Robert Troy
Ceist:736. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a surgery date for a person (details supplied). [4707/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (736)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (737)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:737. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the further timeframe that is expected for an assessment of need appointment for a child (details supplied) given the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4724/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (738)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:738. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the further timeframe that is expected for an assessment of need appointment for a child (details supplied) given the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4725/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to reply to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (739)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:739. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current status on the appeal for payment of the pandemic recognition payment to home support resource managers in CHO5; the further timeframe that is expected on a decision on the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4728/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (740)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:740. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current status of the appeal for payment of the pandemic recognition payment to home support resource managers in CHO5; the further timeframe that is expected on a decision on the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4728/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (741)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:741. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on the introduction of a statutory home care scheme as promised in the Programme for Government; the timetable for its introduction; the number and rank of civil servants working full-time on this scheme for each year since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4730/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Work is ongoing to progress the development of the new home support scheme within the broader context of the ongoing reform of our health and social care system, as envisaged in the Sláintecare Report. The scheme will provide equitable access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.
Work is ongoing across three workstreams:
(i) Regulation of home-support providers
The Department is currently developing a regulatory framework for home-support providers with the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with high-quality care. This framework will comprise primary legislation for the licensing of providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations (minimum requirements), and HIQA national standards.
On 27 April 2021, Government gave approval to the Minister for Health to draft a General Scheme and Heads of Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. The Heads of a Bill are currently at draft stage. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. A Regulatory Impact Analysis is being progressed by the Department to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks.
Development of regulations and standards are at an advanced stage. The Department has completed a targeted stakeholder consultation on draft regulations (minimum requirements) that will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a license will be determined. Draft regulations for home support providers have been developed by the department and amended following targeted stakeholder consultation. This has been enhanced by regular discussions with HIQA, HSE, Private Providers' representative groups and legal expertise assisting with legal text and interpretation of core issues, such as, capacity legislation, employment laws and health and safety issues. A 6-week public consultation was completed in August 2022 and the analysis of the results by the IPH was recently published:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/56ab1-draft-regulations-for-providers-of-home-support-services-an-overview-of-the-findings-of-the-department-of-healths-public-consultation/
HIQA have conducted an evidence review on home support which was published on May 30th 2022. HIQA have developed standards for home care and home support services which will be the focus of a public consultation early this year. The Department is also represented on the HIQA advisory group.
(ii) Financing of home-support services
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) undertook a programme of work on behalf of the Department on the potential demand for, and cost of, home support which culminated in two reports:
Demand for the Home Support Statutory Scheme (30 March 2021)
Home Support Services in Ireland: Exchequer and Distributional Impacts of Funding Options (24 February 2022)
This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population.
An internal consultation process on a range of potential funding options is underway. Targeted external consultation is also underway.
(iii) Reformed model of service delivery
The Pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for home-support is now fully operational. It commenced in November 2021 in CHO 8 and the three other sites CHO2, CHO 4 and CHO 7 became operational in January 2022. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to the development of the new home-support scheme.
Funding has been approved for 128 interRAI care needs facilitators This will help to progress the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs. Recruitment of the Care Needs Facilitator posts will commence with a view to having the posts in place by the end of Q3 2022.
The HSE is in the process of recruiting key posts to enable the establishment of a National Home Support Office. Funding is provided for 15 full time jobs, including 9 home support manager/coordinator posts. The Head of Service of the new National Home support Office has been appointed in November 2022, with the remaining posts to be filled as soon as possible this year. A proposed location in Tullamore for the National Home Support Office is being sourced by the HSE.
In order to examine the significant workforce challenges in the home-support and nursing home sectors in Ireland, Minister Butler established a cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. The group was charged with identifying strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes and with developing recommendations. The group examined issues such as the recruitment, retention, training, career-development, pay and conditions and barriers to employment for front-line carers in these sectors. Their report was published in October 2022 with 16 recommendations in the areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development, sectoral reform, and monitoring and implementation. Minister Butler strongly endorses these recommendations and they will be progressed through a dedicated implementation group. The report is available here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/492bc-report-of-the-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-health-care-assistants/
Recommendation no 9 has been implemented. The statutory instrument authorising the issuance of 1,000 employment permits for home-care workers was signed on 16th December 2022. Information about the next steps that employers need to take (i.e. satisfying the Labour Market Needs Test) is available online at Labour Market Needs Test - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
There are 10 staff in the Department working on the Statutory Home Support Scheme across the grades of EO to Assistant Secretary.
Care of the Elderly
Ceisteanna (742)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:742. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the establishment of a commission for care as promised in the Programme for Government, which will examine care and supports for older people; the timeline for its introduction; the number and grade of civil servants working full-time on this policy commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to supporting healthy and positive ageing as well as to ensuring that older persons can continue to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
Acknowledging the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic on older persons, the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020) commits to the establishment of a commission on care that will ‘assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens’, learning the lessons from COVID 19.
In 2022 preliminary desk research was undertaken within the Department of Health in preparation for the establishment of the commission on care. In 2023 the scoping and planning for the commission on care (inclusive of timelines) will be further advanced as a priority. The team of civil servants that will lead the commission on care is currently being formed.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (743)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:743. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress made by him to date on implementing the Programme for Government promise to ensure that no nursing home support scheme resident is charged for services that they do not use; the number of nursing homes that have such additional charges and how, by which agency the scheme is notified to residents where these additional charges are applied; the success to date; if he will publish the data held by his Department and the HSE in relation to the homes that have such charges; the number of residents who now are no longer are paying these additional charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4732/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
- Laundry service.
Data from HSE indicates that, on average, NHSS residents cover around 30% of their cost of care, with the state covering the remaining 70%. This proportion is based on the assessment of residents' assets and income, rather than on the cost of providing their care, and has remained stable over recent years.
Costs not covered by the NHSS include those individually incurred for items like social activities, newspapers and hairdressing. This may also include medical services such as therapies and some medical equipment. A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service.
It is important to state that residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24 hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, as set out above. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
The Department of Health does not currently hold data relating regarding to additional charges in private nursing homes; these vary according to each individual nursing home depending on the services offered.
Nevertheless, the Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence and considering various policy options with relation to additional nursing home charges. Nursing homes should not levy additional charges on residents for services coming within scope of the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.
Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns about additional charges should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. Where an individual is not satisfied with the response they receive, they may wish to take their complaint further by seeking a review from the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaint’s procedure of the private nursing home concerned.
The Ombudsman can be contacted as follows:
Office of the Ombudsman
6 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
D02 W773
Tel. (01) 639 5600 / Lo-call (1890) 22 30 30
e-mail at ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie
An individual can also use the following website to make a complaint to office of the Ombudsman at the ‘Make A Complaint’ portal on www.ombudsman.ie.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is an independent statutory body with a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law in Ireland. CCPC’s mission is to promote competition and enhance consumer welfare. The CCPC has published consumer protection guidelines for contracts of care in long-term residential care services for older people. The guidelines set out the obligations and responsibilities that providers must adhere to under consumer protection law and are aimed at providing greater transparency, clarity and certainty for consumers.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (744)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:744. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the €1,000 pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4733/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (745)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:745. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the 1,000 extra beds recently reported by the HSE in terms of hospitals involved and types of bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4772/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (746)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:746. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the average timeframe that an approval for reimbursement of the cost of Cariban takes after a consultant completes an initial application form for an individual reimbursement for Cariban. [4791/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (747)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:747. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of initial application forms for individual reimbursement for Cariban received since 1 January 2023. [4792/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (748)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:748. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to reform the ‘atypical working visa’ to enable doctors providing locum services to reside in the State for longer periods of time. [4801/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials of my Department engage with their colleagues in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to appropriate visa arrangements for healthcare staff, including doctors and other medical staff, from time to time.
This engagement has included consideration of the visa arrangements that should apply in relation to doctors providing locum services. Engagement and cooperation between the two departments will continue to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place in relation to the duration of visas for doctors taking up residence to provide services as locums.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (749)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:749. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that out-of-hours GP services can recruit and retain doctors, including non-EEA locums, to cover the service requirements. [4802/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision.
GP out of hours cooperatives are private organisations. The HSE provides significant funding to support out of hours cooperatives through service level agreements. The HSE maintains regular contact with out of hours service providers to help ensure that the services needed by local communities are provided.
The HSE has provided additional temporary supports to general practice over this busy winter period. The HSE Winter Plan 2022/23 provided an additional €10 million in funding to support GP practices and out-of-hours services in preparation for the increased demand for services. Furthermore, the funding grant arrangement for out-of-hours cooperatives has been increased by 7.5% and additional funding is being provided to cooperatives to enable them to roster additional doctors, local GPs and locum doctors, in treatment centres from 6pm to 10pm.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (750)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:750. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that the drug cariban is not available free of charge to pregnant women who are suffering with sickness during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As part of Budget 2023, I announced €32.2 million in funding for Women’s Health Initiatives in 2023, to include dedicated funding for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine). The dedicated funding for Cariban® will help women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, during pregnancy. Cariban® is an Exempt Medicinal Product, i.e., it is not licensed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, Cariban® is now available on an individual patient basis for those patients who meet the criteria under the community drug schemes – the General Medical Services scheme (GMS) and the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) – where Consultant Obstetrician initiated.
Under the community drug schemes, Exempt Medicinal Products must be Consultant initiated. However, whilst the original prescriber of Cariban® must be a Consultant and specialist in the relevant field, the HSE will accept a GP prescription subsequent to the initial hospital prescription for approved patients.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (751)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:751. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HPV vaccine is not available to some unvaccinated males who are in sixth year; the reason that the eligibility criteria are not set by age as opposed to school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4804/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.
Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.
In line with the NIAC's advice, I have asked the HSE to facilitate and operationalise the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme.
This programme offers a free HPV vaccines to all boys and girls in second level education who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine and who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it.
Young women, up to the age of 25, who have now left secondary school, and who did not receive the vaccine, are also eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme.
Eligible young people and their parents can register their interest in receiving the vaccine on www.hpv.ie This link also contains detailed information about the HPV vaccine.
Coillte Teoranta
Ceisteanna (752, 773, 774, 788, 790, 792, 794)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:752. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he or his Department became aware of the forestry deal between Coillte and (details supplied). [4628/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:773. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4305/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:774. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that any land used for planting of any forestry stays in the hands of Coillte or the individual farmers and stop international investors from buying up large areas of land for plantation; and if he will ensure that the majority of trees planted are native tree species and that a full and independent, environmental assessment would be carried out before any non-native species are planted. [4337/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlan Kelly
Ceist:788. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his department and-or any of his officials first found out that Coillte were in discussions with a company (details supplied) regarding a proposed forestry deal. [4617/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlan Kelly
Ceist:790. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, by date and name, details of all Coillte and or officials of his Department that have attended meetings or been involved in any communications in any way with a company (details supplied) since 2017, in tabular form.. [4619/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlan Kelly
Ceist:792. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates and details of all meetings between the Minister and the management advisory committee in his Department that refer to the deal between Coillte and a company (details supplied). [4621/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlan Kelly
Ceist:794. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his Minister of State were asked to sign off on the forestry deal between Coillte and a company (details supplied); and if so, when and by whom. [4623/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 752, 773, 774, 788, 790, 792 and 794 together.
Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Minister and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am, therefore, not in position to comment on any operational issues relating to the establishment of the new investment fund. Neither my Department nor myself were involved in the establishment of the Fund.
In relation to the issue of balanced afforestation, this Government has committed €1.3 billion to the new Forestry Programme. The primary aim of the Programme is to enable Ireland to use its potential for afforestation to help meet its national emission reduction and biodiversity obligations while, at the same time, supporting the forestry sector and farm families. This is biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme ever introduced by any Government here, and it has been designed to ensure that farmers will be its primary beneficiaries.
There is also a role for Coillte and for non-farmers in helping to achieve our ambitious afforestation targets, and the new Forestry Programme will provide for this too. This will include support for the creation of new forests in Ireland through the harnessing of funding and assets from private and public sources, including afforestation grants and premiums, to provide long term social returns for all stakeholders.
Coillte advised the Department of its intention to increase its afforestation during the development of their new Forestry Strategic Vision, which was launched on 21st April 2022. In meetings with Ministers in the Department as well as our officials dating back to 2021, Coillte indicated that it would be an enabler of new afforestation through partnering with private investment. The confirmation to Minister Hackett and I that this Fund was operational and the identity of all parties to the deal came in a letter sent by Coillte to my Department on 16th December 2022.
Coillte will not sell any existing publicly owned forests to the fund, nor will Coillte seek to purchase any other public land on behalf of the fund. Any land purchased by the fund will already be in private ownership, and no private landowner will be forced to sell land to the fund. The scale of the new planting envisaged is such that Coillte does not expect the establishment of the fund to have an impact on the price of farmland, nor indeed is it in any way in the interest of Coillte or the fund to drive up land prices at a time that they are seeking to acquire land.
Senior representatives of Coillte have met with myself and Minister Hackett on 19th January and outlined their intention that the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund will plant an average of 700 hectares of new forests across each of the next five years. They advised that the total area of new forests planted through the fund will deliver roughly 3.5% of the 100,000 hectares of new forests Coillte has committed to enabling by 2050. They further outlined that the Fund is one of a number of models Coillte will deploy in contributing to the States overall forestry targets. The Government has been clear that this is not our preferred model for delivery of the afforestation targets and we have asked Coillte to consider a range of options and revert to us with ideas for other delivery models.
Renewable Energy Generation
Ceisteanna (753)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:753. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide funding for renewable gas production by anaerobic digesters from grass and slurry on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3960/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firmly rooted in the Sectoral Emission Ceiling (SEC) of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for agriculture is the delivery of indigenous production of up to 5.7 Twh of biomethane via Anaerobic Digestion (AD).
While energy policy formation, including renewable energy, is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), my department continues to engage with DECC on all energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, including the development of an Anaerobic Digestion industry, as well as a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings.
In recognition of the scale of the AD industry required to deliver the 5.7 Twh of biomethane, building on an AD sector that is at a nascent stage of development in Ireland, there is a need to agree a strategic direction and delivery mechanism across government as the first key step.
It is clear from experience in other jurisdictions where AD is well established that there is a need for support to kick start an industry here in Ireland to realise the potential as set out above. In doing so requires an all-of-government approach and my department with DECC have committed to delivering a National Biomethane Strategy to identify how best to mobilise the 5.7 Twh. This is a commitment within the Climate Action Plan 2023. A project steering group will be established shortly under the auspices of the Heat and Built Environment Task Force, which is expected to meet in the coming weeks. This will be the first important step in realising the potential that AD can offer. Financial considerations will be a key element of the formation of this strategy and the Climate Action Plan 2023 commitment o fassessing available financial opportunities and mobilise these funds where available which be important in this regard.
As part of Budget 2023 I have already committed to diverting carbon tax money to provide support to kick-start an AD industry in Ireland and I see this support as integral to any financial funding package that may be available to Anaerobic Digestion in Ireland and which will be guided by the outcome of the National Biomethane Strategy.
I believe that Anaerobic Digestion and the production of renewable gas (biomethane) has a key role to play in the decarbonisation of our energy system and provides an income and land use diversification opportunity for farmers and an area that I firmly support. The result will be an increase in our capability and capacity across the agriculture sector and the bioeconomy in general.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Ceisteanna (754)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:754. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure farmers are recognised and remunerated for storing carbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3961/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The European Commission published its proposal for a certification framework for Carbon removals on 30th November 2022 2022 climate.ec.europa.eu/document/fad4a049-ff98-476f-b626-b46c6afdded3_en.
This certification framework proposes that the Commission (i) develops certification methodologies, in consultation with experts and stakeholders; and (ii) harmonises the implementation of the certification framework.
It is important that activity at national level is in line with and compliments the EU proposal. Nationally, there are knowledge and data gaps that will need to be bridged to facilitate carbon farming and that is why I have identified and funded a number of key research and demonstration activities which will not only influence our policy direction in the coming years but will also help to provide baseline information on key activities within the agricultural and land use sectors.
In research we are currently supporting data gathering activities such as the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO) infrastructure, the Pilot Soil Sampling Programme and the Farm Environmental Study (FES), while also providing funding to European Innovation Projects such as the Farm Carbon EIP and FarmPEAT EIP which will provide specific information not only on the baseline data but also on how we can influence land use management change in these areas.
In demonstration our recently launched country wide network of Teagasc supported Signpost Farms will showcase how best practice management techniques can be adopted on a wide range of enterprises and soil types.
These research and demonstration activities along with the recent establishment of the Carbon Farming Working Group, chaired through DAFM, will allow us to address a number of requirements around carbon farming mainly in the areas of establishing baseline data, auditing, governance and address the need for the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of carbon removals/reductions.
In the meantime, my Department will continue to provide financial support for farmers providing eco system's services through a variety of EU and nationally funded schemes.
Veterinary Services
Ceisteanna (755)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:755. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the transfer of local authority veterinary services over to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3979/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Discussions are active and ongoing between the relevant parties to examine all aspects of a potential transfer of local authority veterinary services to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. These discussions are likely to continue for some months at least.
At this time no decision has been made as regards what aspects of the local authority services, if any, may transfer to my Department.
Animal Welfare
Ceisteanna (756)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:756. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if dogs remain on a puppy farm (details supplied) in north Cork; and if so, if he will inform Cork County Council to immediately act by obtaining a court order to seize these dogs and to ensure they are immediately removed from the horrific conditions. [3999/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware of the case referred to and I commend the authorities for taking the necessary action to alleviate the suffering of the animals in question.
My Department does not have the information that the Deputy requests. The Deputy will be aware that the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010, which regulates the operation of dog breeding establishments is an Act under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development and is enforced by the relevant local authorities.
On the overall issue of controls relating to dogs, I have, in collaboration with Minister Humphreys, set up a working group to review all relevant matters. This group held its first meeting on Friday 13th January. The Terms of Reference and composition for the working group are being finalised and further details will be announced in the near future. The group will meet regularly in the coming weeks.