Written Answers Nos 258-266
258. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the deadline for knowledge transfer in view of the fact that the online system is not working to date (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23529/17]
View answerI have decided to extend the original 31 May deadline for Year 1 of Knowledge Transfer Groups until 31 July, 2017 to allow facilitators and farmers additional time to complete the requirements of the Knowledge Transfer Programme.
259. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the 31 May 2017 deadline for the knowledge transfer programme to 30 June 2017; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a great deal of paperwork involved with the scheme and that Teagasc has not been given additional staff to deal with the volume of queries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been a number of technical issues with the scheme online when submitting details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23543/17]
View answerThe €100m Knowledge Transfer Programme is included in Ireland's Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020.
I have announced that the original 31 May deadline for completion of Year 1 of the Knowledge Transfer Groups will be extended until 31 July, 2017 to allow facilitators and farmers additional time to complete the requirements of the Knowledge Transfer Programme.
Agricultural consultants acting as Knowledge Transfer Facilitators are paid €500 per group per participant for each year of the three year programme. This payment is based on the time each facilitator spends managing and attending group meetings as well as the time spent completing actions under the Farm Improvement Plan with individual farmers. It also includes a provision for administration work associated with running the group.
As regards Teagasc staffing, the agreed 2015 delegated sanction arrangements for Teagasc provide them with greater flexibility over staff appointments, subject to compliance with multi-annual pay ceilings. The arrangements enable Teagasc to replace staff when they retire and to make up to 90 new permanent appointments in the period to end 2017. While Teagasc must remain within its overall pay budget, the flexibility provided by the new arrangements allows them to fill critical vacancies and to react faster when such vacancies arise in the future. Within the parameters of that overarching policy, the question of allocating more resources to the Knowledge Transfer Programme is an operational matter for Teagasc management.
Officials at my Department acting on reports of difficulties with the online system for the Knowledge Transfer Programme Farm Improvement Plan have conducted a thorough investigation of the issue and have subsequently identified a solution which is currently being implemented.
260. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has had their young farmers scheme 2015 application deemed ineligible; if it can be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23544/17]
View answerEU Regulations governing the administration of the Young Farmers Scheme require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections inspections, be completed to determine eligibility under the scheme.
The person named was selected for an inspection under the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme. The outcome of the inspection determined that the person named was not eligible for payment under the Scheme. The person named was notified of the inspection findings on 20 April 2017 and of their right to seek a review of the inspection outcome. To date no review request has been received, however my Department will now initiate a review on the basis of the information provided in the Deputy’s question. In the event that additional information is required to complete the review Department officials will be in direct contact with the person named.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
261. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give consideration to a matter (details supplied) regarding the knowledge transfer programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23547/17]
View answerA budget of €100m has been allocated to the Knowledge Transfer Programme for the duration of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
Article 14 of EU Regulation 1305 of 2013 provides the funding basis for Knowledge Transfer Groups and allows member states to fund all or some of the costs incurred and income foregone by both farmers and facilitators. This is in addition to the benefits derived by farmers from the training provided under the Programme.
Costs for the programme are set out in Ireland's Rural Development Programme with the farmer payment of €750 per year based on the time spent attending meetings and preparing the Farm Improvement Plan as well as travel costs associated with attending each meeting.
The facilitator payment of €500 per farmer per year relates to time spent preparing for and delivering the Knowledge Transfer meetings and also reflects the one to one time spent with individual farmers preparing and completing their individualised Farm Improvement Plan. It also covers administrative costs associated with the operation of each group.
These payment rates are set following an extensive stakeholder consultation process and negotiation of the RDP with the EU Commission.
262. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the research behind the claim that Ireland is recognised as having one of the most technologically advanced and carbon efficient food production systems; if there is a difference between the methane emissions of an Irish cow as opposed to non-Irish cows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/17]
View answer263. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated methane emissions from the State's beef and dairy cattle; the projected methane emissions from same; if the objectives of Food Wise 2025 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23554/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together.
The research the Deputy is asking about is the European Commission’s JRC Report of 2010, titled “Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU greenhouse gas emissions (GGELS)”. That research recognised that Irish agricultural production has one of the lowest carbon footprints within the EU. Specifically in relation to cow milk emissions it found that Ireland (with Austria) had the lowest cow milk emissions (1 kg per kg of product). This compares with an EU average of 1.4kg/kg. The report also stated that Ireland had the lowest emissions per kg of pork (4.8 kg/kg) with the EU average 7.5kg/kg and Ireland’s emissions per kg of beef were 18.4 kg/kg with and EU Average of 22.2kg/kg.
The Report also recognised that with regard to dairy systems in Europe, intensive systems create less methane and nitrous oxide emissions than extensive ones, but this is countered by higher emissions from land use and land use change. Lowest emissions are created by extensive grassland systems, such as those in Ireland. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has also recognised the efficiency of our temperate grassland based production system.
Methane accounts for approximately 22% of Ireland's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is the most significant GHG emitted from agricultural activity in Ireland accounting for 64.5% of total agricultural emissions. Enteric fermentation, which is a natural process in the digestive system of ruminant animals that results in the emission of methane, accounts for 90% of agricultural methane emissions. The remaining agricultural methane is associated with the storage and management of animal manures.
Current research into reducing methane emissions is primarily focussed on reducing emissions per unit product (i.e. reducing emissions intensity). This research is primarily focused on improving productivity per animal and thus decoupling animal numbers from production. Most of this research is focussed on developing economic breeding indices (EBI), extension of the grazing season, reducing beef finishing times (and reducing total methane per animal) and optimising beef and dairy animals via the use of sexed semen. Many of these measures are currently in use or being commenced.
Carbon audits by our Food Agency (An Bord Bia) are placing new emphasis on reduction in emissions intensity of beef and dairy produce.
Through the deployment of innovative and efficient practices at farm level, combined with the application of emerging scientific knowledge, Ireland can take the necessary steps towards addressing the challenge of greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, in the Irish agriculture sector. In the Rural Development Programme, there are some 38,000 farmers taking part in the Green Low carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) and 24,000 herds in the first Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP), which is a world-leading initiative to improve the quality of breeding of our beef cattle. Applications for participating in a new BDGP are currently being processed.
Food Wise 2025 is a cohesive, strategic plan for the sustainable development of agrifood sector over the next decade. The strategy identified over 400 recommendations to achieve the growth projections identified at the outset which the Agrifood Strategy Committee believed were achievable. Progress is reviewed on a quarterly basis by a High Level Implementation Committee. The first progress report Steps to Success outlined that good progress had been made in its first year. A second annual progress report is due to be produced shortly.
264. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the persons employed through agencies in his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23938/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table:
|
No of Employees |
Name of Agency |
|
62 |
Farm Relief Services Network (FRS) |
|
3 |
Irish Diagnostic Laboratory Services (IDLS) |
265. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations, including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23950/17]
View answerAn amount of €2647.50 was paid to date in 2017 in respect of all work contracted out under the aegis of my department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on during 2017.
266. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 2 May 2017, if the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has provided him with its report and recommendations on the proposed media merger involving the acquisition of sole control of a company (details supplied); if he will publish this report immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23377/17]
View answerI received the report and recommendation from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland regarding the proposed media merger referred to by the Deputy on 9 May 2017.
In accordance with the relevant legislation I have 20 working days from the date of receipt of this report and recommendation within which I must make a final determination to allow the proposed media merger to proceed; to allow the proposed media merger to proceed with conditions; or to refuse to allow the proposed media merger to proceed. Therefore, the date by which I must make my determination is 6 June 2016.
In making this determination I shall have regard to this report and recommendation and a number of other matters detailed in the relevant legislation.
I shall publish, in accordance with the relevant legislation, my determination, the report and recommendation of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and the opinion of the advisory panel when this process is concluded. The timescale within which these shall be published is prescribed in the legislation as being between 15 and 30 days after the date of my determination.
