Written Answers Nos. 1179-1200
1179. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environmental Scheme, GLAS, payments 1, 2 and 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1118/18]
View answer1180. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average payment in Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme1, 2 and 3 combined in monetary terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1119/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1179 and 1180 together.
As of 12th January 2018 the average annual GLAS payment is €4,155. In total 49,700 applicants are currently active in the scheme.
1181. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that have moved from the Agri-Environment Options Scheme to the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme, GLAS, that had not finished their full term in AEOS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1120/18]
View answerThe position is that 3,778 AEOS1 participants transformed to GLAS for the final three months of AEOS1 which was scheduled to finish at the end of 2015. At the same time 321 AEOS 2 and 443 AEOS 3 participants also transformed.
661 AEOS 2 participants transformed with effect from 1 January 2016. 804 AEOS 3 participants also transformed from this date.
A further 2,152 AEOS 3 participants transformed to GLAS with effect from the 1 January 2017.
1182. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money saved when persons moved from the Agri-Environment Options Scheme to the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme, GLAS, without finishing the full term in AEOS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1121/18]
View answerGenerally there are no savings in payments when a farmer moved from AEOS to GLAS due to the fact that, on average, payments under GLAS are higher than the payments under AEOS. In addition, payments under the non-productive capital investment action under AEOS continue to be made when a farmer transforms to GLAS.
1183. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of animals and average herd size in the beef data and genomics scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1122/18]
View answerThe suckler sector is a vital component of Ireland's rural economy and the provision of support for the suckler sector is critically important. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is the current primary support for the Irish suckler sector and makes provision for some €300 million of funding over the next six years to beef farmers.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.
24,923 farmers are currently participating in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme across both tranches (23,395 in I and 1, 528 in II) with a total of 533,446 reference animals (504,272 & 29,174).The average herd size is 21.4 animals.
1184. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the yearly spend in each year of the beef data and genomics programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1123/18]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.
Payments made in the calendar years 2015 to 2017 are set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Amount paid €m |
|
2015 scheme payments |
29.1 |
|
2016 scheme payments |
50.9 |
|
2016 training and carbon navigator payments |
8.7 |
|
2017 scheme payments |
44.6 |
|
2017 training and carbon navigator payments |
1.6 |
|
Total |
134.9 |
1185. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that have applied for the sheep welfare scheme; the number of sheep which this scheme includes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1124/18]
View answerIn December 2016 I introduced the Sheep Welfare Scheme to contribute to the continuing viability and sustainability of the sheep sector in Ireland. A total of 20,734 eligible applications were received under the Scheme. The number of breeding ewes included in these applications is 1.9 million.
1186. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided to Teagasc each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1125/18]
View answer1187. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the types of funding administered by Teagasc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1126/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1186 and 1187 together.
Teagasc develops its programmes and activities in research, advisory and education in conjunction with clients and partners overseen by an Authority that is representative of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food sector. My Department provides Teagasc with a yearly block Grant in Aid subvention to support the delivery of it services to the agriculture and food sector. The 2018 allocation was increased by just over €4m to €132.6m. Funding is provided for pay, pension, capital and non-pay purposes. It receives additional exchequer income from competitive research programmes (FIRM, Stimulus etc.) and for supporting the delivery of Department Schemes (GLAS, KT Programme, Carbon Navigator training etc.). Teagasc also earns own generated operational income from a number of sources including client fees for the provision of advisory and education services , EU research funding, farm operations, publications etc. Its overall operating budget for 2018 is an estimated €203m. The distribution of that funding is an operational matter for Teagasc to determine. Teagasc's Financial Accounts are audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General and published on its website.
1188. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement a scheme for mats for slats under Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme, TAMS, in accordance with the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1127/18]
View answerThe TAMS II Schemes have been very successful in terms of uptake with the number of applications to date exceeding 15,500 and approvals issued exceeding 12,400. All of these approvals represent committed expenditure under the TAMS II measure of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020.
Until such time as these approvals are acted upon or expire the budget for TAMS must include provision for the potential expenditure involved. The inclusion of slat mats under the TAMS II schemes can only be considered in the context of the overall budgetary provision.
1189. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of suckler cows here on 31 December 2017 by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1128/18]
View answerFigures taken from my Department's Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system on 31/12/17 give the following breakdown of the national suckler herd:
|
COUNTY |
SUCKLER COWS |
|
Carlow |
13,652 |
|
Cavan |
39,234 |
|
Clare |
61,528 |
|
Cork |
62,919 |
|
Donegal |
33,088 |
|
Dublin |
3,196 |
|
Galway |
87,654 |
|
Kerry |
37,583 |
|
Kildare |
16,067 |
|
Kilkenny |
29,083 |
|
Laois |
29,337 |
|
Leitrim |
22,188 |
|
Limerick |
30,033 |
|
Longford |
22,154 |
|
Louth |
10,083 |
|
Mayo |
64,479 |
|
Meath |
28,850 |
|
Monaghan |
27,515 |
|
Offaly |
26,991 |
|
Roscommon |
45,259 |
|
Sligo |
26,068 |
|
Tipperary |
50,618 |
|
Waterford |
18,240 |
|
Westmeath |
30,637 |
|
Wexford |
28,478 |
|
Wicklow |
19,583 |
|
Total |
864,517 |
A suckler cow is defined as beef/beef cross female that was over 18 months on 31 December 2017 and is registered as the Dam of a calf.
My Department provides a number of supports to the suckler herd. A range of direct payments and grant schemes provide vital income and investment support to the suckler sector, including BPS, ANC, GLAS and TAMS. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which will provide Irish beef farmers with some €300 million in funding over the current Rural Development Programme period. Last year I reopened the BDGP programme for new entrants, reflecting the success of this programme, which targets both the environmental footprint and the profitability of suckler farming through improving the genetic merit in participating herds.
1190. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who applied for the aid for grain producers affected in 2016 by the wet conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1129/18]
View answerThe crop loss support measure was launched in July 2017 to assist farmers most affected by the wet weather harvest conditions of September 2016. A total of 167 applications were received under the measure. Processing of payments is ongoing.
In a large number of cases, further information or clarification is required in order to fully process applications. In all of these cases, the applicants have been contacted directly by an official from my Department. As the information requested is received, these cases will be examined again and further pay runs will be put in place as more case are cleared for payment.
1191. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who were paid under the aid for farmers that lost grain crops in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1130/18]
View answerThe crop loss support measure was launched in July 2017 to assist farmers most affected by the wet weather harvest conditions of September 2016. A total of 167 applications were received under the measure.
To date 63 applicants have received payments of €288,845.30, In a large number of cases, further information or clarification is required in order to fully process applications. In all of these cases, the applicants have been contacted directly by an official from my Department. As the further information requested is received, these cases will be examined again and subsequent pay runs will be put in place as cases are cleared for payment.
1192. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to front load the first 20 hectares in the new Common Agricultural Policy pillar 1 document that will start in 2020 and is being negotiated this year in order to protect small family farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1131/18]
View answerThe European Commission published its CAP Communication titled “The Future of Food and Farming” on 29November 2017.
The Communication proposes a simpler CAP, with a sharper focus on objectives and results, particularly in the environmental area. I welcome the commitment that Direct Payments should remain an essential part of CAP, as they provide an important safety net for family farms and ensure there is agricultural activity in all parts of the EU.
The Communication outlines a number of possibilities that should be explored to improve the targeting of direct payments. These include compulsory capping of payments, degressive payments and redistributive payments to small or medium size farms. It also suggests that support should be targeted at genuine farmers, focussing on those who are actively farming in order to earn their living.
My Department is currently reviewing the Communication but of course detailed proposals will only emerge in the context of legislative provisions to be presented by the Commission in mid 2018.
1193. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money paid out in the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme, TAMS, each year from the announcement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1132/18]
View answerThe TAMS II Scheme with a suite of six measures was launched during the course of 2015, with a seventh measure the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme launched in March 2017.
The expenditure to date is as follows:
2016 - €3.971 m
2017 - €31.256 m
Over 12,400 farmers have been given approval to proceed with investment works under the seven TAMS Measures. To date 3,361 of these applicants or 27% have submitted a payment claim. Payment claims in respect of approved works submitted via the online payment system will continue to be paid as they are received.
1194. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money paid to private planners and Teagasc respectively for the delivery of the one-day training course, not including the funds paid to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1133/18]
View answerPayments for GLAS training providers have not yet commenced but are scheduled to begin very soon. However, payments have issued for courses that have been finalised for the scheme participant element of the payment.
Of approximately 1,800 courses created to date on the Department's GLAS Training System just under 29% were created by Teagasc advisers while approximately 71% were created by private advisers.
1195. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money paid to Teagasc and private planners respectively to provide courses in knowledge transfer, excluding what was paid to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1134/18]
View answerKnowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves the formation of knowledge transfer groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors. To date, in excess of in excess of €3.7 million has been paid to approved Knowledge Transfer facilitators in respect of Year 1 of the measure.
1196. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the spend administered to persons for knowledge transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1135/18]
View answerKnowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves the formation of knowledge transfer groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors.
Approximately 19,100 farmers have actively participated in Year One of the Programme attending a range of Knowledge Transfer Group Meetings, Knowledge Transfer approved National Events and completing Farm Improvement Plans and Animal Health Measures.
To date, in excess of €10 million has been paid to over 13,500 participants across the six sectors. In addition, in excess of €3.7 million has been paid to date to approved Knowledge Transfer facilitators across six sectors. Further pay runs will take place as more cases are processed for payment.
1197. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is reopening the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme, GLAS, in early 2018 in view of the underspend in the overall GLAS budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1136/18]
View answerThe target set out in the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 to approve 50,000 GLAS participants before the end of 2018 has already been achieved. The fact that the RDP target has been achieved almost two years ahead of schedule is a significant achievement on the part of both farmers and my Department and is evidence of the commitment of Irish farmers to the sustainable growth of the Irish agri-food sector into the future.
There are no plans to re-open the scheme. My focus now is on ensuring that payments to these participants are processed and my Department is working hard to continue making these 2017 advance payments in the coming weeks. The GLAS scheme is one of a suite of many RDP schemes and the re-opening of any scheme can only be considered within the overall RDP budget which is currently fully committed.
I fully anticipate that based on current up-take and projections, the entire budget allocation of some €4 billion for the Rural Development Programme will be spent and that the entire €2.19 billion of EU co-funding will be drawn down.
1198. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement a suckler cow scheme of €200 per cow in view of the apparent decline in numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1137/18]
View answerI am keenly aware of the importance of the suckler sector to Ireland's rural economy and the wider agri-food industry.
My Department provides a number of supports to the suckler herd. A range of direct payments and grant schemes provide vital income and investment support to the suckler sector, including BPS, ANC, GLAS and TAMS.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which will provide Irish beef farmers with some €300 million in funding over the current Rural Development Programme period. In response to significant demand, last year I reopened the BDGP programme for new entrants, reflecting the success of this programme, which targets both the environmental footprint and the profitability of the suckler herd through improving the genetic merit in participating herds. Currently there are approximately 25,000 herds covered between the two schemes.
The suckler sector is a vital component of Ireland’s rural economy and the provision of support for the suckler sector is critically important. The range of supports as currently configured represents a balance between direct income support for the sector and rural development measures designed to improve its competitiveness and sustainability. Considering the supports that already exist, I do not have plans to introduce any additional schemes to support the suckler herd, including the proposed scheme mentioned by the Deputy.
1199. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will implement a fodder crisis scheme in view of the serious shortage of fodder in parts of the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/18]
View answerWeather conditions for much of last autumn and early winter were challenging for farmers, particularly in parts of the West/North West. This resulted in the earlier housing of stock and challenges for some farmers in terms of Fodder conservation. On foot of these challenges, I prioritised the payment of farm supports to assist farmers with cash flow. The European Commission agreed to my request, informed in part by the poor weather conditions of last autumn, for an advance payment of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme and Agri-environment schemes. These payments commenced after the earliest date possible which was 15th October, and balancing payments issued in early December.
These payments together with those issued under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, injected over €1.3 billion into the Irish rural economy by the end of last year and are providing a very welcome boost for Irish farm families and will help to finance fodder purchase where necessary.
Last autumn as poor weather conditions continued, I then asked Teagasc to work locally in areas with fodder difficulties, supporting good budgeting for fodder supplies on farms over the winter ahead.
Furthermore, in order to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the issue of fodder availability in affected areas, I convened a fodder group chaired by Teagasc and comprising of all the main stakeholders including feed merchants and co-ops, banking, farm bodies etc. The group held its first meeting in December and again on Monday 15th of this week. The group's objective is to actively monitor the situation and to ensure co-ordinated expertise and guidance is available to affected farmers regarding their options. These may include sourcing alternative feed, reducing non-breeding stock numbers and ensuring they continue to carry out fodder budgeting.
As outlined at the weekend, my Department is engaging with stakeholders, including through Fodder task force, with a view to providing a targeted contribution towards long-distance transport of fodder to those areas most impacted by the adverse weather. As the deputy can appreciate, fodder sale and purchase is a normal and significant trade between farms on an annual basis and it is important that any prudent measure brought forward is appropriately targeted to those most impacted whilst not impacting negatively on this trade.
I would also stress that if a situation arises where the welfare of livestock is at risk, herdowners should contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Welfare helpline or Regional Veterinary Office for support.
1200. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the €25 million fund for the Areas of Natural Constraint, ANC, Scheme will be distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1139/18]
View answerBudget 2018 included an additional allocation of €25 million for the scheme in 2018. This is in keeping with provisions of the Programme for a Partnership Government. There are a number of options in relation to how any additional funding could be allocated under the ANC scheme. These options range from allocating the funds as a flat increase across the current payable rates, to various forms of targeting higher payment rates for particular categories of farmers. The options in this regard are currently being examined. Any changes to the Scheme on foot of this will require agreement with the EU Commission via a formal amendment of Ireland's Rural Development Programme, 2014 - 2020.
