Written Answers Nos. 87-91
87. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available to farmers who wish to construct road underpasses to assist in expanding their dairy herds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12228/15]
View answerA wide range of investment items are proposed for inclusion in the new TAMS Schemes under the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020. These include significant investments in dairy farms and measures to enhance safety on farms. However, there are no plans at present to include the construction of road underpasses in any of the proposed suite of TAMS schemes.
88. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cross compliance inspections carried out in 2014 and in 2015 to date per county; the number where difficulties were encountered and no fines were issued as a result of corrective action; the number where fines were issued; the total value of fines per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12242/15]
View answerThe extensive range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available.
In relation to the 2014 cross compliance inspections, my Department continues to finalise the results of these inspections. On completion of this process the data requested in respect of 2014 inspections will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
In relation to the data requested for the 2015 inspections, my Department will not be in a position to provide data on the value of any fines applied until the amount of payment due under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme has been determined for each case where a sanction has been applied. The other data requested in relation to 2015 inspections will be forwarded directly to the Deputy once compiled.
89. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is legislation dealing with abandoned horses and horses that are being neglected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12254/15]
View answerThe Control of Horses Act, 1996 designates to local authorities responsibility for issues relating to stray and neglected horses in both urban and rural areas. My Department provides funding to the local authorities to assist in implementation of the Act. In 2014, an amount of €2.25m was paid to the local authorities throughout the country to help them in dealing with straying/abandoned horses in their respective areas.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 includes provisions relating to animal welfare, prohibition on animal cruelty and abandonment of animals, including horses. It is an offence under that Act to abandon an animal and a person who abandons an animal is not relieved of responsibility for the welfare of that animal. A person who commits such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a Class A fine or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to both, or is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €250,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
My Department continues to stress that it is the responsibility of horse owners to ensure the welfare of horses in their ownership and/or their care and to dispose of them appropriately. I would remind horse owners that the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) has advised that best practice for dealing with unwanted horses is that they should be sold or otherwise humanely disposed of, as such actions prevent the emergence of long-term animal welfare problems. In an effort to promote good animal welfare, my Department, together with the FAWAC, has recently publicised the need on the part of horse owners to comply with legislation on equine identification and on equine premises registration.
90. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the impact of infertility on profitability in the dairy and beef sectors, his views that where artificial insemination is provided, it should be obligatory to make available the data regarding the fertility rates of the bulls which provide the semen; if his Department, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation or individual providers or artificial insemination hold such data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12264/15]
View answerICBF is approved by my Department under the relevant EU legislation to produce genetic evaluations on Irish dairy and beef breeding animals.
A selection index known as the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) was designed by ICBF and Teagasc researchers to help dairy farmers and industry stakeholders to identify the most profitable and environmentally sustainable animals to breed from. The EBI has evolved over time to include seven main sub-indexes, including one for fertility.
With regard to beef breeding, ICBF and Teagasc researchers have developed two main selection indexes, viz., the Terminal Index and the Maternal Index. The former is used for selecting sires to breed animals for slaughter while the latter is intended for the selection of sires to breed replacement females. Both indexes include fertility trait information.
ICBF publishes an Active AI Bull list for dairy and beef annually which contain fertility information on each bull, thus facilitating individual farmers to select bulls which can have a positive impact on herd fertility.
While fertility levels on dairy farms have improved in recent years, poor fertility is still the main cause of involuntary culling on Irish dairy farms and it is also a major impediment to maximising efficiency and profitability in the suckler herd.
Research shows that reducing the current calving interval in the dairy and beef herds by 10 days can increase profitability by 2 cents per litre of milk for dairy farmers and by 30 cents per kg of beef from the suckler herd.
Knowledge transfer from research findings to application on commercial farms is crucial to addressing poor fertility issues.
Improved reproductive performance at farm level can be achieved through the application of an optimum breeding and management programme, including the use of genetically superior AI bulls and addressing nutrition and health aspects.
Fertility rates of bulls used in AI are monitored by each A.I company as part of an overall quality control programme, designed in accordance with international standards.
91. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants under the farm safety scheme to date; the funding allocated for 2015; if he will provide this information in tabular form and by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/15]
View answerFarm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. It has been identified as a priority area for investment under TAMS II and it is proposed that a new Farm Safety Scheme will be introduced in 2015, subject to EU Commission approval of Ireland's Rural Development Programme. The Knowledge Transfer measure proposed under the new RDP will also include a mandatory Farm Safety module as part of its training for farmers. Separately, my Department included a Farm Safety Leaflet in the information packs being issued currently to over 130,000 farmers. The Department will also be using its text messaging service to issue safety messages to farmers at critical times of the year.
The current Farm Safety Scheme has been designed to overcome some of the particular hazards which may be present on farms. A total of €12.2m has been allocated to this scheme and 6,299 applications for aid were received before the final closing- date in January. As these applications are still being considered, a breakdown of funding per County is not yet available and the following applications have not yet been approved:
|
County |
No. of applications |
|
Carlow |
74 |
|
Cavan |
268 |
|
Clare |
282 |
|
Cork |
821 |
|
Donegal |
398 |
|
Dublin |
10 |
|
Galway |
573 |
|
Kerry |
309 |
|
Kildare |
95 |
|
Kilkenny |
222 |
|
Laois |
213 |
|
Leitrim |
100 |
|
Limerick |
245 |
|
Longford |
138 |
|
Louth |
103 |
|
Mayo |
333 |
|
Meath |
220 |
|
Monaghan |
304 |
|
Offaly |
174 |
|
Roscommon |
260 |
|
Sligo |
125 |
|
Tipperary |
394 |
|
Waterford |
146 |
|
Westmeath |
177 |
|
Wexford |
230 |
|
Wicklow |
85 |
|
TOTAL |
6299 |
