for persons with a severe disability; and if, in particular, new developments will occur in a body (details supplied). [23265/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on the waiting list for the CDNT services in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23029/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
139. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of professional vacancies for the CDNT services in CHO9, broken down by each speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23030/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
140. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the planned IP accommodation provision in Longford town (details supplied). [23050/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
141. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 8 May 2024, to provide a breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations for each programme under subhead E4 of the revised estimates for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [23065/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra143. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 8 May 2024, to provide a detailed breakdown of subhead E4 by programme categories, as was provided for the E5 subhead programme breakdown in Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 May 2024 [23067/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 143 together.
The table below provides details of the capital and current budget allocations for each programme under the subhead E4 of the Revised Estimate for 2023 and 2024. A Supplementary Estimate was also provided for in 2023 which we have been incorporated into the final allocation 2023 column.
|
Revised Estimates 2023 |
Final Allocation 2023 |
Revised Estimates 2024 |
||||||
|
000' |
000' |
000' |
||||||
|
€394,936 |
€631,389 |
€409,144 |
||||||
|
E4: International Protection Accommodation Seekers |
Current |
Capital |
Current |
Capital |
Current |
Capital |
||
|
E4: International Protection Accommodation Services |
||||||||
|
Commercial Property - Accommodation |
€ 343,120 |
€ - |
€ 601,905 |
€ - |
€ 329,727 |
€ - |
||
|
State Owned Property - Accommodation |
€ 9,107 |
€ - |
€ 9,019 |
€ - |
€ 11,343 |
€ - |
||
|
Electricity Bills |
€ 1,002 |
€ - |
€ 1,655 |
€ - |
€ 1,807 |
€ - |
||
|
Gas Bills |
€ 176 |
€ - |
€ 324 |
€ - |
€ 376 |
€ - |
||
|
External trainers |
€ 10 |
€ - |
€ 4 |
€ - |
€ 10 |
€ - |
||
|
Local Authority water charges |
€ 71 |
€ - |
€ 24 |
€ - |
€ 28 |
€ - |
||
|
Transport Costs |
€ 816 |
€ - |
€ 2,240 |
€ - |
€ 2,928 |
€ - |
||
|
Translation |
€ 48 |
€ - |
€ 101 |
€ - |
€ 192 |
€ - |
||
|
Other Fees |
€ 1,481 |
€ - |
€ 2,743 |
€ - |
€ 3,612 |
€ - |
||
|
Grant Funding |
€ 5,128 |
€ - |
€ 5,928 |
€ - |
€ 7,344 |
€ - |
||
|
State Owned Property - Additional Costs |
€ 2,143 |
€ - |
€ 2,489 |
€ - |
€ 2,901 |
€ - |
||
|
Hygiene Products |
€ 15 |
€ - |
€ 25 |
€ - |
€ 31 |
€ - |
||
|
IT Costs |
€ 205 |
€ - |
€ 6 |
€ - |
€ 100 |
€ - |
||
|
Communication Costs |
€ 84 |
€ - |
€ 39 |
€ - |
€ 45 |
€ - |
||
|
Consultancy Projects |
€ 30 |
€ - |
€ 2 |
€ - |
€ 200 |
€ - |
||
|
Sub -Total |
€363,436 |
€ - |
€ 626,504 |
€ - |
€ 360,644 |
€ - |
||
|
E4: International Protection Support Services |
||||||||
|
IPAS transition team - Capital |
€ 9,500 |
€ 1,088 |
€ 9,500 |
|||||
|
IPSS Accommodation |
€ 2,440 |
€ 519 |
€ 9,000 |
|||||
|
IPSS Supports |
€ 7,550 |
€ 1,721 |
€ 9,200 |
|||||
|
IPSS Integration |
€ 12,010 |
€ 1,557 |
€ 7,800 |
|||||
|
Sub -Total |
€ 22,000 |
€ 9,500 |
€ 3,797 |
€ 1,088 |
€ 26,000 |
€ 9,500 |
||
|
E4: Tusla |
||||||||
|
Residential Care |
€ - |
€ - |
€ 13,000 |
€ - |
||||
|
Sub -Total |
€ - |
€ - |
€ 13,000 |
€ - |
||||
|
Total |
€ 385,436 |
€ 9,500 |
€ 630,301 |
€ 1,088 |
€ 399,644 |
€ 9,500 |
||
142. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 May 2024, to provide a breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations for each programme under subhead E5 of the revised estimates for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [23066/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below provides details of the capital and current budget allocations for each programme under the subhead E5 of the Revised Estimate for 2023 and 2024. A Supplementary Estimate was also provided for in 2023 which we have been incorporated into the final allocation 2023 column.
|
Revised Estimates 2023 |
Final Allocation 2023 |
Revised Estimates 2024 |
||||
|
000' |
000' |
000' |
||||
|
€640,800 |
€1,520,175 |
€1,490,317 |
||||
|
E5: Ukraine Accommodation and Related Costs |
Current |
Capital |
Current |
Capital |
Current |
Capital |
|
E5: Ukr Commercial Accommodation Costs |
€ 478,172 |
€ 1,244,416 |
€ 1,222,881 |
|||
|
E5: Ukr Capital |
€ 63,000 |
€ 159,694 |
€ 61,000 |
|||
|
E5: Coordination |
€ 2,900 |
€ 3,233 |
€ 2,600 |
|||
|
E5: Early Years |
€ 20,800 |
€ 18,014 |
€ 24,756 |
|||
|
E5: Grant funding |
€ 1,600 |
€ 1,449 |
€ 2,000 |
|||
|
E5: Housing Refurb |
€ 16,000 |
€ 2,200 |
€ 16,000 |
|||
|
E5: UKR Maintenance |
€ - |
€ 477 |
€ 6,364 |
|||
|
E5: Pledged Accommodation |
€ 25,928 |
€ 64,985 |
€ 120,000 |
|||
|
E5: IT |
€ 1,000 |
€ 1,707 |
€ 3,218 |
|||
|
E5: Tusla |
€ 31,400 |
€ 24,000 |
€ 31,498 |
|||
|
Total |
€ 577,800 |
€ 63,000 |
€ 1,360,481 |
€ 159,694 |
€ 1,429,317 |
€ 61,000 |
144. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 8 May 2024, to detail the outputs in 2023 under subhead E4 based on the revised estimates allocation and the final allocation for subhead E4 in 2023, including the number of IPAS beds funded and a breakdown of the same across State-owned accommodation and commercial accommodation. [23068/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 12 May 2024, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 102,000 people in State-supported accommodation.
On 31 December 2023, a total of 26,279 people were accommodated by IPAS, of which approximately 1,200 were in State-owned accommodation.
The total costs under subhead E04 in 2023, which relates to IPAS expenditure, was €651.7 million. Commercial accommodation accounted for €627.4 million of this total; State-owned property for €9.9 million; and ancillary costs for €14.4 million.
145. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 May 2024, to detail the outputs in 2023 under subhead E5 based on the financial allocation under the revised estimates and the final allocation for subhead E5 in 2023, including the number of temporary protection accommodation beds funded and the breakdown of the same across State-owned accommodation and commercial accommodation. [23069/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position in relation to the three output targets in 2023 under subhead E05 based on the financial allocation under the revised estimates and the final allocation for subhead E05 in 2023 is as follows:
• 100% of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) requesting State accommodation accommodated (all settings)
• >30% of accommodated BOTPs in pledged and modular accommodation
• 57% of accommodated BOTPs in settings other than hotels
I am pleased to say that since the outset of the Government's response the Ukraine crisis, 100% of BOTPs who have sought State supported accommodation have received it. To date, over 106,000 people from Ukraine have been granted temporary protection in Ireland and over 84,000 of those have been in referred to DCEDIY seeking State-supported accommodation. Approximately 29,500 of these were accommodated in 2023.
Pledged Accommodation includes pledges to the Irish Red Cross campaign, the "Offer a Home" scheme operated by Local Authorities with support from the LGMA and private hosting arrangements. These have received State support through the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) which recognises the generosity of hosting BOTPs. To date, almost €130 million has been paid under the ARP scheme to approx. 15,500 hosts in respect of hosting over 34,600 BOTPs. This represents over 30% of all BOTPs who have come to Ireland and a higher % of those BOTPs who have sought State supported accommodation. Currently, over 11,000 hosts are currently receiving ARP in respect of over 25,000 BOTPs being hosted. In 2023, almost €71m was paid to over 7,375 hosts under the Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting over 16,650 BOTP.
Modular - The Government approved the construction of 700 rapid build homes with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals in family units. The OPW is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department. In 2023, 1,240 BOTPs were accommodated in 310 units under this project.
In Mullingar my Department has proof of concept modular pods, 80 beds were ready for occupancy in December 2023.
Following a re-fit of the Barracks by Kerry Co Co, the Department commenced occupation of a former HSE test centre in Ballymullen Barracks in December 2022. This site had 62 beds during the 2023
1382 BOTPs were accommodated in under the modular project during 2023, which represented less than 2% of all BOTPs that had sought State supported accommodation.
In 2023 43% were reported in the category of “hotels” and 57% were staying in other types of accommodation.
The final allocation for subhead E05 for 2023 was €1.52bn. This comprised €1.36048bn in current and €159.694m in capital funding. These figures are included in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for 2024 published in December 2023 and can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2024.
The number of accommodation beds funded by my Department reached a peak at almost 60k towards the end of 2023. This was primarily commercially sourced serviced and self catering accommodation, rapid built modular accommodation as outlined above and other emergency and rest centre accommodation provided by Local Authorities to support my Department in meeting the needs of BOTPs seeking accommodation from the State.
146. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legal basis for the expenditure of Exchequer funds on the provision of international protection applicants who were not successful in gaining leave to remain or status and persons in respect of whom a Deportation Order has been signed, respectively, by IPAS. [23213/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder S.I., no.230 of 2018, those who are entitled to reception conditions include those who are currently in the International Protection process, those who are subject to a transfer decision and those who are appealing a decision.
Matters related to making of a deportation order or an unsuccessful application for International Protection/Leave to Remain are the responsibility of the Department of Justice.
My Department is notified when an application for international protection made by an IPAS resident has been finalised and works closely with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Department of Justice to identify people in IPAS accommodation that have been issued with Deportation Orders with a view to their removal.
