Written Answers Nos. 213-229
214. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 348 of 9 March 2023, what provision has been made for post-natal hubs in County Clare, and the wider CHO 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15782/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
215. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 577 of 7 March 2023, when the evidence-based synthesis will be completed by the Health Research Board; if he will provide a timeline of the expected conclusion of work; when the clinical review group will evaluate that evidence to then make an assessment on whether there is evidence to support the recommendation of the addition of any other clinical indications to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15783/23]
View answerAn evidence-based synthesis is being carried out by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health. This work is expected to be completed by May/June this year. A clinical review group will then be established to complete an assessment of the Health Research Board report to see if there is evidence to support the recommendation of any other clinical indications to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.
216. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 578 of 7 March 2023, if he will accept that Ireland now has the most restrictive regime in the EU27 in place, with respect to the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15784/23]
View answerThe three conditions currently being treated under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme were based on the recommendations of the 2017 Health Products Regulatory Authority publication "Cannabis for Medical Use - A Scientific Review". The report stated that if cannabis-based products, that are not authorised as medicines, are made available through an access programme, patients and healthcare professionals must recognise the limitations of the programme in assuring the safety, quality and effectiveness, as compared with what would be expected from an authorised medicine. The report also advised that a programme should recognise patient need but be evidence-based.
As recommended by the report, the Medical Cannabis Access Programme restricts the prescribing of cannabis-based products by medical consultants, for patients suffering one of three stated conditions who have exhausted all other available medical treatment options. Those conditions are:
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;
- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;
- Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
A review of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme commenced in 2022. The review continues the work of the previous clinical expert group. Once the evidence-based synthesis is completed, expected by mid-year, a clinical review group will be established to complete an assessment to see if there is evidence to support the recommendation of the inclusion any other clinical indications to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.
217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15529/23]
View answerThe person named was approved to GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015. GLAS payments have issued to this Herd for scheme years 2015 – 2021 inclusive.
Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue.
Our validation checks highlighted an issue in relation to the Low-input Permanent Pasture action where there were discrepancies found between the GLAS contract and the associated Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application. My Department is currently reviewing this case.
GLAS payments are continuing on a weekly basis as applications pass all validation checks and are approved for payment.
218. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can advise if ACRES will reopen later in 2023 for applications, and if someone did not submit an ACRES application in 2022 and is not on the scheme this year, can they still apply if opened again later in the year and be accepted if they meet the criteria of the scheme for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15568/23]
View answerThe Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, (ACRES), is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over its duration with the aim of facilitating the participation of 50,000 farmers.
Tranche 1 of ACRES received over 46,000 applicants. All eligible applications submitted for this tranche have been accepted into the Scheme, and farmers are currently receiving their formal notifications.
Tranche 1 is now closed for applications. It is proposed that Tranche 2 will be opened for applications in the fourth quarter of this year, with contracts in that Tranche to commence from 1st January 2024.
219. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a farmer (details supplied) for the fodder scheme which was lodged on 28 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15612/23]
View answerIn the case of the person named, an application was received by the Department via email on 28th July 2022 from an agricultural advisor acting on his behalf. It was not submitted via the online application system. The application was accepted via email as it was a "Reps Of" application, where the herdnumber was in the process of being transferred from a deceased person to the person named.
All agricultural advisors were obliged to have the correct authorisations in place with my Department’s Corporate Customer System for the Exceptional Aid system in order to act on behalf of their clients in respect of the Fodder Scheme. In this case, the necessary authorisations were not in place at the time of application but were subsequently put in place following communication between my Department and the advisor concerned.
The Department continues to issue payments to outstanding Fodder Support Scheme 2022 cases as they are cleared. This application has now been processed fully and has been approved for payment. The person named is due to receive payment under the Fodder Support Scheme 2022 in the coming weeks.
220. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if cats, including feral cats, are protected in Ireland; if he is aware that members of gun clubs are allegedly shooting cats; and the action he will take to stop this killing of cats. [15618/23]
View answerThe 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act provides for the welfare of all animals, kept animals in particular but also animals in the wild. This Act provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare for all animals, including cats.
My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline, where reports of animal welfare breaches can be made by phone or email. Any information relating to allegations that the welfare of cats are being compromised can be provided to this helpline and reports will be followed up by my officials.
221. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 31 January 2023, the total number of horse deaths associated with racing in 2022 and to date in 2023, to include not only horses killed at racecourses but also horses used in racing and later killed elsewhere, with a breakdown of the reasons for the killings. [15619/23]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The part of the question raised by the Deputy in relation to "the total number of horse deaths associated with racing in 2022 and to date in 2023" is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, that part of the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
The number of thoroughbreds slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department in 2022 was 1,051 and to date in 2023 is 244.
222. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 862 of 28 September 2021, if live pigs have been exported from Ireland to China; and if, given the related animal cruelty concerns, he will scrap the plan to export pigs to China. [15620/23]
View answerMy Department has not provided any certification for the export of breeding pigs from Ireland to China under the recently signed live breeding pig export protocol with China.
I inform the Deputy that should live pigs be exported to China my Department will deploy its resources towards protecting the animal welfare of the animals during transport.
The Department takes its responsibilities in the matters of regulating live trade, and of protecting animal welfare, most seriously - it exercises close oversight, and deploys considerable resources to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of any animals being transported.
223. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pigs slaughtered in Ireland in 2022; the methods of slaughter used; the number that were slaughtered by gassing; and if will consider banning the latter given the distress and suffering it causes to pigs in the final minutes of their lives. [15621/23]
View answerThe total number of pigs slaughtered in Ireland in 2022 was 3,541,602.
Pig slaughter is carried out at premises approved either by my Department or the Local Authorities. Pigs are stunned prior to slaughter, mainly using CO2 gas, in order to ensure loss of consciousness. The methods of stunning and slaughter used in Ireland are in accordance with the relevant EU and national legislation, in particular Council Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.
224. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate an incident at Curraheen Park track on 18 March 2023 (details supplied), involving a malfunction of the traps; if any greyhounds suffered injuries in the incident; and if the greyhounds were removed from the traps and checked for injuries before the restart of the race. [15622/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
225. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been taken by Greyhound Racing Ireland to permanently close Youghal track (details supplied); and if he is aware that the average per-race attendance last year by paying members of the public was just 16, and that the track was the worst in the country in 2022 for the total number of greyhounds killed at race meetings. [15623/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
226. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work undertaken by his Department to ensure that farmers are aware of the new land eligibility rules, in particular that landscape features such as hedgerows are eligible for payment and that beneficial features such as scrub may occupy up to 50% of a parcel, without impacting the eligibility of parcel. [15647/23]
View answerAs part of the development of the CAP Strategic Plan, we have, over the last number of years, carried out a range of public engagements and consultations with farmers and the wider public. These events, both online and in-person, have been designed to brief people on our original proposals including those relating to land eligibility and also to seek feed back on the new rules.
Following the approval of the CAP Strategic Plan my Department has continued to engage with farmers, advisors and farm organisations including through a series of webinars which were well attended. Recordings of the webinars are available on the Department's website for review. My Department has also collaborated with farming media at a number of public CAP events around the country. These events have covered our new land eligibility rules, including worked examples of how beneficial features such as scrub will be dealt with.
At the end of this month my Department will commence the delivery of another 19 in-person BISS Farmer Clinics and 10 Public Meetings throughout the country. Details of these events are given in farming publications and they will be advertised locally as well. The meetings and clinics will be running right up until the closing date for applications which is May 29th this year. The clinics offer farmers the opportunity to work through their application on a one-to-one basis with staff who can answer any queries that may arise.
The Public Meetings will include presentations covering the major topics including land eligibility and the eligibility of beneficial features (50% rule). This is an exceptionally positive development as part of the new CAP and one that I am pleased to have secured. It allows for areas of environmental importance within the agricultural landscape to be included as part of the eligible area, once less than 50% of the parcel area. These areas of scrub, habitat, rock and woodland are integral to our landscape and rewarding farmers for having these is an important change. Hedgerows are also eligible for payment and have been since 2009.
The Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS) Terms and Conditions which were released to coincide with the opening of the BISS applications in early March also covers land eligibility rules in detail. There is also an accompanying document - A Guide to Land Eligibility which details how the eligible area at parcel level is calculated when beneficial features are present. In the coming weeks an updated version of this document will be published online, which will contain answers to the typical questions that farmers and advisors have been asking as part of our webinars and other public engagements.
My Department will continue to work through all available channels in the coming weeks and months to ensures farmers are fully aware of the changes to the CAP, including land eligibility rules.
227. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is a matter of concern that hedgerow habitats continue to be removed from farmland; if his Department has considered communicating directly to farmers via letter or text message; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15648/23]
View answerHedgerows are a valuable resource on Irish farms, contributing to both our biodiversity and climate ambitions. My Department recognises their value through rewarding farmers and protecting our hedgerows in a number of ways.
Under the Eco-Scheme element of the new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan where farmers will be paid in respect of ‘space for nature’ with a significant focus on farm hedgerows. The new CAP also sets out minimum ‘space for nature’ requirements, and increased Conditionality protections for hedgerows, for all farmers in receipt of Direct Payment supports. Under Conditionality, removal of hedgerows is only permitted in certain exceptional circumstances, for example, road safety or to accommodate a building extension and it is now a mandatory requirement that a length equivalent to twice that proposed to be removed is planted in advance of any removal.
In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations require screening, and if necessary consent, prior to removal of a hedgerow where the length of hedgerow to be removed exceeds 500 metres or where the field size following removal of the hedgerow will be greater than five hectares. If the proposed removal would breach either of these thresholds the farmer is required to submit a screening application to my Department.
My Department has committed to a review of the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations and will commence a consultation on this process with all stakeholders in the near future.
In relation to communication with farmers, there was an online webinar on Conditionality requirements on the 9th of March, and over the next six weeks there are 10 planned in-person information sessions on the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme. These will include Conditionality requirements. In addition, an Explanatory Guide to Conditionality will be published shortly on my Department's website as part of the overall communication plan.
228. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 713 of 28 February 2023, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that paid planning permission, sometimes in the region of hundreds of euros, is needed to erect a headstone on a grave; if any consideration will be given to waiving the fee for grieving families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15530/23]
View answerAs I informed the Deputy in my previous response to Parliamentary Question No. 713 on 28 February 2023, my Department has legislative responsibility regarding burial grounds, however, this responsibility does not extend to the burial fees charged by local authorities. These costs are a matter for each local authority in respect of the cemeteries and burial grounds they provide.
Furthermore, guidelines or legislation governing planning permission, and the fees associated with any planning application, are matters for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the planning code.
229. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans her Department has to conduct a review of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010; the plans that are in place to prepare a Bill to amend the Act, should it be required to update the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15633/23]
View answerMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Act provides a robust regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.
Following a public consultation, revised guidelines for Dog Breeding Establishments were published in July 2018 and came into effect on 1 January 2019.
My Department is now identifying any necessary legislative amendments to the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 that may be required. These amendments are the Government legislation programme for 2023.
