Written Answers Nos. 215-234
215. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being introduced to incorporate fishermen's traditional knowledge into fisheries co-management, in order to improve knowledge and outcomes. [19694/24]
View answerThe term "co-management" refers to arrangements whereby public administrations, the fisheries sector and relevant stakeholders are involved in the fisheries management process.
Stakeholder engagement is a vital part of fisheries management, both at EU and national level.
Stakeholders, through the Advisory Councils, may submit recommendations or suggestions to the European Commission and Member States on fisheries management matters. In addition, within the framework of regionalisation, the Advisory Councils are fully consulted as part of the process of developing Joint Recommendations such as those relating to the implementation of the landing obligation or on technical measures.
At a national level, stakeholders play an important role in fish quota management through the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC). Allocations and other arrangements are decided by the Minister on an ongoing basis having regard for the advice of the QMAC. This Committee is a formal consultative committee, involving fishing industry representatives from the catching, inshore and processing sectors.
The QMAC currently meets on a monthly basis. The purpose of these meetings is to make recommendations to the Minister on monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly regimes for particular stocks and industry representatives bring the benefit of their knowledge and experience of fishing to these discussions. As far as possible, I, as Minister, follow the QMAC's recommendations for regimes for particular stocks, subject to the proper management and rational exploitation of our fisheries. The fish quota management system is designed to ensure, having regard to fishing patterns and market conditions, the best possible spread both between fishing vessel operators and in terms of take up of quota during the year.
216. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has a plan to prioritise selective low-impact fishing practices such as line caught fishing during future fishery negotiations. [19695/24]
View answerFollowing the UK's withdrawal from the EU, the majority of Ireland's commercial fish stocks - which were previously exclusively Union resources - are now shared resources under international law. The European Commission has sole competence to negotiate with Third Countries, including the UK, on behalf of the EU on the setting of fishing opportunities.
The bilateral consultations with the UK on setting fishing opportunities for shared fish stocks take place in the autumn. Ahead of this, the Council sets down the Commission's mandate for these negotiations. Ireland inputs into the development of this mandate - and throughout the negotiation process - in order to raise our concerns and priorities.
The advice on fish stocks published 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, such as the UK.
The purpose of the negotiations on fishing opportunities is to agree the Total Allowable Catch amounts for shared fish stocks, rather than to specify the types of gear used in the various fisheries.
Ireland has strongly supported the introduction of more selective and innovative technical measures to reduce catches of juvenile fish and unwanted by-catches. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), working in collaboration with our fishing sector, has been at the forefront of identifying and trialing effective measures. A number of such changes to fishing gear and practices which demonstrate improved selectivity have been adopted at EU level following recommendations from the North West Waters Member States Group, of which Ireland is a key member.
217. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 20 June 2023, if he intends this to only apply in situations where the licence has not been actioned (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/24]
View answerA replanting plan is set out in the application for a felling licence and is considered as part of the application assessment. Therefore, an applicant that holds a valid Felling licence will be aware of the replanting obligation attached to that licence. If the licence has been actioned then the applicant will have been obliged to adhere to the felling and replanting conditions of their Felling licence. They will not be eligible at that point to apply for a Forestry Grant for works that have already been carried out.
For clarity, in circumstances whereby the felling licence has not been actioned then the applicant may apply for an appropriate Forestry Scheme, for the same plot of land, and subject to meeting the conditions attached to that scheme, may seek to amend their felling licence and replanting plan where they are proposing to make a material change to the felling and replanting operations, and this will be considered by my Department.
One of the conditions of any scheme is prior written approval by my Department. For any queries in relation to a specific licence my officials can be contacted at forestryappenquiries@agiculture.gov.ie
218. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the climate resilient reforestation scheme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/24]
View answerMy Department is currently developing a system to allow applications for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme to be accepted electronically and it is our intention to launch it in the coming weeks.
The proposed Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme aims to provide supports at reforestation that incentivise species and structural diversity. This can result in an increase in the resilience and adaptiveness of the forest land to climate related threats.
Many forests in Ireland have been established and managed under an even-aged management structure and there is a need for a greater balance between these and forests managed under closer to nature silviculture, such as Continuous Cover Forestry and semi-natural forest.
This intervention will be delivered through a Reforestation Scheme with 3 Elements:
1: Reforestation for Continuous Cover Forestry
2: Reforestation for Native Woodlands
3: Reforestation for Biodiversity and Water Protection
All elements will be subject to my Department's Forestry Standards, including the accepted species, origin and provenance list. Grant funding will be available and can be used for measures that ensure successful re-establishment, such as planting, plant protection (e.g. fencing) and maintenance.
219. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he last spoke with the CEO of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority; and the issues discussed. [19811/24]
View answerThe Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is headed by the three person SFPA Management Authority consisting of the Executive Chairperson and two Authority members.
The SFPA is an independent regulatory agency as set down in the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. The SFPA is by statute independent in the exercise of its functions and as Minister I have responsibility for policy formation, resource allocation and corporate governance oversight only.
I am in contact with the Executive Chairperson by phone or at events such as the opening of the Dinish Wharf extension in Castletownbere in February and the opening of the SFPA's new port office in Greencastle last year.
Under the 2006 Act, the Authority is required to provide assistance and information to the Minister in relation to its remit under the Act.
220. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the locations of the 30 sites identified for accelerated builds for refugees and other social housing purposes; if he will outline the plans for the provision of modular homes in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area; the sites under consideration there for the provision of modular homes; the status of such considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19568/24]
View answerSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and approximately 84,000 of those have been referred to my Department seeking accommodation from the State.
In November 2023, my Department launched an online portal for developer-led modular accommodation on gov.ie where commercial providers could submit expressions of interest (EOIs). The portal sought offers for developments with a capacity of up to 200 BOTPs, encompassing the site, units and all management services associated with them. The use of modular accommodation may potentially provide a further sustainable medium-term solution to assist in meeting overall accommodation requirements, allowing BOTPs to integrate into communities and possibly setting the stage for future housing development at sites. This programme will help establish the feasibility of the approach from a cost perspective and the capacity of the private sector to deliver appropriate solutions.
129 EOIs were received on foot of this process. My Department carried out a preliminary review of the EOIs and began engaging with the relevant Local Authorities as part of the review process. While a significant number of the EOIs have been deemed to be non-viable, the review process in respect of the remaining offers is ongoing, 3 of which are located in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area. At this stage in the process it is not possible to quantify the number of units under consideration at these or other sites due to the level of analysis still required.
Due to this ongoing process it is also not possible to confirm the locations of any proposed developments.
My Department has paused the expressions of interest portal until further information is available on the viability of the business case for such developments arising from the review of the EOIs already received.
While my Department assists with the Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis, to ensure that Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have access to suitable accommodation or, if necessary, receive the means to access accommodation, other Departments and Agencies are also involved in the whole-of-Government response to this crisis. The Deputy might wish to refer questions regarding social housing to my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
221. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19575/24]
View answerEmployees of my Department are expected to adhere to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour at all times. The Code forms part of the terms of employment of all civil servants. Part 2, sections 5.1 to 5.4 – ‘Civil Servants and Politics’ states that civil servants above clerical level cannot stand for local election. Civil servants in clerical grades and certain non-industrial civil servants are free to engage in politics and may stand for local election. Eligible civil servants are expected to apply to their Department/Office for permission to engage in politics and may, at the discretion of their Department/Office, have their application refused where any conflict of interest is identified.
In addition, my Department complies with section 9 of Circular 9/2009 ‘Civil Servants and Political Activity’ which brings together and elaborates on the rules that apply to civil servants in relation to politics and political activity including local elections.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have asked the bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to you on this matter in relation to staff of their own organisations.
222. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) can expect a substantive response to her letter to you dated 24 April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19586/24]
View answerMs. Holohan's letter was received on April 30 and is receiving prompt attention. A reply will issue shortly, following due consultation with the relevant officials within the Department.
223. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if denying healthcare to a specific group as suggested in a recent article (details supplied) would be in line with anti-discrimination rights such as represented in the Equal Status Act 2000-2018 (details supplied). [19594/24]
View answerThe recognition of foreign prescriptions is a matter for the Department of Health.
The determination of whether or not a specific action constitutes discrimination is a matter for the Workplace Relations Commission or for the courts.
224. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to ongoing concerns by a group (details supplied); if he is conscious of the need to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19610/24]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is designed to provide payments and other benefits to people who spent time in one or more of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions, that were identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The institutions covered by the Payment Scheme are set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act, which was signed into law on 11th July 2023.
The institution at Temple Hill, Blackrock, commonly known as St. Patrick’s Hospital, was not investigated by the Commission of Investigation because it operated primarily as a children's hospital rather than as an institution providing ante and post-natal facilities.
At page 29 in Chapter 2 of the Social History section of the Commission of Investigation report, which details the different types of institutions that existed, Temple Hill was listed as a children’s hospital and, as such, did not meet the criteria of a Mother and Baby Home - www.gov.ie/en/publication/89e43-chapter-2-institutions/. The Commission referred to the institution as being “frequently wrongly described as a mother and baby home. It was an infants’ nursery and mothers were not resident there. As a hospital, it received funding from the Hospitals Commission.”
For this reason it is not included in this Payment Scheme.
225. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his plans for the development of respite services in CHO6 for persons with disabilities and their families including the increasing of staffing levels; and the facilities that are planned or where works have commenced. [19643/24]
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.
226. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what the new restructuring for regional health areas will mean for children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/24]
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.
227. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people leaving rehabilitative training and school who were profiled for an adult day service in 2023; and the number of adult day services places provided in 2023, in tabular form. [19792/24]
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.
228. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full-year costs of providing an additional 100 intensive home support packages. [19793/24]
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.
229. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) is still waiting on an assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19846/24]
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.
230. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify if he is aware that the owner of a property (details supplied), currently being used to house people seeking temporary international protection, is being paid the sum of €75 per person per night; to clarify if that is not the sum, if he will clarify the correct sum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19852/24]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has contracted a property in Páirc Mhuire, Newbridge, Co. Kildare for use as accommodation for International Protection applicants. It has capacity for 11 people, and will accommodate families seeking International Protection.
Details on individual contracts or providers are considered commercially sensitive and are not made available at this time.
I trust this information clarifies the matter.
231. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the rationale for his Department relying on the advice of a planning consultant engaged by the service provider that a proposed change of use of a property (details supplied) to IPAS accommodation was compliant with planning requirements in view of the fact that his officials had their attention drawn prior to entering into the related contract, that the statutory planning authority, Kildare County Council, had already determined to the contrary and had initiated enforcement proceedings against the provider under the Planning and Development Acts. [19857/24]
View answer232. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify his Department's description that as a fundamental requirement for all providers of IPA accommodation to demonstrate that such accommodation is fully compliant with fire safety requirements, the Department entered into a contract in relation to a premises (details supplied) at a time when proceedings under the Fire Services Act, that ultimately led to the issue of a Closure Notice, that had already been initiated against the provider by the Kildare County Council's Chief Fire Officer. [19858/24]
View answer233. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 1 February 2024, if he will clarify the current status of this contract since publication in the meantime of his Department's 'rate card' for such accommodation now means that there are no longer any commercially sensitive aspects to the contract that may need to be withheld in the public interest [19859/24]
View answer234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify his Department's description that as a fundamental requirement for all providers of IPA accommodation to demonstrate that such accommodation is fully compliant with fire safety requirements, the Department entered into a contract in relation to a premises (details supplied) at a time when proceedings under the Fire Services Act, that ultimately led to the issue of a Closure Notice, that had already been initiated against the provider by the Kildare County Council's Chief Fire Officer. [19884/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 231, 232, 233 and 234 together.
I thank the Deputy for her question. The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be provided directly in the coming day.
