Written Answers Nos. 474-481
474. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if more funding can be allocated for social farming (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17345/22]
View answerI am a strong supporter of the Social Farming model and will continue to offer support to the initiative as it does a tremendous job in driving inclusion.
My Department provides funding under the Rural Innovation & Development Fund (RIDF) for the development of the national Social Farming Network known as "Social Farming Ireland". In addition, funding is also provided for the development of a number of social farming model projects across Ireland.
The organisations currently under contract to provide the services and their associated funding for 2021 are as follows:
National Social Farming Network:
- Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG - Social Farming Network - €400,000.
Social Farming Model Contracts:
- Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG – €100,000
- Down Syndrome Irl (Cork Branch) – €92,485
- South Kerry Development Partnership – €100,000
- IRD Duhallow – €84,250
A similar level of funding will be provided by my Department this year for the extension of all of the above contracts.
It is also my understanding that there are additional streams of funding available from other agencies for social farming placements.
475. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to identify and address gender pay disparity in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17351/22]
View answerMy Department's current Statement of Strategy 2021-2024 sets out as one of our core values "A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and the fair and equal treatment of all."
These core values are important for our own employees, for the clients and stakeholders of the Department who avail of our wide range of services and for our sector as a whole.
I am committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all its employees and the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy launched in 2018 reinforces our core values in these areas.
There has been a strong focus on gender balance initiatives in my Department since 2011, with a gender balance steering group in place since then. This group works closely with all areas of my Department in driving gender balance, through focus on career opportunities and participation in promotion competitions for all staff, supporting staff with caring responsibilities and work-life balance initiatives.
My Department monitors its gender pay gap and has seen a narrowing of this pay gap from 20.5% in 2013 to 11.9% in 2021.
My Department and its agencies regularly encourage their staff to participate in Women in Agriculture and Women in STEM events. In addition, I am committed to achieving the Government target of 40% gender balance on the Boards of our 12 State Bodies.
The recently published agri-food strategy, Food Vision 2030, recognises the importance of gender balance to the long-term sustainable future for primary producers and includes actions to promote and improve gender balance at all levels, including at senior management and board level, as well as capturing and publishing gender data on policy implementation e.g. participation by women in schemes and measures. It also includes a commitment to hold a National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture.
I am proud to have put forward the following package of measures on gender equality in the CAP Strategic Plan were proposed by Ireland:
- Increased rate of grant aid to 60% for women aged 41-66 years under TAMS Investments
- Knowledge Transfer Programme - Women only KT Groups
- European Innovation Partnerships – potential for a call for proposals to incentivise women’s participation in agriculture.
- Improved recording, collection and reporting on Gender data across all CAP schemes.
All CAP interventions will be developed with a gender aware perspective to ensure there are no inherent barriers to women’s participation. The National CAP Network established in the CAP Strategic Plan will be leveraged to increase the involvement of all women in the implementation of CAP. This will include events and support for women and a women’s sub-committee to lead such activities.
The ACORNS programme is funded under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund through my Department. Its objective is to encourage a stronger level of enterprise development in rural areas by seeking out and assisting start-up female entrepreneurs living in rural areas to grow and develop their businesses.
My Department is a core member of the Agri-food Diversity and Inclusion Forum (AgDif), led by Bord Bia and Aon, in partnership with the 30% Club. Since 2017, the Agri-Food Diversity & Inclusion Forum has been a collaborative initiative with the Irish Agri-food industry, aiming to position our food and drink sector as the industry of choice for the best talent.
My Department was the subject of an ESRI report on "Flexible Working and Gender Balance: A case study of an Irish Civil Service Department." The report, which was published in late 2020 reviewed the outcome of a Gender Balance Committee Survey on Gender Balance and Flexible working arrangements in my Department. The report contained a number of recommendations around equality and gender balance and the monitoring and implementation of these recommendations is currently underway in my Department .
476. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to encourage active travel modes to and from work in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17370/22]
View answerMy Department engages continuously in initiatives that are beneficial to both the health and well-being of employees and the environment. The Department participates in the Government’s ‘Cycle to work scheme’, facilitating an increase in the use of bicycles by staff for their commute to work. This active travel has been supported by providing bicycle parking facilities.
In addition, my Department has recently partnered with the National Transport Authority in joining their Smarter Travel Programme. Officials in my Department are working with the National Transport Authority to devise an Action Plan that best suits our workplace accommodation and staff needs. It is anticipated that the Smarter Travel Programme will be introduced to all staff later this year.
The Plan will encourage sustainable and active travel to our work locations by implementing proven initiatives to promote walking, cycling, public transport and carpooling, thereby providing a workplace that is more attractive for employers and employees.
477. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 23 March 2022, if he will state the actual number of Coillte road licences on the weekly dashboard in week 1 March 2022, which is not available on the layout of the dashboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17394/22]
View answerForest road applications are received and decided daily. Applications received from Coillte are treated the same as applications from private individuals. For week ending 4th March, 13 forest road licences were issued to private applicants and six were issued to Coillte.
478. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking as a result of a Workplace Relations Commission ruling that found gender-based pay discrimination in a State body under his remit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/22]
View answerThe resolution of disputes between employers and employees is a matter in the first instance for the parties involved. For its part, the State provides independent industrial relations dispute mechanisms via the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Labour Court to assist parties to resolve matters. In this case, I am advised that Teagasc is appealing the WRC Adjudication Officer's decision to the Labour Court. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter further.
479. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are plans or proposed locations for pubs as community hubs in County Louth or east County Meath following the announcement of the pilot programme on 25 March 2022; when she expects to review the pilot programme and possibly implement same across a number of further locations and counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17116/22]
View answerIn line with a commitment in Our Rural Future I am pleased to confirm that funding of €50,000 has been allocated to the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) to support a “Pubs as Community Hubs” initiative.
"Pubs as Community Hubs" will explore how the rural pub can be utilised as a space for community activities and services, which may not be currently available locally.
Funded under the CLÁR innovation programme, this initiative is being rolled out on a pilot basis. The process of selecting five rural pubs in Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Cork and Kerry is now underway. The VFI will agree activities with the respective proprietors and submit funding recommendation to my Department for approval.
The aim is to assist rural pubs to diversify during quiet trading times to the benefit of local communities. A rural pub, may for instance, act as a community cinema, become a meeting space for local community groups, or host a book club or arts and craft classes. It might set aside space to promote remote working, show case local artisan products or highlight local tourism and heritage places of interest.
A review of the pilot initiative is expected to be undertaken in 2023, which will inform future decisions in relation to the initiative.
480. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to identify and address gender pay disparity in her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17364/22]
View answerThe Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 has introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting. Organisations with over 250 employees will be required to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. The regulations under the Act will be published in the coming weeks along with guidance for employers.
I am committed to supporting progress on gender equality in my Department and all areas under my remit. My Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 is underpinned by the values as set in the Civil Service Renewal Plan. Our strategy outlines the Department’s commitment to equality and inclusion, fair and equal treatment of all our stakeholders and a commitment to human rights, equality and anti-discrimination, in accordance with the Public Sector Duty obligation of the Human Rights and Equality Commission 2014. The Department devised its Gender Action Plan, following consultation and engagement with staff. The Gender Action Plan (GAP) sets out commitments and goals for the coming year and beyond. The GAP will feed into the Department's new HR People Strategy currently under development. My Department also celebrated International Women’s Day on the 8th March with a focus on ‘Breaking the Bias’. A coffee morning was held on the day and data relating to gender equality was shared with staff to raise awareness.
481. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to encourage active travel modes to and from work in her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17383/22]
View answerMy Department has two office locations, one in Dublin and one in Mayo. Employees are encouraged to cycle to work where possible. To facilitate this, there are bike racks in each office, as well as showers available for staff who choose an active commute to work. My Department also promotes the tax incentivised Cycle to Work scheme, which aims to encourage staff to cycle to and from work, and the Tax Saver Commuter Ticket Scheme for use on public transport.
The Department also has a health and wellbeing programme whereby staff are encouraged to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. A range of initiatives have been rolled out, including walking challenges, which encourage staff to embrace physical activity as a means to contribute to the enjoyment of significant health and environmental benefits. As staff in my Department attend the office, the Human Resources unit is encouraging them to try to include an active element in their journey.
The table below outlines how the Department's four agencies under its remit encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work.
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Charities Regulator |
The Charities Regulator takes part in the Cycle to Work Scheme and provides showers and bike racks for staff who choose an active commute. |
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Western Development Commission (WDC) |
The WDC actively encourages employees to walk or cycle to work where possible and has opened offices in Galway and Sligo, as well as Ballaghaderreen, to facilitate local access for employees and to improve delivery to the citizen. The WDC actively promote the Cycle to Work scheme to staff. |
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Water Safety Ireland |
Water Safety Ireland takes part in the Cycle to Work Scheme and ensure this is highlighted to new staff in the induction process so that they are aware of the opportunity to take advantage of this initiative. They continue to examine ways to develop their facilities to further encourage active commuting. |
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Pobal |
Pobal was an early adopter of the Cycle To Work Scheme and staff have been availing of this benefit for many years for making qualifying journeys to/from work.Pobal provides designated bicycle parking and shower facilities in most offices.Staff may also avail of the “Tax Saver Commuter Ticket Scheme” to use public transport and many staff combine public transport and active travel as part of their daily commutes. |
