Written Answers Nos. 279-290
279. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any assistance can be given to help a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49163/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the hardship that a TB outbreak can have on farms and the impact it can have on farmers and their families.
The above named herdowner entered a TB restriction on the 19th September 2023 having had 19 animals disclosed as reactors as a result of a contiguous herd test. These animals were valued as part of the "On Farm Market Valuation" scheme on 20th September 2023 and the herdowner accepted this valuation on 26th September 2023.
All 19 animals were removed for slaughter on 28th September 2023.
A veterinary decision was taken to depopulate the remaining nine animals in the herd on disease mitigation grounds. These nine animals were valued under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme on 18th October 2023 . Both parties (The herdowner and my Department) accepted the valuation on the 26th October 2023.
These animals were removed and slaughtered on Monday 6th November 2023.
The herdowner will receive the agreed compensatory measures in the coming weeks, subject to submission of required documentation and compliance with the general terms and conditions with the scheme.
280. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person’s entry into a scheme will be affected (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49181/23]
View answerBudget 2024 increased the allocation for ACRES by €40 million, bringing the total 2024 scheme allocation to €200 million - a substantial increase on the 2023 budget of €160 million. This provision of additional funding will enable delivery on the Government’s commitment to have 50,000 farmers participating in ACRES. An additional 4,000 farmers will be accepted into the second Tranche of the scheme.
The same three-step process that applied to the first Tranche will also apply to Tranche 2. This includes the submission of an Expression of Interest by farm advisors on behalf of their clients, the preparation and submission of a Farm Sustainability Plan and, finally, the formal submission of the ACRES application. Each of these steps must be completed for an application to be valid.
The person named, together with his approved ACRES advisor, can now commence the application process for Tranche 2. The Expression of Interest facility and the Department's online portal for the creation of Farm Sustainability Plans are now open to all eligible applicants. The final step, the opening of the ACRES System for the formal submission of the applications, will open in the coming weeks.
In the event of oversubscription, a ranking and selection process will be applied based on the extent of the environmental benefit to be delivered.
I would encourage the person named to get in contact with an approved ACRES advisor as soon as possible so that they can commence some of the associated preparatory work at the earliest opportunity
281. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the supports that are available from his Department to public bodies to plant trees on publicly owned lands; if such supports are available to community and voluntary organisations to carry out similar work on grounds to where they have access to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49196/23]
View answerThe Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 launched in September providing significant supports for afforestation offering landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options and species mixes. The Scheme offers generous incentives to landowners, covering 100% of the cost of establishing a forest and offering increased premia rates. I am pleased to advise that, following recent changes to State Aid guidelines, public bodies may now avail of grants and premia for all forest types, subject to meeting the conditions of the Scheme.
Forest Type 3 ‘Forests on Public Lands’ has been specifically created to encourage the planting of new native woodlands on suitable publicly owned bare land. In addition to the establishment grant and fencing grant and premia that are offered for all 12 Forest Types, FT3 offers payments for Trails, Seats and Signage and Forest Playground Equipment. A Derelict Site Grant can also be availed of support specific operations necessitated by the site’s status as a former landfill or brownfield site.
Forest Type 4 ‘Neighbourwoods’ supports the development of attractive close-to-home woodland amenities (or ‘neighbourwoods’) for public use and enjoyment and may be attractive to community and voluntary organisations. The scheme is available to both public and private landowners, working in partnership with local communities.
An afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year has been set out in the Climate Action Plan and in order to achieve this it will be necessary to engage with all landowners. It is my intention that the Afforestation Scheme, of which a key objective is the expansion of the national forest estate on both private and public land, will deliver for society, for landowners and for the forestry sector in Ireland.
282. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 26 September 2023, if it is his intention to appoint members of the Social Economic Environmental Association (SEEFA) to the Forestry Programme Consultative Committee, since SEEFA is the largest private sector representative association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49197/23]
View answerMy colleague, Minister of State Hackett is committed to forming a Forestry Programme Consultative Committee (FPCC). The purpose of the FPCC is to:
• Receive updates on the implementation of objectives and deliverables for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
• Represent views and contributions from a broad selection of stakeholders nominated by Minister of State Hackett.
• Act as a consultative group to make contributions to the development and implementation of the Forest Strategy in Ireland.
• Provide feedback and help to orientate the communications and stakeholder engagement work of the DAFM Implementation team.
Minister of State Hackett intends to write to relevant stakeholders in the coming weeks asking them to nominate a member to represent their organisation on the Committee.
The FPCC members will be selected from a broad range of relevant stakeholders, acknowledging that it is essential that on-going stakeholder engagement is continued to ensure a successful outcome for the Forest Strategy implementation Plan and the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he and his Department continue to accelerate the programme of assessment in the case of children with or without special needs who may be in need of counselling, psychiatric or medical attention; if he will ensure a rapid processing of such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49247/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
284. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which Childrens Disability Network Teams do not have staff co-located in one setting. [49092/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
285. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for the delivery of the Disability Regional Enhanced Supports and Services (DRESS). [49093/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
286. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will share with this Deputy the revised guidance for Individual Family Support Plans and Guidance for CDNTs. [49094/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
287. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a confined senior grade competition has been finalised within Childrens Disability Network Teams; the number of senior grade posts that have been filled to date from this competition; and the overall number of senior grade posts it is intended to fill from this competition. [49095/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
288. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new clinical psychology trainee placement posts that have been established in Childrens Disability Network Teams in 2023. [49096/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
289. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of student placements in each Childrens Disability Network Team in 2022 and 2023;and the estimated number of student placements in each Childrens Disability Network Team for 2024, in tabular form. [49097/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
290. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a Therapy Assistant Programme has been established within Childrens Disability Network Teams. [49098/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
