Written Answers Nos. 413-427
413. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice if she will set aside dedicated funding for the purposes of community rejuvenation and diversion programmes to support young people who are at risk of going into crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46649/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to protecting all communities, especially those most affected by crime, and to implementing policies designed to prevent our young people from falling into crime. When they do fall into crime, my Department is further committed to providing them with a pathway to a better future, free from crime.
Justice Plan 2023 commits to diverting children away from gangs seeking to recruit them into a life of crime. This includes the continued roll out of the evidence-based community intervention programme “Greentown”, which seeks to break the link between children who are engaged or at risk of engaging with a criminal gang.
The Government agreed to publish the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023 earlier this year. This new legislation, which will criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime will, for the first time, create specific offences where an adult compels, coerces, induces or invites a child to engage in criminal activity.
I am determined to protect children and teenagers from being coerced into a life of crime, and the penalty on conviction is up to five years' imprisonment. The new offence will be a separate, prosecutable offence on top of the provisions in current law where an adult who causes or uses a child to commit a crime can generally be found guilty as the principal offender, meaning they can be punished as though they committed the crime themselves.
To support youth justice services and to ensure delivery of key objectives in the Youth Justice Strategy, a further €2.9 million in funding was allocated to youth justice services, increasing the total budget allocation for the YDPs and other youth justice projects to an unprecedented €33 million in Budget 2024.
This funding will be deployed with the assistance of the best available research and expert evidence to keep young people away from crime.
Under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-27, the intention is to further develop this service so that it is available to every child in the State who could benefit from it, through an ongoing expansion of existing services and the foundation of new projects where necessary.
Additionally, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy, the Department launched a public consultation on appropriate diversion processes for young adults aged 18-24 who come into contact with the criminal justice system. It is well recognised internationally that more considered responses by justice systems for this age group may produce better results. This consultation closed in January and the Department will organise a number of subsequent consultation events for stakeholders over the coming months with a view to bringing forward proposals by the end of the year.
The Government will prioritise the rollout of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) across the country in 2024. Each partnership will bring together community members, the voluntary and community sector, statutory services, and local councillors to work together in identifying and tackling community safety issues, such as anti-social behaviour and drug dealing, locally. Each Partnership will develop a Community Safety Plan for their area.
Partnerships will also be able to apply to the Community Safety Innovation Fund to provide funding for community safety initiatives in their area. This fund allows the proceeds of crime to be reinvested back into the community.
414. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice if she will support mandatory trauma-informed training for all of those who engage with victims/survivors of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46650/23]
View answerEnsuring that we have a victim centred criminal justice system that supports and protects victims for the duration of their journey through it has been a priority for me since I took office as Minister for Justice. The provision of training is a central concern in 'Zero Tolerance', the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and was also identified as a priority in Supporting A Victims Journey, which is a detailed plan of action to give effect to the recommendations contained in the O’Malley Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses In the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences.
A number of key actions have been already been delivered, including:
• The establishment of a course in University of Limerick to train intermediaries;
• Legislating for preliminary trial hearings;
• Undertaking a mapping exercise to identify gaps in services and supports provided for victims, both geographically and by service type, and the provision of increased funding to address them; and
• The first cohort of staff at a new sexual offences unit in the Director of Public Prosecutions took up their roles.
I can advise the Deputy that the issue of training for all personnel who come into contact with vulnerable victims and better supporting vulnerable witnesses in court is a key part of the actions set out in Supporting a Victims Journey. In developing this detailed plan of action, my Department worked with the legal professions, all criminal justice agencies, relevant Departments and other agencies and with the sector. All involved in the creation of this detailed plan of action committed to ensuring that appropriate trauma-informed training is made available in their areas. To identify what training is currently provided and identify where there may be gaps, my Department commissioned and received a study on DSGBV training across the sector. A priority for my Department in the coming months is the completion of our examination of this report to identify training gaps, as well as to ascertain which gaps can best be addressed in a cross-agency or multidisciplinary context with a view whether appropriate to commission suitable training responses, and which gaps will be for individual professions and agencies to address. In terms of work already underway by those professions and agencies that come into contact with victims, I can advise the Deputy that much progress has been made in this regard since Supporting a Victims Journey was published.
While all Gardaí are trained as first responders to assist and support victims, the Deputy will be aware that there are now Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) established across the country meaning that specially trained officers are available nationwide to engage with and interview vulnerable victims. An Garda Síochána also have dedicated Victim Service Offices and Family Liaison Officers who are assigned to engage with victims in various cases.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Irish Prison Service have Victim Liaison Officers who engage with victims and provide information to them.
The Irish Prison Service Victim Liaison Officer has received trauma-informed practice training and also trauma-informed training forms part of the Recruit Prison Officer training syllabus.
The Probation Service also has a Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit (RJVSU) which offers a central point of contact for victims of crime where the offender is known to the Probation Service.The RJVSU also has an internal Victim Advisory Committee to enhance learning and practices in responding to victims.
The Judiciary, as the Deputy knows, are independent in their functions subject only to the constitution and the law. I have made enquiries with the Judicial Council to ascertain what training is offer to the Judiciary and I am advised that Judges currently receive training in the following areas; • Avoiding Re-traumatisation,
• Unconscious Bias,
• Vulnerable Witnesses and,
• Courses in Coercive Control.
I am also informed that the Law Society and Bar Council have various continuous professional development (CPD) requirements for all members that are focused on trauma-informed victim engagement . Both bodies have incorporated specialist CPD modules in relation to engaging with victims of DSGBV previously and were consulted in the drafting of the commitment in the Third National Strategy to ensure that there is DSGBV informed education, training and awareness raising initiatives for all in the criminal justice system who come into contact with victims.
415. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who have had charges entered against them for simple possession of a controlled drug for their own personal use in each of the years 2017 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [46656/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) which includes the recording of information on, and the maintenance of, the PULSE system. Data on drugs generally is provided in PULSE incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below indicates the number of charges created annually since 2017 where the offence was ‘Possession Of Drugs Contrary to Section 3 MDA’. MDA refers to the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977.
It is important to note, however, these are unique charges rather than unique people. A person may be charged multiple times for the same offence during a given year.
|
Charge Year |
Charges Created |
|
2017 |
3692 |
|
2018 |
4285 |
|
2019 |
5250 |
|
2020 |
6545 |
|
2021 |
6624 |
|
2022 |
6373 |
|
2023* |
6396 |
*The 2023 count is to 21 October 2023. Information supplied is operational and, as such, is subject to change.
416. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the overall allocation to drugs units in each county in each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [46663/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of Garda members to a given area or specialist unit. As Minister I have no role in this matter.
I understand that the Deputy is referring to the number of Garda members assigned to the drugs units in each Garda Division. The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of members assigned in each drugs unit from 2019 to 2022, and, as of 30 September 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Divisional Drugs Units |
Dec-19 |
Dec-20 |
Dec-21 |
Dec-22 |
Sep-23 |
|
D.M.R.S.C. |
17 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
14 |
|
D.M.R.N.C |
12 |
19 |
12 |
31 |
28 |
|
D.M.R.N. |
19 |
30 |
28 |
29 |
24 |
|
D.M.R.E. |
0 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
|
D.M.R.S. |
18 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
22 |
|
D.M.R.W. |
7 |
22 |
26 |
20 |
26 |
|
Waterford |
15 |
14 |
17 |
14 |
16 |
|
Wexford |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
9 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
5 |
7 |
11 |
8 |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
7 |
7 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
|
Cork City |
14 |
15 |
23 |
19 |
17 |
|
Cork North |
5 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Cork West |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Kerry |
11 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
19 |
19 |
22 |
23 |
|
Donegal |
6 |
18 |
21 |
5 |
5 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
6 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
7 |
|
Louth |
4 |
13 |
14 |
11 |
12 |
|
Clare |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
Galway |
9 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
22 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
5 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
|
Meath |
7 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
Kildare |
11 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
|
Total |
231 |
306 |
315 |
311 |
328 |
417. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if donkeys are worth anything when it comes to stocking densities and fulfilling requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46053/23]
View answerUnder Ireland's CAP schemes, stocking requirements can be used by applicants to fulfil eligibility criteria in the following areas.
• Active Farmer Check
• Eco-Scheme
• Organic Farming Scheme
• Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC)
Donkeys are eligible for inclusion in stocking requirement calculations and are valued at 0.80 livestock unit. In addition, they must be owned by the applicant and hold a valid passport with the donkey registered in the name of the applicant. Donkeys must also be maintained on the applicant's holding. It is important to note that no more than 50% of the stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants are therefore required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% requirement.
Detailed information on stocking requirements can be found on the Department's website in the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) terms and conditions.
418. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when funding will be made available to assist landowners in dealing with ash dieback disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46057/23]
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 Pippa Hackett, 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.
419. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department provides annual funding to Irish farming organisations; the breakdown of funding allocations for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46132/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table.
2021
|
Name of Farming Representative Organisation |
Details of funding allocated |
Funding Amount € |
|
Macra Na Feirme |
DAFM support for Macra initiative concerning land mobility |
50,000 |
|
Macra Na Feirme |
Annual Grant |
25,000 |
2022
|
Name of Farming Representative Organisation |
Details of funding allocated |
Funding Amount € |
|
Macra Na Feirme |
Annual Grant |
25,000 |
2023 to date
|
Name of Farming Representative Organisation |
Details of funding allocated |
Funding Amount € |
|
Macra Na Feirme |
DAFM support for Macra initiative concerning land mobility |
100,000 |
420. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that have been considered by his Department with regard to supporting access to land for young farmers and new entrants to agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46134/23]
View answerThe challenge of generational renewal is widely recognised both at national and EU level. I am a strong supporter of assisting the next generation to take over the farm when the time is right to do so.
Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agrifood sector, recognises the challenge of generational renewal and proposes a number of actions. These include maintaining the strong level of current support, promoting succession planning & land mobility, and increased education and promotion of the diversity of careers in the agrifood sector.
The new Common Agricultural Policy cites generational renewal as one of its nine key objectives. There are a number of measures available under the new CAP Strategic Plan:
• A Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, dedicating some 3% of the direct payments ceiling (€1.186 billion) to help young farmers establish their farming businesses. This allocation is approximately €35m per annum and will pay over €175 per hectare, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares over five years.
• A National Reserve 2023-2027 will provide support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Successful applicants will receive an allocation of payment entitlements on land for which they hold no payment entitlements, and/or a top-up to the value of existing entitlements below the national average entitlement value to bring them up to the national average value, subject to an overall allocation of 50 entitlements per successful applicant.
• A higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers under the TAMS capital investment measure will also continue to be available.
• A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme provides financial support to encourage farmers to form partnerships with young, trained farmers.
• A Succession Planning Advice Grant to encourage and support farmers aged 60 years and over to seek succession planning advice.
Nationally, there are a number of strong taxation measures to facilitate succession and assist land mobility. For succession, Agricultural Relief is the key measure, which along with 100% Stamp Duty Relief and Consanguinity Stamp Duty Relief, provided support of some €274 million in 2022. I was delighted to secure the extension of these in the recent budget for 2024. In addition, 100% Stock Relief for Young Trained Farmers was worth €1.7 million. The Succession Farm Partnership Scheme provides for a €25,000 tax credit over five years to further assist the transfer of land within a partnership structure, to encourage earlier transfer of family farms, and was worth €1 million.
For land mobility, long-term leasing income tax relief supports access to land for young farmers and provides a route to retirement for older farmers. Latest figures show €34.3 million for 12,490 beneficiaries.
In Budget 2024, Consanguinity relief was renewed for five years. The aggregate lifetime amount of relief that a young farmer can get from the Young-Trained Farmers Stamp Duty Relief, Young-Trained Farmers Stock Relief and the Succession Farm Partnerships Tax Credit is being increased from €70,000 to €100,000.
The €500 million Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS), will facilitate strategic investment by SMEs, including farmers, fishers and food businesses, to ensure their continued viability and sustainability into the future. One of the unique characteristic of the Scheme is that loans up to €500,000 are unsecured, making it a viable source of finance for young and new entrant farmers, especially the cohort who do not have high levels of security.
In addition, all of Teagasc’s education activities equips our young farmers with the necessary knowledge to build successful careers.
Supporting young farmers and new entrants in agriculture will ensure a strong and sustainable sector into the future and will remain a priority for me and the Government.
421. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many PhD researchers are funded by his Department, including those funded by agencies and bodies under the auspices of his Department, and who will not be receiving the increase in stipend to €22,000. [46158/23]
View answerFollowing on from the decision by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide funding to SFI and IRC that will enable them to increase their PhD stipends from €19,000 to €22,000 from January 2024, my Department is currently considering revisions to the stipend for Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funded postgraduate students. The stipend for postgraduate students on DAFM funded research projects has been €19,000 since 2022. I and the Minister of State with responsibility for research and development in my Department hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this matter shortly.
The numbers of postgraduate students funded by my Department, Teagasc and the Marine Institute are currently 202, 174 and 44, respectively. However, it is important to note that these numbers are constantly fluctuating as some students complete their postgraduate studies while others are commencing theirs.
In relation to bodies or agencies under the auspices of my Department who also fund postgraduate students, their stipend rate is an operational matter for the bodies themselves, and this is an issue they are currently examining.
422. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he proposes to make up the shortfall in the PhD stipend, to ensure that PhD researchers such as a researcher (details supplied) who have been excluded from the planned increase in stipends for PhD students, are treated in an equitable manner with other Government-funded PhD students by being given an increase in the stipend to €22,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46159/23]
View answerFollowing on from the decision by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide funding to SFI and IRC that will enable them to increase their PhD stipends from €19,000 to €22,000 from January 2024, my Department is currently considering revisions to the stipend for Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funded postgraduate students. The stipend for postgraduate students on DAFM funded research projects has been €19,000 since 2022. I and the Minister of State with responsibility for research and development in my Department hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this matter shortly.
423. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the findings of a ground inspection will issue to a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46167/23]
View answerOn 14 September 2023 the person named received an Area Monitoring System (AMS) notification regarding a possible non-compliance on a land parcel A response was received by my Department on 21 September 2023 and an AgriSnap photo was received for review. Following a review of the AgriSnap photo, further clarification on the ground was required by the Department. A field visit was completed on 6 October 2023. The results of that inspection will be communicated to the applicant shortly. The results will also be used to update the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), thereby enabling the further processing of the application and the making of any payments which may be due once the case is resolved.
424. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a product (details supplied) will be released to the business that bought the product. [46177/23]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority responsible for the transposition and implementation of European Community legislation concerning animal feedstuff.
Official controls are carried out through inspections of premises and sampling of feedstuff, by authorised officers, at all stages of the feed chain, including importation, storage, manufacture, trade and use at farm level. Imports of feed materials are inspected and sampled based on a risk assessment.
The product related to this query remains under investigation and no further action can be taken pending receipt of the report of laboratory analysis, which are expected this week.
There is ongoing communication between my Department and all stakeholders involved.
425. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial amount spent on climate, environment and associated programmes from the EU Just Transition Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/23]
View answerIreland’s first Territorial Just Transition Plan will provide for investments of up to €169 million, which will be targeted at the economic transition of the Midlands region for the period to 2027. Within the Plan, DAFM has been awarded funding of €35m for two projects:
Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiatives (€20m)
The ‘EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative’ is the first national competitive Call for proposals for Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiatives. It involves piloting and demonstration focused projects concentrating on developing new agrifood and biobased industries that will focus on unlocking the full potential of biomass, through its cascading use and optimised valorisation.
The Call opened for submissions on 16 August 2023 and closed on 13 October 2023. Proposals are currently undergoing evaluation, managed by DAFM, and the announcement of successful proposals and the commencement of projects can be expected in Q1 of 2024. The total funding amount for this Call is €10m for the Just Transition Fund 2021-2027. This will provide funding for two projects which may have a value of up to €5m each. It is anticipated that a further €10m call for proposals will be issued in 2024.
Midlands Carbon Catchment Study (€15m)
The Midlands Carbon Catchment Study will seek to research innovative ways of reducing emissions from organic soils by working with farmers at a catchment level to test new and novel ways of alternative, sustainable land management, and to explore new economic models such as carbon farming. A call is currently being worked on and will be open to submissions soon.
The main objectives of the study:
• Seek to explore alternative more sustainable land management activities on drained organic soils used for agriculture.
• Pilot the concept of a carbon farming/trading model through testing different payment models, developing suitable carbon codes and establishing a trusted Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) process.
• Provide several demonstration farms/living labs with various alternative land management options to guide the transition to a more sustainable farming model across the Territory.
No funding has been spent on either project yet.
426. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase the stipends to PhDs working on research for agricultural agencies, in line with the recent increases made within the higher education system. [46224/23]
View answerIn October 2022, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science announced an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. The Review examined current PhD researcher supports including financial supports across research funders and higher education institutions. In their Report, the Co-Chairs recommended an optimum target of €25,000 for PHD stipends, subject to the availability of funding.
Any decision to change the level of stipends paid to PhD researchers in agencies operating under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual agencies.
427. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide flexibility for buying and submitting receipts for the national liming programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46236/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, on 6 October I announced important flexibility regarding the ground limestone spreading deadline under the National Liming Programme.
While the deadline of 31 of October 2023 remains in place for receipt of claims, applicants have until 31 March 2024 to spread the lime.
The extension to the spreading deadline was granted in response to the challenging weather conditions in 2023.
The programme is supported as a once-off measure in 2023 in response to the war in Ukraine funded by the National Exchequer. Approximately 38,500 farmers were approved under the Programme.
There is no funding provision available for 2024. Therefore claims for payment including invoices/receipts with proof of payment must be submitted by the 31st of October, so administrative checks can be completed this year in order to facilitate payments from the 2023 Budget.
