Written Answers Nos. 1042-1065
1042. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he is considering a compensation package for potato farmers who cannot get their crop out of the ground due to weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15194/24]
View answerAll potato growing areas in Europe have been impacted by the challenging weather conditions of 2023 and into 2024 which has resulted in ongoing tight stock across Europe and high prices on saleable yield.
The colder, wetter weather in Ireland during the summer months last year resulted in unseasonably high demand and prices for potatoes during these months. In Ireland, current price reports are upwards of 57% greater compared with this time last year. These high prices have remained steady into April. Eurostat confirmed that in 2023 there was a modest increase in the average price of agricultural goods in general in 2023, with significant price increases noted for potatoes including seed of 23%. Concurrently, in terms of input costs, with the exception of the cost of plant protection products and pesticides, Eurostat reported that the average price of inputs decreased by 5%.
The adverse weather of 2023 impacted growers to differing extents around the country with a very wide variation in unharvested areas across the country. It was estimated at the end of February that less than 3.6% of the overall planted area remained in the ground and at the time it was understood that where possible harvest would continue.
On balance based on all the information available, the potato sector has remained relatively strong throughout 2023 and into 2024 despite the challenges posed by the weather during this time. While my officials will continue to monitor the situation it is not currently possible to consider compensation for growers for unharvested potato crop.
1043. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will distribute the additional mackerel quota negotiated at the December Fisheries Council as a matter of urgency. [15329/24]
View answerAt the Fisheries Council in December 2023, I secured additional mackerel quota-share worth approximately €3 million annually for Ireland’s fishing industry. This represents the first ever permanent increase in mackerel quota.This issue centred on the allocation and distribution of an EU mackerel quota historically linked to an agreement with Norway, which had been unallocated since 2022. Denmark had been the sole holder of this quota. However, without an agreement on mackerel in place between the EU and Norway, this quota could not be allocated to Denmark as it had been in the past.The solution adopted by Member States at the December Council involves a transfer of part of this quota to the Western Waters area, resulting in a permanent allocation of additional mackerel quota for the Irish fleet.
Pelagic stocks such as mackerel are managed on an annual or seasonal basis, with catch limits set based on allocation regimes developed over many years and related to historical catch records. Amendments to the mackerel policy in 2010 and 2017 were introduced following a full review and public consultation. It should be noted that the 2017 policy is subject to a legal challenge in the Courts.
I am currently considering options on how the additional mackerel quota available for 2024 can be addressed in the context of the national mackerel policy.
1044. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the introduction of the BVD eradication programme in January 2013 appears to have failed in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15336/24]
View answerIt’s my clear ambition to eradicate BVD from the national herd as soon as possible and I believe the finishing line is in sight.
You may be aware that the BVD free programme is coordinated and managed by Animal Health Ireland under the direction of the BVD Implementation Group which consists of a range of industry stakeholders, including my Department. The BVD Implementation Group is advised by the BVD Technical Working Group, and it determines operational matters.
Good progress has been made with the incidence of BVD positive calves decreasing to just 0.03 % in 2023 compared with 0.66 % in 2013. 246 herds cases been disclosed BVD suspect in 2023.
The new Animal Health Law (AHL) came into force in April 2021 sets out the requirements for recognition of BVD free status at EU level. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 requires at least 99.8 % of the cattle herds representing at least 99.9% of the cattle population must be categorised as free from BVD, and that there has not been a confirmed BVD cases in the preceding 18 months.
1045. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that attended each day of the recent Easter Horse Racing event at Fairyhouse; and if he will provide same figures for 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [15384/24]
View answerHorse 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.
1046. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to introduce an EIP scheme specially for the Aran Islands, County Galway due to the extremely valuable natural heritage there and the fact that the ACRES scheme does not suit the very small farms on the island with its patchwork of very small fields which has meant that less than half the farmers are participating in the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15391/24]
View answerThere are no plans to open an EIP call specifically targeted at the Aran Islands under the CAP Strategic Plan. However, it is open to any groups, regardless of geographic location, to submit a proposal under future EIP calls, provided that they meet the criteria associated with those calls.
As the Deputy may be aware, European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects involve the establishment of Operational Groups to work together, to share their ideas and to turn existing knowledge and research into innovative solutions. I acknowledge the excellent work done to date under the EIP Programme, and am pleased to note that ACRES has been designed using, amongst other things, learnings from that Programme, including two projects located on the Aran Islands.
1047. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an bhfuil sé i gceist tairiscintí a lorg i leith foirgnimh (sonraí tugtha) atá le ceannach nó le tógáil ar léas; má tá aon chúis leis an moill maidir leis seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [15392/24]
View answerTá sé cinn d’Ionaid Iascaigh Cuain faoi Úinéireacht an Stáit ainmnithe i seilbh mo Roinne, agus feidhmíonn mo Roinn na hionaid seo agus déanann sí cothabháil orthu. Tá na hionaid suite i mBaile Chaisleáin Bhéarra, sa Daingean, i nDún Mór, i mBinn Éadair, sna Cealla Beaga agus i Ros an Mhíl, faoi reacht.
Is iad na hionaid réadmhaoine agus na haonaid laistigh de na hionaid réadmhaoine dá sórt atá suite ag na sé Ionad Iascaigh Cuain lena n-áirítear Ros an Mhíl, nuair is cuí, a chuirtear ar fáil le haghaidh tionóntachta faoi aontú léasa trí phróiseas tairiscintí iomaíocha oscailte, de réir dea-chleachtais agus treoirlínte soláthair phoiblí. Tá machnamh á dhéanamh ag mo Roinn faoi láthair ar na sciartha folmha den fhoirgneamh TCA faoi láthair, agus é mar aidhm ag mo Roinn tairiscintí a lorg le haghaidh na limistéar seo.
Tá tairiscintí dá sórt oscailte do gach páirtí leasmhar agus fógraítear iad sna meáin, in oifig Mháistir an Chuain agus ar líne ag: gov.ie - Tenders and Notices (www.gov.ie)
1048. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a case involving a person (details supplied) who wishes to be relocated on personal, family and medical grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13580/24]
View answerThe Department does not comment on individual cases.
There are nearly 28,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 6,356 are children) compared with nearly 20,000 people at this time last year. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation.
Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to the current accommodation shortage.
Within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) at present, reunification requests are only considered for the following cohorts: husband, wife, partner, minor children with their parents or guardians, adults with dependant minor siblings, dependant family members where a care or medical need can be demonstrated.
As a result, the following cohorts will not be considered by IPAS for reunification:
• Parents of adults where there is no demonstrated dependency
• Adult siblings where there is no demonstrated dependency
• Grandparents where there is no demonstrated dependency
• Uncles, aunts or cousins
• Family members who have not made an application for international protection
• Family members who have received a decision on their IP application, i.e. have been declared a refugee, granted subsidiary protection status or permission to remain for humanitarian reasons.
1049. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 20 February 2024, if he will provide and publish in full the minutes and documents associated with the Interdepartmental Group that met to discuss the recent referenda on the Constitution; if he will provide details of the membership of the group; the number of times it met; the attendees at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13584/24]
View answerIn March 2023, an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was established to support the development of referendum proposals on family and care.
The group comprised of representatives from every Government Department, as well as the Office of the Attorney General. It met 16 times over the course of its work in a period spanning March to November. Now that the referendums have been held, my Department will shortly publish the minutes of all meetings of the IDG. These will contain details of the membership of the group and the attendees at each meeting.
My Department is also considering whether further material can be published, given the confidentiality of both legal advice received from the Office of the Attorney General and discussions by Government.
1050. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address the growing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13586/24]
View answer1051. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address growing concerns that the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office will become a flashpoint; the steps he is taking to ensure this does not occur; the engagement he has had with other Ministers and service providers, such as Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13587/24]
View answer1052. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address the serious concerns being raised by the local community with regards to the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; the steps he is taking to support local community services; the engagement he has had with other Ministers and service providers, such as Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13588/24]
View answer1053. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address the concerns of local businesses whose trade has been impacted by concerns relating to the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; the engagement he has had with other Ministers in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13589/24]
View answer1066. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the decision was taken to move international protection applicants from near the IPO office in Dublin city centre to Crooksling; and to outline who took this decision. [13725/24]
View answer1088. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when appropriate accommodation will be provided for those seeking international protection who are sleeping in tents; what immediate action he is taking to provide proper accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13974/24]
View answer1089. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the process of securing alterative accommodation for the International Protection applicants who are living in an encampment at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14025/24]
View answer1095. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures have been put in place to ensure businesses in a location (details supplied) and the surrounding areas do not close as a result of the failure of the Government to deal with immigration, resulting in an encampment of international protection applicants living in tents. [14094/24]
View answer1096. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if urgent attention will be given to the situation at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14095/24]
View answer1176. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify what legal powers his Department, along with the gardaí, have to move along individuals at a location (details supplied). [15353/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 to 1053, inclusive, 1066, 1088, 1089, 1095, 1096 and 1176 together.
On Saturday 16th March, the Department offered International Protection (IP) applicants occupying tents at Mount Street an alternative location to pitch tents. This was done in cooperation with Dublin City Council due to the emerging public health and security risks. IP applicants were brought to Crooksling where they were provided with access to toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas where food is provided, facilities to charge phones and personal devices, access to public transport to and from Dublin City Centre and 24 hour on-site security.
Drop-in day services remain available to all persons not offered accommodation by the department who pitch a tent on Mount Street, as well as other persons found to be street homeless, who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IP applicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week at these service locations.
The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with Mendicity, Crosscare, Capuchin Day Centre and Tiglin at the Lighthouse. The Department is in also in regular contact with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, the Dublin Simon Community, Streetlink Homeless Support Outreach service and others, particularly with regard identification of particularly vulnerable individuals.
Issues relating to public order and the removal of tents from public areas are matters for An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice. Similarly, it does fall under the remit of this Department to comment on the success of business and enterprise in the area.
There are currently over 28,500 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation
Department officials are working tirelessly to bring more bed spaces into use, and since January 2022 have brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection (IP). This brings the total number of IPAS centres to 280.
There were over 4,800 arrivals seeking IP accommodation in the first 13 weeks of 2024. This is an 86% increase from this time last year (2,614).
1054. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on his engagements with Dublin City Council regarding public health and sanitation concerns relating to the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13590/24]
View answer1055. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on his engagements with the Minister for Health or the Health Service Executive regarding public health and sanitation concerns relating to the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13591/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1054 and 1055 together.
On Saturday 16th March, the Department offered International Protection (IP) applicants occupying tents at Mount Street an alternative location to pitch tents. This was done in cooperation with Dublin City Council due to the emerging public health and security risks. IP applicants were brought to Crooksling where they were provided with access to toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas where food is provided, facilities to charge phones and personal devices, access to public transport to and from Dublin City Centre and 24 hour on-site security.
The Department has regular engagement with the HSE National Social Inclusion office regarding the needs of IP applicants. The Department has grant agreements in place with four homeless services in the Dublin city centre region to support increased demand on their services. The services provide meals, places to charge phones and hygiene facilities. The charity SafetyNet also conducts regular outreach at the tents in the Mount Street area, and the Department is in regular contact with SafetyNet.
Drop-in day services remain available to all persons not offered accommodation by the department who pitch a tent on Mount Street, as well as other persons found to be street homeless, who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IP applicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week at these service locations.
The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with Mendicity, Crosscare, Capuchin Day Centre and Tiglin at the Lighthouse. The Department is in also in regular contact with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, the Dublin Simon Community, Streetlink Homeless Support Outreach service and others, particularly with regard identification of particularly vulnerable individuals.
1056. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what immediate action he is taking to increase the numbers of childcare places available; if he is aware that parents are being refused for waiting lists due to the high levels of oversubscription in some childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13592/24]
View answerEnsuring high-quality early learning and childcare is affordable and accessible to all children and, in particular, children from vulnerable backgrounds, is a key priority for Government.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters. They are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion, particularly where there is unmet need.
My Department is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of early learning and childcare (ELC) and school-aged childcare (SAC) meets demand.
Core Funding - the funding scheme introduced in 2022 - allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering ELC for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity for these young cohorts. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.
I also secured funding in Budget 2024 to open up the National Childcare Scheme to parents who use childminders from next autumn, in line with the commitment in the National Action Plan for Childminding.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit will oversee the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the NDP to enable capital investment in the sector.
In February, I was pleased to announce an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for this sector under the National Development Plan.
The primary focus of the Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day or part-time care. The Scheme will provide capital grants to fund projects of between €50,000 and €100,000 for Early Learning and Childcare services to expand their capacity by means of small scale internal renovations and reconfigurations.
The Expansion Grant Scheme will provide for an immediate increase in affordable early learning and childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most.
The Expansion Grant Scheme will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025. A larger-scale Extension Grant scheme is currently being designed by my Department. Funding will be made available to providers next year to commence extension projects.
My Department does not oversee the management of waiting lists in services, they are managed at an individual service level. Data for monitoring capacity across the sector is collected by Pobal on behalf of my Department each year as part of the Early Years Sector Profile Survey (see www.pobal.ie/childcare/earlylearningandchildcaredata/). This data includes the number and percentage of services with vacant places and children on waiting lists. While this information can be used to provide an indication of demand for a given age group or service type it cannot be used as a measure of demand as not all services operate a waiting list and an individual child may be on multiple waiting lists in different services.
1057. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 579 of 5 March 2024, the reason preventing him from making a provision for granting a second overage exemption in this exceptional case (details supplied); if the professional report supporting a second year has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13605/24]
View answerOverage exemptions to the ECCE programme were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time ECCE operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year. For some children with special/additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible and an allowance was made to avail of the ECCE programme over a two year period.
All children are now eligible for two full years of ECCE. The child referred to was eligible for the ECCE programme in September 2021 and again in September 2022. One year overage exemptions are granted in a limited number of circumstances and an overage exemption was granted for the current programme year in September 2023 for the child named.
The child named is now of school going age. In the review of the overage exemption process which was carried out by the National Disability Authority (NDA) for my Department and the Department of Education in 2018 the NDA concluded in their published report that it is in the best interest of children with additional needs to transition to primary school with their age cohort.
Supports are available for school aged children through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), affiliated to the Department of Education, to support children in the primary school setting. I would urge the child’s parents to contact her local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) for further assistance at NCSE.ie.
1058. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how Tusla deploys personnel and resources; and if it is per head of population or area-based need. [13618/24]
View answerAs this is a service delivery matter, I have requested for Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy.
1059. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many referrals were received by Tusla for the Dublin 10 area for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and what actions were taken for these referrals. [13619/24]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1060. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when respite beds will be available for residents of SOS in Kilkenny (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13630/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1061. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 14 February 2024, if an application to the disability services for an individualised budget relative to the care needs of a person (details supplied) which has been approved will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13657/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
1062. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total amount spent by the Health Service Executive on the regional assessment of need hubs in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13690/24]
View answer1063. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessments of needs accepted by the regional assessment of need hubs in 2023; and the number of assessments completed by the regional hubs in 2023. [13691/24]
View answer1064. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessments of need outsourced in 2023; the total cost of these outsourced assessments of need in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13692/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1062 to 1064, inclusive, together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
1065. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of disabled adults and disabled children who reside in their family home who were provided with respite services either inside or outside of the family home. [13704/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
