Written Answers Nos. 739-747
739. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the history and the Land Commission records of a plot of ground (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8762/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIadvise the Deputy that a parcel of land in the townland of Meanus comprising 2.16 hectares was sold by the former Irish Land Commission (ILC) to trustees, to be held subject to the trusts of a Scheme framed and approved under Sections 4 and 20 of the Irish land Acts 1903. A Purchase Agreement was signed in May 1936 and the land was vested by the former ILC in these trustees in October 1948 and subsequently registered on folio KY 24138.
Trustees have not been appointed by a Minister since 1948. The registration of the Folio was amended by the GAA through a Solicitor in 1983 and 2005. An Inhibition was placed on Folio KY 24138 in 2005 by the GAA and a 99-year lease to Castlemaine Community Services Group Limited was registered on the Folio in 2006. My Department registered an inhibition on the folio in 2009 preventing any change to the ownership of the folio without prior notice to my Department.
In April 2022, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) notified my Department that an application to amend the registration on folio KY 24138 had been lodged. My Department requested that the lodging party withdraw the application as it was not the correct process for updating the registration of an ILC trust property. The matter is currently under review in my Department.
Access to the records of the former Irish Land Commission held by the Records Branch at its premises in Portlaoise is governed by the Land Purchase Act Rules 1939 (S.I. No. 341 of 1939). Order XIX of the rules states-
Certified copies of abstracts of title or documents connected therewith, agreements for sale between vendor and purchaser, undertakings to purchase from the Land Commission, conveyances to purchasers, vesting orders and fiats, shall not be issued without leave of the Judicial Commissioner or the direction of the Examiner, except to vendors or purchasers their successors in title or their respective solicitors.
If the Deputy is making this query on behalf of a constituent, that individual, or their solicitor, should make contact with the Records Branch of my Department. The contact details for Records Branch are set out below:
Records Branch,
Legal Services Division,
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Unit 11 Clonminam Business Park,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois
R32 Y033
Ph: 057 8634988
Email: recordsbranch@agriculture.gov.ie
740. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the eligible number to participate in the sheep improvement scheme 2023 for a person in County Cork (details supplied) in view of the fact that their reference numbers for the 2022 sheep welfare scheme were significantly greater. [8822/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS).
The scheme opened for applications in November 2022 and closed on 9th January 2023. I am delighted with the uptake in the scheme, with over 19,000 sheep farmers applying to participate in the scheme. This scheme reflects the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and to ensuring key supports for farmers are developed and maintained under the new CAP.
My Department will be in contact with the applicant in order to carry out a review of the reference number.
741. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the kilowatt system is used for access to Irish waters within Europe; the countries that have kilowatt days in the Irish EEZ for demersal or pelagic fish; the species and types of fishing that these kilowatt days apply to; and the way these days are assigned to countries and accounted for during the calendar year. [8824/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fishing effort regime, or kilowatt system, is set down for Western Waters under EU legislation (Council Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1415/2004). The effort-based management system was introduced to ensure that there was no increase in the overall levels of fishing effort from the levels in the preceding years and supports the total allowable catch (TAC) and quotas system.
The effort regime sets effort limits for all EU Member States for demersal resources excluding deep-sea species, scallops, and edible crab/spider crab. Effort levels are not set for pelagic fisheries like mackerel, herring, horse mackerel, albacore, or swordfish in the EU’s western waters.
The fishing effort regime are not set down based on the 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone of Member States. The regime applies to a number of International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) areas covering waters around Ireland, UK, France, Spain and international waters of:
- Area 6
- Area 7 outside the Biologically Sensitive Area
- Area 8
- The Biological Sensitive Area.
Under the effort regime, Member States have access to fish in these areas subject to fishing effort restrictions set down in the legislation (measured in kilowatt-days). The effort levels for each Member State is set down in the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 1415/2004 and levels available are not amended each year other than by means of exchange (swops) between Member States. The Annex sets down the Member States that has fishing effort for each relevant area and for each category as set out above.
To assist effort management, EU Member States monitor effort consumption and report to the European Commission on a monthly basis. Member States are required to close fisheries when effort allocations are exhausted and deductions are applied to future fishing effort of the Member State concerned where the EU Commission has established that the Member State has exceeded the fishing effort allocated to it. Member States may exchange effort with each other. Ireland exchanges fishing effort for crab in the BSA each year to support its inshore fleet targeting crab, and also exchanges demersal effort with other Member States from time to time in exchange for quotas of key stocks. All fishing effort exchanges are examined and recommended by the Quota Management Advisory Committee. The effort regime does not apply to non-EU fishing vessels. However, other than the UK, no other Third Country has access to the EU zone of Western Waters for demersal, crab or scallop fishing.
742. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the supports that his Department has provided for Ukraine and for Ukrainian people since February 2022, whether in Ukraine or within the State; the number of people supported, where relevant; the estimated cost and value of the support where available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8860/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provided support of €750,000 in December 2022 for a one-year project administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The project will support highly vulnerable small-holder farmers and households in rural areas at the frontline of the illegal Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, where the poultry sector is a significant contributor to rural livelihoods and incomes.
The project provides direct agricultural support and will positively impact food security for 1,000 smallholder rural farmers in those areas most affected by Russian aggression.
I can confirm that a request has been received from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of my Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection.
My Department has reviewed its property portfolio to identify land and buildings, and in the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, my Department notified the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of three properties that have the potential to be suitable for accommodation. However, extensive works would be required to make them properly habitable. Details of these three properties have been uploaded onto the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Geo-spatial mapping database.
In addition, my Department has identified six sites that could potentially be used to meet the medium to long-term accommodation and housing requirements. Extensive ground works would be needed to prepare these sites for construction projects, as they are currently used for agricultural purposes and do not currently have the required services necessary to support residential needs.
I am very supportive of Minister O’Gorman’s efforts to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its international and humanitarian obligations and my Department continues to work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in this regard.
As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
743. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of discrimination cases taken and won against his Department over the past ten years, under each of the grounds as applicable, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8901/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm for the Deputy that there have been no discrimination cases taken and won against my Department in the past ten years.
744. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a breakdown of the number of local improvement scheme applications waiting to be processed, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8538/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million towards improvement works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 Million for improvement works on our offshore Islands.
The selection and prioritisation of eligible roads for approval is a matter for each relevant local authority to determine in line with parameters set out in the LIS Scheme Outline. The table below sets out the number of applications held by the relevant local authorities.
|
County |
Applications on hand |
|
Carlow |
48 |
|
Cavan |
199 |
|
Clare |
169 |
|
Cork |
153 |
|
Donegal |
1,453 |
|
Galway |
138 |
|
Kerry |
676 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
28 |
|
Laois |
43 |
|
Leitrim |
20 |
|
Limerick |
16 |
|
Longford |
37 |
|
Louth* |
10 |
|
Mayo |
157 |
|
Meath |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
79 |
|
Offaly |
42 |
|
Roscommon |
11 |
|
Sligo |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
58 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
117 |
|
Wicklow |
28 |
It is important to note that the number of applications on hand as outlined above can be recorded differently across local authorities. For example, some local authorities base figures on open ended application periods while others do not, and some local authorities retain applications for periods which can date back to as far as 2008 while others do not.
In addition, it should also be noted that figures for applications on hand do not infer that those applications can be delivered in a given time period. For example, as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with local authorities on this matter they have indicated that the maximum total of roads that could be delivered this year would be some 850 due to factors such as availability of contractors etc.
As set out in Our Rural Future, I am committed to ensuring the ongoing funding of this important scheme and I continue to seek the support of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, in order to fund the scheme into the future.
745. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of local improvement schemes which were completed by county in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8540/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents – whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million towards improvement works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 Million for improvement works on our offshore Islands.
The table below sets out the details on a county basis of the roads completed in 2022.
LIS Roads completed 2022
|
County |
2022 |
|
Carlow |
37 |
|
Cavan |
25 |
|
Clare |
25 |
|
Cork |
22 |
|
Donegal |
68 |
|
Galway |
50 |
|
Kerry |
23 |
|
Kildare |
11 |
|
Kilkenny |
11 |
|
Laois |
23 |
|
Leitrim |
31 |
|
Limerick |
27 |
|
Longford |
18 |
|
Louth |
12 |
|
Mayo |
31 |
|
Meath |
9 |
|
Monaghan |
14 |
|
Offaly |
32 |
|
Roscommon |
24 |
|
Sligo |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
35 |
|
Waterford |
11 |
|
Westmeath |
20 |
|
Wexford |
23 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
|
Total |
608 |
746. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grant support is being considered to support community groups including one such group (details supplied) to assist with purchasing electric vehicles to provide transport for sick clients and members to hospital appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8185/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the CLÁR programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, and funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects. The programme supports the sustainable development of designated areas which have suffered significant levels of depopulation in the past, with the aim of encouraging people to continue to live and work in those areas.
In 2022 the Programme's Mobility and Cancer Care Transport Measure facilitated the purchase of vehicles by voluntary organisations based in CLÁR areas. This was with a view to facilitating, under the National Cancer Care Programme, transport to designated cancer treatment hospitals/centres. It also facilitated transport to day care or other medical, therapeutic or respite services, including those requiring specialised wheelchair accessible vehicles.
My Department has no record of an application from the community group referred to by the Deputy.
Measures for inclusion in the CLÁR Programme are reviewed each year and are being reviewed again in advance of the next launch of the Programme.
747. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by her Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of her Department. [8246/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19th July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
My Department is strongly committed to meeting our obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The Department recognises Irish Sign Language and the right of the Irish Sign Language community to use, preserve and develop the language. In line with Section 6 and 7 of the Act, my Department will do all that is reasonable to ensure that suitably accredited interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided free of charge to Irish Sign Language users who cannot hear or understand English or Irish, when they are seeking to avail of, or access, statutory entitlements or services provided by or under statute.
My Department has appointed an Access Officer who is responsible for securing assistance within the Department to meet any needs raised by people with disabilities in accessing our services.
Contact details for the Department's Access Officer are listed on my Department's website.
Section 10 of the Act requires that a report on the operation of the Act be prepared three years after enactment and every five years thereafter. I can confirm that my Department and the organisations under the aegis of the Department have completed the National Disability Authority’s (NDA) survey to confirm obligations are met under Section 6 and Section 7 of the Act.
The following information is provided in relation to the agencies under my Department's aegis:
Pobal
Pobal has processes in place to accommodate requests or do all that is reasonable to provide free Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation for ISL users. The Pobal Access Officer is available to provide or coordinate assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities accessing the services provided by Pobal.
Water Safety Ireland
Water Safety Ireland (WSI) recognises ISL as an official language and in accordance with the ISL Act, WSI ensures that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is available for any person requesting same. Although no requests have been received to date, this will be expedited through accredited ISL interpreters listed in the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters. A WSI staff member is also undertaking an ISL course so that the organisation will have an accredited individual in-house to answer ISL requests about accessing its services.
Charities Regulator
The Charities Regulator is committed to providing its services in an accessible manner, including fulfilling its duty as a public body under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. It will provide interpretation into Irish Sign Language when it is requested. For key events/webinars relating to significant changes or developments, it will also provide sign language interpretation, for example the launch in November 2022 of the new classification standard for charities.
The Regulator’s website is the primary channel of information and guidance on matters related to compliance with charity law and the Charities Governance Code. Information is provided in a written form for the most part. It has a small number of videos, which supplement this information, and they are currently being reviewed from an accessibility perspective.
Western Development Commission (WDC)
The WDC is aware of the requirements of public bodies under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and will further strengthen its focus on meeting those requirements in 2023.
The WDC is prioritising the following activities listed in Q1-Q2 2023:
- Accessibility of online service via https://westerndevelopment.ie/
- Ring fenced budgets to allow access to public services through ISL, including provision of ISL interpreting
- Development of clear staff procedures for sourcing and arranging interpretation to persons seeking to avail of, or access, services through ISL
- Review of need for training or initiatives to relevant staff to support the implementation of the ISL Act
