Written Answers Nos. 187-210
187. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE vacancies currently within his Department and that are normally filled by staff at the grade of administrative officer and above, as of 7 December 2023, in tabular form. [55603/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our grade streams and locations, aiming to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which current and future staffing needs are addressed. Recruitment is currently under way in the Department and posts continue to be advertised by either the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or by my Department’s Human Resources Division.
As business needs arise, staff are allocated to support organisational priorities within my Department. Overall staffing levels and required skills are continually monitored to ensure business needs are met, subject to the limits of the annual estimates process, the usual budgetary constrains and approvals by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan, Delivery and Reform.
The table below provides further details on the numbers of vacancies currently within the Department that are normally filled by staff at the grade of Administrative Officer (or equivalent) and above as of 7th December, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Grade |
Number of Vacancies at 07/12/23 |
|
Administrative Officer |
6 |
|
Agricultural Inspector |
4 |
|
Assistant Agricultural Inspector |
18 |
|
Assistant Principal |
7 (inclusive of ICT posts) |
|
District Superintendent |
1 |
|
Engineer Foreman |
1 |
|
Engineer Grade 3 |
4 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 2 |
4 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 3 |
8 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
17 (inclusive of ICT posts) |
|
Lab Analyst |
8 |
|
Quality Manager |
1 |
|
Research Officer |
2 |
|
State Solicitor |
1 |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
1 |
|
Supervisory Agricultural Officer |
12 |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
8 |
188. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures taken since 27 June 2020 to help and support farmers and the agriculture sector in meeting the challenge of climate change. [55620/23]
View answerTo meet the challenge of climate change, public supports and incentives, in conjunction with private industry supports, will all play an important role.
My Department has put significant resources in place through the CAP Strategic Plan for the period up to 2027. The Plan combines a wide range of targeted interventions addressing specific Irish needs and delivers tangible results relating to the sustainability of Irish agriculture and help meeting the challenges of climate change and the emission reduction targets, while also contributing to EU level objectives. The Plan will provide €9.8bn to support the economic, environmental and social sustainability for farmers and rural communities using a number of measures, including:
• An Eco-scheme that is open to all farms and has a number of climate- and environment-focused farming practices, including practices aimed at reducing chemical nitrogen usage, increasing tree planting, increasing nature- and biodiversity-rich land areas and encouraging extensive livestock production;
• The ACRES scheme, underpinned by a greater focus on results-based actions and on collective actions aimed at achieving landscape-scale benefits. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to facilitate the participation of 50,000 farmers.
• The Organic Farming Scheme aimed at more than tripling the area of agricultural land that is farmed organically. The budget for this scheme has increased from €56 Million to €256 Million.
The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) supports capital investment in a number of target areas which will promote sustainability e.g. low emissions slurry spreading equipment, farm nutrient storage, and renewable energy and energy efficiency. A budget of €370 million is in place for the next 5 years.
The new National Forestry Strategy and Forestry Programme includes a set of incentives to attract farmers and landowners to consider planting trees which is a key part of our climate actions, underpinned by a Government commitment of €1.3 billion.
189. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recommendations of the independent review group into his Department’s response to ash dieback disease are to be implemented; the progress made in assessing his Department’s response to these recommendations; when a decision is likely to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55670/23]
View answerMy colleague, Minister of State 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. The report published in September contained thirteen recommendations covering a diverse range of issues. A detailed action plan is being prepared for submission to cabinet for approval in the very near future which will outline a comprehensive action plan by my Department to deal with the issue of ash dieback. Detailed deliberations are taking place to ensure an efficient, appropriate and proportionate response.
There is currently an attractive and enhanced reconstitution scheme for ash dieback 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.
When the Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 opened in July it was noted that if a forest owner made an application they would not be disadvantaged if any changes are made as a result of the independent review process.
190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 organic farming scheme payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55672/23]
View answerAll applicants in the Organic Farming Scheme are subject to annual validation checks to ensure the correct payments are made. These checks have identified some validation errors on the BISS application submitted by the person named. Once these have been rectified, their Organic Farming Scheme payment can proceed.
191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 organic farming scheme payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55673/23]
View answerMy Department has no record of an Organic Farming Scheme application for the person named, nor of an organic licence or organic land claimed on their 2023 BISS application. However, the Organic Farming Scheme is currently open for new applications until the 15th of December 2023 and they may apply if they so wish.
192. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if lands leased by a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied) will be linked with his herd number for their organic scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55676/23]
View answerThe BISS application of the person named, submitted under the reference number supplied, has now been linked to their partnership number. Pre-payment validation checks are currently being carried out on their Organic Farming Scheme application.
2023 Organic Farming Scheme payments commenced on the 8 December, and payments will continue to be processed as the validation checks are completed.
193. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in receipt of a basic payment in Monaghan in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; the average payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55687/23]
View answerThe number of eligible farmers in County Monaghan who have received a payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) in 2023 to date, and the average payment per farmer are shown in the table below:
|
Year |
Number Paid |
Gross Paid |
Average payment |
National Average Payment |
|
2023 |
3,706 |
€17,412,388.25 |
€4,698.43 |
€7,638.07 |
For scheme years 2019 - 2022, the total amount of eligible farmers paid BPS in Monaghan are shown in the table below:
|
Year |
Number Paid |
Gross Paid |
Average payment |
National Average Payment |
|
2019 |
3,978 |
€18,535,159.28 |
€4,659.42 |
€6,497.37 |
|
2020 |
3,961 |
€18,338,116.59 |
€4,629.67 |
€6,497.37 |
|
2021 |
3,954 |
€18,072,117.29 |
€4,570.59 |
€6,659.51 |
|
2022 |
3,923 |
€18,072,282.10 |
€4,606.75 |
€6,547.28 |
194. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Agri-Food Regulator will be operational by years end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55688/23]
View answerI am delighted to formally establish the office of An Rialálaí Agraibhia today, Wednesday 13th December.
The primary legislation required to establish the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act was signed into law by President Higgins on 11 July 2023. Since then the focus was on undertaking the necessary steps to formally commence the Act and establish the Office. The recruitment and appointment of Board members, the drafting of the secondary legislation for the establishment of the Regulator and the necessary logistics for the new Office's accommodation, HR, ICT and Finance have been finalised. I am therefore in a position to commence the Act today and establish the Office.
The CEO Designate, Niamh Lenehan, was appointed in May 2023 and since then was head of the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (UTP EA) in my Department. Ms. Lenehan is now CEO of An Rialálaí Agraibhia from establishment day and all UTP enforcement functions transfer from the UTP EA to the new authority.
Following a competition run by the State Boards service of the Public Appointments Service, I appointed the Chairperson, Joe Healy, and the seven ordinary members of the Board with effect from establishment day.
The new office will be located in the Government shared offices in the Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co Kildare on 13 December 2023 is also the date of the inaugural meeting of the Board.
From establishment day, An Rialálaí Agraibhia will be an independent state body with responsibility for promoting and enforcing the principles of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.
The establishment of this Office fulfils a major ambition set out in the Programme for Government. It is something I championed and secured its inclusion in the Programme for Government, and then advanced it through all stages of the legislative process, into law and now finally to its establishment.
195. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, when making an application for an aquaculture licence, the area should be identifiable as a known sea area and should be within the boundary of an identifiable area in order that persons who may have an interest can be sure of the area where the application is being made, if there is an identifiable list of known sea areas that can be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55696/23]
View answerMy Department considers applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees.
Once an application has been accepted and passed through the initial assessment process the legislation provides for a period of public consultation. This is commenced by the applicant placing a notice in a locally circulating newspaper and the application documentation is also made available for viewing on the Departments website and a local Garda Station at this time. The newspaper notice gives the relevant information for the application and at this time any interested party may make a submission on the application as set out in the notice.
The location details given on the public notice refer to the general location by stating the Bay in which the application site is situated. The full information on the specific location is available in the application documentation which includes the specific site co-ordinates and site location map for the site and a map showing the access point that will be used if the site is licensed.
Details of all licensed sites are publicly available on the Departments' section of the www.gov.ie website and on the Aquaculture Information Management System (AQUAMIS).
196. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the vacancies that exist in Our Lady of Hope for therapist positions, nurses and other special school support staff, in tabular form; the estimated recruitment time for the vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55587/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
197. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) has lost their respite entitlement and has not received any respite since the beginning of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55593/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered broadening the Ukrainian housing assistance scheme (800 per month) to cover people on local authority housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55836/23]
View answerI take it that the assistance scheme to which the Deputy refers is the Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme that was established in 2022 under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. It initially provided for a monthly recognition payment of €400 for hosting a Ukrainian beneficiary of temporary protection (BOTP). The rate was increased to €800 per month with effect from 1 December 2022.
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that there is no proposal to amend the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme for the purpose described.
I can inform the Deputy that i intend to extend the termination date of the scheme to reflect the extension of the Temporary Protection Directive to March 2025.
199. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55472/23]
View answer200. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55473/23]
View answer201. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55474/23]
View answer202. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55475/23]
View answer203. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied) if he can answer why this training allowance was cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55476/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 203, inclusive, together.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that the HSE can confirm that no issues about the future of NLN in CHO 1 have been discussed or brought to their attention. Recent meetings have all focused on new developments and the continuation of existing levels of service. The CHO area are currently finalising 2024 Service Arrangement schedules and plan for ongoing service delivery through NLN.
NLN is funded to provide Rehabilitative Training programmes in all CHOs. The utilisation of RT places has reduced in recent years and the outcomes have changed. This has led to the independent RT review that is currently underway. All stakeholders are currently being consulted with including NLN and RehabGroup. The review will be completed in quarter one 2024.
204. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on (details supplied); if he will outline what is currently being planned by his Department for here (if anything); what stage the plans are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55477/23]
View answerMy Department is involved in negotiations with a range of accommodation providers across Ireland, and has received an offer of accommodation from the provider to which the Deputy refers. This offer is being evaluated to determine if it meets my Department's requirements to support beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.
Due to the commercial sensitivities involved, it is not possible to provide information on the negotiations with any individual provider.
205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55483/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
206. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to extend leave entitlement for parents who have a child through surrogacy, to align with maternity or adoptive leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55495/23]
View answerThe Minister for Health leads on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 which includes provisions in relation to surrogacy and policy on parentage is a matter for the Minister for Justice. Entitlements to family leaves will be considered in the context of legislative proposals in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022. I would like to bring to the attention of the Deputy that, under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to seven weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Parent’s Leave and Benefit will increase by a further two weeks to nine weeks by August 2024.The intention of this leave is to enable parents to spend time with their child in the earliest years. It is deliberately non-transferable between parents to ensure that both parents are encouraged and supported in taking time out from work to spend time with their child. This is further supported through the provision of Parents’ Benefit. At present, intending parents from a surrogacy agreement may be entitled to Parents’ Leave, depending on their circumstances. The father of a child born through surrogacy can qualify for Parents’ Leave if he is the biological father of the child and declared to be the parent of the child. In these circumstances, the father's partner may qualify for Parents’ Leave if they are married to, or in a civil partnership with, the child’s biological father, or have cohabited with the child’s biological father for over 3 years.
207. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full year costs associated with the proposed early years and childcare State agency; the status of the establishment of the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55506/23]
View answerOn 29th March 2022, Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the ELC and SAC sector for the years ahead. It is envisaged that this dedicated agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the City and County Childcare Committees, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
A dedicated state agency will assist in the development of a more streamlined structure to better support the delivery of ELC and SAC, and will facilitate my Department in implementing and progressing the significant reform agenda envisaged under First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
Considerable progress has been made in advancing this ambitious and transformative reform programme. My Department has commenced a comprehensive phase of analysis, planning, consultation, and engagement with sectoral stakeholders to determine how the recommendation arising from the Review can best be implemented. This phase will include a detailed design of a new agency, which will involve a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of a new state agency, determining the appropriate national, local and regional structures, an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, and risk management. This work will culminate in a fully costed full agency design and implementation plan which will be presented to Government for approval. Indecon International Consultants have recently been appointed by my Department to carry out this work.
The implementation of this reform programme will likely require considerable lead-in time and the full establishment of a new agency will take several years to complete. A detailed timeline for the design and implementation of this complex programme of work, which will involve multiple strands of inter-dependent work streams, is currently being developed as part of the design and implementation planning phase currently underway.
The Independent Review of the ELC and SAC Operating Model in Ireland conducted by Indecon presents indicative costs for a dedicated State agency at an estimated €14.5m for one-off establishment costs and an annual cost of approximately €50m which represents an additional annual cost of €4.5m compared to the current model. However, economies of scope and scale in the new agency will potentially result in cost savings over time. It should be noted that these costs are only preliminary and may change subject to the completion of a detailed design of the new agency, a full analysis of TUPE obligations, and a comprehensive, robust and evidence based exercise to determine detailed costings.
208. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of staff employed by the International Protection Accommodation Service and the associated grades for each staff member for each year from 2018 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55520/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service transferred to my Department in October 2020 from the Department of Justice. The below table shows the Whole Time Equivalent staff employed in the International Protection Accommodation Service from year end 2020 to October 2023.
|
Date |
PO |
AP |
HEO |
AO |
EO |
CO |
Total |
|
31/12/2020 |
4.80 |
7.00 |
9.60 |
2.95 |
18.00 |
14.80 |
57.15 |
|
31/12/2021 |
4.80 |
12.00 |
18.00 |
5.00 |
25.00 |
28.80 |
93.60 |
|
31/12/2022 |
5.00 |
18.00 |
20.95 |
3.00 |
30.00 |
26.80 |
103.75 |
|
31/10/2023 |
6.00 |
24.00 |
22.00 |
6.00 |
33.00 |
35.40 |
126.40 |
For the periods prior to the transfer of functions, the Deputy should contact the Department of Justice for this information.
209. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a breakdown of the number of children referred to Tusla to date in 2023, by referral type; and the entities from which the referral was made, including teachers, gardaí, the managers of direct provision centres and other categories. [55541/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
210. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures and initiatives he has taken to support disability rights and inclusion since 27 June 2020. [55609/23]
View answerAs Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability, I am committed to promoting disability rights and supporting the full inclusion, participation and empowerment of people with disabilities in our community.
On 26 of April this year the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was commenced along with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022.
Commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making Act brought an end to wardship in the State for adults, by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 and replacing the wards of court system with the new process for appointing tiered decision support arrangements that is now in effect. All existing wards of court will exit wardship on a phased basis over the coming three years. The new system of decision support arrangements is supporting people to continue to exercise control over their daily affairs and to carry on with lives of their choosing, even in the context of diminished capacity.
I was also delighted to be able to include in the final legislation a number of key measures which furthered the implementation of the UNCRPD, such as reform of certain aspects of jury service, changes in who can stand for election, legislating for IHREC to be the national monitoring body for the UNCRPD, and raising the minimum percentage of disabled people to be employed in the public service from 3 to six percent by 2025.
My Department provides, and will continue to evolve, frameworks for consulting with disabled people, in furtherance of the powerful phrase "nothing about us without us". This has included establishing and funding the Disability Participation and Consultation Network (DPCN). My Department supports the DPCN through grant funding to five organisations for the purposes of building capacity among the disability community in Ireland. Through the support and capacity building programmes delivered to date, this funding has contributed to the development of self-advocacy skills and facilitated participation in a number of significant consultations.In October 2021, I was delighted to launch a new annual Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF). The value of the Fund was €2.5m in 2021, and €3m in the most recent call, with further iterations of the Fund planned. The purpose of DPAF is to provide funding to support the participation of people with disabilities in local activities and to remove barriers to community involvement. Through DPAF, funding has been provided for a number of projects that aim to support people with disabilities, including those with autism and neurodiversity, to participate and engage more fully in their local communities.
Up until the start of this year, I chaired meetings of the previous National Disability Inclusion Strategy, which provided a framework for coordinating whole of government action, and oversaw a whole of government programme of work comprising over 120 actions. I am now continuing my support for disability rights and inclusion going forward as we develop, together with the input of people with disabilities and their representative organisations, the next national disability strategy - to be delivered in 2024. The new national disability strategy will provide a blueprint, developed in partnership with disabled people, for an ambitious programme of work to coordinate continued implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland and to further support the rights and inclusion of disabled people.
