Jim O'Callaghan
Question:878. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of conspiracy to kidnap offences reported to gardaí within the G district of the DMR to date in 2023. [48746/23]
View answerAn Garda Síochána
Questions (878)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 September 2023, providing stats for Recorded Crime for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2023.
I understand that the "G District" referred to by the Deputy relates to Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South Division. Figures in respect of conspiracy to kidnap offences reported to Gardaí in the DMR South Division, can be found on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06
An Garda Síochána
Questions (879)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:879. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of unauthorised taking of mechanically propelled vehicle offences reported to gardaí within the E district of the DMR to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48747/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.
The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 September 2023, providing stats for Recorded Crime for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2023.
Figures in respect of unauthorised taking of mechanically propelled vehicle offences reported to Gardaí in the "E District" which is the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South Central Division, can be found on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06
Capital Expenditure Programme
Questions (880)
Catherine Murphy
Question:880. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of her 2023 capital budget allocation that has been spent in the first nine months of the year. [48758/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy that there are four votes with capital expenditure within the Justice Vote group, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, Courts Service and Department of Justice. These in total combine to almost €294m for 2023.
The details of spend as a percentage of annual allocation for the first nine months of the year, is set out in the table below.
|
Vote* |
Capital Allocation |
Expenditure to 30/9/23 |
% of allocation spent (to 30/9/23) |
|
20 - Garda |
€183m |
€69.1m |
37.8% |
|
21- Prisons |
€29.5m |
€11.6m |
39.4% |
|
22 - Courts |
€66.9m |
€38.3m |
57.3% |
|
24 - Department of Justice |
€14.1m |
€ 8.4m |
59.6% |
|
Totals |
€293.5m |
€127.5m |
43.4% |
* There is no capital provision in the Policing Authority (Vote 41) and the Data Protection Commission (Vote 44).
As the Deputy will appreciate capital expenditure throughout the year tends to be uneven with a particular high drawdown at year-end. I am informed that underspends to date will reverse as various projects are progressed over the coming weeks and that the 2023 capital allocation will be utilised.
International Protection
Questions (881, 882, 883, 884, 885)
Catherine Connolly
Question:881. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the current contractual arrangements for the appointment or provision of translators throughout the international protection process, in particular with regard to translators for oral appeal hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48772/23]
View answer
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Questions No. 881, 882, 883, 884 and 885 of 7 November 2023 where you asked: “…..the current contractual arrangements for the appointment or provision of translators throughout the international protection process, in particular with regard to translators for oral appeal hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
“…..if her Department is aware of current difficulties encountered by applicants, solicitors/barristers for applicants, IPO presenting officers and International Protection Appeals Tribunal members with the standard of translators provided/appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
“…..the number of complaints that have been raised in relation to translators and translation services in the international protection process since 2020; the stages within which the IP process these complaints have been raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
“…..if her Department has sought any improvements at any stage from translation service providers on foot of any complaint; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
“….. the number of oral appeal hearings that have been adjourned or rescheduled due, to in full or in part, poor-quality translators; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
As you will recall, I undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. We recognise the importance of high quality interpretation and translation to this process.
The International Protection Office (IPO) primarily provides Cultural Mediators and interpretation services through a partnership with the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM). In addition, since 2020, the IPO has also engaged with two service providers for the provision of interpretation services for less common languages and two service providers for the translation of documents. Separately, the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) uses an interpretation service provider for hearings where necessary.
At the IPO, the role of the IOM’s cultural mediator is to independently assist and support the applicant in the process as well as to provide interpretation services. Initially, this includes briefing the applicant on the process in the language of their choice and supporting them to complete their application. If an applicant speaks a less common language for which no interpreter is present, they are invited to return to the IPO to complete the application once a suitable interpreter has been arranged. International Protection applicants are also provided with support, interpretation and translation services by the IOM and other service providers as required through the rest of the process, including during the substantive interview process.
If, during an interview at the IPO, a hearing in the IPAT, or any other part of the process, any interested party has concerns about the interpretation being provided, an alternative interpreter is sought. If an appropriate alternative interpreter is available on-site, the interview or hearing continues at that time. If none is available on the day for the particular language required, the interview is re-scheduled.
The below table shows the oral hearings that were adjourned in the IPAT due to issues with interpretation. These figures relate to difficulties in relation to particular dialects or in some cases where a party to proceedings is not satisfied with the standard of interpretation being provided.
|
Year |
Number of oral hearings adjourned |
Number of hearings completed |
|
2020 |
7 |
465 |
|
2021 |
5 |
765 |
|
2022 |
13 |
922 |
|
2023* |
19 |
987 |
*To 27 November 2023.
Statistics are not available for the number complaints that have been made in relation to translation or interpretation services to the IPO or IPAT. However, any concerns about the quality of interpretation or translation services are brought to the attention of the relevant service provider. There are arrangements in place for interviewers to provide feedback on interpreters, and this is considered by the IPO and the IPAT.
The Department works in partnership with all its service providers to constantly seek improvement to the delivery of services to our customers.
Catherine Connolly
Question:882. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if her Department is aware of current difficulties encountered by applicants, solicitors-barristers for applicants, IPO presenting officers and International Protection Appeals Tribunal members with the standard of translators provided and appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48773/23]
View answerCatherine Connolly
Question:883. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of complaints raised in relation to translators and translation services in the international protection process since 2020; the stages within the IP process at which these complaints have been raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48774/23]
View answerCatherine Connolly
Question:884. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has sought any improvements at any stage from translation service providers on foot of any complaint; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48775/23]
View answerCatherine Connolly
Question:885. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of oral appeal hearings that have been adjourned or rescheduled due, in full or in part, to poor-quality translators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48776/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 881 to 885, inclusive, together.
Unfortunately it has not been possible to collate the requested information in the time requested. I will revert to the Deputy when the information is available.
Question No. 882 answered with Question No. 881.
Question No. 883 answered with Question No. 881.
Question No. 884 answered with Question No. 881.
Question No. 885 answered with Question No. 881.
Question No. 886 answered with Question No. 858.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (887)
Alan Dillon
Question:887. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 300 of 5 October 2023, whether this file has been discussed at Secretary General level of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47288/23]
View answerWritten answers
The above person has been contacted by an official of my Department in relation to his previous correspondence. The records that he has provided are being examined and he has been advised that he will be contacted as soon as this examination has concluded.
The above persons file has not been discussed with the Secretary General – individual cases are not discussed at Secretary General level. As previously stated, officials from my Department will be in contact with the above person.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (888)
Holly Cairns
Question:888. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail any ongoing or previous use of artificial intelligence within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47329/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that Artificial Intelligence is used in the following cases within my Department.
• Predicting the likelihood of TB outbreaks.
• Image analysis of crops claimed under CAP schemes.
• Image analysis for identifying species susceptible to H5N1 (Bird flu).
• Customer Segmentation analysis for developing Agri-Food policies.
• Analysis for identifying risk factors for Microbial Food Safety.
• Smart Text analysis to prevent and contain data breaches.
All current and future use cases are subject to human review, data protection and governance measures.
More broadly, the Deputy may wish to be aware that the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment currently coordinate a Working Group on Trustworthy AI in Public Services. This group will provide wider guidance to public servants on the use of AI in the Public Service in the near future.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (889)
Paul Kehoe
Question:889. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing the balance of the BPS 2022 payment for a farm (details supplied); if the requested ground inspection will be carried out as a priority to resolve this enquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47367/23]
View answerWritten answers
An application for participation in the 2022 Basic payment Scheme (BPS) scheme was received from the person named on the 27th of April 2022.
The geotag pictures have been reviewed and the area updated, a supplementary payment has been requested for this applicant. This payment will issue in the next 2022 BPS payment run.
Animal Culls
Questions (890)
Seán Canney
Question:890. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans in place to cull the wild deer herd, which is causing serious risk to motorists as they are coming onto public roads in darkness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47372/23]
View answerWritten answers
The responsibility for authorising a cull on wild deer for the purposes of mitigating risks to motorists, or any other reason, resides with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
I am though acutely aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, forestry as well as overall biodiversity within nature ecosystems. In order to address this I and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage convened the Deer Management Strategy group last Autumn, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Teddy Cashman. On foot of a recommendation of the strategy group an open public consultation on the management of deer was launched late last year by myself and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
This was the first major public consultation into the impact of deer and it received over 1,500 submissions from all over the country and all walks of life.
The role of the Deer Management strategy group is to develop a strategy for sustainable management of the national deer population.
The group is currently compiling its final report and it is anticipated to be completed in the coming weeks.
Wildlife Protection
Questions (891)
Mick Barry
Question:891. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he would consider a ban on the use of snares in light of the impact they are having on the protected badger population and other wildlife; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/23]
View answerWritten answers
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown.
It causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families, and I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy which aims to reduce and ultimately eradicate this disease in Ireland. This battle against TB continues in 2023.
Badgers are susceptible to the bovine TB organism, causing disease in badgers, passing disease throughout badger populations and between badgers and cattle. The role of badgers in the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the bovine herd is now incontrovertible.
Ensuring a healthy badger population through the removal of badgers in areas of high levels of TB as well as the vaccination of badgers in areas where it is appropriate to do so, is necessary both for the control of bovine TB and the health of the badger population and rural ecosystem.
A disease eradication programme necessitates that all sources of infection are addressed – this applies to both cattle and badgers.
The capture of badgers is carried out by trained operators using stopped body restraints, under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. All captured badgers are assessed from an animal welfare perspective. Captured badgers are either killed humanely or vaccinated. My Department expends significant resources in ensuring the consistent quality of its wildlife programme, to minimise animal welfare impacts.
Agriculture Supports
Questions (892)
Claire Kerrane
Question:892. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the plan to provide supports to the group known as Forgotten Farmers, given intentions were set out to follow up with his Department on the draft proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47404/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have long supported the cohort of farmers known as the forgotten farmers and have committed to supporting them.
My Department developed a preliminary outline of a proposal to provide support to the forgotten farmer group. Work continues on addressing a number of issues, such as the funding required and consistency with public expenditure, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under the scheme can be finalised. Details of the scheme will be made available as soon as this process has been completed.
I am committed to delivering for these farmers, many of whom find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own, at the earliest opportunity.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (893)
Alan Dillon
Question:893. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47462/23]
View answerWritten answers
The person named was approved to GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1st October 2015. Payments issued for scheme years 2015 to 2022 inclusive.
The GLAS contract was selected for an on-farm inspection on 15th November 2022. The findings in relation to the Protection of Watercourses from Bovines (PWCB) action resulted in a reduction and penalty from the 2022 Scheme payment and also a clawback of monies already paid for previous GLAS Scheme Years. In addition to the inspection finding, the withdrawal of Parcel P17307069 from the GLAS contract in 2019 resulted in an additional clawback of GLAS payments. A letter issued from GLAS to the person named outlined the details of these clawbacks on 3rd October 2023.
I can confirm that a sum of €337.92 was recouped from the associated 2022 GLAS balance payment which issued on 19th May 2023. The remaining sum of €2,020.83 was subsequently deducted in full from other Departmental scheme payments. There are no further GLAS payments due to the herd owner and the debt has now been settled.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (894)
Claire Kerrane
Question:894. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification regarding eligibility for the Knowledge Transfer Programme, with regard to requirements for participants to be herd keepers, or if they can be joint herd owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47508/23]
View answerWritten answers
The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has brought a new approach to knowledge transfer (KT) – the new system is more targeted, with equal emphasis on CAP objectives and local needs.
An example of this is that each participant will have an annual one-to-one planning meeting with the KT Facilitator, using the farmer’s Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) application so that the knowledge transfer can be applied to the goals of that farm and crucially can be evaluated in future years.
This new KT Programme is far more tailored to the individual farm and targeted to local needs in accordance with the regulations.
The Knowledge Transfer (KT) Programme 2024-2026 is currently open for submission of Group applications until 10 November 2023 (extended from 31 October). The Programme will be delivered by an approved network of KT Facilitators, with herd owners participating in the Programme.
The terms and conditions of the Programme set out that the participant must attend the group meetings and one-to-one meetings and submit the annual online form. It also states that the participant must have an active business ID such as a herd number, Registered Farm Partnership (RFP) or Company ID, they must have submitted a BISS application in 2023, and must also submit a BISS application in each year of the Programme. They must apply under the herd number used to submit their BISS application.
Participants shall apply for the Programme using the herd number under which their BISS application is made, except for Registered Farm Partnerships. Where participants are members of a Registered Farm Partnership applications must be made under the individual herd numbers. For single herd partnerships or joint ventures one Participant can apply. For multi-herd partnerships the number of Participants will be determined by the number of herd owners.
Herd keepers cannot submit BISS applications and therefore do not meet the eligibility criteria for this Programme.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (895)
Claire Kerrane
Question:895. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information on the total number of ACRES scorecards submitted in 2023; how many were submitted by 31 August 2023; how many were submitted by the extended deadline of 30 September 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47509/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, with funding of €1.5 billion committed over the scheme lifetime. This is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. A fundamental element of ACRES is the use of results-based payments to encourage and reward improved environmental outcomes on their farmlands.
In acknowledgement of the pressures faced by farm advisors in submitting scorecards for their clients’ farms by the original deadline of 31st August 2023, I extended the scoring deadline to 29th September 2023. I was delighted recently to announce that over 98% of all scorecards have been submitted to my Department. In total, more than 170,000 scorecards were issued across 10 scorecard types.
As requested by the Deputy, the number of scorecards submitted by the dates indicated are as follows:
|
Date |
Number of Scorecards Submitted |
|
31st August 2023 |
125,581 |
|
29th September 2023 |
166,875 |
EU Funding
Questions (896)
Claire Kerrane
Question:896. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has explored the provision of EU supports to address financial losses experienced by farmers and forestry owners as a result of ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47543/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department explored all forestry funding options under state aid rules with the Commission during the process of securing state aid approval for the new €1.3 billion programme. We secured approval for an attractive and innovative Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback. This scheme includes the following 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; depending on forest type: for conifer forests (FT12) that is an additional €3,858/ha; if you chose to replant with native trees that is €6,744/ha, and €8,555/ha for agroforestry. In addition, grants of €2,880/ha are also available for Deer Fencing for FT 1 to 11.
• Therefore, for clearing your site and replanting, currently under the new Programme the range of payment to landowners entering the scheme is from €5,858 up to €10,555/ha.
• In addition, 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 November 2022, my Department sought the opinion of the Commission as to what costs are eligible for state aid and they confirmed that under the Aid for the prevention and restoration of damage to forests, compensation for loss of timber value or other financial loss is not eligible.
Minister of State, Pipa Hackett is currently reviewing the recently published Independent report of the Review Group established to review the Department’s response to ash dieback which included several financial recommendations.
Ministerial Staff
Questions (897)
Catherine Murphy
Question:897. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of statements of interests for the purposes of section 19 filed by his special advisers in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will provide a schedule of same. [47640/23]
View answerWritten answers
For the purpose of Section 19 of the Ethics in Public Office Act,1995, where there are no interests to disclose, there is no obligation on a Special Advisor to furnish a Nil Statement and no requirement on an Office holder to lay a nil statement of a Special Advisor before the Oireachtas.
As such, there was no statements of interests filed in respect of the Special Advisors in this Department during the years 2020,2021,2022 and to date in 2023.