Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015

Written Answers Nos. 104-111

Rural Development Programme Projects

Ceisteanna (104)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

104. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers are no longer allowed to nominate a person in their stead, such as a spouse, partner, son, or daughter, to attend the knowledge transfer courses; the reason a person on a traditional mixed farm can no longer receive a grant for attending more than one knowledge transfer course, for example, in beef and sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34922/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of sectors, including beef, dairy and sheep, will be established. The design of the measure has been informed by experience from previous discussion groups, extensive stakeholder consultation, and the relevant EU regulations. Participants are required to attend Knowledge Transfer Group meetings and complete a Farm Improvement Plan. I believe that the combination of both farmer knowledge exchange meetings and one to one interaction between the farmer and advisor in the development of a Farm Improvement Plan will ensure the transfer and exchange of information and best practice to participating farmers. As currently constituted, participation in more than one Knowledge Transfer Group across sectors is not permitted. This is largely due to potential double funding which would arise from the completion of more than one Farm Improvement Plan for a single farming enterprise. I have, however, asked my officials to examine how farmers could participate in more than one Knowledge Transfer group across two sectors, while at the same time avoiding double funding issues.

The issue of allowing a named nominee to attend a Knowledge Transfer Group has been raised on a number of occasions. Following on from further consideration of this issue, an appropriate named nominee will now be allowed to attend meetings in the place of a farmer participating in a Knowledge Transfer Group. This would include spouses/partners or children of 18 years or more.

My officials are continuing to consult with relevant stakeholders in order to ensure the most efficient and effective roll out of the Knowledge Transfer Groups.

Animal Welfare

Ceisteanna (105)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

105. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in order to provide protection for foxes from dogs (details supplied). [34931/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 lawful hunting of an animal is permitted. However, the Act prohibits the hunting of animals which have been released in an injured, mutilated or exhausted condition. In addition, Section 25 of the Act provides for the establishment of codes of practice and for the adoption of codes published by other persons for the purposes of providing practical guidance relating to any aspect of the Act, including fox hunting. The Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association has a detailed code of conduct in place in respect of the hunting of foxes. This code places responsibility on member packs to ensure that the highest standards of animal welfare and good behaviour are maintained at all times. My Department will, in due course, be engaging with all the hunting associations with a view to adopting codes under Section 25 of the Act in order to ensure that those who participate in hunting will continue to honour their obligations to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship and good behaviour at all times.

I am fully committed to promoting good practices that respect the welfare of all animals and my Department devotes considerable resources to protecting animal welfare and in dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation. Under the Act, on summary conviction, a person can receive a fine of up to €10,000 and, on indictment, €250,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years. There are fixed penalty payments for lesser offences. The Act provides the framework within which the welfare of animals can be safeguarded and I am hopeful that the substantial and significantly increased levels of penalties for offences of animal cruelty provided for under the Act will act as a deterrent to animal welfare abuses.

Departmental Staff Relocation

Ceisteanna (106)

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

106. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the total number of staff under the remit of his Department that have applied to be transferred to Department or State agency offices located outside the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35290/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Two officers in my Department have currently expressed an interest in transferring to one of my Department’s offices outside Dublin and consideration will be given to facilitating the requests when suitable vacancies are identified. My Department avails of workforce planning to assist in achieving the right balance between labour demand and supply so that the right number of employees, with the right skills is available in the right location at the right time. My Department operates a flexible approach to mobility and seeks to accommodate requests from staff to transfer to specific locations where possible.

Rapid Response Initiative

Ceisteanna (107, 108, 109)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

107. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the number of military personnel, by rank, who are on the Irish Aid Rapid Response Corps roster. [34774/15]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

108. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the number of military personnel, by rank, for whom Irish Aid has requested releases under the sustainable livelihoods approach. [34775/15]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

109. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the number of military personnel, by rank, who have been refused release to Irish Aid from the Defence Forces. [34776/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 to 109, inclusive, together.

It is the policy of my Department to seek to develop Memorandums of Understanding and Service Level Agreements with other Government Departments and agencies in relation to the provision of supports that may be sought from the Defence Forces in respect of their Aid to Civil Authority role. In this context a Service Level Agreement (SLA) came into effect on 31st October, 2013 following agreement between my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as represented by Irish Aid, regarding the support that can be provided by the Defence Forces for the Rapid Response Initiative.

Prior to this, Irish Aid had established a Rapid Response Corps in 2007 which is a roster of both civilian and military volunteers who are available to deploy with the United Nations for humanitarian operations. In addition to making provision for members of the Defence Forces who have volunteered to register with the Rapid Response Corps, the SLA also provides for Defence Forces support in the provision of pre-deployment training courses for all members of the Rapid Response Corps.

There are currently 13 Defence Forces personnel registered with the Rapid Response Corps, of which there are five Commandants, two Captains, one Lieutenant, one Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS), one Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) and three Sergeants. In accordance with the SLA, the Defence Forces seek to release registered personnel for immediate deployment in response to a formal request from Irish Aid, subject to the availability of such personnel and current and contingent operational commitments.

The following table sets out the number of military personnel, broken down by rank, whose release was sought by Irish Aid and the number of instances when such requests could not be acceded to.

		31st October to end 2013		2014		2015 to-date
Rank	Sought	Refused	Sought	Refused	Sought	Refused
Commandant	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Captain	2	Nil	1	1	1	Nil
Lieutenant	1	Nil	2	Nil	Nil	Nil
RQMS	Nil	Nil	1	1	2	1
CQMS	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	1
Sergeant	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	3	Nil

Departmental Staff Relocation

Ceisteanna (110)

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

110. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the total number of staff under the remit of his Department that have applied to be transferred to Department or State agency offices located outside the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35292/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

My Department has decentralised offices in Newbridge, Galway and Roscrea. The total number of staff in my Department is 358, with 343 of these based outside Dublin. The following table outlines the breakdown of civil servants who have transferred or applied to transfer from my Department to locations outside the Dublin region since 2011.

Staff No	Office	Transfer Location
1	Newbridge	Portlaoise
1	Newbridge	Cork
1	Newbridge	Athy
1	Dublin	Achill
1	Newbridge	Celbridge
4	Galway	Athlone
1	Galway	Thurles
1	Galway	Castlebar
1	Roscrea	Portlaoise

In relation to civilian employees attached to military installations, 2 Cork-based staff have requested transfers to the Shannon/Clare and West Cork areas respectively.

My Department does not hold specific details in relation to staff who have sought to transfer from my Department to other locations. All staff wishing to transfer to a location designated under the Government’s Decentralisation Programme were required to register their interest on the Central Applications Facility (CAF) which was administered by the Public Appointments Service.

Naturalisation Applications

Ceisteanna (111)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will indicate the eligibility for naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34750/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and the case will be submitted to me for decision in due course.

The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically 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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.