Written Answers Nos. 396-415
397. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration would be given to amending the start date for the loss of income support for a farmer (details supplied), in view that the timeline for the identification of tuberculosis in the herd and the date of collection of the animals and removal from the herd is managed by his Department and not the farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown. A number of financial supports are available to farmers who experience such a breakdown. The main element is the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme which compensates eligible herd-owners up to the market value an individual animal would have attained on the open market at the time of breakdown.
In addition to the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme, there are further supplementary schemes that eligible herdowners can avail of; Income Supplement Scheme, Hardship Grant and Depopulation Grant.
Income Supplement scheme payments are currently paid monthly in arrears and for whole months only. The first whole month commences on the date of reactor removal that triggered eligibility.
As part of the agreement on changes to the compensation schemes under the bovine TB programme reached by the Financial Working Group of the TB Forum, the date of eligiblity for Income Supplement would be the date of restriction, subject to certain conditions. Officials of my Department are currently working on making the necessary IT changes to implement these changes which will be backdated to 1st February 2023. Any herdowners due money as a result of these changes will be paid in due course.
398. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff working at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in each of the years 2007 to 2023, in tabular form. [43896/23]
View answerThe Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is an independent regulatory agency as set down in the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. The information requested with respect to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority staffing levels is an operational matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the SFPA directly and have requested that a response be issued within 10 working days.
399. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget allocated to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for each of the years 2007 to 2023, in tabular form. [43897/23]
View answerIt is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
400. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide €90 million in funding for TAMS in 2024 to keep it in line with current levels of inflation costing which must be updated before the opening of each tranche; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44032/23]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The scheme will be in place for a period of five years, until 2027, with an indicative budget of €370 million. As TAMS is a demand-led scheme, it would not be prudent to divide this amount over tranches. Any increase in the overall amount will be subject to budgetary negotiations.
Following the success of TAMS II, I have increased the number of investment items available significantly. I have also increased the reference costs as appropriate across all schemes in TAMS 3, as well as the number of applicants eligible for 60% grant rates. These are now available to eligible applicants for items under the Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme, Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme, Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme and the Organic Capital Investment Scheme.
The inflationary impact on Investment items and ceilings for grant aid are under constant review, and this will be taken into consideration when evaluating further updates across the suite of TAMS schemes.
401. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include grant-aid for dribble bars, rubber mats and quad gates under TAMS in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44033/23]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is a budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments are linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.
Following the success of TAM II, I have significantly increased the number of investments available to more than 430 items. Due to budgetary constraints it has not been possible to include rubber mats and quad gates at this time.
There is currently analysis taking place of emissions factor in relation to the dribble bar compared to the trailing shoe. I am awaiting the outcome of this analysis before making a decision on the inclusion of the dribble bar in TAMS 3.
Investment items and ceilings for grant aid are under constant review, and additional investment items may be included for consideration when evaluating further updates to the TAMS 3 investment lists.
402. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support a proposal that a young farmer capital investment scheme and the women capital investment scheme needs to be established (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44034/23]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The scheme will be in place for a period of five years, until 2027, with a budget of €370 million. The Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and The Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme are two of the ten schemes available under TAMS 3.
Under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, the definition of the Young Farmer is set out in EU Regulations, and is limited to applicants who are under 41 years of age at the time of application. Eligible farmers in this category that hold the necessary qualifications are entitled to grant aid of 60%.
The Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme is open to applicants between the ages of 18 and 66 at any time during the calendar year in which an application for support is submitted. Measures in TAMS 3 aim to balance the need to address the issues of both generational renewal and gender balance in farming.
The key requirement for any TAMS scheme is that the applicant holds an official department identifier (herd number). In cases where any potential applicant is not named on a herd number, it is open to them to have their name added as part of a registered farm partnership or have the herd number moved to their name only. Applicants should seek the advice of their agricultural consultant before considering a change of status in respect of their holdings.
403. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts that there is a need for a significant upward revision of TAMS 3 for the pig sector to facilitate the significant investment required at farm level and consideration of funding this through a separate mechanism to TAMS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44035/23]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
The scheme acknowledges and addresses the need for investment in all farming sectors, including the pig sector. Specifically with regard to the pig sector, I have increased the investment ceiling from €200,000 in TAMS II to €500,000 in TAMS 3, via the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme. This is significantly higher than the ceilings in place in other farming sectors, and reflects the high cost of investment required in the pig sector.
I also recently announced that 100% of eligible applications under tranche 1 of TAMS 3 will be approved for funding, which is in keeping with the commitment to assist farmers to address animal welfare, climate and sustainability targets.
I believe that the suite of TAMS schemes, including the Pig & Poultry Investment Scheme, is the best mechanism for ensuring that funding is targeted at the most appropriate enterprises. I will also ensure that investment items and ceilings for grant aid continue to be reviewed on a regular basis.
404. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the full complement of buildings and lands owned by his Department, or by agencies under the aegis of his Department in County Clare; if they are currently in use, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44151/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not own any buildings or land in County Clare.
As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
405. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 3 October 2023 and the case of goat milk farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44190/23]
View answerThere is no statutory surveillance or control programme for TB in goats in Ireland, as there is in cattle. Whilst there is a compensation scheme available to eligible herdowners of bovines in the event of a TB outbreak, funded in part from disease levies collected on milk supplies and and bovines slaughtered or exported live, there is no compensation scheme available to, or collection of disease levies from goat owners.
A goat herd keeper who is supplying milk, including for trade, to consumers must test his/her herd for TB and have a TB control plan in place. This is a public health requirement. This plan is subject to re-submission every three to five years.
It may also be necessary to test goat herds for TB as part of an epidemiological investigation into, or as part of controlling, a bovine TB breakdown in an area.
The herd in question has had a number of TB reactors and the local regional veterinary office is working with the herd owner in managing this unfortunate disease outbreak.
My officials have examined all payments made in the period in question and there is no evidence that any payment made under the TB Schemes was made in relation to a goat herd.
If you wish to provide my Department (with the expressed permission of the herdowners named) with any evidence available to you that indicates payments were made to the above named persons in relation to goats, my officials will examine this further.
406. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the funding that goes towards youth services and youth work, broken down into two categories, universal services and targeted programmes, such as UBU (Your Place Your Space); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/23]
View answer447. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that goes towards youth services and youth work, broken down in to two categories, universal services and targeted programmes such UBU (Your Place Your Space); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43943/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 447 together.
The below two tables outline the funding information provided by my Department to youth services and youth work, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Current Funding |
Universal, policy development, and targeted |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space Funding Scheme |
Targeted |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
Universal |
|
Youth Information Centres |
Universal |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme(varies annually) |
Universal |
|
ETB Youth Grant |
Statutory Bodies (ETBs) |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
LGBTI Youth Strategy |
Development and Universal |
|
Policy and Support Programmes |
Development and supports |
|
New Initiatives and other funding streams |
Development and Universal |
Youth Affairs Unit B06 Youth Organisations and Services funding 2020 to 2023
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
€11,563,000 |
€12,261,000 |
€12,887,000 |
€13,402,000 |
|
Youth Information Centres |
€1,257,000 |
€1,577,000 |
€1,624,000 |
€1,534,000 |
|
ETB Youth Grant |
€4,101,000 |
€4,675,000 |
€4,815,000 |
€5,008,000 |
|
Local Youth Club Grants Scheme |
€2,107,000 |
€2,257,000 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,500,000 |
|
New Initiatives and other funding streams |
€483,000 |
€498,000 |
€1,052,000 |
€886,000 |
|
LGBTI+ Youth Strategy 2018 - 2020 |
€500,000 |
€600,000 |
€200,000 |
€0 |
|
DCYA Policy and Support Programmes |
€360,000 |
€1,231,000 |
€1,386,000 |
€1,190,000 |
|
Miscellaneous |
€244,000 |
€117,000 |
€108,000 |
€187,000 |
|
National Youth Organisations and Youth Initiatives |
€2,276,000 |
€1,777,000 |
€1,940,000 |
€1,951,000 |
|
Transitional/ Targeted Youth Funding Scheme (to 06/20) |
€17,768,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Revised Youth Funding Scheme (to 06/20) |
€1,621,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space (from 07/20) |
€19,509,000 |
€41,796,000 |
€44,783,000 |
€46,290,000 |
|
Total |
€61,789,000 |
€66,789,000 |
€71,295,000 |
€72,948,000 |
407. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider converting St. Patricks, Loughboy, Kilkenny for respite and other badly needed services for people with disabilities in Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44119/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
408. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the parent (details supplied) of a child has been informed that their son is not entitled to funding for a day service; the options that are available to ensure that this young autistic person is able to access a day service and is not left confined to his residential unit. [43466/23]
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.
409. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and his officials will arrange a meeting with Oireachtas members from the Dún Laoghaire constituency to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43475/23]
View answerThe government is aware of public interest and questions regarding the arrival of those seeking international protection. A Community Engagement Team has been set up to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other stakeholders where relevant and appropriate.
The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with pertinent information required to help with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.
The Community Engagement Team has contacted the Deputy directly to discuss the project referred to by the Deputy.
410. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve speech and language and occupational therapy supports for children with additional needs in Carlow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43496/23]
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.
411. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in relation to transport for people with disabilities aged 18 years and over attending day services to facilitate attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43501/23]
View answerThe HSE provides specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services, and people with intellectual disabilities would form the majority of service users who are supported by these services. While day service funding does not include transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
The HSE have been working with the National Transport Authority on this issue of transport to day services, through the ‘Open Routes’ project. Open Routes is based on the idea that transport to HSE services such as day services would be best served by accessible local public transport such as the Local Link, transporting people to their day services, but also serving the wider local community as well with enhanced public transport provision.
The approach is being piloted in Leitrim, in line with mainstreaming of services for people with disabilities. The NTA advise that the Integrated Pilot Project was developed in close collaboration with the HSE, with a revised network that is designed to meet the needs of mainstream public transport users as well as the transport needs of passengers with disabilities and those accessing health care services in the county.
This Pilot Project has now been in operation for over a year. To date all feedback with regard to the pilot from stakeholders such as HSE, HSE Day Centres, external stakeholders and passengers has been very positive. In addition to the positive feedback, passenger numbers on Regular Rural Services has grown considerably since the introduction of the revised TFI Local Link network for County Leitrim.
This is a model that could be applied in other parts of the country, with the NTA leading on this and working closely with local partners such as the HSE. The NTA and HSE are continuing to progress this work, with a view to conducting a review of the pilot.
412. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied) who, having been referred to St. Gabriel's Foundation, Limerick, by the HSE's child and adolescent mental health services, has yet to receive an assessment date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43509/23]
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.
413. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended on an annual basis for foster care service providers since the year commencing 2013 to date in 2023; if he will provide a breakdown paid to agencies and to private individuals over that time period; and the number of active and inactive foster carers and agencies as of 1 October 2023. [43514/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
414. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the policy of the children’s disability network teams for scheduling interventions for children in different age groups, aged two years and under, aged over two and under six, aged six and over, and so on; whether there has been a change in the way resources are allocated to different age groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43530/23]
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.
415. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the parents of a child (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an assessment of needs for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43532/23]
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.
