Written Answers Nos. 474-493
474. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the average waiting time for processing applications for labour market access permits for international protection applicants; and the average waiting times for renewal of same. [18084/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), persons are eligible to apply for labour market access permission if:
- They are an international protection applicant; and
- They have waited at least 5 months from their “Application Received” date for their first instance recommendation; and
- They are cooperating with the international protection process – delays in receiving a recommendation must not be attributable to the applicant.
Following that, a person will be issued a permission for labour market access if, at 6 months, they have not yet received a first instance recommendation. This permission is valid for 12 months and may be renewed until a final decision is made on the person's international protection application.
When a person is granted a refugee status, they no longer need a Labour Market Access permission. At this point they are given a Stamp 4 immigration permission which allows them to work.
From the 1st of February 2024 the process of applying for Labour Market Access for International Protection Applicants has moved to the International Protection Office with a new online application process. The new system will provide a more streamlined process and provide shorter processing times for all new applications. From the 1st of February all applications are dealt with through the new online form that is available on our website. The current processing time for these applications, including renewals, is 28 days.
All legacy applications, made prior to the 1st of February, are being processed by the Immigration Service Delivery and will be dealt with in chronological order. This system is currently processing applications made in December 2023 and the processing time for these are approximately 120 days. The Immigration Services of my Department try to prioritise any legacy renewals when possible.
A significant increase in the number of applications was experienced during 2023, reflecting the increase of overall applications for international protection received since 2022. There has also been an increase in renewal applications.
The immigration services of the Department utilise the resources available in order to ensure that applications are processed in the shortest time frame possible. Both units in question are working to finalise applications as quickly as possible and appreciate customers’ patience as they deal with the very high levels of applications. The Department is also reviewing the processing arrangements generally to establish if they can be further streamlined.
475. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if she proposes to extend the remedy under section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offenses) Act 2021 where there is a time limit of three years in initiating a prosecution for the offence of making a false declaration or if there is a remedy available for declarations that fall outside the limit in the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18092/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act came into force in 2021. The purpose of the Act is to consolidate and simplify the law relating to perjury and related offences and to update certain penalties accordingly. The Act provides a clear, statutory definition of perjury and enables the offence and related offences, including false statements on oath, false statutory declarations and false declarations, to be more easily prosecuted before the courts.
Although the offence of perjury is already provided for in common law and the historical levels of investigations and prosecutions for perjury in this country are low, many stakeholders, in particular within the business community, called for new legislation to be put in place in order to make it easier to prosecute such an offence.
Section 14 of the Act extends to three years the time limit within which summary proceedings may be commenced for an offence under the Act or for perjury or subornation of perjury under any other enactment or law. The penalty on summary conviction is a fine of up to €4,000 and/or up to 12 months in prison. There is no time limit for the commencement of proceedings on indictment, which carries a penalty on conviction of a fine of up to €100,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison.
There are currently no plans to amend the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021. However, I am committed to ensuring that our criminal legislation is comprehensive and effective. As such, it is constantly kept under review, with changes brought forward where a need for such is identified.
476. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-time equivalent gardaí currently stationed at Kevin Street Garda station, Irishtown Garda station, Donnybrook Garda station, Rathmines Garda station, Terenure Garda station, Sundrive Road Garda station and Pearse Street Garda station, in tabular form. [18131/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
Information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division and Station can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
477. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process to accommodate farmers that want to withdraw from the young farmers’ scheme; if sanctions or penalties are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Young Farmers Scheme operated from 2015 to 2022 and was replaced under the new CAP from 2023 by the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, where an applicant is deemed not to be meeting the eligibility criteria of the scheme following an on-the-spot-check, the applicant is excluded from receiving payment for the scheme year concerned. In addition, a penalty is applied which is calculated on the basis of the payment the applicant would have received in the scheme year concerned.
The scheme Terms and Conditions also state that an applicant may not withdraw their application under the scheme in the event of receiving notification of an inspection or by being otherwise notified of an irregularity by my Department.
478. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the processes or measures in place for horses retiring from racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17387/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
479. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's capital underspend, if any, in 2023; and his Department's projected spend for 2024. [17419/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of my department's 2023 capital spend are outlined in the table below.
Table 1: 2023 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine capital spend.
|
|
€000 |
|
2023 Capital Allocation |
456,446 |
|
Plus Capital Carryover from 2022 into 2023 |
27,500 |
|
Total 2023 Capital Allocation |
483,946 |
|
2023 Capital Expenditure |
419,622 |
|
2023 Capital Saving |
64,324 |
My department's 2024 capital allocation is €363.9m. This is made up of the 2024 allocation of €318.3m plus a capital carryover from 2023 into 2024 of €45.6m. This allocation will continue to underpin the sustainable development of Ireland’s farming and marine sectors by funding schemes such as the On Farm Capital Investment Scheme (TAMS) and the Forestry Programme.
In addition, the capital allocation enhances competitiveness, by strengthening the socioeconomic fabric of coastal areas, by developing projects for activities associated with the fishing and aquaculture sectors.
480. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering allocating funding to address the tillage vision stakeholder group report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17486/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop. That is why I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000 ha by 2030 in line with the targets set out in the Climate Action Plan.
The Group, which was made up of a wide range of stakeholders from across the industry, finalised its report recently and I am currently considering its recommendations. I would like to thank Matt Dempsey, Chairperson of the group and all the stakeholders for their hard work in producing the final report.
I am acutely aware of the challenges being experienced by farmers throughout the country due to the recent and exceptional weather conditions. The past few months have been very challenging for tillage farmers. Thankfully the weather has improved, and tillage farmers are getting an opportunity to sow crops and to catch up on the backlog of work.
To give confidence to tillage farmers to plant crops this year and to give them confidence in the future of their industry, I recently announced a €100/ha payment for every farmer that puts seed in the soil for the harvest year 2024. I am committed to increasing our tillage area and despite the constraints of my existing budget, I will work to deliver this support for tillage farmers.
481. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he is putting in place to address the many issues currently impacting the economic viability of the tillage sector; if he has met with farmer representative groups to discuss these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17500/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department officials regularly meet farmer representative groups in relation to the issues and challenges being experienced by tillage growers. As well as this engagement, I personally am in contact with the farm organisations directly myself by phone, at meetings and other events regularly and this will continue as long as I am Minister .
I am acutely aware of the challenges being experienced by growers due to the exceptional weather conditions. The past few months have been very challenging for tillage farmers. Thankfully the weather has improved, and tillage farmers are getting an opportunity to sow crops and to catch up on the backlog of work.
To give confidence to tillage farmers to plant crops this year and to give them confidence in the future of their industry, I recently announced a €100/ha payment for every farmer that puts seed in the soil for the harvest year 2024. I am committed to increasing our tillage area and despite the constraints of my existing budget, I will work to deliver this support for tillage farmers.
Significant additional support was provided to the tillage sector last year in light of the challenges that growers faced. Payments under the Protein Aid Scheme totalled over €10.1m. The straw incorporation measure provided €16.5 million for tillage farmers while the Tillage Incentive Scheme provided €8.3 million in expenditure.
Furthermore, I secured €7.147m from the EU Agricultural Reserve to support the tillage sector last year and this was topped up with a further €7.147m in State funding. These funds were paid out in January 2024, to support growers with unharvested crops by way of an Unharvested Crop Support Scheme with the remaining funds being used as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereal crops.
The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop. That is why I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000 ha by 2030. I recently received the final report from the group, and I am considering its recommendations.
482. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that farmers along the Shannon Callows in Redwood, Ballyea and Ballymacegan, areas of County Tipperary who were greatly impacted by flooding over a minimum of six flood occurrences over the course of dates between 2 July 2023 and 29 September 2023, were not included in the recent compensation scheme; if he is taking steps to address this oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17540/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023 I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare. This is for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation (SAC) impacted as determined by my Department's Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
Some farmers with LPIS parcels in Ballymacegan and Redwood, County Tipperary, that are within the Shannon Callows SAC area and which met the eligibility criteria for the scheme as set down in the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme Terms and Conditions have received payment. There are however other farmers within the area who did not receive payment as either the parcels were not detected as being flooded or where they were detected as flooded, they did not meet the minimum of six flood occurrences over the course of the 30 occurrences between 2 July 2023 and 29 September 2023.
The townland of Ballyea, Co. Tipperary is not located within the Shannon Callows SAC.
483. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of piers and harbour funding allocated in an area (details supplied) from 2019-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17549/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and any wider funding issues for local authorities should be addressed to that Minister.
Over the period 2019 to 2021(inclusive), Mayo County Council was allocated €1.481m and received €1.287m in funding from my Department under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for capital projects undertaken by the Council. My Department co-funded up to 75% of the total cost of the approved projects, with Mayo County Council providing the balance.
More recently, unprecedented funding was provided through the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023. Mayo County Council was allocated €1.175m and received €797k in funding. My Department co-funded up to 95% of the total cost of the approved projects, with Mayo County Council providing the balance.
Funding for individual projects was allocated in advance of project commencement. My Department reimbursed Mayo County Council eligible project costs (pro-rata) on a matured liability basis following inspection of the capital works and verification of the evidenced expenditure.
The following link provides a detailed breakdown on a project level of the funding allocated to and received by Mayo County Council over the period 2019-2024 (inclusive).
484. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all pets including cats and dogs that have come into the State from abroad have been the subject of the veterinary checks that are required under legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll animals entering Ireland are subject to EU sanitary requirements. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of importation and spread of disease. The requirements for animals generally to enter Ireland are outlined in the EU Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 429/2016 on transmissible animal diseases and refer to intra-community trade and imports into the Union.
The specific entry requirements for pets; dogs, cats and ferrets; are outlined in Regulation (EU) 576/2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals. Any animal which does not meet the health requirements set out in these regulations are quarantined or returned to the country of origin.
Pet animals entering Ireland require health certification and are subject to documentation and health checks at the Border Control Post (BCP) upon entry. Whilst all pets entering from third countries are checked for compliance, pets entering from the EU undergo spot checks. If a pet fails compliance checks it may be refused entry into Ireland and returned to the country of origin or may be placed into quarantine.
In accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 and, by way of derogation from the conditions provided for non-commercial movements of pet animals, Member States may, in exceptional situations, authorise the non-commercial movement into their territory of pet animals which do not comply with the conditions in Regulation (EU) 756/2013.
Temporary special arrangements were put in place in March 2022 for pets from Ukraine by way of derogation under Article 32. Where these pets were not fully compliant with EU regulations, my Department took measures to bring these animals into compliance to protect our domestic population and protect public health.
From 21st November 2022, all pets entering Ireland from Ukraine were expected to be fully compliant with EU regulations.
485. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of family farms acquired by international investment funds, with the quantity of land by hectares, and farming type when acquired, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17631/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate the information relating to this query, and as such my Department is unable to answer the Deputy’s question.
486. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many hectares of land farmers applied for under the hay meadow measure in ACRES 2023; how many hectares of hay meadow his Department paid out to farmers under the ACRES measure for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe actions in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) which may be considered as ‘the hay meadow measure in ACRES' are Low Input Grassland (LIG) and Low Input Peat Grassland (LIPG), as well as the late meadow bonus (LMB) which is available as part of those actions. The figures requested are presented in the below table:
|
Action |
No of applications approved |
Area Approved (ha) |
Paid to Date |
Area paid to Date (ha) |
|
Low Input Grassland |
17,722 |
130,716.25 |
€1,876,534.20 |
48,063.86 |
|
Low Input Peat Grassland |
558 |
3,252.86 |
€435,062.46 |
1,487.74 |
|
Late Meadow Bonus |
1,247 |
5,293.03 |
€137,197.45 |
2,743.95 |
The payment figures reflect the ACRES General applicants who have been paid their advance payment to date. Total payment figures will be available after the full year payment calculations are finalised in June.
487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the protection of the old Irish goat, which according to reports (details supplied), is being hunted for sport and on the verge of extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Old Irish Goat Society is recognised by my Department as a breed society and approved to maintain a breeding programme for the breed in Ireland.
My Department has been proactive in terms of its engagement with and financial assistance to the Old Irish Goat Society. Over five years my Department has supported a range of activities designed to recognise and conserve the Old Irish Goat.
Hunting of wild or feral goats is not within the remit of my Department and I understand that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for this area.
488. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 organics payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17681/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdvance payments to organic farmers commenced on 7th December 2023. To date, approximately 97% of Organic Farming Scheme participants have received advance payments.
My Department is working to finalise payments for the remaining 3% of participants. The majority of these payments, including in respect of this case, will issue within the next 3 weeks.
489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on fuel excise increases given the financial pressure many farmers are facing at this time and the additional strain higher fuel costs could add; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17734/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth I and the Government are acutely aware of the cost and inflation challenges faced since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. These have affected all sectors of the economy and during this time, I announced a number of specific measures to assist the agri-food sector. These included targeted measures that helped Irish farmers at a time of escalating costs.
Energy and fuel costs have risen significantly and the Government responded with a range of supports, including excise rate reductions. In light of the acute impact rising prices were having on households and business, the Government provided for excise rate reductions in the order of 21, 16 and 5.4 cent per litre on petrol, auto diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) respectively. These temporary reductions were due to end initially on 31 August 2022 but, following review and monitoring of fuel prices, they were extended until February 2023 with a phased restoration beginning in June 2023, followed by a second restoration in September 2023.
A final restoration of excise rates was due to take place on 31 October 2023 but in Budget 2024, the Minister for Finance provided for a further extension until 31 March 2024 with a phased restoration occurring in two stages; on 1 April 2024 and 1 August 2024.
The Government has provided relief to consumers and businesses since 2022 through a number of support measures including these temporary reductions in excise. However, the Minister for Finance has emphasised that these measures were introduced as temporary support measures and involve an ongoing cost to the exchequer while they are retained.
While primary responsibility for taxation policy is with the Minister for Finance, I will continue to work closely with him on taxation matters relating to the agri-food sector. Minister McGrath has indicated that he will continue to monitor and review the position in the coming months in the context of the final phase of excise rate restorations due to take place in August 2024.
490. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the provision of meal vouchers in light of the impact of the inordinate weather on the farming community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17750/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the current pressures being experienced by farmers because of the recent exceptional and prolonged wet weather. In responding to these concerns, I have taken several steps to try and minimise the effects of the current pressures facing the farming community.
I requested that the National Fodder and Feed Security Committee be re-convened to establish the most up to date facts regarding the fodder and feed situation on farms and to provide advice to assist farmers. The Committee, at its meetings on the 29th March and 9th April, concluded that, while there are some farmers experiencing difficulties, there are sufficient fodder stocks either on farm or available to purchase.
I asked Teagasc to establish a system for co-ordinating advisory supports to help farmers maximise existing fodder stocks and provide a basis for those with surpluses to engage with those who need fodder. In response Teagasc set up a Fodder Register which is helping connect farmers who have fodder available to those that need it. Teagasc also set up dedicated helplines to provide advice to farmers on how to manage their farms through this difficult weather.
I recently announced the introduction of a Fodder Transport Measure to provide additional assistance to livestock farmers most severely affected by the prolonged adverse weather conditions. This measure provides a financial contribution to the cost of transporting fodder between those areas where fodder is plentiful and those where it is scarce.
Thankfully, the weather has improved which is alleviating many of the difficulties that farmers have been contending with. My Department has no plans for the provision of meal vouchers at this time. However, I will continue to monitor the situation closely.
491. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered approaches to resolving the ongoing issues at Helvick Pier in An Rinn, where the silting up of the harbour prevents the launch of the RNLI boat at periods of very low tide, with obvious consequent safety concerns; if the small fisheries harbour scheme could be amended in order to include works of this kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17755/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHelvick Pier is the responsibility of Waterford City and County Council. The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and any wider funding issues for local authorities should be addressed to that Minister.
492. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of each harbour master currently located in each fishery harbour centre under his remit; and when each harbour master was deployed to each fishery harbour centre under his remit, in tabular form. [17807/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, An Daingean, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.
My Department employs Harbour Masters in each of the six Fishery Harbour Centres. Their details are a matter of public record and can be found under Fishery Harbour Centres on the government website at www.gov.ie.
However, I am restricted in providing personal data on the Harbour Masters in regard to their deployment dates under the guidelines laid out in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as this information is personal to them as part of their career history.
The table below sets out, in spans of five years, the length of time served to date by each Harbour Master in their current Fishery Harbour Centre.
|
Fishery Harbour Centre |
Harbour Master |
Time in Current Post |
|
Castletownbere |
Martin Mylotte |
1-5 years |
|
An Daingean (Dingle) |
Nigel Collins |
10-15 years |
|
Dunmore East |
Deirdre Lane |
5-10 years |
|
Howth |
Harold McLoughlin |
5-10 years |
|
Ros An Mhíl (Rossaveel) |
Ciaran Seoighe |
1-5 years |
|
Killybegs |
Fergal Hegarty |
1-5 years |
493. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application for a foreshore licence (details supplied); if it is lawful to carry out acquaculture activities at the site in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operator of the site the Deputy refers to was issued with an aquaculture licence by the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board (ALAB) on 26 January 2023 “for the cultivation of Native and Pacific Oyster on a site…”. The holder of an aquaculture licence also requires a Foreshore Licence.
My Department is currently processing a Foreshore Licence for this site. All applications for a foreshore licence are considered in accordance with the provisions of the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with scientific and technical advisers and Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. The consultation process for this application concluded on 9 March. The Department is currently considering the submissions received.
As this application is under active consideration, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.
