Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Written Answers Nos. 390-409

Courts Service

Questions (390)

Sean Fleming

Question:

390. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position regarding the building of the new premises (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20736/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Government's revised National Development Plan, 2021-2030, includes a number of Courts Service projects to be completed during the period of the plan. These projects include:

• Provision of further new or refurbished courthouses in cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard. Locations where investment is needed, include Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee, Roscommon, Naas, Bray, Navan, Swords, Tallaght & Dun Laoghaire.

• Family Law Complex on Hammond Lane to be developed by PPP.

• A new Children's Court in Dublin.

• Modernisation of the Four Courts complex.

• ICT projects to support the Courts Service Modernisation Programme.

As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercise of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made regarding Portlaoise Courthouse.

The Courts Service purchased a site at Kylekiproe in 2020 on which to build a new Courthouse. The development of a new courthouse at Portlaoise is included as a key Courts Service project in the National Development Plan (NDP).

In Budget 2024, €185 million was allocated to the Courts vote, including capital funding of €67 million. This sum covers PPP payments for 8 courthouses as well as funding for the significant technological upgrades taking place across the courts, including the ongoing wifi upgrade and video court expansion.

Funding for the new courthouse in Portlaoise will fall to be considered in the context of NDP allocations over the remaining years of the programme.

Departmental Policies

Questions (391)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

391. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she will review a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20795/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

The file of the person cited by the Deputy is stored offsite and has been recalled by the Citizenship Division of my Department.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Prison Service

Questions (392)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

392. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice her plans and that of the Irish Prison Service for a site in north Dublin (details supplied); and if she has engaged with the OPW and-or any other State body and-or Government Department in respect of its use. [20805/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity.

In recent years, works have been completed to modernise the Mountjoy complex, a new prison was constructed in Cork and additional prisoner accommodation was provided in the Midlands Prison.

Furthermore, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 200 new spaces in recent years through the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.

Plans have been outlined for 4 capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons to accommodate up to 670 people.

I recently secured additional capital funding of €49.5m to commence the delivery of these very significant capital commitments to allow the Irish Prison Service to address current capacity issues within our prison system and ensure it is fit-for-purpose for a growing population in the years to come.

Preparatory work will commence this year on these 4 key projects as part of an accelerated capital construction programme.

The additional capital funding will also be used to advance short term projects currently being pursued by the Prison Service that are expected to deliver over 150 spaces this year.

I can assure the Deputy that I am also committed to looking at all potential options to meet current and future needs.

I am establishing a new review group to make recommendations on other future developments, including at Thornton Hall.

In developing future solutions, the Review Group will review the previous plans to develop a prison at Thornton Hall and consider the part that this available site can play in meeting the future accommodation requirements of the prison system. It will also have regard to international best practice in effective sanctions and rehabilitative practice and effective alternatives to imprisonment.

In addition, while retaining a portion of the site for any future prison needs, the Department of Justice has made the Thornton Hall site at North County Dublin available to other agencies.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (393)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

393. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the annual cost of lighting, site services and security in respect of a site in north Dublin (details supplied) in the years 2022 and 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form, by heading. [20806/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that the annual costs associated with the site referred to by the Deputy are set out in the following table.

Expenditure is broken down into the following categories: utility costs (including electricity, water and Gas); security costs (including CCTV); and maintenance costs (including statutory system checks).

	2022	2023	2024 (to end of April)
Utilities (including electricity, water and Gas)	€8,506.39	€13,788.26	€3,894.78
Security Costs (including CCTV)	€2,420.20	€0.00	€0.00
Maintenance Costs (including statutory system checks)	€19,934.82	€15,868.04	€27,499.82*
Total	€30,861.41	€29,656.30	€31,394.60

*Circa €27,000.00 of expenditure has been incurred in 2024 on essential maintenance to services chambers on the perimeter of the site which were carried out by Gas Networks. Services chambers are constructed to allow access to cabling and other infrastructure which connect the site to essential services such as electricity and gas.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (394)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

394. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the steps now being taken to finalise the application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); when it is expected that application will be finalised, given that their application has now been pending over three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20807/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

This application is based on Irish Association. Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation that in the Minister’s view renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.

My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.

My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.

In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department continues to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed as to updates on processing times and arrangements.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at [e-mail], which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (395)

Colm Burke

Question:

395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is 19 months since the application was first lodged (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20859/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.

My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.

My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.

In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department continues to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed as to updates on processing times and arrangements.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at [e-mail], which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (396)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

396. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice if any of the locations referred to in a document (details supplied) are in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20861/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the locations of the nine static speed safety cameras, which will be operational by the end of 2024, are as follows:

• Galway, N59, between Moycullen and Galway City

• Waterford, N25, between Glenmore and Luffany

• Wicklow, R772, Arklow Road, Aske, north of Gorey

• Donegal, N14, east of Letterkenny

• Carlow, N80, between Barristown and Levitstown

• Dublin, Crumlin Road/Parnell Road/Dolphin Road/Dolphin’s Barn Junction

• Mayo, N17, northeast of Claremorris

• Cork, N22, east of Lissarda, west of Ovens

• Limerick, N69, east of Askeaton

There will also be average speed cameras at N3 (Butler’s Bridge), N5 (Swinford), and N2 (Slane), which will be operational in early Q4 2024.

In relation to the business case for funding of 100 additional speed cameras, I am informed that this is at very early stages and no decisions have been made on locations yet.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (397)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

397. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice if she has received correspondence regarding a policy change proposal from a group (details supplied); and if the proposal is being considered. [20863/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The current arrangements governing family reunification applications for non-EEA family members are set out in this document - www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf

These arrangements reflect the long-standing requirement that work permit holders seeking to be joined by their families should be in secure and sustained employment and in a position to support their family members without recourse to public funds.

However, the policy is currently under review and my Department is continuing to engage with key internal and external stakeholders on the complex issues involved. As part of this review, we are very conscious of the important role that migrant workers make to our economy and broader society. We are also very much aware of the need to enhance Ireland’s attractiveness as a destination for skilled and migrant workers, ensuring the long-term stainability of our economy and addressing our future demographic challenges, while at the same time providing opportunities for migrant families who contribute so much to our society.

In particular, we are prioritising consideration of the issue of whether spouses and partners of General Employment Permits and Intra-Company Transferees should have the right to work in Ireland and we expect to conclude that part of the review shortly.

Departmental Policies

Questions (398)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

398. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on progress around the farmers' charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20112/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Farmers Charter Review Group began renegotiation of the new Farmers Charter in early January 2023. The aim of the Review Group is to agree standards and delivery targets for schemes and services provided by the Department including renegotiating key targets in respect of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and scheme implementation targets.

The Farmers Charter Review Group comprises senior Department officials and representatives of the main Farmer representative bodies. The group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department.

To date, the Farmers Charter Review Group have held 10 ‘roundtable’ meetings, the most recent of which took place on 7 February 2024. Following on from these roundtable meetings several bilateral meetings were held with farming bodies who wished to avail of this option.

Negotiations on the new Farmers Charter are now at an advanced stage with the next planned roundtable meeting taking place on 10  May 2024. A final draft of the Farmers Charter will be examined at this meeting with the aim of reaching a consensus on the new Farmers Charter. The Department remains hopeful of agreement at the next meeting on any outstanding issues. Once agreement is in place, the Department will immediately move to publish the new Farmers Charter.  

Upon finalisation of the new Farmers Charter, a new Charter Monitoring Committee with be established under an independent chair to monitor Charter targets and commitments.

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (399)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

399. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has received the 2023 Annual Report and 2023 Audited Financial Statement from Horse Racing Ireland; and if not, when his Department expects to receive same. [20164/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Horse 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.

Relevant legislation and the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies 2016 require the annual financial statements of HRI to be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and submitted to my Department for consideration. The financial statements are subsequently noted by Government and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I understand that the C&AG audit of HRI's 2023 financial statements is ongoing.

Agriculture Supports

Questions (400)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

400. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on eligibility criteria for the complementary income support for young farmers; if applicants must meet the educational criteria or if flexibility can be allowed where an individual holds a level 6 qualification in a subject other than agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

To qualify for the Complementary Income Support for Young farmers, a young farmer is defined as having a maximum age limit of 40, meet the conditions for head of the agricultural holding, and hold the appropriate training and/or skills required. 

For young farmer support schemes administered by my Department, the appropriate training and/or skills are defined as a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at Level 6 or equivalent on the National Framework of Qualifications.  This requirement for the standard of appropriate training or skills in the definition of a young farmer was approved as part of the overall approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan by the European Commission. 

The full list of recognised agricultural educational qualifications at Level 6 or equivalent is set out in the Appendix to the Terms and Conditions of the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers. 

Where a qualification is not included as part of this Appendix, an applicant can apply to Teagasc for a letter of equivalence to confirm that the qualification held by the individual fulfils the requirements.

Departmental Staff

Questions (401)

Carol Nolan

Question:

401. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20308/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

This Department manages all disciplinary matters in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Disciplinary Code applicable to the Civil Servant concerned.

A disciplinary procedure is initiated where a concern arises regarding the conduct, performance, and/or attendance of a Civil Servant. A disciplinary procedure provides a fair and efficient process for dealing with such concerns and all Civil Servants are obliged to participate in such procedures.  

I have outlined in the table below, as requested, the number of staff currently suspended on full pay in relation to disciplinary procedures within my Department:

Number of staff suspended on full pay in accordance with the Disciplinary Code*	Length of time under suspension
1	See note below**

*As a protective measure, in line with Section 3.2.16 of the Civil Service Disciplinary Code (Circular 19/2016)

**Due to the very limited number of cases in my Department, we feel that information relating to the duration of suspension cannot be released as it may potentially identify the officer(s) concerned.

The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned.

Pesticide Use

Questions (402)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

402. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 24 April 2024, if he will advise on flexibility around sanctions in situations where a farmer may not be aware that they have spread fertiliser containing phosphorus; if he will advise on what communication has been made with farmers to advise of rule changes and possible penalties on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20329/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following the finalisation of the current Nitrates Action programme (NAP), and introduction of the current GAP Regulations (SI 113 of 2022, as amended), my Department informed farmers and advisors of all the relevant changes, which included restriction of chemical and/or imported organic phosphorus to soils where there is no valid soil test for phosphorus.

These forms of communication included the following:

• Published a press release in March 2022 referring to the introduction of the new GAP legislation.

• A webinar open to all Farm Advisory Service advisors on the 30th of March 2022.

• Teagasc Signpost webinar open to the public in May 2022.

• Publication of the Nitrates Explanatory Handbook 2022, and Nitrates Leaflet available to download on my department’s website www.gov.ie/nitrates.

• Nitrates Information leaflets provided at the National Ploughing Championships in 2022 and 2023.

It is not possible to provide additional flexibilities in respect of penalties but my Department have supported the taking of over 95,000 soil samples during the pilot phase of the soil sampling programme and a further 90,000 are envisaged in the current programme, phase 2.

European Union

Questions (403)

Matt Carthy

Question:

403. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework that Ireland has paid into from the year 2014 to date; any receipts from same, by programme or fund, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20349/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department has not paid into EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework from the year 2014 to date.

Departmental Policies

Questions (404)

Duncan Smith

Question:

404. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in the context of the widespread destruction of ash trees right across the country, due to the ash dieback disease, he will consider positively the provision of grant incentives to householders, landowners and other tenants to replace trees on their holdings that have died due to the specific disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department does not have responsibility for the removal or reconstitution of Ash trees for private homeowners with ash trees in their gardens or individual holdings. My Department supported the Tree Council of Ireland in publishing guidelines for managing roadside trees. The document is available on the Tree Council of Ireland’s website, www.treecouncil.ie, and on The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/gov.ie - A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees (www.gov.ie)

Last year, Minister of State Hackett introduced a Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from, or which were associated with, plants affected by the disease.

This contained a doubling of site clearance rates, increased grant rates and an improved premium regime. The recently launched Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback, under the new 2023-2027 National Forestry Programme, supports owners of ash plantations to clear their sites, replant the forest with trees in line with the new Forestry Programme, and receive increased yearly premiums (for those sites where premiums are still outstanding). The new Reconstitution Scheme contains the following features:

- 100% increase in the site clearance grant rate compared to the previous reconstitution scheme, from €1,000 to €2,000.

- Enhanced replanting grant rates, in accordance with the chosen forest type in the new Programme.

- Therefore, for clearing a site and replanting under the new Programme, the range of payments available runs from €5,858 up to €10,555/ha.

- Those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premium due for the remaining years.

- They will also receive a once-off top-up payment equivalent to the difference between the existing premium and the associated new Forest Type (FT).

In addition to this enhanced scheme, Minister Hackett recently announced the Ash Dieback Action Plan which is in response to an independent review on supports for ash dieback. This allows for an additional €5,000 per ha to be paid under the Climate Action Performance Payment where sites have been cleared and replanted under a Department Reconstitution Scheme.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (405)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

405. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to provide in-person training for the suckler carbon efficiency programme, in consideration of individuals who may not have access to or ability to use online facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20406/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

One of the eligibility conditions of SCEP participation requires that participants MUST complete the mandatory SCEP training course by 15 November 2024. This training course will help participants successfully implement the actions within SCEP and advise the best practices in farm safety and livestock handling.

The training material has been devised by my Department with the assistance of Teagasc, the ICBF and other beef sector experts. The course is focused on the SCEP actions that farmers must undertake as part of the programme – breeding strategies, genotyping, weighing and calving surveys – and also includes a module on farm safety and livestock handling. In order to ensure the best quality of training for farmers, a professional e-learning company was engaged to create and configure an interactive experience tailored to the needs of SCEP participants and the Department’s requirements. It will ensure that SCEP participants are fully aware of their responsibilities within the scheme helping them to avoid penalties.

This training is designed to be delivered primarily through an online system, given the significant advantages of such systems. It offers great flexibility for farmers, as they can do the training whenever they want, in the comfort of their own home, in pieces or in one go as suits themselves. However, I do not want any farmer disenfranchised in relation to this important training. I recognise that there are some SCEP participants who may not have internet connectivity or the support to access it and therefore I am confirming that my Department will hold a number of in-person SCEP training events later in the summer for SCEP participants who wish to do the training in-person rather than online. The full details of these will be announced shortly.

While I am providing an in-person option, the expectation is that online training will be preferential for the majority of participants given it will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This will allow farmers, whether full time or part time, to undertake the training at a date and time that best suits them rather than having to attend a specific location on a specific day. The online training is split into seven modules and a farmer can stop and start the training as many times as the need, once it is completed in full by 15 November 2024.

A dedicated site has been provided for applicants at www.sceptraining.ie. There are helpful screenshot instructions on the process of activating accounts, logging into accounts and progressing through the training modules are available to view on my Department's website on the - Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) section (www.gov.ie). A letter detailed the training requirements including the why and how to do it has been issued by my Department to all SCEP participants.

Whether a participant in the scheme wishes to attend the in-person training in due course, or complete it through the online system, it is important to note that the training must be completed in full by 15 November 2024 to to avoid removal from SCEP and loss of any payments already received.

Animal Diseases

Questions (406)

John McGuinness

Question:

406. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the actions taken by his Department following recent meetings with a person (details supplied) relative to the ongoing health issues they are experiencing with their horses; if the tests and examination of the horses affected have been analysed; if current test results have been compared with the results of tests taken some years ago by UCD and his Department; if there is a course of treatment or interventions that his Department will now undertake; if his Department is concerned that the health issues identified some years ago still persist; if this is an isolated case or similar to other cases investigated; if his Department will continue to work with the person until such time as the issues are fully resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20435/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person whom Deputy McGuinness refers to (as per details supplied) has contacted my Department on a number of occasions over several decades regarding his concerns of ill-health/underperformance of horses on his holding.  My Department has carefully reviewed the evidence provided by this person on each occasion.

There have been three significant documents produced on the reported health issues on this holding as follows:

1. My Department led a review of the clinical history furnished by this person and associated clinical records & laboratory reports dating back to 1990, supplied by his veterinary practitioners.  This review was compiled by a Research Officer in my Department in 2014 and reviewed and signed off by a group of senior veterinary managers in my Department.

2. My department commissioned and funded a report of a full grazing season of clinical & pathological investigations conducted by the UCD Veterinary Hospital in 2015, overseen by a specially convened committee of equine experts drawn from the UCD Veterinary School, the Irish Equine Centre and my Department’s laboratory service.  The report of this work was completed in May 2016.

3. My Department conducted a review of laboratory blood test results from several horses on this holding which were sampled between 2016 and 2023.  This review, which was conducted by equine medicine & veterinary pathology specialists within my Department, was reported to this person on 7th December 2023.

Each of these investigations involved a significant commitment of time and resources by my Department, and the resultant documents have been shared with this person in each case when complete.  None of these investigations identified any significant disease entity.  There is no evidence of any public health or wider animal health concern that requires or warrants state intervention at this time.

Notwithstanding the above, my Department’s veterinary services remain available to provide further advice and guidance if any new scientific evidence is forthcoming.

Departmental Reports

Questions (407)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

407. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the agrifood regulator has provided a report to him to date; if he has received an update regarding the regulator's workplan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20478/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) was established on 13th December 2023 under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023. I also appointed a new Board on that date.

Section 40 of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 requires the Regulator to prepare and submit a work programme relating to the discharge of its functions in respect of each financial year. The work programme in respect of the first financial year shall be submitted as soon as practicable after the establishment day. The work programme shall have regard for their strategy statement, among other matters.

Work is ongoing in the Office of the Agri-Food Regulator to finalise the Strategy Statement and Work programme currently and I expect to meet shortly with the Chair and the Regulator to discuss these in more detail in advance of their formal submission. These will then be published by the Regulator.

Departmental Staff

Questions (408)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

408. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 500 of 23 April 2024, if he will provide salary amounts, broken down by grade and role referenced, within the three forestry divisions in his Department for the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [20557/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The table below provides an overview on the yearly salary costs, based on the midpoints of individual salary scales, of the three forestry divisions in my Department for the years in question. This provides salary amounts based on a snapshot of the staff complement at a point in time. These figures are not static and fluctuate due to staff movements, promotions and transfers during the year. For this reason, the total yearly cost for 2022 and 2023 as well as the cost up to date in 2024 is as follows:

Year	Total Salary Cost
2022	€8,491,642.79
2023	€9,761,141.71
To date 2024	€3,135,207.51

Greyhound Industry

Questions (409)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

409. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Rásaíocht Con Éireann staff who received a performance-related bonus in the years 2022 and 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and the reasons the bonuses were awarded. [20654/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.