Wednesday, 16 Nov 2016

Written Answers Nos. 214 to 223

Felling Licences Applications

Questions (214)

Robert Troy

Question:

214. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry application in respect of a person (details supplied). [35300/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

On 5th February 2016, my Department received an application for a General Felling Licence from the person named in respect of 2.14 hectares of forestry. The reason given for the felling was land reclamation. 

Following examination of the application, the Department recommended that as the applicant did not wish to replant the land being cleared, a Limited Felling Licence would be more appropriate. Under a limited felling licence it is possible to plant an alternative area to compensate for the area being cleared, whereas a general felling licence dictates that the area cleared must be replanted.

My Department wrote to the applicant on the 16th June 2016, advising him that as he did not wish to replant the felled area a General Felling licence would not be granted. The applicant was advised that should he wish to proceed with the proposed felling, a Limited Felling Licence would be the more appropriate licence for which to apply and the appropriate forms were enclosed. 

The applicant was also informed that compensatory afforestation in lieu of the proposed felling would be required and he was provided with information in this regard. 

The Department has not received any further correspondence relating to this application from the applicant. The original General Felling Licence application is closed.

TB Eradication Scheme

Questions (215)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

215. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols involved when TB is detected on a farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35309/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The protocols involved when TB is detected on a farm are extremely detailed and are set out in the ‘Veterinary Handbook for herd Management in the Bovine TB Eradication Programme’ on my Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie. 

In summary, when TB is detected on a farm, the holding is restricted and a notice of restriction with the relevant conditions attached is served on the keeper. No animals may move off the farm until the herd has been derestricted except to slaughter and no animals may move on to the farm until at least one clear re-test has been completed. Movement permits are generally not required to move non-reactor animal to slaughter but are required for the removal of reactor animals.  

My Department’s veterinary inspectorate carries out a Quality Control inspection of the reactors disclosed and of the test itself as soon as possible after disclosure on holdings with 4 or more reactors. Holdings with less than 4 reactors are selected for inspection on a risk basis. This inspection includes a check on the test site, testing facilities, milk from reactors being withheld from the market, identification issues arising at test, animal remedies administered to reactors, identification of the focus of infection including badger activity etc. The number and type of reactors disclosed will dictate any consequential testing to be carried out but in general the holding will remain restricted until all animals on the holding have had two consecutive clear tests, the first conducted a minimum of 60 days and the second a minimum of 4 months after the removal of the last positive reactor.

With regard to compensation, my Department provides all herdowners whose herd has experienced a TB outbreak with an information pack (‘Information Booklet for Farmers’) giving information in relation to the restriction of the holding and the compensation schemes available. This booklet is also available on my Department’s website.

Agrifood Sector

Questions (216)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

216. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the latest efforts by the Government to help the mushroom industry, particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [35310/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am very aware of the significant challenges that the mushroom sector is experiencing in the aftermath of the UK Referendum decision to exit the EU, and particularly in light of recent fluctuations in currency. I am focused on working with the industry to meet these difficulties in the months and years ahead. I am monitoring Sterling fluctuations closely and my own Department has established a dedicated unit to consider the full impact of Brexit.

Grower production of this highly perishable product must be well aligned with demand and the mushroom sector, like other food exporting sectors, is highly dependent on the UK market.

I have met and will continue to meet senior executives from the UK retailers to highlight the obstacles that producers are facing.

Bord Bia is working closely with the sector on market intelligence, UK consumer research and quality assurance. They recently held a currency and negotiation workshop specifically targeted at the sector, which I understand was very well received. A Marketing Intensification Programme which aims to provide targeted marketing supports to companies with high dependency on UK markets has been rolled out. Grant supports will be prioritised to assist companies in strengthening their position in that market, and in their efforts to identify new markets.

As announced in Budget 2017, I have secured an additional €700,000 in funding for capital investments in the commercial Horticulture sector which includes the Mushroom sector. This will increase the budget for this scheme to €5million in 2017. Additionally, the Horticulture sector will have access to the €150m low interest cash flow support loan fund announced in the Budget, providing access to highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000, at an interest rate of 2.95%.

To ensure on-going support for the sector, my Department extended, under EU sanction, the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to run until 31 December 2019. In 2014 and 2015 a total of €1,635,190 grant aid was paid to mushroom growers. The grant aid paid supported some €4.1 million in investment by these growers.

Under the 2016 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector, my Department issued approvals in the amount of €1.33 million in aid to growers in the mushroom sector, supporting €3.3 million in proposed investment.

The EU Producer Organisation Scheme is also a vital support for mushroom growers, with 65% of Irish growers in a producer organisation at present. This scheme provides an important mechanism for growers to achieve greater bargaining power in the marketplace by becoming part of a larger supply base. Between 2005 and 2015, a total of €39.8 million was paid to mushroom producer organisations as part of the EU Producer Organisation scheme. I recently arranged the payment of just under €1.57 million to one of our mushroom producer organisations.

My Department and its agencies will continue to work with the industry including producers in Cavan and Monaghan through this challenging period. 

Milk Prices

Questions (217, 219)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to address the volatility in the milk sector; his plans to put in a floor in the milk price to ensure farmers, particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan, are not working for nothing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35321/16]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

219. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to sustain milk production going forward and to secure jobs in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35323/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 219 together.

As minister for Agriculture, I am concerned with the livelihoods of farmers in all sectors in each of the 26 counties.

I am acutely conscious of the pressure farmers are under at present, and I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to exploring all of the appropriate options for providing assistance to the farm sector through current difficulties. I have no role in the setting of prices of course.

After a prolonged period of price volatility in dairy markets, there are some tentative signs of recovery. At present the Irish raw milk price is 6.2% above the EU average and there has been strong increase in butter prices across the EU bloc in recent weeks.

However, volatility will continue to be a feature of global dairy markets. Fixed price and margin contracts, futures markets and access to increasingly flexible forms of credits are all part of the toolkit that will be required. There has been significant progress in each of these areas, with initiatives by processors and a new flexible loan fund for dairy and other farmers announced in Budget 2017.

On the market front, since taking office I have led trade missions to Asia and to North Africa, with a view to increasing the profile of Ireland as a producer of quality food products, including dairy products. These markets are characterised by existing business relationships, but also high potential for further growth. The development of trade in international dairy markets for Irish producers is key to ensuring sustainable growth for the sector and is also a critically important element in mitigating market volatility. This work on market diversification is particularly important in the context of Brexit.

The Dairy Quality Assurance Scheme is also critically important in developing a unique selling point for Irish dairy products on EU and international markets. Dairy processors make a substantial contribution to cover some of the costs of audits under the scheme, but of course the question of price incentives for participation is a matter for the industry.

On-going efforts within industry, supported by Government, to move dairy production up the value chain wherever possible are also critically important. These efforts are supported by investment by my Department and its agencies in research and innovation. By providing financial support for Teagasc, ICBF and Animal Health Ireland, and for knowledge transfer groups, we are investing in the provision of advice and education to farmers, to facilitate technology adoption and improve profitability at farm level. My Department is also providing support for investment at farm level through the TAMS scheme.

Where appropriate, we must continue to focus on appropriate national and EU measures that can play a role in supporting the sector. It is vital that we continue to work closely with the Commission and all other key stakeholders in this regard. The Commission, in many instances based on suggestions from Ireland and other like minded Member States, has already deployed a range of market supports including intervention and Aids to Private Storage, and a financial package of €500 million for liquidity assistance was agreed at the Agriculture council in September 2016, with Ireland topping up its allocation to provide a total assistance package of approaching €27M to Irish farmers in late 2015 and early 2016.

The Commission also announced a further €500m support package for EU farmers in July 2016. The first €150m was reserved for an EU-wide scheme compensating farmers who reduce their milk output over certain reference periods towards the end of 2016. This was very well subscribed to in Ireland and, should the commitments for reduction be adhered to, will be worth over €10M to Irish dairy farmers in 2017.

For the other element of the Commission package, €350m is set aside for Member State initiatives with fixed allocations per MS. Ireland’s allocation under this scheme is €11m. I have decided to provide an additional €13 million national aid in that in order to optimise the effectiveness of this measure and to use it to support the development of a €150 million fund for low interest loans for farmers.

A further measure that has assisted in reducing the burden on farmers was the negotiation and agreement of advanced payments for the Basic Payment and the RDP schemes, allowing us to pay out 70% and 85% respectively from 16th October.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with the dairy sector, with EU colleagues and International counterparts to ensure the development and maintenance of a sustainable dairy sector in Cavan, Monaghan and elsewhere.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (218)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact the election of President Elect, Donald Trump will have on the farming sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35322/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

It is unclear at this early stage following the US election what impact the election result will have on the farming sector in Ireland. Any impact that may arise is likely to be in the area of trade in agricultural products. We do not yet know what the new administration's approach will be in this area, for example in terms of whether its overall attitude is likely to be more protectionist in nature, or whether it will take a different approach than heretofore in negotiating free trade agreements.

In the latter case, the EU has been negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the US for quite some time. It appears that these negotiations have essentially entered a period of pause until after the new administration has settled into office. We will have to wait and see what the administration's approach will be, but I would be hopeful that the negotiations can recommence in 2017.

Question No. 219 answered with Question No. 217.

Young Farmers Scheme

Questions (220)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

220. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that applied for funding under the young farmers scheme for 2016; the number that were denied; the number in County Louth that applied; and if there were any departmental waivers given to those who did not meet the set criteria. [35338/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department received some 8,600 applications for funding under the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme. To date 340 applications have been deemed to be unsuccessful. 84 applications for the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme were received from Co. Louth applicants.

EU Regulations governing the operation of the Young Farmers Scheme set down the definition of a young farmer for the purposes of eligibility under the Scheme. This definition applies to all Member States and my Department has no discretion with regard to its implementation in Ireland. Successful applicants to the Scheme are also required to fulfil certain criteria with regard to agricultural educational qualifications. No Departmental waiver has been given to any applicant in relation to the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme.

Fishing Industry

Questions (221)

Martin Ferris

Question:

221. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the structures that are in place safeguarding Irish fishing in view of Britain's vote to leave the EU. [35341/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The outcome of the UK Brexit referendum is obviously foremost in our minds and in Government it is very much a priority. It poses enormous challenges for the Irish agri-food sector as a whole including the fisheries sector. However, potentially, depending on what the UK seeks to do, there are additional and unique challenges for our fishing industry.

Fish stocks are a shared resource managed under the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union. Nearly all of the main commercial stocks upon which the Irish fisheries sector is reliant are shared to some degree with the UK. In addition, many of our traditional fishing grounds lie within UK waters. Any change to the existing situation could have very serious negative consequences for our fleets.

My Department, together with its agencies and stakeholders, has been considering all of the potential impacts, looking at the areas where the greatest risks will arise and on which we will need to focus when the negotiations begin. Ensuring that our fishing interests are reflected in the overall EU negotiating position will be a key priority.

I have established a dedicated Brexit unit in my Department, and a consultative committee of stakeholders has been convened in order to ensure a full exchange of information as negotiations proceed. 

I will remain in close contact with fisheries stakeholders as the issues develop and work with them and my fellow fisheries Ministers in the EU to ensure that we are all fully prepared for what are likely to be extremely complex negotiations. 

Fish Quotas

Questions (222)

Martin Ferris

Question:

222. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all fish species caught between the baseline and shore, under the Maritime Jurisdiction Act 1959 and the Straight Baseline Order 1959, constitute part of EU quotas; if he has sought to gain any percentage quota of bluefin tuna or any other tuna species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35348/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union covers the conservation of marine biological resources and the management of fisheries and fleets exploiting such resources. Fisheries are managed by the setting of a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for particular stocks in Union waters. Union waters are those waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Member States of the EU. Quotas are those proportions of the TAC allocated to a Member State. Consequently, all fish in Union waters wherever they are, managed under a TAC, are allocated to Member States as quota and are part of the totality of quotas in the EU.

With regard to the second part of the Deputy’s question concerning tuna species, Ireland does not have a dedicated bluefin tuna quota as we had no track record for fishing this species when quotas were established. Ireland does have access to a small bycatch quota of 39 tonnes – shared with other Member States – for use in our albacore tuna and pelagic fisheries. It is extremely unlikely that Ireland could obtain a dedicated bluefin quota as it would involve reducing the share of the Total Allowable Catch of those EU Member States that do have quota and for whom bluefin is an important commercial fishery .

Ireland does have a substantial and valuable quota for albacore tuna. In 2016, Ireland’s quota was 2,510 tonnes which is nearly 10% of the total EU Total Allowable Catch and is worth over €5 million directly to our catching sector.

TAC’s for both bluefin and albacore tuna are set by ICCAT (the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) at its annual meeting, which take place this week in Portugal. My Department is represented at this meeting. For 2017 quotas, my priority is to work with other Member States to make the case for a small increase in our albacore tuna quota taking account of the scientific advice.

Hardship Grant Scheme

Questions (223)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

223. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35387/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The primary compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme under which compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors. Herdowners compensated under the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme may also qualify for supplementary payment under the Depopulation, Income Supplement and Hardship Grants Schemes subject to compliance with the relevant criteria. I would note that these supplementary schemes are unique in Ireland and are not available in other jurisdictions where there is a TB problem. For example in Northern Ireland, England and Wales compensation is only payable for the value of the removed reactor.

A review of all the TB Eradication Compensation Schemes was completed earlier this year by my Department, following consultation with the farming organisations. Following that review, the Hardship Scheme was extended to include farmers with income from sales of milk. There are no plans to further review the Hardship Grant scheme.