Written Answers Nos. 248-252
248. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that December was omitted from the Brexit temporary tie-up scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26925/22]
View answerOn 11 May, I announced a Brexit Voluntary Temporary Fishing Vessel Tie-up Scheme for the polyvalent and beam trawl fleets for 2022. The development of the scheme was based on a recommendation of the 'Report of the Seafood Task Force – ‘Navigating Change’ (October 2021). The 2022 scheme represents an extension of the 2021 tie-up which ran from October to December 2021 and which I launched rapidly following the publication of the Task Force report, in order to respond to the situation facing fishers.
The purpose of the scheme is to enable a reduction in quota uptake in 2022 so as to improve quota availability for the fleet overall throughout the remainder of the year. In light of the further quota cuts taking effect in 2022, I have modified the scheme compared to 2021, so that vessel owners can, if they wish, choose to tie-up for up to two calendar months. This enhanced tie-up opportunity will free up additional quota for those vessels continuing to fish, supporting viability in the wider fleet in these challenging times. Payment rates will be the same as for the 2021 scheme. Vessel owners participating in the 2022 scheme will again be required to distribute one third of that payment to crew.
The scheme is initially expected to operate over the period June to October, but I will be asking the European Commission to amend the approval of the scheme to encompass November so as to provide for an additional August/November tie-up option.
The scheme and its timing have been developed in order to mitigate for quota reductions while also ensuring the protection and continuity of the seafood supply chain. To this end, the majority of vessels choosing to tie-up for two months must maintain a two month gap between tie-up months, currently allowing for an individual vessel to tie-up for June and September or July and October. This period will have the greatest capacity to balance quota uptake throughout the year. Conversely, December is typically a shorter month for fishing and would negate some of the effectiveness of this scheme in achieving its objectives.
The scheme has also been developed in the context of the full suite of Task Force recommendations, such as a voluntary decommissioning scheme which is presently with the European Commission for its consideration of the scheme in terms of State Aid rules.
249. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the next steps that are in the delivery of phase 3 of the Pier at An Caladh Mór, Inis Meáin, Contae na Gaillimhe. [26859/22]
View answerThe Development of the Caladh Mór Pier on Inis Meáin is included in the National Development Plan. As the Deputy will be aware, Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of this project.
As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) was instructed by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour. Galway County Council has collated the technical specifications of the key vessels that use the harbour and this data will be fed into the simulation. It is hoped that the simulation will be completed, and tested with feedback given, by the end of August.
To feed into this process, additional bathymetric studies are also to be carried out in the harbour to gather further data and it is hoped that these will be completed in the coming weeks. It is important to note that this work is highly dependent on weather and marine conditions.
Once this work has been completed, Galway County Council will incorporate the findings into a draft business case. Following on from this, my Department will be in a position to evaluate the next steps in the process.
250. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will establish a fund to assist local authorities to purchase former bank branch buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26589/22]
View answerThe Government's Town Centre First policy represents a whole of Government approach and aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. The policy sets out a framework to give our towns the tools and resources required to become viable, vibrant and attractive places to live, work, and socialise.
The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Within these schemes, I can confirm that support is provided for local authorities to purchase or lease strategically important buildings in towns, such as former bank buildings, and to repurpose them for community uses which help to drive the regeneration of our towns and villages.
For example, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work, and visit. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the current Town & Village Renewal scheme prioritises the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use.
For 2021, I increased the maximum grant available through the Scheme, from €200k to €500k, which was designed to enable local authorities to purchase derelict buildings and/or vacant sites in our towns and villages and bring them back into use. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme alone has seen over 1,400 projects across Ireland receive funding in excess of €113m since it's launch in 2016. The successful applications for the 2021 Town and Village Scheme included projects to redevelop a range of vacant buildings such as former banks, Garda stations, national schools, and convents.
I was delighted to secure increased funding across the range of rural development schemes in Budget 2022, and my officials are currently working on finalising the details of the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. While this process is ongoing, there is no doubt that we will again be prioritising projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote the regeneration of our rural towns and villages, with the option of purchasing such buildings being a key option. I will be announcing the details of the 2022 scheme shortly.
251. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to reform the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26606/22]
View answerMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. In July 2018, following a public consultation, my Department published revised guidelines for Dog Breeding Establishments. These came into effect on 1 January 2019. There is a substantial shift in the new guidelines towards a focus on the welfare of dogs and pups. Each local authority is responsible for the monitoring of these standards with regard to the registration of such establishments.
Following a review, my Department is currently developing necessary legislative amendments to the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, with a view to inclusion in the Government’s legislative programme.
252. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current status of the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2022; and when this bill will move to the next stage. [26739/22]
View answerFollowing Government approval, the Charities (Amendment) Bill was published in April 2022 and proposes to update existing charity law to improve the ability of the Charities Regulator to conduct its statutory functions and ensure greater public trust and confidence in the sector.
The Bill will now progress for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands.
I look forward to working with members of both Houses of the Oireachtas to enable the passage and enactment of this Bill as speedily as possible.
