Written Answers Nos. 443-453
443. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice the current status of IIP applications that were submitted in advance of the February 2023 deadline; the timeline for sports clubs that have submitted valid applications to be informed about the success or otherwise of their applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53178/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023.
The IIP Unit has published an FAQ document concerning the closure of the programme on my Department's Immigration Services website, which will be updated with any further questions arising from the closure, and is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/faqs-closure-of-the-immigrant-investor-programme-iip/
Due to the exceptionally large number of applications on hand it is not possible to give a timeframe as to when applications will receive a decision, however, I can confirm that all applications will be considered on their own merits and my Department will endeavour to make decisions in a timely manner.
445. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service of his Department has cross-referenced the ash dieback RUS applications with corresponding road licence applications on a forest level basis to ensure that forest road approvals will be issued in conjunction with ash dieback reconstitution approvals to enable the necessary clearance works to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52944/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reconstitution ash die-back and forest roads schemes are now open to applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027.
My Department has also written to RUS and Forest Road applicants that had an approval under the previous programme and hadn’t commenced work, along with those who had a current application that hadn’t been approved, to offer them the opportunity to opt-in under the conditions of the new schemes and to avail of enhanced grants and payments.
There are different criteria for both the RUS and the Road scheme and therefore they must be assessed independently of each other.
Details of all schemes offered under the new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 can be found here: gov.ie - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie)
446. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the titles of the White Papers published by his Department from 2008 to date; if he will provide online links to these papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52973/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department did not publish any White Papers from 2008 to date.
447. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by his Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; the total costs incurred on commissioning or funding these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52992/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
|
Year |
Number of Reports |
Cost € |
|
2011 |
5 |
522,439 |
|
2012 |
3 |
533,621 |
|
2013 |
3 |
480,305 |
|
2014 |
4 |
480,551 |
|
2015 |
13 |
835,826 |
|
2016 |
11 |
729,125 |
|
2017 |
11 |
965,364 |
|
2018 |
9 |
728,276 |
|
2019 |
21 |
1,340,640 |
|
2020 |
28 |
1,532,125 |
|
2021 |
26 |
1,498,580 |
|
2022 |
26 |
1,148,661 |
|
2023 to date |
13 |
1,500,376 |
448. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53046/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra449. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53066/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra450. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53083/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 449 and 450 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides public information about the department's wide range of schemes, services and policies. Digital and social media are some of the channels used to communicate this information.
A breakdown of advertising expenditure by year for the period requested is set out in the table below. There was no expenditure incurred with the two other companies the Deputy referred to during the period.
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
Invoiced and paid up to 27 November 2023 |
|
|
2284.35 |
12813.21 |
Nil |
|
X (formerly Twitter) |
465.41 |
5081.76 |
Nil |
451. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is possible to change the replanting species on a felling licence that has issued from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53103/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMost tree felling licences contain conditions pertaining to the replanting of the felling site with particular species. The species mix chosen as part of the licence depends on the nature of the site, environmental considerations and the purpose of the forest to the landowner.
However, under section 17 of the Forestry Act 2014 the Minister may at any time attach or vary conditions to any licence granted, including requiring the replanting of trees, the types of trees and other conditions associated with the replanting process.
Any non material change requests made after the licence issues which is subsequently approved requires an amendment to the licence. This applies whether harvesting has commenced or not. Where the licencee requires a material change in the species or stocking, the licensee must first request that the Department revokes the current licence, and a new application is then submitted as part of next batch of applications. Any material change requests made after the licence issues and where harvesting has commenced cannot be considered by the Department.
Therefore should an individual wish to change the species mix specified in the felling licence they should contact my Department with their proposal. (Felling.forestservice@agriculture.gov.ie - Felling Section, Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford.)
452. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will be called for an assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52910/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
453. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the granting of an extension for a childcare service (details supplied) under the building blocks improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52932/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million has been allocated in 2023 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects. Retrofit projects have included supporting services in carrying out larger scale renovations to their premises.
This scheme is now closed and all grant recipients are contractually obliged to complete works and submit expenditure returns by 31st December 2023.
Pobal are administering the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant Scheme on behalf of my Department. Pobal is working with officials in my Department in relation to the request from the service referred to by the Deputy. I am advised that the service will be notified out the outcome of this process in the coming weeks.
