Written Answers Nos. 505-518
507. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what supports his Department is providing to farmers and businesses affected by ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42702/23]
View answerI am pleased to state that the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback is open for applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027. This scheme includes the following enhanced features:
100% increase in the site clearance grant rate, from €1,000 to €2,000;
Enhanced replanting grant rates under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027;
Those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premium due for the remaining years;
In addition, for those in receipt of farmer rate of premium, a top up premium equal to the difference between the equivalent forestry type and the existing premium will be paid. This will be calculated for the remaining years left in premium and paid in a single sum.
In addition, my colleague, Minister of State Hackett, announced in June that she had tasked an independent group to review existing Department supports for Ash Dieback. The group had a remit to review the existing and previous supports available to landowners with ash plantations funded under the National Forestry Programme and to engage with relevant stakeholders to seek their views on the current supports for ash forest owners.
The group presented the Minister of State with its report, which she is now considering in detail and it was published today. She has met with the group to discuss their recommendations. Once due consideration has been given to the report stakeholders will be informed of the actions that will be taken.
508. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the future of timber supply for house construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42703/23]
View answerIrelands forests provide an important supply of timber for our construction sector. The most recent forecast submitted to my Department estimates that annual roundwood production will increase from around 4 million cubic metres now to nearly 7 million cubic metres by 2035. This significant increase in supply is mainly driven from private forests, grant aided since the 1990s, that are now reaching maturity. My Department and other Departments recognise the importance of using timber in construction which can play an important role in meeting our climate targets. Using more timber in construction decarbonises our built environment by replacing materials made from fossil fuels.
In response to our climate targets my Department has engaged with other Departments, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to establish an Interdepartmental and Industry Steering Group on Timber in Construction. Minister of State Hackett announced an expression of interest call to join this new group and the chair of this group will be announced next week. This new group will examine a range of areas including markets, regulation and standards which will aim to increase the amount of timber used in house construction..
509. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has investigated the potential of biochar in Ireland; if so, what supports are being made available to encourage use of biochar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42704/23]
View answerBiochar is primarily used in combination with other fertilising materials before application to soil to increase carbon content which may result in increased plant establishment and growth. The use of biochar is permitted under EU fertiliser legislation.
Currently, an EU Commission-led working group comprised of biochar experts across Europe are examining the use of biochar in agriculture.
Teagasc advises that using Biochar at planting time may have significant long-term benefits for tree crops, as well as soil stability and suggests that it may be an additional useful tool for soil protection and enhancement.
My Department is supportive of innovation and technologies that could lead to a reduction in the reliance on chemical fertiliser.
510. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish, in tabular form, a full breakdown of all funding allocated by his Department under the Brexit adjustment reserve processing capital support scheme, by applicant, project, funds applied for, funds allocated, application date, funds drawn down to date, funds outstanding, and deadline for payment; any rejected applications by applicant, project and funds applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42757/23]
View answerThe Seafood Capital Processing Support Scheme, aimed at supporting industry-led transformative capital investments, has a budget of €45million.
Projects approved under schemes funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) must be completed and paid before the end of 2023. To date 61 applications, with a total approved applications value of €33.4 million, have been approved under this Scheme. As the assessment of applications under this Scheme is ongoing, it would not be appropriate at this point to offer any further detail.
As with all BAR Schemes, the Seafood Capital Processing Support Scheme is administered by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), under the oversight of my Department, and BIM publishes the list of beneficiaries under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund once full scheme details online at BIM - The Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund.
511. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department and associated State agencies working with the fishing and aquaculture industries in Ireland have set a deadline of 30 October 2023 for drawdown of funding from the Brexit adjustment reserve fund, when the EU regulation states that expenditure needs to be incurred and paid by public authorities by 31 December 2023 and Member States need to report by 30 September 2024 about the measures carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42758/23]
View answerThe Seafood Task Force was established to examine the implications arising from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for the Irish Seafood Sector. The Task Force recommended a number of initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for the development and restructuring of this sector, so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable sector and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
Based on those recommendations, under the oversight of my Department, a number of support schemes are being implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), in line with DPENDR sanctions and EU regulatory requirements, and funded through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund (BAR).
Payments to projects funded under these schemes must be made by 31 December 2023. This is a legal and immutable deadline, set out in the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Regulation (2021/1755). Consequently each scheme has an appropriate deadline by which time approved projects must submit their claims for payment. These deadlines have been determined in order to provide adequate time for BIM to undertake the necessary verifications and checks required in relation to all projects funded under these schemes, and to issue payments before the 31 December 2023, after which date payments will not be eligible for funding under the BAR.
The Department and BIM are actively reviewing the deadlines for submission of claims and considering what adjustments, if any, may be appropriate.
Further information on these schemes is available here - BIM - The Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund.
512. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a policy on the use of artificial intelligence; and if any Departmental functions are assisted by language model-based chatbots (details supplied). [42809/23]
View answerThe Department does not have a policy that relates solely to the use of artificial intelligence but does have policies in place on the use of technology in the Department, including those that use artificial intelligence.
No Departmental functions are assisted by language model-based chatbots such as ChatGPT
513. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42743/23]
View answerI have received the Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2024 from the NYCI and its contents have been noted.
Budget 2024 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. As this is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
As Minister, I have always championed for increases in youth funding. I have secured increases in current funding for youth services and programmes from €61.789 million in 2020 to €72.948 million in 2023, an 18% increase overall.
I remain committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
514. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite places in each CHO area; the number of respite places in each CHO that are reserved for emergency care; if there are plans to expand on existing services; and if he will clarify whether the HSE uses projections and or forecasting demand on respite places. [42114/23]
View answerAs the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
515. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if he will respond to the individual concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42166/23]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the Deputy's question and to also acknowledge the recent correspondence addressed to me as Minister in relation to the individual concerned.
Officials in my Department have had ongoing contact and meetings with Tusla on this case matter since last year. A response to the recent correspondence is being currently prioritised within my Department and will issue to the individual concerned as soon as possible. I will review the finalised response in further detail when this is received.
516. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the pathway for an 18-year-old who is still in secondary school to access assessments for ADHD/ADD in Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42177/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
517. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to address the staffing crisis in the early years sector. [42190/23]
View answerI acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover.Providers of ELC and SAC are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services. In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the JLC is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory processes. The Employment Regulation Orders published last year were a significant milestone in efforts to improve pay in the sector. The Orders are being supported by Core Funding – which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and support for sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year. I understand that the JLC for Early Years Services is continuing to meet in relation to possible further increases in minimum rates of pay.I am also committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector. In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC.Nurturing Skills includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led ELC workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles and qualification requirements, and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.??
I am committed to supporting providers in responding to current staffing challenges. Over the coming weeks, a sub-group of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum will be convened to discuss current staffing pressures and additional measures that may be needed.
518. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of registered child minders delivering the ECCE curriculum per county. [42191/23]
View answerChildminders must be registered with Tusla in order to offer the universal ECCE programme to children. Currently a large proportion of childminders are legally excluded from registration with Tusla, as a result of legal exemptions in the Child Care Act 1991, and therefore cannot offer the ECCE programme. The ECCE programme is restricted to children between the ages of 2 years 8 months at the start of the programme year and 5 years 6 months at the end of the two years. Tusla-registered childminders who are currently minding five preschool children can provide the ECCE programme, while all Tusla-registered childminders can also take part in the National Childcare Scheme. As of September 2023, 25 childminders are in contract to deliver the ECCE preschool programme. The numbers are shown, broken down by county in the table.
|
County |
Number of Tusla-Registered Childminders delivering ECCE |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Dublin |
7 |
|
Galway |
1 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 sets out a plan for extending State support and regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders on a phased basis, with accelerated access to subsidies for families who use childminders through the National Childcare Scheme.
The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition phase, to allow childminders a lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased transition process aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.
Phase 1, which began in 2021 and is expected to take 3 years to complete, includes developing new regulations and training that are specific to childminding and amending the Child Care Act 1991 to remove the exemption to registration for childminders.
