Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1052. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 6 March 2024, the terms of such exit agreement to a named member of staff within a named organisation (details supplied); the costs to his Department of such an agreement; if the named individual was named as part the management team/project team of a series of tenders submitted to his Department during a period under which the person was exempt from competing against their former employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12906/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1053. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 6 March 2024, the number of engagements or interactions undertaken by his Department with industry stakeholders including studbooks either face-to-face, event or by video platform during 2023 regarding the sport horse sector; if he will provide details of the various officials involved in such interactions, their grade and each individual organisation that was interacted with, in tabular form; if similar information can be provided for each organisation delivering equine services under contract to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12908/24]

Animal Passports

Michael Fitzmaurice

1066. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when equine passports will issue for three foals (details supplied), with an application submitted in October 2023; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13174/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

36. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a tax is to be brought in for tipping soil in landfill/tips in all parts of Ireland; if so, when is this proposed to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11179/24]

Tax Code

Michael Fitzmaurice

66. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if a person is a resident in the USA and was Irish born with a PPS number, if that person enters a five-year lease to lease owned lands, if this is tax free; if not, what is the terms and criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11046/24]

Departmental Budgets

Michael Fitzmaurice

93. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education if she will publish documentation whether bank accounts and fund transfers or otherwise that proves €8.195 million surplus from school transport was held by Bus Éireann for her as of 31 December 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10998/24]

Departmental Budgets

Michael Fitzmaurice

94. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the transaction purportedly returning the net cash surplus of €6.7 million to her in 2018 from the ringfenced account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10999/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

148. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of land submitted at form one stage of the 20 licences issued week ending 23 February 2024 and the net area of land actually approved for the same licences, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10997/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

153. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm the contractors/employees named in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse marketing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11070/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

154. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the individual qualifications of the successful team involved from the Irish Horse Board, which was announced in September 2022 as the winning bidder for sport horse marketing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11071/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

155. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has satisfied himself as to the governance structures within the Irish Horse Board, including the organisation’s ability to comply with the governance requirements as a freedom of information prescribed body under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11072/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

156. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11073/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

157. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the names/confirm the officials and external parties involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the date of any such tender evaluation; the number of applications received; the scoring differences between each tender evaluated; any guidance provided by officials involved in supporting the evaluators; the skills and background of each evaluator; what steps did the Department undertake to ensure that no official or external evaluator had any conflict or perceived conflict of interest and loyalty; what skills and experience in international marketing did those evaluating the applications possess; to provide the tender submissions received by each party to the tender process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11074/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

158. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm the reason for awarding an approximate €4 million marketing contract to an organisation with no marketing staff, no website, no social media presence and no history of marketing experience at the time of the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11075/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

159. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that the interactions he or his officials had with new appointees at that time to Horse Sport Ireland in November or December 2022; if he or his officials encouraged those board members to cease the High Court action launched by the previous board of the Horse Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11076/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

160. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter in relation to a tender (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11077/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

161. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view that Government policy for the past 15 years has revolved around centralising sport horse services through the Horse Sport Ireland organisation, his views that changes in long established Government policy should be decided by way of tender decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11078/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

162. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has given consideration to the impact of tendering on other organisations funded by similar means as that of the Horse Sport Ireland, i.e., could ICBF, rural shows, dog shelters, or other organisations receiving grants from his Department without tenders, be required to tender into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11079/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

163. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has a view of the anti-competition cases taken by a person at national and European level given that the complaint involved allegations of an anti-competitive relationship between his Department, HSI and the Irish Horse Board; his view that the tender decision will end speculation from WSI of anti-competitive practices; the current status of anti-competitive actions taken against his Department both at within the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Commission in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11080/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

164. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a matter in relation to the Horse Sport Ireland board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

165. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that as Minister for Agriculture he appoints up to two directors to the co-op board of the Irish Horse Board; when does this term expire; if he will continue to appoint a person or persons to that board; if he has sought input from that director on the Irish Horse Boards suitability or capability to undertake a contract worth €4 million; if he has given consideration to appointing governance experts to the board of the Irish Horse Board; what international marketing expertise existed within the Irish Horse Board Board of Directors at the time if tender evaluation in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11082/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

166. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that under EU legislation, studbook rules are required to be published by each breed society; the reason Horse Sport Ireland has not published studbook rules on its website for any of the studbooks it operates under licence from his Department; to confirm if his Department received copies of studbooks rules as part of the April 2022 tender submissions from Horse Sport Ireland; the reason those rules have not been published within the required 90 days of submission to the competent authority; if his officials have reviewed the studbook rules and on what dates such reviews occurred and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11083/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

167. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for delays each year in the opening of breeding schemes for breeders of sport horses administered by Horse Sport Ireland; if he will confirm that the breeding schemes for 2024 will open to breeders during the actual breeding season or if as 2021, 2022 and 2023 schemes will open during or after the season; the rationale for such delays; the process undertaken by Horse Sport Ireland to develop 2024 programmes; the number of breeder and other studbooks engaged/consulted with by HSI in that preparation process; if there are enough resources within his Department to adequately and competently administer equine programmes for the sport horse and thoroughbred industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11084/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

168. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter in relation to Horse Sport Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11085/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

169. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter in relation to the Irish Horse Board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11086/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

170. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make the terms and conditions of published for the Equine Technical Support Scheme operated by his Department for 2023 available; if he can confirm the recipients of the funding, the initiative supported and the amount grant awarded and eventually paid to each recipient, in tabular form; if he is satisfied that each recipient of the funding met the stated eligibility criteria; to highlight any deviation from the stated criteria and reasons for such deviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11087/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

171. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and grades of each person within his Department responsible for sport horse policy; the qualifications of those persons; the number of those persons with a direct involvement in the sport horse sector, such as competing horses in sports competitions by them or direct family members; if there any conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts between current sport horse policy staff; the measures taken by his Department to ensure no conflicts or perceived conflicts arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11088/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

172. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he receives regular updates from Horse Sport Ireland on the current passporting difficulties experienced by equine breeders; the current numbers waiting for 2023 passports to be issued by each equine studbook, by breed, reason for delay, duration of delay in tabular form; if the migration to SNP DNA testing could have been managed better by either his Department or studbooks supported by his Department; the impact of such migration on passport issuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11089/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

173. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided by either Horse Sport Ireland and Sport Ireland to equestrian related bodies in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; under what programmes and for what purposes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11090/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

174. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided by Horse Sport Ireland to equestrian related bodies in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; under what programmes and for what purposes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11091/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

442. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when maintenance payments to carers will be disregarded as means for social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10237/24]

Agriculture Supports

Michael Fitzmaurice

398. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will issue an ECO payment due to a person (details supplied); the reason this payment is being withheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9245/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

450. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 31 January 2024, when his Department will have the IT system in place to pay those persons who are part of a partnership arrangement (details supplied) who have applied under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7527/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

451. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants who are part of a farm partnership have received payment under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7528/24]

Departmental Reports

Michael Fitzmaurice

455. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail, in tabular form, the peer reviewed research reports his Department relied upon in the definition of organo mineral soil and the maximum depth of 30 cm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/24]

Departmental Reports

Michael Fitzmaurice

456. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail, in tabular form, the peer reviewed research reports which prove that native woodlands sequester more carbon on peat soils that conifers, taking account of the full life cycle of the timber used in construction, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7668/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

457. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if peat lands excluded from the afforestation scheme in the new forestry programme can potentially be used for other farming purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7669/24]

Home Care Packages

Michael Fitzmaurice

309. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when home care support for a person (details supplied) will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7171/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Michael Fitzmaurice

323. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education if she can seek assurance from the Teaching Council of Ireland that it will ensure that persons completing their masters in physical education in the UK can be facilitated in Ireland in 2024 to complete their two-year induction as there is a lack of physical education teachers within education settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6495/24]

Just Transition

Michael Fitzmaurice

370. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what supports are in place for former Bord Na Móna employees in setting up glamping and other tourism related business through the Just Transition funding; the number that are set to receive this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6331/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

493. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine where a member of the public can view licence decisions and the documentation, in a timely manner, to make an appeal without having to sign a disclaimer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6333/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

266. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many hectares Coillte got permission to afforest in 2023, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5821/24]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

180. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a ticket for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5107/24]

Ukraine War

Michael Fitzmaurice

322. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice if all Ukrainian refugees are Garda vetted coming into Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5086/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

116. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will have the IT system in place to pay those persons who are part of a partnership arrangement (details supplied) who have applied under the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

161. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if waste management companies are obligated to provide a brown bin free of charge to households that are paying bin charges at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4115/24]

School Accommodation

Michael Fitzmaurice

292. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an application submitted by a school (details supplied) for approval for four modular classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4239/24]

Cancer Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

355. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health why the HSE ceased providing swimwear for breast cancer patients in Galway and Roscommon only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3517/24]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Fitzmaurice

285. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when funding will be given to complete the building of a new national school in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2585/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Fitzmaurice

381. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a working family payment application submitted by a person (details supplied) in September 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2430/24]