Written Answers Nos. 1283-1302
1284. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the racecourse track deaths for 2023; and the total number of thoroughbreds sent to slaughter for the same period. [1751/24]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The part of the question raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of racecourse track deaths for 2023 is an operational matter for HRI. This part of the question will therefore be referred to HRI for direct reply to the Deputy.
The number of thoroughbreds slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department in 2023 was 1,428.
1285. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the calves at the two control posts in Cherbourg-Pignet and Tollevast, for example if CCTV has been installed; what assurances he can give that Irish calves will be safe, given that this is France and not under the jurisdiction of the Irish authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1762/24]
View answerIreland and France are both Member States of the EU and the applicable legislation in relation to animal welfare and transport applies in both jurisdictions. The approval and supervision of control posts in France is a matter for the French authorities. Whilst the control posts in Cherbourg lie outside the direct control of my inspectors, one of the many benefits of EU membership is the emphasis on co-operation between Member States, and in that regard the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continues to work very closely with the French Ministry of Agriculture on issues of joint interest including the Control Posts in Cherbourg.
In 2019 and early 2020 a joint visitation to the Cherbourg Control Posts was carried out by French and Irish officials. By agreement between the French and Irish Departments, a booking system was put in place to prevent overcrowding at the Control Posts. My Department rolled out additional policy measures on animal welfare during transport, which go beyond those laid down in EU rules, while France focused on their direct supervision of the Control Posts. These changes impact all livestock transports, but particularly the intracommunity trade in unweaned calves.
These changes include:
a. Increased minimum space allowances for calves, e.g. 11% extra space for calves of 55kg, over that allowed in EU rules.
b. Veterinary Inspectors are instructed not to accept journey logs when forecasted temperatures equal or exceed 30°C en-route at time of transport. The Department monitors forecasts in Europe in summer and winter months, issuing guidance up to three times weekly.
c. All use of sticks on calves is banned in assembly centres.
d. Policy of not approving transport of very small calves below 40kg bodyweight on long journeys.
e. Driver behaviour is a major influence on animal welfare during transport. The re-training period for drivers to retain their certificate of competence has been reduced from 10 years to three years.
f. In 2019 a booking system for unweaned calves was introduced to avoid overcrowding control posts in Cherbourg.
g. Unannounced accompaniment of calf consignments to Cherbourg by official veterinarians occurs during the peak transport season (Spring) to monitor the welfare of Irish calves during transport.
1286. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures have been taken to ensure calf welfare at marts; if there have been any changes to rules around stocking density in the pens, the provision of food, bedding and water; and what checks are being made to ensure calves staying overnight are fed in the evening and morning (details supplied). [1763/24]
View answerThe welfare of calves at marts is protected by legislation and appropriate enforcement action where breaches or shortcomings are identified. Marts are required to comply with all relevant EU and national animal welfare legislation in order to be licensed. As part of the licence conditions, the mart operator must produce and implement an Animal Health and Welfare Standard Operating Procedure for mart personnel incorporating animal handling, droving, loading, unloading, segregation of animals unsuitable for sale, suitability of animal accommodation, watering, feeding, bedding and animal identification. Mart personnel who handle animals must have a certificate of competence following completion of a training course based on Animal Welfare principles, and the rules described in relevant EU and national Legislation. Mart staff who complete drover training satisfy these requirements. Compliance by marts with legislation is monitored by my Department's veterinary and technical staff through regular official control inspections.
1287. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/24]
View answerThe Forestry Programme 2023 -2027 has been approved by Government, and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications. Existing applications under the previous programme are being migrated over to these scheme as the applicants opt in. My Department began issuing afforestation and roads licences under the new Programme in September 2023, while felling licences continued and continue to issue as normal.
We are now issuing all licences, as well as approvals under other forestry schemes. The new Forestry Licensing Plan has now issued and in 2024, my Department will continue to build on improvements to its licensing system during 2023.
The Forestry Licensing Plan estimates that my Department will issue 4,200 new licences in 2024, and confirms that the Department has capacity to issue sufficient licences to meet its annual target of 8,000 hectares of new forests, but this is contingent on receiving enough applications to achieve this goal. I am confident that the attractive and increased rates under the new Programme, coupled with 20 year premiums for farmers, will encourage strong uptake of afforestation options.
The new programme will help to support an increase in afforestation. It offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. It provides generous incentives to farmers in particular, to re-engage with forestry. These include increases in premium rates ranging from between 46% to 66%, along with a longer premium term of 20 years for farmers, compared to 15 years for non-farmers, across most Forest Types.
The Department will also refocus on the delivery several other schemes, including the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash-dieback, the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme and the Native Tree Area Scheme. The Native Tree Area Scheme, builds on a recent amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 that removed the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. I am confident that this change to the Act will remove barriers to such planting.
In 2023, my Department issued 3,169 forestry licences of all types. This comprised 1,427 private felling licences,1,411 Coillte felling licences, 243 forest road licences and 88 new afforestation licences.
In addition to the above, during 2023, my Department issued licences for 99 applications already approved under Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 that hadn’t commenced planting and have now opted in to the new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027. Approvals under the new Reconstitution of Ash dieback scheme (RADs) continued, with 220 approvals amounting to 902 Ha’s. Under the Native Tree Area scheme there were 31 approvals processed amounting to 34.19 Ha’s. Finally, the Woodland Improvement Scheme was launched on 21st December, 2023 and applications are currently being received. These schemes are expected to expand further in 2024.
The Woodland Improvement Scheme was launched on 21st December, 2023 and applications are currently being received. Applications also opened on the 3rd January 2024 for the second tranche of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme: Module 2 - Investment Aid for the Development of the Forest Tree Nursery Sector. In addition, my Department also intend to launch the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme for new applications in the coming weeks. Details of all schemes available under the new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 are now available on my Departments website gov.ie - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie). The remainder of the Schemes on offer within the Programme will be introduced on a phased basis over the coming weeks and months. A circular will issue to stakeholders informing them of the application process and requirements when each Scheme opens.
I remain committed to working closely with the forestry sector, to support landowners to plant trees in a manner that will provide lasting climate, biodiversity, wood production, employment and wider societal benefits.
1288. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many farmers are awaiting ACRES co-operation payments; the date farmers awaiting payment under ACRES co-operation scheme will be paid on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1859/24]
View answer1296. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up to date position regarding the issue of payments under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2095/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1288 and 1296 together.
As the deputies are aware there was unprecedented demand for ACRES applications at the opening of the Scheme in late 2022, with now just under 46,000 participants actively involved. This is a reflection of the interest amongst farmers in taking on actions to address climate, biodiversity, and environmental issues.
However, the decision to accept all applicants into Tranche 1 of ACRES put significant pressure on the ability to pay all eligible participants in December of last year (2023).
I want to reiterate that my department is continuing to work to expedite payments, and that all unpaid cases continue to be progressed. Payments will begin to issue in February 2024 to 18,416 active ACRES Co-operation Project participants who clear all pre-payment checks.
Those ACRES General stream participants who did not receive a payment in December 2023 will continue to be processed through pre-payment checks and will be added to pay runs as all checks are cleared.
I fully appreciate the frustration felt by farmers experiencing payment delays and their concern regarding uncertainty of payments and I want to reassure you that everything is being done to pay all ACRES applicants who clear pre-payment checks as a matter of priority.
1289. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contractual arrangements between a company (details supplied) and an organisation. [1966/24]
View answer1290. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current contractual obligations of a company (details supplied) are compliant with EU legislation. [1967/24]
View answer1291. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason or by whom a company (details supplied) was selected to work in unison with an organisation, given similar corporations operate here. [1968/24]
View answer1292. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a conflict of interest arises between two independent companies operating on behalf of two different states, competing in the same world beef market industry. [1969/24]
View answer1293. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the interests of a company (details supplied) which primarily promotes the genetics of Angus and Hereford breeds is contrary to the interests of the majority of suckler farmers in developing our preferred continental blood lines. [1970/24]
View answer1294. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current policy within an organisation (details supplied) on genetics is overly influenced by a private New Zealand corporation whose interests are not in Ireland's world renowned continental blood lines. [1971/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1289, 1290, 1291, 1292, 1293 and 1294 together.
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is the body approved in Ireland in accordance with the relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle. It is a co-operative with farmer representation on the board.
ICBF has a contractual relationship with the named company. This contract was awarded after an open Procurement Process in accordance with EU requirements. ICBF does not use the named company to construct the Beef Eurostar Indexes or the Economic Model/Economic Values that underpin them.
The named company is a global genetics consultancy business working across all species, including animals, fish and plants and I am satisfied that the named company provides expert and independent advice to ICBF concerning animal breeding.
1295. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine prior to the announcement of the benefits you brought back to Ireland in terms of increased mackerel quotas from Denmark, if the Danes made any attempt to make any other offers to him, and if they made any communications to him. [1994/24]
View answerAt the Fisheries Council in December 2023, I secured additional mackerel quota-share for Ireland worth approximately €3 million annually for Ireland’s fishing industry. This represents the first ever permanent increase in Mackerel quota.
This issue centred on the allocation and distribution of an EU Mackerel quota historically linked to an agreement with Norway, which had been unallocated since 2022. Denmark had been the sole holder of this quota. However, without an agreement on Mackerel in place between the EU and Norway, this quota could not be allocated to Denmark as it had been in the past.
Since this process began, I signaled my willingness to work with the relevant Member States, including Denmark, to resolve this issue. However, Denmark did not begin to engage on this matter in a meaningful way until June last year.
I met with the Danish Fisheries Minister to discuss this matter en marge of the June AgriFish Council. Denmark subsequently put forward to Ireland suggestions for a temporary solution to address the allocation of this quota for 2022 and 2023. However, the temporary solution was contingent on Denmark maintaining its position that it would continue to be the sole holder of this quota. This was not acceptable to me.
My objective from the outset was to secure a permanent and equitable solution to this issue. Furthermore, accepting - even as a temporary measure - that this quota should be allocated only to Denmark, would have undermined Ireland's ability to secure a satisfactory outcome and permanent allocation of Mackerel quota share.
The solution adopted by Member States at December Council, which involves a transfer of part of this quota to the Western Waters area, results in a permanent allocation of additional Mackerel quota for the Irish fleet, rather than a once-off transfer of quota.
1297. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the amount of foreign peat-based products been sold in Ireland in each of the past five years. [2155/24]
View answerThere are no records detailing the amount of foreign peat-based products that have been sold in Ireland in each of the last five years. The only data that is available is from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on imported peat and peat products.
Import figures from the CSO refer to - Peat, including peat litter, whether or not agglomerated. This description includes all types of peat and does not differentiate between peat used for horticulture or that used for heating. This description also includes briquettes. Peat agglomerates also includes peat substrates where peat is mixed with other materials such as fertilizer, perlite, sand, lime, wood fibre, bark. By way of example a peat reduced substrate mix of 30% Wood Fibre, 30% Bark and 40% Peat is still classed under the CN code 27030000.
From a horticulture perspective it would not be possible to extrapolate the amount of foreign peat-based products sold in Ireland as varying amounts could be used in different blends and different products.
1298. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in line with Action 96 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to increase resources for the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design to allow for the centre to reach its full potential in assisting the State to embed the principles of universal design. [57335/23]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I would like to commend the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism on its final report, published in June 2023, which contains detailed recommendations for action right across Government to better meet the needs of autistic people and their families. This is a shared objective for me as Minister of State.
The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) is a part of the NDA and came into being in January 2007 following the enactment of the Disability Act 2005. The CEUD is the only statutory centre for universal design in the world. Through the activities of the (CEUD), the NDA promote the awareness and adoption of Universal Design of physical and digital environments so they can be accessed, understood and used by all, regardless of age, size, ability or disability.
My Department provides funding to the NDA to deliver on its statutory duty as the independent state agency to provide information and evidence informed advice to me, my ministerial colleagues, to government departments, and to public bodies.
Since coming under the aegis of my Department there has been a yearly increase in the resourcing provided to the NDA. In 2023, a budget allocation of €5.788m in current funding was provided to the NDA. In 2024 this was increased to €6.03m.
I am satisfied that this is sufficient to meet the resourcing needs of the vital work conducted by the Authority for the year ahead and my officials engage regularly with the NDA on its work programme, including in relation to Universal Design.
1299. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in line with Action 97 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to provide capacity to the National Disability Authority to review the accessibility of information on the websites of Government departments and on application forms and support departments in changing or updating information; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57336/23]
View answerThe principle of accessibility is set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified in March 2018. Article 9 of the UNCRPD requires signatories to take measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to information and communications, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public.
The EU Web Accessibility Directive, which has been in force since 23 September 2020, requires all websites and applications of public sector bodies to meet specific accessibility standards. The Directive requires regular monitoring of public sector websites and applications by Member States as well as reporting on the results.
The NDA is required under the Directive’s Implementing Decision 2018/1524 to provide monitoring data in a national report to the European Commission every three years. This takes the form of the 'Monitoring Report for the EU Web Accessibility Directive'.
The NDA provide data gathered as part of the report to the relevant Departments and other public bodies. This in turn enables the public body to direct resources to address priority issues and to continuously measure issues and the accessibility of improvements.
The NDA completed Ireland’s most recent monitoring report under the Directive in December 2022. This indicated that improvements in accessibility are consistently being made, but significant efforts are still required across the public sector to improve the accessibility of websites and mobile applications. Its next monitoring report is due in December 2024.
The NDA also provides guidance on their website to aid public sector bodies in making websites and forms accessible. This includes the Accessibility Toolkit which helps to make services, buildings, information, and websites more accessible to customers with disabilities.
In 2023, current funding of €5.788 was provided to the NDA. In 2024 current funding was increased to €6.03m, recognising the increased demands on the Authority's functions, including its monitoring role.
1300. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what arrangements he intends putting in place to ensure transport is provided to wheelchair bound rural patients, living in areas where there is an inadequate or no wheelchair compatible public transport services available, to travel to hospital appointments that are in some cases up to 100 km away; whether in such cases the health service is willing to provide taxi transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1221/24]
View answerThe Government decided to close the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance administrative schemes in 2013, on foot of the Ombudsman reports in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts. Both schemes remain closed.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022, the Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress on an important cross-Government action to review transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities and to advance proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward.
As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I chaired meetings of the Transport Working Group from January 2022 up to its conclusion in December 2022. The Group's work has now concluded and the final report was published in February 2023. The Report sets out the contributions made by members for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities.
Access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Government departments and agencies. It is incumbent on all Ministers, Departments and Agencies with responsibility for transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities to consider the recommendations of the Transport Working Group, as I will be giving due consideration to the recommendations in the context of the schemes outlined above. These considerations will continue in the context of the development of a new National Disability Strategy.
1301. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE consultant child psychiatrist for intellectual disability services in County Mayo in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [1828/24]
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. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by Fórsa administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
1302. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures, outside of constitutional amendments, his Government is taking to implement the Report of the Citizen’s Assembly on Gender Equality and the recommendations and action plan produced by the Joint Committee on Gender Equality. [55935/23]
View answerIn its final report, the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality made 45 recommendations. Subsequently, the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality recommended an expanded list of 205 actions to give them effect. 161 are either completed or in progress (147 of those actions are currently in progress and 14 completed). Those completed include:
- the introduction of gender pay gap reporting in 2022 under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021.
- the creation of Cuan, the new statutory agency dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
- the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
- the introduction of paid Parent's Leave which will increase to nine weeks per child by August 2024.
- a new bursary for apprenticeships to encourage more women to take on trades and crafts.
A range of measures have been introduced or are in progress to promote equality for women in the workplace, including in terms of pension rights. Supports for those with caring responsibilities, particularly for children, have also been enhanced significantly, with substantial investment in childcare in Budgets 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Care
- Better pay deals for early years’ educators. The newly created Joint Labour Committee successfully delivered two Employment Regulation Orders (EROs), which came into force in September 2022, which improved pay for an estimated 70% of workers in the ELC and SAC sector. Early Years educators now earn €13 an hour, while graduate lead educators and schools age childcare coordinators earn €15.50 an hour.
- Budget 2023 introduced major reforms to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which have substantially improved the affordability of early learning and care and school aged childcare for families. Within the first half of 2023, a total of 134,580 children availed of supports under the Scheme – compared to 70,786 for the same period in 2022. The NCS is the first statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare. The minimum subsidy under the Scheme is now worth up to €3,276 per annum for families availing of a full-time place in a Tusla-registered early learning and childcare service.
- Allowances for carers continue to increase. From January 2024, there will be a €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments, with the maximum rate of the Carer's Allowance increasing from €236 to €248 and Carer's Benefit increasing from €237 to €249. Meanwhile, the income disregard for Carer’s Allowance will increase from €750 to €900 for couples and from €350 to €450 for single carers under the most recent budget.
- Expansion of leaves for working families - parents of children under 2 will, from August 2024, have an individual entitlement to 9 weeks paid Parent's Leave to care for their child.
Social Protection
- The pension auto-enrolment system will be introduced in the second half of 2024. People who do not have a pension scheme, earning more than €20,000 per year and aged between 23 and 60 will be automatically enrolled into the new system. For every €3 that an employee puts in, the employer will also put in €3 and the State will top up by €1.
- The state pension system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace through the award of PRSI credits, the application of the homemaker’s scheme and the application of home care periods.
Leadership in Politics, Public Life & the Workplace
- The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act introduced quotas for political parties. The quotas are linked to State funding and if they are not met, the parties stand to lose half of the annual funding received from the State. The quota has now increased from 30% to 40% for future general elections.
-The Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Act 2022, enacted in December 2022, introduced statutory maternity leave for councillors for the first time. Legislative proposals to provide for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas are currently being developed.
Norms & Stereotypes and Education
- In April 2022, Minister Harris announced a new gender-based bursary for apprenticeships as part of the Action Plan for Apprenticeships. The bursary, worth €2,666, is available to employers who employ apprentices in the minority gender on any national apprenticeship programme with greater than 80% representation of a single gender.
- In December 2022, the Department of Education published Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying following an extensive consultation with all members of the school community. The Action Plan specifically acknowledges how a person’s likelihood to experience bullying can be linked to their race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, additional educational need, or other characteristic and contains a broad range of actions to prevent and address bullying.
-Additional funding has been provided to support postdoctoral researchers and principal investigators on maternity and paternity leave in third level institutions who are on Irish Research Council-funded contracts.
- The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) Guidance Team are increasing awareness of career paths as being gender neutral in its supports, for example through putting a spotlight on women in apprenticeships and STEM careers, and challenging unconscious bias in a range of workshops, webinars and newsletters in 2023.
Pay and Workplace Conditions
- Reporting under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 began in 2022 for employers with over 250 employees and will extend in 2024 those with over 150 employees and, in 2025, to those with over 50 employees.
Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
- A new statutory agency called Cuan dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) was created in January 2024, with the commencement of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency Act.
-Actions under the Third National Strategy on DSGBV are already in progress. 12 actions are completed to date, with 36 separate implementation plans within them. They include:
a. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act was enacted on 10 December 2022.
b. The General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill was published in Q3 2022.
Gender Equality Principle in Law and Policy
- DCEDIY is working with the CSO to develop a national Equality Data Strategy. Work is well advanced and the Strategy will be published soon.
- Work is advancing on legislative proposals to strengthen the equality legislation, including in terms of enabling redress mechanisms to function more effectively.
- Equality Budgeting, introduced in 2018, brings an additional lens to performance budgeting, by assessing the likely impact of budgetary measures across a range of areas such as income, health and education, and how outcomes differ across gender, age, ethnicity and other equality grounds.
