Written Answers Nos. 316-321
316. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that in place to monitor compliance with chapter V, 1, 1.4 (a) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes its responsibilities in the matter of animal welfare very seriously and exercises close oversight, and deploys considerable resources to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of animals being transported.
The Department approves and oversees compliance in respect of the transport of animals from Ireland to the EU, taking into account all relevant elements of the Regulations and, in particular, to ensure that animals are not transported in a way that is likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them. This is the key principle which underpins all transport of animals from Ireland.
Official Veterinarians have on occasions accompanied cattle on their journeys whilst being transported over long distance and this practice will resume once the COVID-19 situation has improved to the point where it is deemed safe to do so. Enforcement of the return of satellite navigation and temperature monitor data was stepped up in 2020 and several retrospective checks of this data were carried out to ensure drivers and transporters respected the statutory journey times and resting times for animals.
Many years of experience of transporting animals on regular and direct links between Ireland and the EU has affirmed our view that the welfare of animals transported under these conditions are not injured nor subject to undue suffering.
317. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the tendering process for an animal care centre (details supplied) was conducted; the number of valid tenders that were received; the way the criteria were determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33928/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht 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.
318. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rehoming methodology that is used in an animal care centre (details supplied); the number of animals which have been sent to and rehomed by the centre; if the centre accommodates non-race-registered animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33929/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht 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.
319. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the 308 single consent licence applications that have been approved since his Department became the sole consenting authority for forest road works licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33942/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions have issued for 95 of the 308 Single Consent Forest Road Licence applications that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has received since 7th February 2020. To date this year, the Department has issued forest road works licences for 142km, which is well in excess of the annual target of 125km as set out in in the Climate Action Plan 2019.
Forestry licence decisions continue to issue daily and we are committed to issuing 4,500 licences this year, which is an increase of 75% on last year, accepting that last year was low in terms of output. June is on track to be the highest month so far this year.
320. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to invest in remote working hubs in each of the years 2021 to 2025. [33724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRemote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build and maintain careers in good quality jobs while living closer to home, and generating increased economic activity in our rural towns and villages.
My Department funds the development of remote working facilities through three main programmes: the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Connected Hubs Call (a strand of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme). In addition, the Broadband Connection Point (BCP) Initiative will connect 300 BCPs, many of whom will offer remote working facilities.
As the Deputy will be aware, there is a specific €5m in funding for 2021 within the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to support a Connected Hubs Call, for which applications have recently closed. The regular Town and Village Renewal Scheme has a €15m allocation for 2021. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is also providing support for developing remote working facilities, often in the context of wider economic development projects in rural areas. The most recent tranche of successful category 1 projects demonstrates the level of investment and support for access to remote working. Further information can be found at this address: www.assets.gov.ie/132661/55bc580e-e7ab-486c-909a-b20a9b4ce874.pdf.
It is worth noting that since 2016 my Department has invested more than €50 million in the development of remote working facilities through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
In terms of investment in future years, while the review of the National Development Plan is ongoing, the outcome will be important for sustained investment for remote working in rural areas. The programmes that are currently in place in my Department offer differing scales of investment needed to support different rural areas. I intend to ensure this support continues into the future in order to capitalise on the social and economic benefits that remote working can deliver for towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland.
321. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount invested in remote working hubs in 2020. [33725/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes.
Remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live closer to home, and to generate increased economic activity in our rural towns.
Close to €9M was invested in projects in 2020 that incorporated the development of remote working facilities through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Programme in 2020.
Since 2016 my Department has invested more than €50 million in the development of remote working facilities through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Investment in new remote working facilities will continue in 2021 through further calls for both schemes.
I have also allocated €5 million to fund a Connected Hubs Call this year. This initiative will provide funding to support small scale capital works in existing hubs and Broadband Connection Points. Applications are currently being evaluated by my officials and I expect to shortly be in a position to announce the results of the evaluation process.
Significant investment is also being made in remote working infrastructure and connectivity through the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative; a significant number of which are offering remote working facilities.
