Written Answers Nos. 226-245
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to outline the procedure to be followed to apply for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42093/23]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation will be made.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to outline the current and expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42095/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be the freeing up of more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, improving service to our customers and reduction of waiting times.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department intends to regularly communicate with all applicants on a quarterly basis into the future, to keep them updated on the status of their application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
228. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Irish Draught Horse Studbook; whether the draft rules submitted by HSI have been ratified by him; and if not, when they will be ratified by him. [41935/23]
View answerRegulation (EU) 2016/1012 lays down the rules governing the approval of a breeding programme. My Department had sought a number of clarifications from Horse Sport Ireland in relation to the breeding programme for the Irish Draught Horse. The requested documentation was received on 25/9/2023. My Department will carry out an evaluation of this documentation before approval will issue.
229. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 785 of 20 September 2023, to confirm that occupancy is based on employment at the location. [41957/23]
View answerAccommodation is provided to employees who are required to reside on the farm as part of their role.
However, a retired staff member has retained his tenancy in accordance with the terms of his original agreement.
230. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who applied for the eco scheme and who are now being asked for invoices for planting of trees can have that deadline extended to the end of the calendar year, considering that nurseries currently do not have any saplings available and will not have them until November or December, meaning it is impossible to supply such invoices at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42005/23]
View answerWhere a farmer applied for Agricultural Practice 4 – Planting of Native Trees and/or Hedgerows under Ireland's Eco-scheme, they must plant the trees and/or hedging between 01 October 2022 and 30 September 2023. A total of 1,570 farmers have applied for this action with the commitment to plant 3 trees per eligible hectare or 1 metre of hedgerow per eligible hectare where the action is taken as a standard action. Where the farmer takes the action as an enhanced action, they must plant 6 trees per eligible hectare or 2 metres of hedgerow per eligible hectare or 1 metre of hedgerow and 3 trees per eligible hectare.
Farmers were not required to map the location of the native trees/hedgerows as part of their 2023 BISS application process but they will be required to map the location of the native trees/hedgerows as part of their 2024 BISS application. The native trees and hedgerows must be maintained for the duration of the 5-year CAP programme 2023-2027. Receipts must be maintained for the duration of the programme.
My Department does not intend to extend the deadline for planting of native trees and/or hedgerows in the 2023 Eco-scheme under Agricultural Practice 4.
231. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Brexit aquaculture growth scheme, Brexit blue economy enterprise development scheme and Brexit processing capital support scheme are current or capital expenditure. [42007/23]
View answerI established the Seafood Sector Task Force in March 2021 to examine the impacts of Brexit/EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our fishing sector and coastal communities. The Task Force report of October 2021 made 16 recommendations.
To date, under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund (BAR), I have announced 11 schemes with a total budget allocation of €271.3 million, as set out below. Four new schemes - Brexit Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme, Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme, Brexit Specific Scallop Fleet Transition Support Scheme and Brexit Fisheries Cooperative Transition Scheme 2023 - have been submitted to the European Commission for State Aid approval.
• Temporary Tie-Up 2021 Scheme
• Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2022 and 2023
• Temporary Tie-Up 2022 Scheme
• Brexit Co-operative Transition Scheme
• Brexit Voluntary Decommissioning Scheme
• Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme
• Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme
• Seafood Capital Processing Support Scheme
• Inshore Marketing Scheme
• Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme
• Off Register Capacity Buy Out Scheme
The Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund provides for both capital and current expenditure-type projects.
The Brexit Aquaculture Growth Scheme, the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, and the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme fall within capital expenditure.
232. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 20 September 2023, and specifically his reply that "although other fence types can be more expensive to erect than stock fences, the financial cap of €880 per hectare still applies when IS436 fences are erected", if he will clarify whether the fencing grant and cap does not cover 160m of fencing other than stock fencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42021/23]
View answerThe Forestry Programme 2023-2027 provides significant grant increases across all forest types, including increases in the eligible rates per metre for each type of fence erected, as well as an increased maximum financial cap per forest.
The rates detailed in the fencing grant table follow the same format as the rates described in the previous Forestry Programme. You will note that the financial caps have increased to €50,000 per forest, and the density of fencing is now increased to 160 metres per hectare when IS436 stock-proof fencing is erected. This is the most generous forest fencing grant my Department has ever introduced.
The maximum cap for IS436 fencing has also been increased from €600 to €880 per hectare and was calculated using a density of 160 metres per hectare at a rate of €5.50 per metre. The cap of €880 per hectare applies to stock fencing, Stock/sheep fencing and stock rabbit fencing.
233. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 20 September 2023, if it is still a pillar of the afforestation scheme that afforestation grants cover the full costs of establishing and maintaining a plantation for the first four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42022/23]
View answer234. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 20 September 2023, if it is accurate for his Department to advertise afforestation grants as covering 100% of the full costs to establish and maintain a forest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42023/23]
View answer235. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 751 and 752 of 20 September 2023, to explain the difference in the grant rates detailed in the COFORD report: "Economic Activity and Employment levels in the Irish forestry Sector", and the rates set out in the report "The Economics of Afforestation and management in Ireland", specifically Chapter 4 where the author (details supplied) arrives at significantly higher rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42024/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 235 together.
In my previous reply to the Deputy, I stated that the proposed grant rates for each of the forest types reflect the overall direct costs of establishing a range of different types of forests. I went on to outline the grant rates, fencing rates and the rate of grant for environmental reports. These rates have been agreed with DPENDR and have been approved under State Aid regulations by the European Commission.
The cost calculations include direct costs of operations along with overheads averaging over 40% and are designed to cover 100% of establishment costs. It is the case that costs are indicative and may vary between operations and will depend on a variety of factors such as economies of scale, rates charged by different contractors, foresters and companies. Some operations may incur different direct costs that may be lower or higher depending on site and location. The costs of operations was set after consultation and with reference to submissions from stakeholders which included the report cited by the Deputy.
I note that the total grant package available is set higher than the Coford report "Economic Activity and Employment levels in the Irish forestry Sector" and compare in the main favourably with the indicative coefficients used by the report referenced by you.
236. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 20 September 2023, if he acknowledges that in stating that the 20% broadleaf requirement will be achievable on the vast majority of sites, this leads to a possible situation that some sites will not be suitable for 20% broadleaf afforestation; what the situation is with such sites; if they are excluded from the afforestation scheme or if such sites can enter the afforestation scheme with less than 20% broadleaf component by area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42032/23]
View answerThe new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027, which was launched on 6th September, supports the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State, and the Afforestation Scheme is now open to applications.
It is the case that environmental considerations must be complied with as part of our State Aid approval and each application will require a detailed assessment process and consideration by applicants of the impact of afforestation on peats, birds and high nature value farmland.
Broadleaf trees planted to fulfil the 20% requirement must satisfy the rules underpinning the relevant Forest Type they are being planted under and adhere to the silvicultural standards in the new Forestry Programme.
The 20% broadleaf requirement will be achievable on the vast majority of sites, however, as was the case in previous Forestry programmes, there will be some sites that are unsuitable for afforestation and therefore ineligible for the Afforestation Scheme. These include a range of sites that are deemed to be unsuitable due to infertile conditions, and/or other inhibiting site or environmental factors, for example habitats on wet and dry heath and blanket and raised bog.
Documents available on the Departments website outline the criteria for suitable sites for Afforestation, namely ‘Land Types for Afforestation, ‘Environmental Requirements for Afforestation’ and the ‘Forest Standards manual’. These documents can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/e384e-forestry-grants-and-schemes/#schemes-offered-under-forestry-programme-2014-2022
237. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any licence has been issued for the management of the goat herd at Passage East, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42037/23]
View answerMy Department has not issued a licence for the management of the feral goat herd at Passage East, Co. Waterford. Whilst I acknowledge the Deputy’s concerns on the control of feral goats, this is not within the remit of my Department.
238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, to detail, in tabular form, the number of farmers or landowners who are not members of BISS and do not claim BISS or BPS, but are recognised as carrying out a farming activity by other sections of his Department; the associated area of land that is now definitively excluded from the farmer rate of premium for such landowners and farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42038/23]
View answerA farmer who submits a valid BISS or BPS is a person farming and/or managing the land. The farming activities can include meeting a minimum stocking rate, producing crops, cutting hay/silage, maintaining landscape features. We have received in the region of 125,000 to 128,000 applications in recent years.
In relation to the question regarding a farmer who does not submit a BISS or BPS application and is otherwise recognised by the Department as carrying out a farmer activity by other sections of the Department, such as certain parties involved in Pigs and Poultry, there are a small cohort of farmers who may apply for schemes on the basis of a Production Unit rather than land area and do not have a BISS/BPS application, who do not qualify as Active Farmers.
Finally, I wish to re-iterate that conscious of the very special role that farmers can play in forestry and in attaining our climate change targets it was imperative that a differential be re-introduced to assist farmers make the decision to plant forests. The intent of the farmer definition is to ensure that the differential is targeted at farmers. The criteria for farmer qualification will ensure that major enterprises that are not core farming entities will not unintentionally benefit from the farmer differential.
239. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the significance of greyhound owners listed as 'GRI-SALES' for dozens of Irish greyhounds on a website (details supplied); how such greyhounds are recorded on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; the current location of a particular greyhound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42042/23]
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 questions raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the questions have been referred to the body for direct reply.
240. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the circumstances of the export of an Irish greyhound (details supplied) to China and his current status on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; if he is aware that the greyhound set a new track record at Lifford stadium on 4 June 2023 but did not finish (DNF) his last recorded race at Dundalk stadium on 15 July 2023, suggesting serious injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42059/23]
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 questions raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the questions have been referred to the body for direct reply.
241. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds yearly from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2023 who were traced on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system (RCÉTS); to provide a yearly breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of greyhounds on RCÉTS who normally reside at registered kennels in Northern Ireland or elsewhere, outside Greyhound Racing Ireland's jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42060/23]
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 questions raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the questions have been referred to the body for direct reply.
242. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for HSE properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41943/23]
View answerAs the query refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
243. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of specialists (details supplied) working within the HSE in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41925/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
244. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of eighteen years with a diagnosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41930/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
245. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting on an assessment of need (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41931/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
