Written Answers Nos. 260-272
260. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if it would it be possible to fund and provide "Izzy" stickers to all maternity wards in the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11951/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
261. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a new scheme will be introduced to replace the motorised transport grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11987/23]
View answerThe Government decided to close the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance administrative Schemes in 2013, on foot of the Ombudsman reports in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022, a Transport Working Group was established to advance Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. The commitment under Action 104 was to ‘lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and [to] develop proposals for development of a coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources ’.
The Working Group, which I chaired, considered proposals to inform the development of a coordinated plan for the enhancement of Government-funded transport and mobility supports available to people with disabilities. The Report was published in February 2023 and is available on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
262. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time, specifically-qualified climate scientists employed in his Department; the level of qualification of each, for example, post-doctoral and so on; their specific areas of expertise within climate science; if he will list their peer-reviewed specialist publications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/23]
View answerWithin the Agricultural Inspectorate of he Department, a wide range of technical expertise is available. Over 300 staff from this grade stream are assigned right across the organisation and their skills include various specialisations. The Department has a dedicated Climate Change Division which includes four Inspectorate Grade staff.
In addition, the Department relies on the specialist work conducted by Teagasc and the Marine Institute and whose staff have a similarly wide range of relevant skills.
263. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specialists in each of the areas rewilding, diversification and biodiversity that are employed in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11633/23]
View answerI inform the Deputy that staff in my Department engage with their colleagues in the National Parks and Wildlife Service on a range of matters including those that relate to rewilding. My Department has a dedicated Biodiversity Unit which includes three Agricultural Inspectors and two Assistant Agricultural Inspectors as well as associated administrative staff supporting their work. Additionally, staff in other areas of my Department have a wide range of duties and areas of specialisation, including 11 Ecologist specialist staff, and many of these duties relate to our strategic objective to ensure Ireland’s agricultural production is environmentally sustainable.
264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that was allocated to the Brexit voluntary permanent cessation scheme; and the amount of this that has been spent. [11643/23]
View answerThe Brexit Voluntary Permanent Decommissioning Scheme was announced in July 2022 with a budget of €60 million and was subsequently published by BIM along with all terms and conditions.
Appreciating the significance of the decision any individual fisher would make should they chose to participate in the scheme, the deadline for applications was extended to 18 November 2022. This was to allow time for fishers to evaluate their own circumstances and the terms of the scheme should they voluntarily chose to apply and accept any offer made.
Of the 64 applicants which applied for the Scheme, 57 met the eligibility criteria.
Based on an analysis of the profile of these 57 applicants by BIM, in order to ensure all eligible applicants could avail of the scheme if they chose to do so and be awarded the maximum amount possible under the terms of the scheme I secured additional funding. This increase ensured that all eligible applicants would receive a combined total of almost €75 million in payments should they accept offers made under the scheme.
Letters of offer have issued to all eligible applicants and I understand that BIM have engaged extensively, on an individual basis, with applicants. As a result of these engagements and reflecting some of the administrative arrangements applicants needed to make with their own stakeholders the period for acceptance of the offer had been stretched to March 3rd.
When the BIM administrative process has concluded and the required actions by vessel owners under the scheme has been completed I will receive an update on these matters from BIM.
265. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the independent scientific, safety analyses of chemicals used by Coillte that have been undertaken in each of the past ten years; if he will publish the results of same; if he will publish the list of chemicals used by Coillte and their listed potential and actual side effects, in tabular form in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11670/23]
View answer267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of complaints/concerns that have been made by the public about the use of chemicals by Coillte in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; the list of cited medical complaints, if any, deemed by members of the public to be associated with such chemical use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/23]
View answer268. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will list the veterinarian and or wildlife inspections of lands planted by Coillte in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; if he will publish any significant illnesses, losses, and impacts identified in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11673/23]
View answer269. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is satisfied as to the safety for humans, flora, fauna and insect life, particularly pollinators of any chemicals used by Coillte; the scientific basis of that satisfaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11674/23]
View answer270. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what independent and State inspections of air, water-table and watercourses in and adjacent to Coillte forestry have been undertaken in each of the past ten years in relations to chemical use; if he will publish the findings of same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11675/23]
View answer271. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is satisfied as to the safety of chemicals used by Coillte; what in-house and external expert examinations of the lands and the chemical processes used on them comprise, and have been undertaken; if he can guarantee them safe to pollinators in particular; if he will publish the results of any examinations undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11677/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 267, 268, 269, 270 and 271 together.
Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the individual issues raised to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
Coillte use only those plant protection products (PPP) which are fully approved as safe to use in forestry in Ireland by my Department's Pesticide Registration and Control Division. These products will also have been approved by the European Union and are listed on the Approved Pesticide List. The use of Plant Protection Products in the European Union (EU) is regulated by the Regulation No 1107/2009 on Plant Protection Products in cooperation with other EU Regulations and Directives (e.g. the regulation on maximum residue levels in food (MRL); Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, and the Directive on sustainable use of pesticides; Directive 2009/128/EC). DAFM PPP Approval processes conform to these requirements.
266. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an annual audit of public health in the areas surrounding Coillte plantations; if so, if he will publish the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11671/23]
View answerAny questions on public health matters are more appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Health.
272. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department has been allocated from the Brexit adjustment reserve by year; the measures to which these funds were allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11679/23]
View answerThe Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) provides financial support to the most affected Member States to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial and, where appropriate, environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Expenditure under the Reserve must demonstrate a direct link to the negative impact of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, and failure to do so will see the European Commission deem expenditure ineligible.
In 2022, €40m was allocated for Brexit related purposes for the fisheries sector (€33.2m), the horticultural sector (€1.5m), and €5.3m was provided to fund an Enterprise Ireland capital investment scheme for meat and dairy processing. The latter scheme will support investments aimed at product and market diversification.
In 2023, €238m is allocated for Brexit related purposes, including further supports for the fisheries sector (€162.15m), the horticultural sector (€9.85m). €17 million is provided to fund an Enterprise Ireland capital investment scheme for meat and dairy processing;
In addition, €20m has been allocated to develop facilities for the disposal of meat and bone meal by-product and €28m has been allocated for a Brexit beef scheme and my officials are currently considering the design of this scheme.
My Department is actively considering other proposals, including in the equine sector, and in this regard is working closely with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to maximise the funding from BAR that is available to the various sectors that come under the remit of my Department.
