Written Answers Nos. 1354-1373
1354. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the locations and the way in which the €15 million funding outlined in the 2017 HSE service plan to expand existing or develop new services in mental health will be spent; the amount of this that will go to each community health organisation; and the details of the expanded or new service being provided in each CHO in 2017. [1985/17]
View answerBudget 2017 provided significant additional funding for mental health, increasing the HSE Budget from around €826 million in 2016 to €851 million this year. Included in this increase is €15 million to initiate new developments of €35 million during 2017.
Key priorities to be addressed in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan include youth mental health, further improvement to child & adolescent and adult services, older people's services and further enhanced out-of-hours response for those in need of urgent services.
Details of the specific expenditure will be finalised with the HSE in the context of the HSE Mental Health Division’s Operational Plan for 2017.
1355. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS 3 payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41040/16]
View answerA GLAS 3 application for the person named was created on the Department’s dedicated online application system on the 2 December 2016. However, this application was not submitted and therefore will not be considered for approval into the Scheme.
All parcel numbers presented on the GLAS system for the application of the person named were all the parcels they declared on their 2016 Basic Payment Scheme application. Department officials are not aware of any issues with the GLAS application or the BPS application of the person named.
1356. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41052/16]
View answer1457. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1925/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1356 and 1457 together.
The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process, issues were identified with the commonage action on the application. Department officials are examining these issues with a view to resolving and further processing the application for payment at the earliest opportunity.
1357. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when grants for slatted sheds will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41071/16]
View answerGrant aid for slatted sheds is included in the current list of investments under the TAMS II suite of six Measures.
Grants are being paid to farmers on an on-going basis where approval has issued before the work commences, the approved works have been completed in accordance with the Terms and Conditions and where a claim for payment has been uploaded to the online payment system. The payment system has been open since July 2016.
1358. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41074/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint schemes application on 4 May 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for inspection. This inspection identified an over-declaration in areas exceeding 10% of the area claimed. This resulted in the area determined being reduced by 1.5 times the difference between the area claimed and area determined. Payment due under the Basic Payment Scheme, taking account of the above, issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 9 January 2017. The over-declaration in area did not impact on the payment due under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, with payment under this scheme issuing on 11 January 2017.
The person named was notified of this outcome of the inspection on 4 January 2017 and has sought a review of the inspection findings. In order to verify the position on the ground, my Department is arranging for a field visit to be undertaken. On completion of this inspection the person named will be notified of the outcome.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
1359. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41077/16]
View answerAn application under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 15 May 2016. Processing of the application has recently been finalised, and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
1360. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he has developed in his Department to meet the terms of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. [41214/16]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides a statutory basis for Government policy on climate change and includes actions under mitigation and adaptation.
In terms of mitigation, the Act provides the statutory basis for the national objective of low carbon transition by 2050. For the agriculture sector, this includes an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food protection.
The development of the National Mitigation Plan is led by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and represents a whole-of-Government approach, involving my Department which is responsible for inputs in relation to the agriculture and forest sector. My Department has been actively involved and has submitted the agriculture and forest sectoral contribution to the Plan, outlining the mitigation actions which we are taking in the sector. A discussion document on the agriculture and forest contribution to the Plan was made available as part of a public consultation process which also included a half day consultation seminar.
I understand that the Draft Plan will be published in March for a period of public consultation by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
The Act also requires a National Adaptation Framework. My Department is currently preparing agriculture, forest and marine sectoral adaptation plans to meet the requirements under the Act. My Department has recently launched a non-statutory draft adaptation plan for the agriculture and forest sector for a period of public consultation which is open until 27 January. This plan has been drafted under the 2012 National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. This draft adaptation plan can be viewed as a first step towards reducing vulnerability and building resilience in the agriculture and forest sector. Its aim is to stimulate thinking from the public and interested stakeholders on this very important subject.
Both the agriculture and forest sectoral contribution to the National Mitigation Plan and Adaptation Plans for the agriculture, forest and marine sectors are informed by scientific evidence and research findings. The plans will specify the policy measures to be undertaken for both mitigation and adaptation and will be fundamental pillars of future national policy.
My Department has also contributed to the first Annual Transition Statement presented by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment early last month.
Irish agriculture production has been independently and internationally recognised as one of the most climate and resource efficient agri-food production systems in the world. However, there is no room for complacency and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to find even greater efficiencies and drive down emissions further. This will not be an easy task particularly in light of the limited cost-effective mitigation options available in agriculture. We will continue to make efforts and polices such as “Food Wise 2025” provide a framework for the sector to engage with the National Mitigation Plan and for the development of a common vision of transition to a low carbon, climate resilient future.
1361. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the World Health Organization said last year that pre-harvest desiccation with glyphosate, as recommended by Teagasc, is probably carcinogenic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41323/16]
View answer1362. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that glyphosate has been linked to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, is a suspected endocrine disrupter and is banned in 11 countries, including France and the Netherlands. [41324/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1361 and 1362 together.
My Department is aware of the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) report on glyphosate which had classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. However, we are also aware that another World Health Organization affiliate, the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues, does not concur with the view of the IARC and concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans exposed via the diet.
The conclusion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the regulatory authorities of other OECD countries is based on a large data set of high reliability and quality that identifies that glyphosate can be used safely. Indeed, in addition to the EU conclusions on glyphosate, the authorities of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have all published their reviews on glyphosate since 2015, concluding that glyphosate is probably not carcinogenic to humans and they do not intend imposing any additional conditions on the continued use of glyphosate. A further review of glyphosate by the European Chemicals Agency is currently on-going. This review will consider the classification of the active substance and should be available in the later part of 2017. The EU approval of glyphosate will be further considered when this review is available and my Department will base any future decisions on glyphosate on the EU approval decision.
While there is a greater necessity for crop desiccation in both the UK and Ireland due to our damp maritime climatic conditions and the practice is proven to be safe, it has been decided to discontinue the practice in cereal crops from 2017 and restrict pre-harvest application of glyphosate to that which is necessary to achieve the control of problematic weeds. This decision will be kept under review.
1363. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the origin of the advice from Teagasc to farmers to engage in pre-harvest desiccation for all varieties of wheat, oats, barley, peas, oilseed rape and linseed. [41325/16]
View answerTeagasc has a significant role in advising farmers in all aspects of agricultural production, including the cultivation of crops. To that end, Teagasc offers an advisory service tailored to each individual farmer's requirements and this is attached to the payment of an annual fee. Advice in the area of crop production is very much customised to each distinctly different growing situation. As such, while there are general blueprints for the successful growing of crops produced by Teagasc, such as “The Spring Barley Guide 2015” and “The Winter Wheat Guide 2016”, there is no generalised recommendation or advice proffered for issues around disease control or crop desiccation and each individual crop/field scenario is assessed on its own merits and resulting advice is customised.
There is a greater necessity for crop desiccation in both the UK and Ireland due to our damp maritime climatic conditions and while the practice is proven to be completely safe, it has been decided to discontinue the practice in cereal crops from 2017 and restrict pre-harvest application of glyphosate to that which is necessary to achieve the control of problematic weeds. This decision will be kept under review.
1364. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the prevalence of the use of glyphosate here and if he has concerns regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/16]
View answerGlyphosate is a non-selective herbicide being first commercialised in the mid 1970s and is now registered worldwide. It is used in agriculture, forestry, industrial, home & garden, and semi aquatic areas. While glyphosate is primarily used as a means of total weed control prior to the establishment of field crops, it is also quite important in the re-establishment of forestry plantations and also in the whole amenity sector, in the maintenance of municipal and public areas and by private gardeners. Currently, there is no alternative active substance with similar scope, purpose and safety profile. Annual use of glyphosate is approximately 800,000kg.
The EU review of glyphosate supported by reviews completed by authorities around the world support the position that use of glyphosate is safe, therefore it continues to be registered for use in the EU.
1365. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation to strengthen safety of farmers and consumers from chemicals such as glyphosate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41327/16]
View answerThe Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD) establishes a framework for European Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by setting minimum rules to reduce risks to human health and the environment from the use of pesticides. It promotes the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which includes alternative approaches and techniques to chemical use. It puts in place new requirements in the areas of advice, sale, supply and use of plant protection products. The SUD was enacted into Irish Law by Statutory Instrument No. 155 of 2012.
The main elements of the new regulations include:
- Increased educational/training requirements for pesticide users, advisors and distributors.
- Increased level of record keeping for all sectors in the pesticide use and retail trade.
- Requirement to have pesticide application equipment tested periodically.
- Increased storage requirements at farm and distribution level.
- Promotion of the use of Integrated Pest Management.
1366. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 154 of 1 December 2016 and 269 of 7 December 2016, the semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department that have absorbed the private pension levy; and the details of the companies that have passed the cost of the levy onto their pension funds. [41356/16]
View answerInformation relating to the private pension levy in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is considered to be an operational matter for the State Bodies concerned.
1367. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the number of farmers in counties Cavan and Monaghan who have applied for the beef data and genomics programme; the number who will receive these payments; the number refused; the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41395/16]
View answerThe information requested by the deputy is set out in the following table.
|
County |
Cavan |
Monaghan |
|
Applications received |
1502 |
1091 |
|
Applications withdrawn |
278 |
224 |
|
Applications ineligible |
24 |
36 |
|
Applicants paid 2015 scheme year |
1186 |
830 |
|
Applicants paid 2016 scheme year |
900 |
674 |
Payments will continue on an ongoing basis as herds achieve compliance.
1368. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers who qualify for GLAS Plus can expect a balancing three-month payment on the additional 2015 €2,000 GLAS moneys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41404/16]
View answerGLAS 1 participants must be in receipt of their full basic GLAS 2015 entitlement before applications can be processed to have their GLAS+ eligibility determined. To date, 20,452 participants are in receipt of their 2015 entitlement of which 20,375 have had their GLAS+ eligibility determined. The majority of participants who qualify for the GLAS+ payment have received their 2015 GLAS+ entitlement. Processing of payments in respect of the 2015 scheme year and GLAS+ entitlements are ongoing and will issue for outstanding applications at the earliest opportunity once all required checks have been successfully completed.
1369. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ban the use of animals in circuses here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41431/16]
View answerThe conditions under which circus animals are kept and managed come under the scope of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which contains rules relating to the welfare of all animals and requires a person having an animal under his or her control to safeguard and not endanger the health and welfare of the animal. My Department continues to engage with stakeholders, including circus groups, in relation to the welfare of animals in circuses. According to current information available to my Department, there are a very few domestic and wild animals currently performing in Irish circuses. I have no plans at this juncture to ban the use of animals in circuses.
1370. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding foreign trawlers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41455/16]
View answerI am advised that the practice of pair trawling in inshore waters and estuaries around Ireland is confined to fishing for sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and consequently I am presuming that this was the target stock in this instance.
Sprat in Irish waters is not a species for which fishing quotas or Total Allowable Catches have been established under EU regulation. The International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) considers sprat to be a data limited stock. In order to try and address that paucity of accurate information in respect of sprat stocks in the waters around Ireland, a three year research project, partially funded by industry, began in October 2014 under the auspices of the Marine Institute in cooperation with Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
This project aims to develop an accurate and detailed understanding of the stock structure of sprat around Ireland. It will determine whether the sprat in Irish coastal waters is one stock or several separate stocks and it aims to increase our understanding of their role in the broader marine ecosystem. This data will in turn contribute to the ICES assessment of the vulnerability or otherwise of sprat in the waters around Ireland.
The central objective of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to ensure that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term through the conservation and sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources and the management of fisheries and fleets exploiting such resources.
Available scientific information is that sprat in Ireland spawn from January to June with a fishery normally taking place from October to Christmas. This is a fortuitous situation, allowing some degree of reproductive output as the fishery takes place after the fish have been able to spawn. The Marine Institute advises that there is no evidence that spawning sprat are or ever have been targeted in Irish fisheries nor is there evidence that sprat actually spawn inshore. That of course is not to deny that they are easily targeted inshore when they occur there.
I have also been informed that the Marine Institute is actively pursuing the addition of sprat to the species covered under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Marine Biodiversity Scheme, in 2017. This would allow for more intensive data collection to enhance scientific knowledge and underpin any future efforts at management.
With regard to the Deputy's point concerning "foreign factory style boats", all foreign fishing vessels are precluded from Ireland's 6 mile coastal zone, other than for transit purposes. Under the Voisinage arrangement, Northern Ireland vessels were given access in respect of the 6 mile fishing zone. However, in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement on this matter, access for Northern Ireland vessels is not currently provided for in domestic law. Access to Ireland's 6 to 12 mile zone is set down in EU Regulation (1380/13) and varies around the coast. Access to the 6 to 12 miles coastal zone west of Mizen Head, along the west and north west coast is precluded to all foreign vessels fishing for pelagic stocks. Access to this 6-12 mile zone is available to foreign vessels fishing for demersal stocks and nephrops between Sybil Head and Erris Head.
1371. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has been informed of reports of an incident of pollution having recently occurred at a coastal location (details supplied); the impact this incident has had on the local environment; the remedial clean-up measures that have been taken at the pollution site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41473/16]
View answerPursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), my Department owns and directly manages the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres including that located at Killybegs.
All pollution incidents are a matter of concern to my Department. In the event of a pollution incident at a Fishery Harbour Centre, the matter is brought to the attention of my Department by the relevant Harbour Master. An investigation and appropriate remedial action is undertaken. The level and nature of response is governed by the type and scale of the pollution in question, and can involve a co-ordinated multi agency approach.
On the morning of the 30th November 2016, the Harbour Master at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre reported the presence of an oil scum on the surface of water within the harbour.
The Coast Guard at Killybegs was notified and an inspection of the harbour was carried out. This included quay sides, vessels and the sewage outfall. The inspection deemed the fuel to be of a diesel nature. No source for the release was identified. The surface scum had evaporated and dispersed by the afternoon.
1372. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the reported increase in fish quotas per tonne for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41482/16]
View answerI am presuming that the Deputy is referring to the changes for 2017 rather than 2016. The annual EU Fisheries Council negotiations took place on 12th and 13th December last year. Following two days of intensive negotiations, I secured 233,500 tonnes of quotas worth €280 million for Irish fishermen for 2017. This represents an increase of 17,390 tonnes over 2016 and a 6% increase by value.
The original set of proposals from the EU Commission was extremely worrying and would have resulted in cuts to a number of our important stocks. These included a 9% cut to our vital prawn quota, a 68% cut to our Cod quota in the Celtic Sea and a 26% cut to our Celtic Sea Whiting fishery. In total, the original Commission proposals would have resulted in an economic loss of almost €30 million in direct and indirect losses.
During the negotiations, I succeeded in convincing the Commission to apply the appropriate scientific advice for prawns, resulting in a 9% increase. This was my number one priority heading into the negotiations and I was very happy with the outcome. I was also pleased to secure an increase in the Whiting quota in the Celtic Sea of 21%, which, again was fully in line with the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES).
The proposed cut of 68% for the Cod stock in the Celtic Sea was reduced to a 38%. The cut applicable to Ireland was reduced to 14%, through the application of the Hague Preferences. These are arrangements which benefit Ireland in circumstances where the Total Allowable Catch is set at a low level due to the situation of certain stocks, including Cod in the Celtic Sea. The Hague Preferences came under significant threat this year from a number of Member States but I successfully argued for their application thereby ameliorating the significant cut to Cod in the Celtic Sea.
A number of increases for Ireland’s important Pelagic Fisheries for 2017 were also agreed through the Coastal States negotiations and confirmed at the December Council. These include a Mackerel quota for 2017 of 86,429 tonnes - an increase of over 10,500 tonnes (14%) from 2016. This is worth over €10million directly to our catching sector with further value to be added by our mackerel processing factories in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Cork. Significant increases in Ireland’s Blue Whiting and Atlanto Scandian Herring quotas were also achieved. Some cuts were agreed where they were justified by scientific evidence. These include a 36% cut to the Boarfish TAC and a 6% cut to Celtic Sea Herring, which is under a long term management plan.
I am satisfied that the end result delivered a balanced package which has been broadly welcomed by the Irish fishing industry. I am also happy that it is a result which fully respects the scientific advice provided by the ICES ensuring the continued vibrancy of our industry and the long term sustainability of our stocks.
1373. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the European Commissioner has lifted the ban on horses from outside the EU entering the human food chain, provided they have a six months' withdrawal period from medication prior to slaughter. [41483/16]
View answerThere has not been a general ban on horsemeat from outside the EU entering the human food chain in the EU, provided that EU regulatory requirements are met. Import of horsemeat is banned where Commission audits indicate that the regulatory requirements are not being met, but a number of non-EU countries have continued to export horsemeat to the EU over recent years on the basis that they meet the EU regulatory requirements.
In fact, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1832 of 17 October 2016, relating to changes in health certification requirements due to take effect from 31 March 2017, tightens up the conditions applying to such import. It imposes inter alia a minimum six-month residency requirement for the import into the EU of meat from horses from third countries. The non-EU country must also meet specified criteria with regard to the monitoring of administered substances and residues.
