Written Answers Nos. 388-407
388. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a payment which is long overdue under the suckler carbon efficiency scheme will be paid immediately to a person (details supplied). [8948/24]
View answerThe Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd.
One of the eligibility requirements of SCEP was that participants must be a member of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) by 16 October 2023 and have continued participation for the duration of the programme.
My officials wrote to SCEP participants in June and July 2023 reminding them of this eligibility criteria and reminder SMS text messages were also sent in August and September 2023. Additionally, my officials wrote to participants in early October 2023 advising that an additional extension period for SBLAS certification was granted to 22 January 2024, subject to an application being submitted to Bord Bia by 16 October 2023.
As the person named had not applied to be a member of SBLAS by the 16 October 2023, he was removed from the programme. A letter issued to the person named on 20 October 2023 notifying him that he was removed from SCEP.
The person named and his FAS Advisor have been in contact with my Departments SCEP section requesting a review. This review has been completed and a decision letter has issued to the person named.
389. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will urgently give consideration to a scheme which would assist landowners in removing dangerous roadside trees, particularly those affected by ash dieback, and encourage landowners to plant trees at the lower end of landholdings; and his views on whether ash dieback is becoming an extremely urgent issue to deal with in the ash tree population. [8952/24]
View answerMy Department does not have responsibility for the removal of roadside trees. In relation to roadside trees, my colleague, Eamonn Ryan, Minister for Transport has previously stated that Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road. It is thus advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this. The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal of dangerous roadside trees is the responsibility of the local authority, in its capacity as the relevant road authority.
However, my Department has published guidance on the subject of roadside trees - “A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”. This publication provides information on how to identify trees that have ash dieback and outlines specific issues related to health and safety in tree work. It also gives practical guidance to those working with chainsaws taking out hazardous trees. My Department produced this publication in partnership with the Tree Council of Ireland and it can be found on the Departments website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/8fb45-a-guide-for-landowners-to-managing-roadside-trees/
In relation to ash dieback in plantations my Department has spent over €15 million to date in assisting the removal and replanting of trees in ash forests.
Under the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback in the new Forestry Programme, for clearing a site and replanting, the payment range of payments to landowners entering the scheme is from €5,858 up to €10,555/ha as well as a generous top up premium paid in a lump sum for those with remaining years of premium payments. So, for example, a forest owner with 10 years of remaining premium who enters into the Reconstitution Scheme to plant FT1 (native forest), could receive a lump sum payment of €6,355 per hectare.
In addition a detailed Ash Dieback action plan is being prepared by Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett for submission to Cabinet for approval in the near future.
390. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 eco balancing payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8981/24]
View answerThe herdnumber referred to received their advance Eco-Scheme payment in October 2023. Following that payment, there were changes made to the land area on the BISS system. This delayed the issuing of the farmers Eco-scheme balancing payment as the balancing payment had to be recalculated. That recalculation has now been completed and the Eco-Scheme balancing payment for this herd will issue in the coming days.
391. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the fate of all thoroughbred horses that have been sold to China; and if he is concerned about the announcement that racing is to cease in Macau in April (details supplied). [9001/24]
View answerThe sale and the export of horses is a private commercial activity. The data that the deputy seeks is not a matter that falls within the scope of my Department.
The export of animals is highly regulated by both European and Irish legislation with regard their health, welfare and welfare during transport and subject to control and certification by Department veterinary staff.
Whilst I am aware of the reported closure of racing in Macau, it is not something that is of strategic interest to the equine sector in Ireland.
392. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the criticisms raised about animal welfare in China, what procedures his Department has taken to ensure the safety of thoroughbred horses, particularly in the context of the announcement that racing is to cease in Macau in April (details supplied). [9002/24]
View answerThe export of animals is regulated by both European and Irish legislation. The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine facilitates the lawful export of horses, while ensuring that their transport is carried out in compliance with legislative welfare standards.
To be exported from Ireland to China, horses must be clinically examined by a vet and go through repeated health tests and screenings in a government approved quarantine centre before being declared fit to travel. They will then travel with a government veterinary health certificate.
International trade in thoroughbred horses is highly valued by Irish equine industry. The sale of horses is a private commercial activity. The closure of a racecourse is a matter for the authorities in that jurisdiction.
393. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed breakdown of all Irish horses exported to China, Hong Kong and Korea, by year (details supplied). [9003/24]
View answerThe table below outlines the numbers of horses exported from Ireland to China, Hong Kong and South Korea by year.
|
- |
2024 to date |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
|
China |
0 |
72 |
75 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
9 |
64 |
|
Hong Kong |
0 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
|
S.Korea |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
28 |
394. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1284 of 17 January 2024, received from HRI if he will instruct HRI to provide a breakdown of the ages of the horses sent to slaughter. [9004/24]
View answerThe information the Deputy has requested in the relation to the age profile of thoroughbred horses slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department in 2023 is detailed in the table below.
Thoroughbreds sent to slaughter in 2023
|
Age Category M = Months |
Number of Thoroughbreds |
|
0 – 6 M |
0 |
|
6 – 12 M |
0 |
|
12 – 18 M |
16 |
|
18 – 24 M |
33 |
|
24 – 30 M |
42 |
|
30 – 36 M |
58 |
|
36 – 42 M |
107 |
|
42 – 48 M |
86 |
|
48 – 54 M |
91 |
|
54 – 60 M |
113 |
|
60 – 66 M |
92 |
|
66 – 72 M |
76 |
|
72 – 78 M |
66 |
|
78 – 84 M |
53 |
|
84 – 96 M |
70 |
|
96 – 108 M |
41 |
|
108 – 120 M |
40 |
|
120 – 132 M |
36 |
|
132 – 144 M |
29 |
|
144 – 156 M |
26 |
|
156 – 168 M |
29 |
|
168 – 180 M |
38 |
|
180 – 192 M |
41 |
|
192 – 252 M |
180 |
|
252 – 312 M |
58 |
|
312 – 372 M |
7 |
|
372 – 432 M |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
1428 |
395. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why there is a delay in the Forest Service granting afforestation licences, which are required to meet our national afforestation targets in 2024 and beyond; what actions are being taken to ensure that the Forest Service has the resources to meets its targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9135/24]
View answerAfforestation applications received by my Department are reviewed for completeness to ensure they are a valid application which can be progressed to licence decision stage. The licensing process involves careful assessment of applications from a silvicultural, environmental and scheme compliance perspective.
My Department publishes weekly statistics of all licences issued on our weekly Forestry Dashboard, which can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/abb8d-2024-forestry-weekly-dashboard/
My Department has published a Forestry Licencing Plan which outlines our strong commitment to issuing licences in 2024 and we have put additional resources in place to achieve our targets. We estimate that we will issue 1,000 new afforestation licences in 2024. To date in 2024 we have received 71 valid afforestation applications with 81 approvals issuing in the same period.
Since 2020 there has been a significant turnaround in the number of licences issued by my Department. For the new Forestry Programme we are committed to reducing turn around times for all schemes to six months for screened out files and nine months for files that are screened in for appropriate assessment.
There is 2,398ha in total, currently available for planting under the Afforestation Scheme. This is made up of approvals issued to new applicants since the Programme opened and those who applied or were approved under the old Programme, who have now opted-in to the new Programme.
This is in addition to the 1,293 hectares paid for and planted under the Interim de Minimis scheme in 2023, with this planting carried out in accordance with the new Programme. A total of 143ha has been paid for and planted in 2024 to date.
The new Afforestation Scheme offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options including Native Woodland, Continuous Cover Forestry and Emergent Forests. 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.
I recognize that planting at the scale required is a challenge but believe that it is in all our interests to work towards this target. It will require a concerted and united effort from all those interested in forestry across communities, public bodies, the forestry sector and farmers to make this a reality. I am committed to working closely with all stakeholders to do so and have established the Forest Strategy Consultative Committee, which will be convened shortly, to facilitate further momentum towards increased planting.
396. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons for the delay in paying farmers the ECO payment that is due to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9154/24]
View answerEco-schemes were introduced for the first time in early 2023 and to date my Department has issued Eco-Scheme payments to over 116,000 farmers since advance payments commenced on 31 October 2023. This represents the vast majority of farmers who are expected to receive the payment. The total amount issued in Eco-Scheme payments to date is €298,336,621.
Eco-scheme payments are continuing each week and outstanding payments will issue immediately as final checks and processing have been completed. There are a variety of reasons why farmers may not have received payment yet - for example some have applied under temporary reference numbers which must be resolved or some may have chosen to use 2023 stocking rate data and so the full year must be observed for validation. Staff in my Department continue to work to clear these payments as quickly as possible.
397. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person in County Cork (details supplied) will receive their 2023 young farmers payment. [9208/24]
View answerThe person named submitted an application to my Department under the 2023 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers. Processing of this application is ongoing as there are some remaining eligibility and verification checks to be carried out. A member of staff of my Department will be in direct contact with the person named where there is further information required regarding the application.
398. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will issue an ECO payment due to a person (details supplied); the reason this payment is being withheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9245/24]
View answerThe application for the herd number you provided was submitted using a Temporary Reference Number. Applications made under Temporary Reference Numbers are currently being integrated into the Eco-Scheme IT system and are undergoing processing and validation checks. Once cleared for payment, this herd number will receive their Eco-scheme payment.
399. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of revenue generated through hospitality sales at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium in 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the number that attended restaurant services at this stadium during same period, in tabular form. [9266/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
400. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Horse Racing Ireland publishes figures for race attendees including everyone who attends even those who gain free admission for example trainers, jockeys, stable staff, press and so on; and if he will request HRI to provide the amount of paying attendees to all events for the past 12 months. [9267/24]
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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
401. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the location of the data centre or centres used by her Department; the reason it was chosen; the distance it is from her Department’s offices; if he will identify the centres used by each agency under her Department’s aegis; and the distance these data centres are to their offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9392/24]
View answerThe Department is obligated to maintain the highest security, and operational, standards to protect citizen’s data and access to services.
In this context, the Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify or help target potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements.
402. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that many lawyers are refusing to sign papers creating an enduring power of attorney, where citizens have drawn up their own documentation, which is leaving these documents with no valid application; and if he has any plans which might overcome this problem. [8783/24]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to the legal practitioner statement that is statutorily required under section 60(1)(b) of the 2015 Act. This is needed as part of the application process for the registration of an EPA, made under the 2015 Act, with the Decision Support Service.
The Decision Support Service (DSS) reports that in most cases solicitors have been providing these statements for donors, including where the solicitor has not been instructed in the creation of the EPA instrument itself. As of the 8th of February 529 completed EPAs were in the DSS queue pending review and registration, and in the majority of cases the donor has created their own instrument and only required the solicitor to provide the supporting statement, which has been secured.
However, I am informed that the DSS is aware of anecdotal accounts of some solicitors who have declined to provide these statements where that solicitor has not also been retained to draw up the EPA itself, despite it being statutorily permissible to so.
The section 60(1)(b) statement is one feature of a process incorporating several layered safeguards under the 2015 Act.
The legal profession can play an important role in promoting the uptake of EPAs and the pursuit of advance planning, helping to improve on the comparatively low level of take-up of EPAs under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996.
In that regard I was pleased to note that in May 2023, the Law Society published guidance in relation to EPAs and that it has now issued an updated Practice Note on EPAs on 15 February 2024.
The DSS has engaged extensively and proactively with the Law Society, and more generally in the public domain, to promote a good understanding of the new statutory requirements and processes concerning EPAs, and has recently offered information sessions to all of the regional bar associations.
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it is important to ensure that persons intending to create EPAs are not impeded in accessing this vital tool for advance planning in order to ensure that their will and preferences are understood and respected.
403. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene in the case of a child (details supplied) awaiting an essential ASD assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps
404. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department is liaising with the Minister for Education and the Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion in the matter of associated services at a school (details supplied) in the context of the mooted moving of services provided by an organisation to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9060/24]
View answerSt John of God Community Services provide essential disability and mental health supports to 8,000 people across the country. The Government recognises that they are a valued long-term partner in delivering publicly funded services.
In recent years, the HSE has worked intensively with the organisation throughout a Sustainability Impact Assessment process to address financial and operational sustainability challenges. The Government’s clear preference is for St John of God Community Services to continue to provide these services, if that is possible.
Most recently, the HSE, with the backing of the Departments, has reaffirmed a strong commitment to support its service provision. As recently as February 15th the HSE CEO set out an extensive package on offer to St John of God, in addition to the €200m being provided to the organisation annually.
Notably, the HSE’s financial projections indicate that the service provider will achieve a breakeven position in 2024, as it has done every year since 2019.
The CEO of the HSE has met directly with representatives of the Board and Executive of St John of God to explore the potential for a resolution of the serious challenges identified. Engagement between the parties is ongoing so it is important that we give every opportunity for an outcome that would avoid a transfer of services.
St Raphael's School is a school for pupils with moderate, severe or profound general learning disabilities and is located on St Raphael's Campus. The school currently has 96 children enrolled.
As outlined above, the HSE assures all those supported and their families that the services provided are safe and fully protected.
405. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a community neuro-rehabilitation team will be put in place for CHO 5; if funding has been allocated in 2024 to provide this service; when recruitment for this team will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9145/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
406. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the implementation plan for Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9300/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps
407. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding will be provided to a person (details supplied), given that their service needs have changed and will continue to change over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9338/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
