Written Answers Nos. 680-694
680. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct IHRB to publish the integrity racing statistics for 2021, making them available to the public (details supplied). [62169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1st January 2018, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland. The IHRB is a company limited by guarantee set up by the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee for the purpose of carrying out the regulatory and licensing functions for Irish horseracing.
The role of the IHRB is provided for under the Irish Horse Racing Act 2016 and subsequent Statutory Instruments.
The Equine Anti-Doping reports in respect of 2021 are available on the IHRB website under the heading Horses/Equine Anti-Doping Reports.
681. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dogs in the greyhound racing pool for each of the months January to December 2020 and each of the months January to December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62233/22]
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.
682. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has knowledge of the circumstances in which an organisation (details supplied) recently cancelled its contract with Curraheen Park for its Friday evening fixture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62234/22]
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.
683. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a feasibility study of the proposed development works at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium has been carried out; if so, the results of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62235/22]
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.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) sought approval from my Department for the payment of a grant towards development works at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium. This application is currently being considered by my Department within the overall context of RCÉ's operations as a whole.
684. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a representative of Rásaíocht Con Éireann accompanies consignments of dogs transported to the US as part of the Irish greyhounds to America programme; if so, the amount for each journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62236/22]
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.
685. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if financial supports or grants are available for a young person who wishes to establish a milk recording business in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62254/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides capital funding grants through the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). There are seven schemes under TAMS including for dairy equipment.
TAMS provides grants direct to farmers rather than to entrepreneurs to establish businesses, and is specifically aimed at assisting farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding. It is envisaged that the TAMS under the new CAP Strategic Plan will support farmers to invest in milk recording equipment. This does not cover the situation which the Deputy has outlined, however, full information on TAMS is available on my Department's website at gov.ie - Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) (www.gov.ie)
For more general supports for business start-ups, a person with a new business idea may qualify for funding and supports from their Local Enterprise Office. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) located within the 31 Local Authorities promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups, and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation by providing accessible, high-quality supports.
The LEOs provide training and advisory programmes to small businesses, as well as acting as a ‘first stop shop’ for all firms to direct them to assistance available from Government Departments and agencies.
The LEOs also provide high-quality business and management development programmes including the successful Start your Own Business Programme which assists entrepreneurs in assessing the viability of their business idea and helps them decide if they should proceed or take a step back. Whether it is a new start up or growing an existing business, there is something suitable for anyone exploring self-employment as an option, or for those who are currently operating a business.
686. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grants or supports are available for research projects (details supplied); the way funding can be availed of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61636/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra687. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the main policy achievements of her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61656/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the formation of this Government my Department has continued to play a critical role in supporting communities across the country in both rural and urban Ireland. My Department’s continuing focus is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. This mission is set out in our Statement of Strategy 2021 to 2023.
My Department has made substantial progress since 2020 in delivering programmes and policy interventions efficiently and effectively for rural Ireland and communities, and has ensured that our existing supports and funding is directed to best support communities, particularly in respect of the emerging challenges of Brexit, Climate Action and Covid-19.
Our Rural Future, published last year, is the Irish Government’s blueprint for a post-COVID-19 recovery and development of rural Ireland over the period 2020 - 2025. It provides the framework to achieve the vision of transforming the quality of life and opportunity for people living in rural areas. Since publication, implementation of measures continues to be strong. Progress updates are published every six months and a work programme for the following year produced, enabling new actions to be added over the lifetime of the policy.
Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, published in August 2019, sets out how Government will support the sector in the years to come and aims to provide communities with both the means and opportunity to be involved in decisions that affect them. With actions to be implemented to 2024, the Strategy sets a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the years ahead. I will continue to work with stakeholders and cross-Government colleagues in the implementation of the strategy.
Ireland’s first National Social Enterprise Policy, published in July 2019, focuses on building awareness of Social Enterprise, growing and strengthening Social Enterprise, and achieving better policy alignment. Implementation of measures contained in the policy is ongoing and the 4th National Social Enterprise Conference took place last month. The theme of the conference was “A New Beginning”. The Conference brought together a wide range of national and international speakers representing the full spectrum of social enterprise activity in Ireland.
Our Public Libraries 2022: Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities is an ambitious strategy to develop the public library service over the period 2018 - 2022. The strategy was developed by my Department, the County and City Management Association and the Local Government Management Agency. Building on technological and service innovations of recent years, it focuses on improving access, use and visibility of the public library and establishing it as the go-to place for a range of sustainable, integrated public services.
The Town Centre First policy was launched in February 2022. It was developed jointly by my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It contains a range of actions designed to achieve key objectives such as social and economic revival in towns, the provision of housing, as well as addressing challenges like vacancy and derelict buildings.
The National Hub Network and its online platform, connectedhubs.ie, was launched in May 2021. This project began as a small regional project in the west of Ireland and was scaled up rapidly during the public health crisis to meet an explosion in demand for remote working facilities. There are currently 298 hubs on-boarded to the platform and more than 10,000 registered customers. Our rural Future commits to 400 hubs on the platform by 2025, a target I am confident will be met, if not exceeded.
Other achievements include the National Volunteering Strategy 2021 – 2025 which sets out a long-term vision for volunteering and volunteers with series of implementation actions underway. Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, Ireland’s first ever National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, was launched last month. It will set the stage to strengthen and support the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland for years to come bringing huge economic and health benefits to communities across the country.
Work is also continuing on the development of the new Islands Policy as set out in the Programme for Government and a draft Irish National Policy on Philanthropy will be published next year for public consultation.
688. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Brendan Griffin den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén staid reatha atá ag an bPolasaí Oileánda; cén dul chun cinn atá déanta i ndáil leis an bPolasaí ó foilsíodh an Plépháipéar i mí na Samhna 2019; agus cén dáta a bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire an polasaí a sheoladh. [61764/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, tá Polasaí Oileánda, mar aon le pleananna gnímh gaolmhara, á fhorbairt ag an Rialtas, agus, leis na hoileáin mar dhualgas ag mo Roinn, tá mé tiomanta chun é a chur i gcrích agus a fhoilsiú. Leagadh amach aidhm an Rialtais i leith on pholasaí seo i gcaibidil 10 de Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe - Beartas Forbartha Tuaithe an Rialtais 2021-2025, a foilsíodh i 2021.
Bhí próiseas fada comhairliúcháin ag mo Roinn le pobail na n-oileán, chomh maith leis na Ranna Stáit eile, Comhairlí Contae agus páirtithe leasmhara eile. Tá an phróiseas sin curtha i gcrích agus an t-aiseolas mar léargas luachmhar ar phríomh thosaíochtaí, dúshláin agus deiseanna do na pobail oileánda.
Bunaíodh coiste idir-rannach do na hoileáin faoi Chathaoirleacht mo Roinne, agus tionóladh a gcruinniú is deireanaí i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Roinneadh an chéad dréacht den pholasaí ag an gcruinniú seo agus iarradh ar bhaill an choiste athbhreithniú a dhéanamh air agus a gcuid moltaí agus aiseolas a sheoladh ar ais. Tá sé sin déanta anois, agus an doiciméad á leasú dá réir.
Tá súil agam dréacht den polasaí a bheith os mo chomhair roimh dheireadh na bliana agus é a sheoladh i 2023.
689. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when her Department intends informing the applicants for funding under the community centres investment fund whether they have been successful in their bids. [61778/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €15 million Community Centres Investment Fund launched in April this year.
The Fund was available to Community groups under 3 Categories:
- Category 1 - grants up to €25,000
- Category 2 - grants between €25,001 and €100,000
- Category 3 - grants between €100,001 and €300,000
The fund closed to applications in July, and interest was extremely high, with over a thousand applications received under the 3 Categories. All applications were subject to a competitive appraisal process.
On October 12th, I announced over €12.5 million in funding for 580 successful Category 1 applicants. On December 8th, I was delighted to announce a further €33 million in funding for 278 successful Categories 2 and 3 applicants. Details of the successful applicants are available on my Department’s website and my officials are the process of notifying all successful applicants.
690. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland that have been taken since the publication of the review; the number of measures that relate to restricted breeds; if this includes the control of presa canario dogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61788/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this year my Department published on gov.ie the consultation report on ‘A review of measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland’. A selection of the submissions received were also published alongside the report.
As a result of this review and the ongoing legislative review, my Department is proposing to amend Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 442 /1998 - Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 to include the Presa Canario breed of dog. My Department is also proposing to introduce increased penalties for all offences under the Control of Dogs Acts. This will also include offences under Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 442/1998.
Consideration is also being given to introducing a new provision in primary legislation to allow for Dog Control Notices. A Dog Control Notice (DCN) is a notice that would be issued to a dog owner whose dog has been found to be out of control. It would outline the measures the owner must take to make sure the dog is controlled in a manner which ensures the safety of others and prevents further incidents/attacks. These measures may include muzzling and leashing the dog, neutering, attendance at dog training courses etc.
Furthermore, a cross-departmental review of all legislative and enforcement issues relating to dogs is about to commence, to be led by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The review will focus on strengthening current legislation, enforcement and policy as well as promoting responsible dog ownership.
691. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a progress report on the implementation of Our Rural Future. [61812/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future is the whole of Government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland. It was published in March 2021 and is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades. It contains more than 150 measures for delivery, for both short-term recovery and longer-term economic and social development, and environmental and cultural wellbeing.
Updates on policy implementation are provided by six-monthly Progress Reports and Annual Work Programmes. The development of Annual Work Programmes allows for revised priorities, including new measures, in light of emerging opportunities and challenges.
The First Progress Report was published in February 2022 and provided updates on a total of 216 actions contained in the 2021 Work Programme, with a delivery rate of just under 80% for actions scheduled for completion last year.
The 2022 Work Programme outlines work to be undertaken this year. It contains 318 actions to be progressed across Government, including 23 actions proposed under 10 new policy measures, adding to those originally contained in Our Rural Future. This clearly indicates that Our Rural Future is an ambitious, living, document.
The Second Progress Report was published in August and contains updates on implementation in the first half of 2022, with a completion rate of 72% on actions scheduled for completion in this period. The high level of progress to date demonstrates this Government’s continued commitment to rural Ireland.
Work on the Third Progress Report and 2023 Work Programme has already begun, and my Department has in recent weeks met bilaterally with relevant Departments to explore potential new measures to be highlighted for next year.
I am delighted with the high and sustained level of engagement across Government to support the ambition of Our Rural Future, with contributions coming from 22 departments and agencies this year alone.
I anticipate that both the next Progress Report and Work Programme will be published in Quarter 1 of 2023.
All Progress Reports and Work Programmes are available on my department's website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c6f5d-our-rural-future/
692. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an up-to-date account of the number of dog wardens employed by city and county councils, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61964/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information up to and including 2021, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie. The 2022 dog control statistics will be collated in 2023 and when checked and verified will be published on gov.ie.
Page 1 of the 2021 dog control statistics indicates, by county and in tabular form, that there were 50 full-time dog wardens and 21 part-time dog wardens in 2021, equating to 59.55 full-time equivalent posts.
While Section 15(1) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that every local authority must employ at least one dog warden, it is a matter for each local authority to determine if more than one dog warden is required to carry out the necessary functions of the dog warden service in their local authority area.
693. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Question No. 727 of 6 December 2022, if she intends to remedy the failure to fulfil statutory obligation under section 6 of the Charities Act 2009 to review the Act's operations within the timelines provided. [62150/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Charities Regulatory Authority (‘the Charities Regulator’) is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. While established on 16 October 2014, pursuant to the Charities Act 2009, the Charities Regulator was not fully operational until 2016.
Draft proposals for amendments to the Charities Act 2009 were developed by the then responsible Minister in 2017, to be included in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
The General Scheme of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which provided for amendments to the Charities Act 2009, was approved by Government on 11 July 2017. Following the publication of this General Scheme, the corporate governance oversight of the Charities Regulator transferred to my Department, also in the same year.
However, the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill did not progress, and it was necessary to progress the required legislative provisions under a standalone Amendment Bill. Following consultation, and also consequential to the operational experience acquired by the Charities Regulator since 2016, a number of additional amendments were incorporated into the General Scheme for the Charities (Amendment) Bill, published in April 2022.
694. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will clarify the reason projects (details supplied) were not successful in funding applications through the community centres investment fund; and if she will further clarify the appeal of review process available to community centres that have not been successful. [62292/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the €15 million Community Centres Investment Fund in April this year to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade of their community centre facilities. Funding was on the basis of a competitive assessment process. The fund was oversubscribed and it was not possible to fund all proposals within the budget available.
Both applicants the Deputy refers to applied for funding under Category 3 of the Community Centres Investment Fund. On December 8th, I announced €33 million in funding for 278 successful Categories 2 and 3 applicants. My officials are in the process of notifying all applicants in these Categories of the detailed outcome of the appraisal process. Applicants will receive a decision on their application in writing by email and it will contain guidance in relation to appealing a decision if they are not satisfied with the outcome.
I am delighted to have secured €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 for a 2023 Community Centres Investment Fund. It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted for new build community centres, as well as upgrades and improvements to existing centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and further details will be announced in early 2023.
