Tuesday, 21 Oct 2025

Animal Welfare

Ceisteanna (670)

Robert O'Donoghue

Ceist:

670. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the urgent steps he is taking to ensure that only fully weaned weanlings are entered in marts (details suppled); if his Department has conducted an investigation into the level of sickness and mortality among exported weanlings; if so, if he will publish the findings; the measures that will be put in place immediately to prevent the export of animals at risk due to improper weaning and stress-related illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57360/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Strong animal health and welfare standards is a key priority for my Department and in that regard, I have allocated significant supports and investments for this area. These include a Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) focused on biosecurity to support farmers on a range of animal health matters including parasite control. Also, in August 2025 I launched a national funded Beef Welfare Scheme with a budget of €28m which will include supports for a vaccination programme for suckler calves.

My Department has a number of legislative requirements in place to protect all animals moving through livestock marts. All marts operating in Ireland are licensed under the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulation 2018 and must comply with the general terms and conditions of their licence as well as their legislative requirements under the regulations.

The regulations prohibit the sale at marts of infirm livestock or livestock affected with disease. Operators of marts are required to provide separate covered pens with appropriate facilities for feeding and resting animals that have been deemed unfit for sale and to facilitate their veterinary examination and treatment. Livestock marts are subject to regular inspection by my Department to ensure these rules are being complied with and that they are maintaining high standards of animal welfare.

The intra community trade and export of live cattle to third countries is a private commercial activity that is heavily regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National law. My Department exercises close oversight and deploys considerable resources in the matter of regulating this trade and of protecting animal welfare to ensure that it is conducted to the highest possible standard. Independent reports indicate that calves travelling from Ireland arrive in Europe with good health and welfare outcomes. My Department takes all possible measures, some of which go beyond current EU Regulations, to ensure animals are transported in a manner which protects their welfare.

Animal Welfare

Ceisteanna (671)

Robert O'Donoghue

Ceist:

671. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the minimum export weight for calves remains 40 kg; if there has been any change in policy; if not, the reason calves were under the minimum weight permitted to be exported; if the calves actually loaded on the date stated (details supplied); if not, the reason an incorrect journey log approved by a Departmental vet; the reason a revised journey log was not required when the port or date of departure changed; the immediate action his Department will take to ensure full compliance with export regulations and prevent further breaches that compromise animal welfare and Ireland’s export reputation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57361/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The trade in and export of animals is a private commercial activity which is regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National Regulations. The relevant EU and National Regulations for this sector include Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 Protection of animals during transport and related matters and associated Irish Regulation S.I. No. 267/2006 - European Communities (Protection of Animals During Transport) Regulations 2006.

My Department is satisfied that official controls performed for the transport of livestock referred to by the Deputy were in accordance with the above regulations. My Department continually reviews its processes and procedures to ensure the optimum level of welfare for animals traded with other Members States or exported to third countries.

Fishing Industry

Ceisteanna (672)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Ceist:

672. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 736 of 14 October 2025, if he will clarify the statement “As these operators have access to alternative sources of mussel, it is difficult at present to fully assess the degree to which the incomes of those who fish mussel seed have been affected” given mussel fishermen are reporting that there are no alternative sources of mussels available with the entire east coast closed to them for a variety of reasons, pushing them into bankruptcy; and if he will ask BIM and his Department officials to examine a financial compensation and aid package for the affected fishermen. [57406/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Bord Iascaigh Mhara continues to work closely with industry to develop technical solutions to industry issues. Seed bed surveys are carried out and published on the Bord Iascaigh Mhara website. A number of technical trials have been carried out to look at the relaying of rope grown mussel seed to the seabed to ensure the optimum survival rates. Mussel larval monitoring is also being used to assist the rope producers to deploy seed collectors at the correct time to ensures settlement.

A fuller analysis of the economic impact would be required before considering any possible supports, and any such supports would have to be considered within the constraints of EU funding Regulations and national budgetary processes.

Guardians Ad Litem

Ceisteanna (673)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

673. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) and their request to meet to discuss the issues in detail. [57045/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

I have received correspondence from the Association of Guardian ad Litem Ireland (AGALI) on the planned reform of Guardian ad Litem National Service. The issues raised by AGALI have been shared with the Director of the Executive Office for the Guardian ad Litem National Service within the Department for his consideration at this time as he works to establish the office in line with legislation.

AGALI is a key stakeholder in the reform programme. I have asked the Director to continue to engage with AGALI and other stakeholders to share views and information on the plans for establishment of the office and progress made. I wish to ensure that a service is established which meets legislative requirements and also best serves the interests of the child.

I understand that the Director issued correspondence to AGALI on 1 October 2025, responding to the issues outlined in previous communications. A reply from the Association is currently awaited, and a further meeting is due to take place in November 2025.

In light of these ongoing engagements, I believe it would be premature to meet with AGALI at this stage. However, I remain open to the possibility of meeting AGALI in the future.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (674)

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

674. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the case of a child (details supplied) and allow for the necessary care and interventions to be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56534/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

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.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (675)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

675. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the terms of AIM funding to facilitate appropriate backpay for retention of relevant qualified staff following the successful receipt of advanced levels of AIM support; if she will review the possibility of reimbursing a service provider for additional costs incurred due to exceptional circumstances and delays in securing further AIM funding, including critical infrastructural requirements directly related to the well-being of the children attending the service (details supplied). [56590/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

It is the Department’s understanding that Pobal, as the administrator of the AIM programme, has reviewed the service provider’s request to facilitate appropriate backpay for the retention of qualified staff following the approval of advanced levels of AIM support. Pobal has confirmed that all actions taken were in line with the programme rules governing AIM.

The Department are currently reviewing these rules, and a revised version of the rules will be published shortly.

In relation to your query on the Level 5 application for the service referenced, Pobal have informed this Department that they have been in direct contact with the service, and the issue has been resolved to the satisfaction of the service.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (676)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

676. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average time to decision in AIM funding applications, by funding level, for each year 2021-2025 to date, in tabular form. [56591/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The goal of AIM is to empower Early Learning and Care (ELC) providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of high-quality early learning and care through universal and targeted supports.

AIM Level 7 support provides additional funding to ELC providers, the funding acts to either reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the setting. Since September 2024, AIM Level 7 funding was expanded to include for an additional 3 hours during term time, or an additional 6 hours during non-term time for ECCE eligible children.

AIM Level 5 provides funding for specialised equipment, appliances or small capital grants towards minor building alterations. A short report from a designated professional is required confirming that the specialised equipment or minor building alterations are necessary to enable the participation of a child in pre-school.

AIM Level 4 is delivered by Better Start Early Years Specialist Service (EYSS). They work collaboratively with parents, pre-school providers, and with other professionals to develop inclusive learning environments in pre-schools. The EYSS also provides coaching and mentoring to the pre-school staff on supporting children in the ECCE service. This includes the creation of an Access and Inclusion Plan for children, which can help identify additional support and resources required to meet the needs of the child in the pre-school room.

The timeline for processing applications is currently under review between officials in my Department and Pobal, who are the administrator of the AIM scheme on behalf of my Department. A key objective of the ongoing review is to learn from provider experiences to improve the application process.

Please see the below tables relating to the average number of days it takes to process an application in level 4, 5 and 7. These are currently the only targeted supports which require an application. To note, programme year 2025-2026 covers up to the 14th of October 2025.

Tables AIM Level 4, 5 and 7

Health Services

Ceisteanna (677)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

677. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will seek a suitable time for a person (details supplied) to use the hydrotherapy pool in Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56615/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality

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.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (678)

Roderic O'Gorman

Ceist:

678. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Government’s response for Irish survivors of thalidomide; the engagements she has had with representative groups or individuals since coming into office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56682/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

My Department holds the responsibility for the provision of services to survivors of Thalidomide.

Acknowledged Irish survivors of thalidomide living in the state are eligible for health and personal social services from the State regardless of means.

This includes access to a medical card on an administrative basis, regardless of means. Medical cards were issued to all acknowledged Irish survivors in the 70's by Department of Social protection. The National Thalidomide Advocacy office will assist any acknowledged Thalidomide survivor with this process.

The type of supports provided in 2025 vary from Aids and Appliances, Seamstress, Personal Assistant/Home support hours to Housing Adaptation projects. A number of Thalidomide survivors are currently going through the process of housing adaptations this year.

In 2025, the National Thalidomide Advocacy Office (NTAO) has supported four individuals to apply to Contergan in Germany for recognition that their disabilities are as a result of Thalidomide exposure. The NTAO has continued to liaise between Contergan and those individuals to provide additional information to the foundation as required. These applications are now under review by Contergan, the NTAO has not received definitive timelines as to when their assessments will be complete.

I have met with a number of Thalidomide survivors since I came into office and officials in my Department liaise through the National Thalidomide Advocacy Office and through the Department of the Taoiseach and on the wider matters affecting Thalidomide survivors.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (679)

Eoghan Kenny

Ceist:

679. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount that has been spent by her Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56686/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department had no expenditure on conducting tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in the years referenced.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (680)

Marie Sherlock

Ceist:

680. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the Department’s forecasts for the number of day service places and for the number of residential places that will be required by adults with intellectual disability in the next five and ten years respectively. [56713/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality

As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to the expansion of services for people with disabilities. In support of this, Budget 2026 has provided €3.8 billion for the delivery of disability services, in partnership with the HSE. This represents an almost 20% increase in funding year on year.

HSE-funded day programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, or complex physical disabilities include a range of centre-based and community-based activities. Access to services is based on an individual’s needs rather than on their diagnosis. The focus is on supporting people to participate in the mainstream activities and in the life of their community, in line with their wishes and needs.

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

While the Department does not have policy remit in relation to returning emigrants, encouraging and facilitating the return of Irish emigrants constitutes an important component of increasing the Disability Sector workforce. The HSE continues to work with overseas agencies to expand international recruitment. Within this, there is a particular focus on Irish trained overseas applicants, with a relocation package available to meet vouched expenses for those who have left Ireland.

Earlier this year the HSE launched a comprehensive suite of supports to assist candidates from outside of Ireland to navigate the candidate journey through the application, selection, and onboarding process to settling in Ireland and building their future career. These supports are available on the HSE’s CareerHub portal.

The HSE also launched its first Virtual Career Fair in May 2025, specifically focused on opportunities within Ireland’s disability services. This event was open to international candidates, including returning Irish emigrants and included information on career pathways and relocation supports.