Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 1143-1162

Deportation Orders

Questions (1143)

Pa Daly

Question:

1143. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown of the total number of deportations in 2023, including a breakdown of enforced deportations and assisted deportations, in tabular form. [1834/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations. It should be noted that the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take account of individuals who have left the State without informing the Department. It is the case that many hundreds of individuals who were subject to Deportation Orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities. The GNIB has reviewed a large sample of cases subject to deportation orders. Their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.

The table below gives the data requested for 2023*

Deportation Orders (DOs) Signed	857
Total DOs effected (52 Deportations enforced by GNIB and 28 self-deportations)	80
EU Removal	21
DIII Transfer	3
Return Order	0
Voluntary Return	213

*Please note all figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.

Question No. 1144 answered with Question No. 1011.

Question No. 1145 answered with Question No. 1000.

Naturalisation Applications

Questions (1146)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

1146. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice when applications for naturalisation of two minors of the same family (details supplied) will be finalised; if she will review whether more resources need to be provided to address the delay in processing applications for minors of naturalised Irish citizen parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1887/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the naturalisation applications of the people referred to in the query have recently been approved by my Department.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: [e-mail], which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Question No. 1147 answered with Question No. 1137.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1148)

Matt Carthy

Question:

1148. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed in Irish diplomatic missions abroad, by rank and mission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1945/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

In accordance with Section 51 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Commissioner, subject to the agreement of the Government, can assign Garda members overseas as Liaison Officers, to engage with law enforcement agencies of other States.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 31 December 2023, there were 16 Garda members on overseas assignments with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Interpol, Europol and MAOC(N), the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre. I am further informed there are fewer than 10 Garda Liaison Officers in various other locations.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1149)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1149. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice what percentage of the Garda fleet are electric run cars; what percent of Garda stations have electric charging points; whether charging points are standard in renovated or new Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1951/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that An Garda Síochána are working with the Office of Public Works on the rollout of electric charge points at Garda Stations across the country. This is a large scale project that will continue for a number of years with the ultimate aim of installing electric vehicle chargers in every Garda Station.

I am further advised that 7% of active Garda stations have charging points and 4% of the current Garda fleet is either fully electric or plug in hybrid.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (1150)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1150. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice when a citizenship application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1962/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.

My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department intends to communicate regularly with all applicants on a quarterly basis into the future.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: [e-mail], which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Courts Service

Questions (1151)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

1151. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update from the Courts Service on the progress of the e-probate project under the Courts Modernisation Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1981/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions.

The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: [e-mail].

I am, however,  further advised by Courts Service that, as part of the organisation's Modernisation Programme, a proposal to digitally transform the Probate process has been identified and a budget has been allocated to the Courts Service for this development.

The eProbate project will deliver a facility to submit and track applications for Grants of Representation online via a public facing portal. This new digital offering is currently in the early stages of development and will continue to be developed throughout 2024 with an expected public launch in early 2025.

The public facing portal will act as a single point of contact for users to submit and track their applications through the entire process. The electronic submission of applications through the online portal, combined with automated validation of key information at submission time, will enable faster and more efficient processing of applications, with the aim of reducing waiting times.

At the same time, the Courts Service is aware of its need to reduce waiting times while the eProbate project is underway. In this regard, it is prioritising the recruitment of additional staff to help in this task.

Legislative Reviews

Questions (1152)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

1152. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the appointment of a new lead researcher for the review of Part 4 of the Sexual Offences Act 2017; if she will provide an estimated timeline for completion and publication of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1987/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

A key purpose for the 2017 Sexual Offences Act was to provide additional protection to persons involved in prostitution, especially vulnerable persons and victims of human trafficking.

It allows those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services. Section 27 of the 2017 Act provides for a review of Part 4 of the Act 3 years after its commencement. 

Given that the goal of the legislation is to protect vulnerable persons, the review will include consideration of whether further measures are needed to strengthen protection for persons who engage in sexual activity for payment.

As part of the review, an online public consultation was opened and contributions were received from a broad range of organisations with different perspectives.

My Department commissioned an independent consultant to undertake this statutory review but, due to a number of reasons, it was not possible for the review to be completed within the desired timeframe.

The Department are considering the best options to conclude the review in a timely and thorough process and I expect to be in a position to decide on the next steps in the near future so that the review can be completed without any further undue delay.

Food Industry

Questions (1153)

Colm Burke

Question:

1153. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure the development of community-based local food growing strategies, given strategies such as these have many benefits including physical, mental health and educational gains and to assist in biodiversity and environmental commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1232/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Both the Programme for Government and Food Vision 2030 acknowledge and underline the importance of our food producers, particularly our farmers and fishers, in the development of community-based local food growing strategies.

Responsibility for the development of community-based local food growing strategies lies across a number of Departments.

My Department in conjunction with Bord Bia held a webinar in 2022 on the supports available for local, small, micro food business and producers at which Cork City Council gave a presentation on the day highlighting the supports provided by the local authority to markets, green spaces for health, allotments and community gardens.

My Department will engage further with the Department of Housing and Local Government (DOHLG), who has responsibility for the local authorities to progress these supports and will also be engaging with the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) on any plans they may have under their remit for developing, coordinating and implementing a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development

Support is also available to local, small food producers and communities from my Department in a variety of ways.

-The Rural Innovation and Development Fund, includes an agri-food tourism initiative. This funding provides opportunities for rural businesses, including farmers, producers and artisans, to develop their products and services and connect with the community and visitors.

-In addition, the Government approved the CAP Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 which will deliver €9.8 billion over its lifetime and will provide vital support to farmers and rural communities. The LEADER Programme is a key element of the new plan and will continue to have an important role in supporting small food producers.

-In August last year my Department issued a call for the promotion of Organic Schemes in Ireland. Criteria for proposals under Axis 2 included actions to support the organisation of the food chain and reinforce local and small-value processing and foster short trade circuit. Proposals also required the consideration and application of production methods that do not damage the environment.

I am satisfied that the supports provided by my Department and through the collaboration with DRCD and DOHLG there is a sound basis for the future development of both our agri-food sector and the development of community-based local food growing strategies.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (1154, 1161, 1209)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

1154. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on delays in ACRES payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56222/23]

Johnny Mythen

Question:

1161. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite ACRES payments (details supplied) to pre-Christmas 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56358/23]

Pa Daly

Question:

1209. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for specific dates when the delayed ACRES general payments can be expected. [56827/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1154, 1161 and 1209 together.

In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched in 2022. There was exceptional demand for entry, which demonstrates the interest of farmers to take on actions to address climate, biodiversity and environmental issues.

While it was initially planned to take in up to 50,000 applicants over two Tranches, with 30,000 in Tranche 1, the decision was made to accept all valid applications submitted under Tranche 1. There are currently just under 46,000 farmers actively participating in the scheme. 

The decision to accept all valid applications for Tranche 1 put significant pressure on the ability to pay all participants in 2023. ACRES payments commenced on December 15th, with payment issuing in the initial payment run to two thirds of all ACRES General participants.  ACRES General payments will continue to issue in the coming weeks, and on an ongoing basis, as cases are cleared for payment.

Due to the additional complexity associated with the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, payments for ACRES CP participants will begin to issue in February 2024.

A Frequently Asked Questions document on ACRES Tranche 1 payments has been circulated to all ACRES advisors and CP teams, and is published on my Department’s website.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (1155)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

1155. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the fencing of uplands under various agricultural schemes; if he will confirm that it is not necessary to fence unfenced uplands that are being grazed in a traditional manner, as stated by his Department in 2013; the reason guidelines under some schemes instead refer to the use of sheep fencing in mountain or hill areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56280/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Terms and Conditions of the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes like  the Area of Natural Constraint scheme (ANC) specifically covers the situation where there are no fences or physical boundaries present for reference parcels, as can be found in areas of upland.

"In circumstances where there is no clearly visible physical boundary on the imagery but where a boundary exists on the ground, then other reference sources can be provided by applicants to validate their requests, for example folio maps.  This typically will arise in cases of unenclosed lands, particularly commonages, but also callow type land."

Therefore, from a  BISS and ANC scheme compliance perspective the absence of fencing on commonage lands, where traditionally none have existed, is not deemed a compliance issue nor are there are scheme consequences where livestock subsequently leave the applicants lands due to the lack of fencing once the reference parcel boundary corresponds to a folio boundary or an administrative boundary.

In the case of the  Organic Farming scheme, traditional owned unenclosed land is eligible for payment, but commonage lands are not eligible.

Under ACRES,  area based actions are paid on eligible BISS areas.  Participants in the ACRES General have a condition that ACRES General actions except for commonage must be chosen on enclosed lands. For ACRES Cooperation Project (CP) participants,  as a substantial area of their land located within the Cooperation Project Zone would be traditionally unenclosed, there is no additional requirement to fence these CP forage lands to be eligible for ACRES CP results-based payments.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (1156)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

1156. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to make no fence collars eligible for grant aid in TAMS III, given that they are an effective management tool for grazing livestock on uplands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56281/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The 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 an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare. 

Virtual fencing is a new technology, with limited trials conducted in Ireland.  It requires the purchase of GPS enabled collars for each animal and the purchase of an annual licence for the operation of the software.  It also requires a phone signal over the entire area in which it is to operate, without which the virtual fence cannot update between the controlling software and the collars.

At this point in time the Department is not adding any new investments into the TAMS 3 schemes. However, virtual fencing will be considered in the context of any potential review of investments to be included in the future.

Flood Relief Schemes

Questions (1157)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1157. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to address the concerns of a person (details supplied), given that they have not been provided with any compensation following flooding on the Shannon Callows (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56294/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, you will be aware that on the 7th November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have been affected by fodder loss due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare for LPIS parcels impacted as determined by my Department's Area Monitoring System and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.

My Department have contacted the farmers that the Area Monitoring System has identified as having been impacted by the flooding and provided them with a simple application form for them to sign and return if they wish to apply for the support.

My officials have examined the relevant records and have confirmed that the LPIS parcels claimed on the 2023 BISS application of the herdowner concerned were either not within the area or, where they were within the area, did not meet the flooding criteria and thus did not receive an application form from the Department for the scheme.

The procedure for seeking an internal review is available online in the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme Terms and Conditions under section 9. at gov.ie - Shannon Callows Flood Scheme 2023 (www.gov.ie).

Animal Carcase Disposal

Questions (1158)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1158. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to rectify a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56319/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Category 1 rendering plants were reopened to animal collectors from Friday the 15th December, and as a result a full animal collection service has been restored to farmers.  

From a review of initial data, it would appear that the backlogs in fallen animal collections from farms has been cleared at this stage.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (1159)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

1159. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget for TAMS in 2023; the number of applications received to date in 2023; the number of applications approved and rejected; the number applications which have been paid; the total funding spent on TAMS to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56322/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The 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 an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.  Payments to the value of €444.17 million have issued since the commencement of TAMS 2 in 2015, €41.8 million of which issued in 2023.

Overall, the scheme has proved very popular. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023, with 8,203 applications received across ten separate investment measures (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2).  

Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 are currently being processed on an ongoing basis, as outlined below.  

Scheme	Received	Approved	Applications Rejected	Applications Withdrawn
Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme	2494	100	85	65
Dairy Equipment Scheme	235	10	3	3
Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme	2050	618	156	26
Low Emissions Slurry Spreading	551	335	2	11
Organic Capital Investment Scheme	928	315	22	19
Pig & Poultry Investment Scheme	49	24
Solar Capital Investment Scheme	751	105	7	14
Tillage Capital Investment Scheme	445	186	29	17
Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme	259		10	3
Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme	441	68	9	8
Totals	8203	1761	323	166

Tranche 2 of TAMS 3 is currently open, and to date 6,305 applications have been received.   Applications under this tranche will begin to be assessed following the closure of the tranche on 19 January.

Departmental Data

Questions (1160)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

1160. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been requested to be carried over under the Appropriation Bill for 2023 and 10% allowance for each Department; how much, if any, unspent budget cannot be included within the 10% allowance and which will surrendered to the Central Bank, under Programme A or Programme B; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56323/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My department's deferred surrender from 2023 into 2024 amounts to €45.6 million.

Details of 2023 spending and savings are currently being compiled and finalised. They will be published by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the 2023 Appropriation Account. The source of the €45.6million is set out in the table below.

Subhead	Title	Amount Carried forward to 2024  (€000)
B.10	Forestry & Bio energy	19,900
B.5	Development of Ag & Food [Targeted Agriculture Modernisation scheme - TAMS]	22,400
B.13	Carbon Tax Measures & Just Transition Fund	3,300
	Total	45,600

Question No. 1161 answered with Question No. 1154.

Animal Carcase Disposal

Questions (1162)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

1162. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the increasing volume of fallen animals on farms and the lack of places to render the carcases, if he will commit to direct engagement with the rendering plants and knackeries to resolve this dispute which is escalating to a serious health hazard on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56359/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The  Category 1 rendering plants were reopened to animal collectors from Friday the 15th December, and as a result a full animal collection service has been restored to farmers.  

From a review of initial data, it would appear that the backlogs in fallen animal collections from farms has been cleared at this stage.