Written Answers Nos. 531-550
531. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next tranche of TAMS will be open for application; if the tranche will facilitate applications for the purchase of machinery for the purpose of cutting vegetation as an alternative to the use of chemical sprays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17168/20]
View answerThe Organic Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II is currently open for applications and offers organic farmers the opportunity to apply for items such as toppers, mowers and mulchers. It is not planned at present to make any change to the investment list to include these items for all farmers. Full details of these investments and all the TAMS II measures can be found on the Department's website.
532. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which TAMS tranches are advertised by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17169/20]
View answerFull details of the TAMS II tranche dates are made available on my Department's website and in press releases issued. They are also communicated to stakeholders through, for example, meetings of the Farmers Charter group. These details are regularly updated as the dates are finalised. The current tranche opened on 6 June 2020 and closes on 7 August 2020.
533. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will immediately suspend all live exports to Libya in view of the escalating situation there; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/20]
View answerThe export of animals is a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry. It plays a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. The Department facilitates this trade, recognising its critical importance to the agri-sector, while ensuring that live animal exports meet the highest welfare standards.
In 2019, the combined total value of animal exports to the Irish economy was €167 million. The vast majority of animals moved are for trade within the EU. A smaller proportion are exported to non-EU countries.
My Department implements a stringent system of controls on the welfare of animals being exported, in particular, through a comprehensive legislative framework relating to the transport of animals by sea (The Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016 (S.I. 356 of 2016). Only ships approved by my Department can load cattle for export from Ireland. Cattle being exported are monitored during the prescribed isolation period by Department Veterinary Inspectors and, in some cases, by Official Veterinarians from the importing countries. This is in addition to work carried out by Private Veterinary Practitioners who carry out the testing required prior to export to enable certification. Animals are inspected and certified by Official Veterinarians from the Department with regard to their health status and fitness for travel. Due regard is taken to weather conditions in respect of long distance transport
Ireland continues to work closely with other EU Member State and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) with a view to improving animal welfare practices worldwide. In this regard, Ireland has reaffirmed its on-going commitment to animal welfare through additional OIE multi-annual financial assistance (€75,000 per annum over the period 2017-20) to support its activities directed towards enhancing animal welfare worldwide.
534. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a felling licence will be issued for a person (details supplied) [17182/20]
View answerAn application for a tree felling licence was received from the person named in July 2019. The proposed tree felling is within the 15km zone of impact for six designated sites, including the Blackwater River SAC, which is protected for freshwater pearl mussel. The potential impacts of the tree felling operations on these sites cannot be excluded. For this reason, the application was referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit for their assessment.
There are currently delays to issuing decisions on forestry licence applications, which are as a result of the changes made to internal Appropriate Assessment Procedures (AAP). These were introduced in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the FAC and others. These findings meant that in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable.
My Department has a detailed project plan in place for dealing with the current backlog and new applications, which includes significant investment in extra resources required to deliver the plan. These resources are a combination of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required.
One aspect of this plan is prioritising applications where the applicant has submitted a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). It is open to the person named to submit a NIS, which must be prepared by a suitably qualified person, as their own expense. If the applicant decides to provide a NIS, my Department will issue guidance, which will indicate on what areas the NIS must focus.
535. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when FLAG funding will be distributed to a fisherman such as a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17237/20]
View answerMy Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Progranmme 2014-20 is the principal source of development funding for the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors. The Programme includes a €12 million Fisheries Local Action Group Scheme which aids community and micro enterprise projects in fisheries and aquaculture communities, mostly projects concerning the seafood and wider maritime sectors.
Approval of grants under the EMFF FLAG Scheme is an operational matter for BIM in association with the board of each of the seven FLAGs, who are responsible for selecting projects for funding. I understand from BIM that the first round of 2020 grant offers under the FLAG scheme is due to be issued imminently to successful projects.
536. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a TAMS application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17326/20]
View answerThe person named applied for grant aid under tranche 17 for the Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme of TAMS II. Both applications have passed the initial administrative checks required and now the applications will be subject to the ranking and selection process which will be carried out shortly. Ranking and selection is the process of ranking each application in each tranche using certain pre-defined criteria. If the applications pass through ranking and selection they will then be subject to technical checks. If the applications are successful at that point, approval will issue in writing to the applicant concerned.
Details of the criteria for all TAMS II measures are available on the Department's website.
537. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a BEAM scheme appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be expedited. [17337/20]
View answerThe Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been advised, however, that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure Scheme (BEAM) appeal was received from the named person on 18 February 2020.
The Agriculture Appeals Office requested the file and a statement on the grounds of appeal from my Department and all relevant documentation has been forwarded to the Appeals Office.
I am advised that the appeal has been assigned to an Appeals Officer for examination and that the Appeals Office will be in contact with the appellant concerning the appeal in due course.
538. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if discretion will be employed in the case of a person (details supplied) to allow for the late application to the BEEP-S scheme in view of the extenuating circumstances arising from the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17338/20]
View answerThe objective of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance, supporting decision making on farm and support of best practice in welfare management.
The closing date for receipt of applications for this programme was 15th May 2020. Applications could only be made via my Department's online application system at www.agfood.ie. A request was received on 29th June 2020 from the person named requesting a review of their participation in the scheme as they had not submitted an application by the 15th May deadline.
A review was carried out and a decision letter issued on 7th July 2020 outlining that a late application could not be accepted. This letter also indicated that if the person named was dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, they retain the right to appeal the matter to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
539. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received single farm payment entitlements since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17348/20]
View answerThe Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) came into effect in 2015 as part of the new Common Agricultural Policy. The precursor to BPS was the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) which commenced in 2005 and came to an end on 31st December 2014. All SPS entitlements held expired on that date and new BPS entitlements were allocated under to eligible farmers.
In order to receive a set of BPS entitlements, there were a number of requirements which had to be met, one of which was to submit a Basic Payment Scheme application form detailing all the lands that they were being farmed. This application had to be submitted on or before the closing date of 15 May 2015.
A BPS application form was sent to the person named on 3 March 2015 for completion. According to the Department’s records, the person named did not submit a BPS application in the 2015 scheme year and therefore did not establish any BPS entitlements to qualify for a payment.
540. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a penalty imposed on a person (details supplied) was due to a clerical error. [17391/20]
View answerThe person named submitted an application on 7 December 2018 under the TAMS II Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme. The application was approved and a payment claim was subsequently submitted on 19 March 2020. In this case, the applicant delivered a different investment than the one applied for and, in line with the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, a penalty was applied.
A review of the penalty/reduction applied in this case has been requested and is currently being carried out. The outcome of this review will be notified, in writing, directly to the person when it is completed.
541. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a commitment made by his Department to provide a compensation payment to farmers (details supplied) will be honoured without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/20]
View answerWhile no legal basis exists for a mandatory compensation scheme under EU legislation in respect of the particular subtype of the disease identified, a once-off financial support scheme has been established. Any of these affected flock owners are eligible to apply and subject to meeting the criteria as laid down in the terms and conditions for this one scheme will receive ex gratia payments at a maximum rate of €10,000 per flock owner.
The scheme received a budget allocation of €140,000 and payment amounts were determined by the number of eligible applicants i.e. affected flocks. There was no change to the overall budget allocation. It was not possible for my Department to indicate the level of compensation per flock until the extent of the outbreak was known, as soon as this information was available my Department published the details of the scheme.
Terms and conditions, including application forms are available on my Department's website and applications for the above referenced flock owners will be accepted until the deadline of 31 July 2020.
542. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of advisers and special advisers appointed by him since becoming Minister; the starting annual salary of each person appointed by him; if an open interview process was conducted for each appointee; the duration and terms of each contract issued to each adviser and special adviser; and if an advisory role has been split to facilitate job sharing in tabular form. [16557/20]
View answerOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval.
It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. At this stage, no Special Advisers have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government. However, the Deputy may wish to note that I have identified two individuals to act as my Special Advisers who will be formally appointed by the Government once the Guidelines have been approved and received by my Department.
543. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issue of the difficulty in recruiting suitably qualified support staff for early years settings; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/20]
View answerI am acutely aware of the difficulties that many early learning and care services report in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and the high rate of staff turnover in the sector. In Pobal’s latest Early Years Sector Profile Report 2018/2019, the staff turnover rate stood at 23% which, despite a 2% improvement on the previous year, is unsustainably high.
I believe that the key challenge to recruiting and retaining staff is the attractiveness of working in the sector. One way to address this issue is through improving wages and working conditions. The increases in investment in recent years need to continue if we are to offer services that are of high quality, affordable and accessible. However, increased investment by itself will not ensure that staff wages and conditions will improve.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to support the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee in the childcare sector and the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order, which would determine minimum rates of pay for childcare workers, as well as terms and conditions of employment. Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to the implications of the recent High Court decision on Sectoral Employment Orders and any implications this decision may have.
My Department has set out its vision for the sector, and a roadmap to achieve it, in First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families. First 5 recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care and school-age childcare and seeks to build ‘an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce that is supported and valued and reflects the diversity of babies, young children and their families’. First 5 includes a commitment to achieve a graduate-led workforce.
Delivering on a further commitment in First 5, an expert group has been appointed to examine the current model of funding for early learning and care and school-age childcare and its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services.
First 5 also includes a commitment to a Workforce Development Plan for the early learning and care and school age childcare sectors which will set out plans to raise the profile of careers in the sector, establishing role profiles, career pathways, qualifications requirements, and associated policy mechanisms along with leadership development opportunities and work towards a more gender-balanced and diverse workforce. Work on developing the Workforce Development Plan began last year and is on-going.
544. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is satisfied there is sufficient capacity in the early years and school-age childcare system in view of the impact that Covid-19 has had on settings; the details of notifications of closures issued to Tusla for early years settings since January 2020 by service type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16625/20]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been monitoring closely developments in relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sectoral capacity, including the supply of, and demand for, places as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Supporting services as they reopen, and ensuring that capacity is sufficient to meet demand, is a key priority of my Department.
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2019 demonstrated that, prior to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the sector was running at near capacity. However, recent IPSOS/MRBI surveys of parents commissioned by my Department indicate a drop in the number of families likely to seek to access ELC and SAC in the initial weeks of reopening.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of ELC and SAC services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on 29 May. The guidance recommends, amongst other measures, the use of a “play pod” model to restrict interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. The public health advice does not require any change to minimum adult-child ratios or to regulatory space requirements. While some settings may reduce capacity depending on their layout, there are no absolute requirements for capacity reduction, and most services should be able to comply with the public health advice with no or little reduction in capacity.
On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of ELC and SAC services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services resumed from 29 June. To this end, the Government has committed a €75m package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country.
The funding package contains four significant elements:
- A once-off Reopening Support Payment (RSP) for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
- A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
- Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
- Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes.
In developing the funding package, it is recognised that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the increased costs associated with complying with public health requirements in a lower occupancy scenario.
The funding package will also help to ensure that ELC and SAC providers do not charge higher fees over the summer than they did pre-COVID-19. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.
A key policy priority for the Department in this process is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
The latest data shows that 85% of services that ordinarily operate in July and August have now reopened.
Officials in the Department are now working on supports for the sector going forward. This will reflect the continued commitment to quality, affordable, accessible ELC and SAC, and will recognise the importance of having a sustainable sector, in the interests of providers, practitioners, parents, children and economic recovery. Department officials are working closely with eight representative organisations of the sector through the Advisory Group on Reopening.
As of 15 July 2020, Tusla had been notified of 81 closures of services since January 2020. These are outlined as below:
|
Type of Service |
No. of Services |
|
Full Day |
15 |
|
Part Time |
10 |
|
Childminding |
4 |
|
Sessional |
51 |
|
Drop in |
1 |
|
Total |
81 |
In 2019, 200 services closed and approximately 150 services closed in both 2017 and 2018. Services which close tend to be replaced with new services, or existing services expand to absorb their capacity. The number of childcare places in the sector has grown by approximately 60% over the last 5 years. The average size of childcare service has grown from 33 to 47.
State investment to the sector has increased by 141% over the last five budgets. The Government is committed to implementing First 5: A Whole-of- Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families , which commits to at least doubling investment in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare in the decade to 2028.
The Programme for Government reaffirms the importance of reforming the ELC and SAC sector and this remains a priority for the Department over the coming year.
545. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adults and children who accessed Tusla funded domestic violence refuge accommodation in 2019; the average length of time families spent in such accommodation; and the number of beds available on a given night in 2019. [16680/20]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding and coordination supports to some 60 organisations that deliver a range of services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence throughout the country.
With regard to statistics relating to the use of Tusla-funded emergency domestic violence accommodation, Tusla has advised that data is collected retrospectively. The Department's understanding is that full data for 2019 is not yet available. A data report with regard to 2019 activity is scheduled to be published in Quarter 3 this year.
546. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the value of contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) and its subsidiaries by his Department and each body and local authority under his remit from 1 January 2016 to 14 July 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16836/20]
View answerMy Department did not award any contract to this company or its subsidiaries during the timeframe specified. A contract may be defined as a legally signed agreement for the purchase of goods or services over a period of time. Once off purchases are not included.
A response has already been furnished to the Deputy from the Adoption Authority of Ireland. I have referred the question to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Ombudsman for Children's Office and asked them to provide the information sought directly to the Deputy.
Oberstown Children Detention Campus has informed my Department of a contract with a subsidiary the details of which are in the table below. It was for the provision of facilites management services.
|
Value of Contract awarded (ex VAT) |
Date Awarded / Paid |
|
€699,869 |
01/02/2019 |
547. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports considered to allow crèches to care for children under one in view of the fact many are refusing to take them as they require extra staffing which leaves parents returning to the workplace without childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16867/20]
View answer554. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the fact little or no childcare is now available for children under one year of age; and if he will assist parents still unable to get childcare in order to return from parental leave. [17236/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 554 together.
On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services over the summer months. A further package is being examined to cover the period from 24 August onwards. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country.
The new €75m funding package contains four significant elements:
- A once-off Reopening Support Payment (RSP) for providers funded by my Department that are opening between 29 June and early September.
- A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for providers funded by my Department that are opening between 29 June and early September.
- Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
- Resumption of my Department's ELC and SAC funding programmes.
In developing the above funding package, the Department recognised that a reduced number of children were likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package was tailored to allow providers to operate with less parental income and to assist in meeting the costs associated with complying with public health requirements.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. Based on advice provided by the HPSC, the Regulations in relation to the adult-child ratios and the floor-space requirements for ELC or SAC services have not been amended as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use. Therefore additional staff are not required to meet adult child ratios for any age group.
While some settings may reduce capacity depending on their layout, there are no required capacity reductions, and most services should be able to comply with the public health advice with no or little reduction in capacity. In addition, the use of play-pods and the fact that the Regulations in relation to the adult-child ratios and floor-space requirements have not changed mean that the costs of compliance with public health requirements have been kept to a minimum.
By 17 July, of 1,800 ELC and SAC services open last summer, approximately 1,400 services had registered at least one child on a funding scheme run by my Department. As not all children access places supported through these schemes, and as providers can continue to register children on schemes over the coming days and weeks, this indicates a very high level of reopening.
548. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the requirements involved in order to meet habitual residency requirements in the context of adopting a child from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16936/20]
View answer549. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the case of a person (details supplied); the procedure of naturalisation in circumstances in which a child from another country is adopted by Irish parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16937/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 549 together.
As both questions relate to the processes and requirements of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred them to that body for direct reply to the Deputy.
550. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when his Department will issue guidance with regard to symptomatic children in childcare; if he has engaged with general practitioners regarding their role in certifying children to return to childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/20]
View answerExpert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The HPSC guidance sets out the steps to be taken by childcare services where a child is suspected of having symptoms of Covid-19 while in the service i.e. the child should be isolated from other children, their parent/s should be contacted and asked to collect them and the parent should be advised to contact their GP. The guidance is also clear that parents should be advised to not bring children to the service if they have symptoms of Covid-19.
The HPSC guidance does not require services to seek a medical certificate for children suspected of having Covid-19 in order for the child to return to the service. Officials in my Department have become aware of some confusion about this among services. The HPSC guidance is currently being updated to provide further clarity on this matter.
Following engagement with General Practitioners the HPSC have advised that requiring assurances/certification from medical practitioners prior to attendance at childcare or prior to return to childcare after an absence is not appropriate as it places unnecessary demand on the healthcare system and there is no reason to expect it to increase the safety of childcare services. Any process of medical certification in this context will, of necessity, relate to the child’s condition one or more days before attendance for childcare and the child’s condition may have changed in the interim.
