Written Answers Nos. 486-505
486. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if changes were introduced in budget 2019 to change the conditions for retiring farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47751/18]
View answerNo changes were introduced in Budget 2019 to the conditions for retiring farmers.
Ireland, like most of the EU, has a high proportion of older farmers. The recent Farm Structure Survey found that 55% of farm holders were aged over 55, while just 5% were aged under the age of 35. There are a number of supports provided to young farmers and to support generational renewal. The National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme under the Basic Payment Scheme were introduced in 2015 to provide financial support to young farmers and new entrants to farming during the crucial early years immediately following the setting up of a farming enterprise. Supporting young farmers and generational renewal will also form an important part of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) post 2020 and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will progress these issues during negotiations on the new CAP proposals.
There are a number of taxation measures specifically aimed at young farmers, the main policy objectives being 1) increasing land mobility and the productive use of land and 2) assisting succession and the transfer of farms. In June 2017, I launched the ‘Succession Farm Partnership Scheme’. The Scheme provides for a €25,000 tax credit over five years to assist with the transfers of farms within a partnership structure, promoting and supporting the earlier inter-generational transfer of family farms. It also encourages important conversations within farm families about succession planning. In Budget 2019, I welcomed the renewal by Minister Donohoe of two important young farmer reliefs for the sector:
- 100% Stock Relief on Income Tax for Certain Young Trained Farmers
- Stamp Duty Exemption on Transfers of Land to Young Trained Farmers.
In line with EU state aid requirements, the Finance Bill 2018 limits the amount of aid that can be granted under the various young farmer measures to a lifetime ceiling of €70,000.
487. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farm payments for a person (details supplied) have not been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47795/18]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC) on 30th March 2018.
Administrative checks on this application have now been completed and payments due under these schemes will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
488. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of 2018 participants in the areas of natural constraint scheme according to each area designation (details supplied) by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47831/18]
View answerThe number of 2018 ANC participants in each category (Mountain, More Severe, Less Severe and ASC (Island Farming) by county is outlined in the table below.
Given that farmers can have land in more than one category, there is a level of overlap between categories.
|
County |
Farmers claiming 'Mountain Type Land' |
Farmers claiming 'More Severely Handicapped Land' |
Farmers claiming 'Less Severely Handicapped' land |
Farmers claiming 'Offshore Island' land |
|
Carlow |
330 |
228 |
534 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
501 |
4385 |
168 |
1 |
|
Clare |
1305 |
5147 |
480 |
28 |
|
Cork |
2949 |
2687 |
2403 |
129 |
|
Donegal |
7228 |
2905 |
9 |
119 |
|
Dublin |
130 |
18 |
36 |
1 |
|
Galway |
3050 |
9215 |
25 |
393 |
|
Kerry |
3751 |
3351 |
1650 |
26 |
|
Kildare |
81 |
14 |
493 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
456 |
499 |
1288 |
0 |
|
Laois |
375 |
548 |
1233 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
1541 |
2428 |
66 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
159 |
1352 |
1791 |
0 |
|
Longford |
13 |
2342 |
81 |
0 |
|
Louth |
214 |
122 |
641 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
4934 |
7692 |
5 |
213 |
|
Meath |
15 |
342 |
1127 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
21 |
4028 |
58 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
137 |
724 |
1969 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
361 |
5389 |
44 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
1585 |
3261 |
10 |
14 |
|
Tipperary |
1140 |
1129 |
3233 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
555 |
224 |
1056 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
439 |
2403 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
245 |
28 |
1380 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1084 |
456 |
869 |
0 |
489. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land designated as eligible under the areas of natural constraint scheme as a percentage of total land by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47832/18]
View answerThe amount of ANC eligible lands as a percentage of total utilised agricultural area by county is outlined in table below.
|
County |
Utilised Agricultural Area(ha) |
Total ANC eligible Lands (ha) |
Percentage of Total |
|
Carlow |
70,140.68 |
23,834.34 |
33.98 |
|
Cavan |
135,661.11 |
135,467.71 |
99.86 |
|
Clare |
211,764.3 |
199,223.03 |
94.08 |
|
Cork |
544,827.21 |
245,480.25 |
45.06 |
|
Donegal |
318,989.06 |
288,337.15 |
90.39 |
|
Dublin |
32,924.08 |
5,671.01 |
17.22 |
|
Galway |
397,919.8 |
361,087.10 |
90.74 |
|
Kerry |
337457.11 |
321,657.65 |
95.32 |
|
Kildare |
109,408.07 |
17,986.90 |
16.44 |
|
Kilkenny |
157,706.52 |
61,588.94 |
39.05 |
|
Laois |
118,997.03 |
53,706.44 |
45.13 |
|
Leitrim |
101,482.9 |
101,275.07 |
99.80 |
|
Limerick |
197,974.38 |
87,805.04 |
44.35 |
|
Longford |
70,572.41 |
69,955.96 |
99.13 |
|
Louth |
61,253.88 |
20,520.00 |
33.50 |
|
Mayo |
372,126.38 |
344,172.40 |
92.49 |
|
Meath |
181,819.63 |
41,629.14 |
22.90 |
|
Monaghan |
99,011.63 |
98,923.85 |
99.91 |
|
Offaly |
121,187.7 |
77,982.11 |
64.35 |
|
Roscommon |
164,420.87 |
159,855.00 |
97.22 |
|
Sligo |
122,635.81 |
119,308.42 |
97.29 |
|
Tipperary |
313,039.26 |
164,738.85 |
52.63 |
|
Waterford |
127,327.1 |
61,280.76 |
48.13 |
|
Westmeath |
123,962.19 |
93,112.97 |
75.11 |
|
Wexford |
178,735.21 |
46,050.49 |
25.76 |
|
Wicklow |
121,322.93 |
86,324.54 |
71.15 |
490. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of farmland under each area designation (details supplied) as a percentage of total eligible areas of natural constraint land by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47833/18]
View answerThe amount of designated ANC land under each category (Mountain, More Severe and Less Severe) as a percentage of the total eligible ANC land by county is as follows -
|
County |
ANC total(ha) |
Mountain % |
More Severe % |
Less Severe % |
|
Carlow |
23,834.34 |
31.89 |
14.34 |
53.77 |
|
Cavan |
135,467.71 |
13.09 |
84.92 |
1.99 |
|
Clare |
199,223.03 |
14.9 |
78.14 |
6.96 |
|
Cork |
245,480.25 |
44.87 |
29.35 |
25.78 |
|
Donegal |
288,337.15 |
80.18 |
19.75 |
0.07 |
|
Dublin |
5,671.01 |
78.03 |
8.49 |
13.48 |
|
Galway |
361,087.10 |
30.43 |
69.48 |
0.09 |
|
Kerry |
321,657.65 |
59.27 |
25.95 |
14.78 |
|
Kildare |
17,986.90 |
15.49 |
3.16 |
81.35 |
|
Kilkenny |
61,588.94 |
18.97 |
17.59 |
63.44 |
|
Laois |
53,706.44 |
14.61 |
20.93 |
64.46 |
|
Leitrim |
101,275.07 |
47.14 |
51.3 |
1.56 |
|
Limerick |
87,805.04 |
5.85 |
38.53 |
55.62 |
|
Longford |
69,955.96 |
0.46 |
96.92 |
2.62 |
|
Louth |
20,520.00 |
25.86 |
5.86 |
68.28 |
|
Mayo |
344,172.40 |
53.38 |
46.6 |
0.02 |
|
Meath |
41,629.14 |
0.81 |
17.28 |
81.91 |
|
Monaghan |
98,923.85 |
0.44 |
98.92 |
0.64 |
|
Offaly |
77,982.11 |
4.29 |
20.51 |
75.2 |
|
Roscommon |
159,855.00 |
4.78 |
94.82 |
0.4 |
|
Sligo |
119,308.42 |
39.35 |
60.35 |
0.3 |
|
Tipperary |
164,738.85 |
21.34 |
15.97 |
62.69 |
|
Waterford |
61,280.76 |
43.69 |
6.67 |
49.64 |
|
Westmeath |
93,112.97 |
0.32 |
12.52 |
87.16 |
|
Wexford |
46,050.49 |
14.95 |
0.57 |
84.48 |
|
Wicklow |
86,324.54 |
59.57 |
11.01 |
29.42 |
The designation of land under the ANC Scheme is required under EU Regulation to be defined by reference to biophysical criteria in 2019. This process is now nearing completion.
491. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria, deadline and other information regarding a 2018 scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47838/18]
View answerThe 2018 GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme is administered by the Heritage Council on behalf of my Department and applications are evaluated and ranked by an expert panel in accordance with a selection criteria published as part of the scheme.
One of the conditions of entry to the scheme is that a farmer must have a GLAS contract with my Department. The farmer must also own the building or other related structure for which funding is sought or are acting with the permission of the owner.
The principal objective is to ensure that traditional farm buildings and other related structures that contribute to the character of the landscape, and are of significant heritage value, are conserved for active agricultural use.
Grant amounts vary between €4,000 and €25,000. A grant award will not be for more than 75% of the cost of the works with a maximum available grant of €25,000.
In 2018, 44 projects were approved and 18 projects were carried forward from 2017 to 2018 due to wildlife legislation and/or exceptional circumstances.
The 2018 Scheme closed for applications on 24 November 2017 and it is expected that the 2019 scheme will open for applications in early January 2019.
492. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to relax the five-year rule that applies to the young farmer capital investment scheme of TAMS II (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47848/18]
View answerThere are no plans to change the eligibility criteria for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II, specifically the five year rule. Applications are currently accepted from young farmers who commenced farming during the five years preceding the date of application.
My Department is already availing of the maximum flexibility available under the Rural Development Regulations in order to ensure that as many Young Farmers as possible are able to avail of the enhanced grant rates of 60% available under the Scheme. There is no scope to extend the flexibility further under the EU regulations governing the Scheme.
Applicants who do not meet the eligibility conditions of the Young Farmer Scheme can avail of the other TAMS II measures where the applicable grant rate is 40%.
493. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 763 of 6 November 2018, the transactions registered by buyers of wild wrasse, that is, ballan wrasse, or labrus bergylta, and corkwing wrasse, or symphodus melops, in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47852/18]
View answerThe issue referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. My Department has referred the issue to the Authority for direct response to the Deputy.
494. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of all salmon farms using wild caught wrasse, that is, ballan wrasse, or labrus bergylta, and corkwing wrasse, or symphodus melops, as cleaner fish for control of sea lice on salmon farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47853/18]
View answerWild caught wrasse are widely used in Irish salmon farms as cleaner fish. Ireland is not alone in this and this practice is commonly used internationally.
The Marine Institute has tracked movements of wild caught wrasse on to salmon farms since 2015 and has advised my Department that there are 17 salmon farms in total that the Institute has recorded as having wrasse on site at some stage since 2015.
495. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of substantial mortalities reported to the authorities on 21 September 2017, reputedly in excess of 200,000 salmon; the name of the disease; the number and age of the fish affected; and the results of the statutory process due to the fact he stated it would not be appropriate for him to comment as per his response to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 November 2017. [47859/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, on 21 September 2017 my Department received an inquiry from Inland Fisheries Ireland concerning large quantities of dead fish at the site referred to by the Deputy. Inquiries by my Department’s Marine Engineering Division indicated that substantial mortalities had occurred.
The specific matters referred to by the Deputy are under consideration by my Department as part of a statutory process which remains ongoing. Therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment further pending completion of this process.
496. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of all incidences of amoebic gill disease in farmed salmon here in the past two years. [47860/18]
View answer497. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the incidence of amoebic gill disease reported in salmon farms here can be considered a potential threat to wild Atlantic salmon populations or other fish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47861/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.
Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) is a common disease of farmed salmon and over the last two years AGD has been present in almost all salmon farms.
AGD is not listed as a disease requiring specific control measures in EU Council Directive 2006/88/EC and there is no legislative requirement for salmon farm operators to officially report the incidence of AGD.
However, under a voluntary good practice programme operated by the Marine Institute salmon farm operators report incidents of increased mortality on marine sites to the Institute when it exceeds specified trigger levels, regardless of the reason for the mortality.
The Marine Institute is not aware of any evidence that the occurrence of AGD in farmed salmon represents a potential risk to wild Atlantic Salmon population or other fish.
498. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he did not request an environmental impact assessment, EIA, for new in-lough disposal of dredged material from Warrenpoint Harbour in Carlingford Lough rather than the current location 22 miles out at sea during the Northern Ireland Warrenpoint Harbour #Authority EIA screening consultation (details supplied). [47867/18]
View answerMy Department engaged pro-actively with the consultation process associated with the project referred to by the Deputy and supported the provision of a comprehensive and detailed level of impact assessment for the proposal which would be comparable to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
499. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the ANC review with regard to redesignation using a set list of biophysical criteria; if the new approach must be introduced from January 2019; if the mapping of all current ANC lands has been completed; the specific actions that have been completed to date; the outstanding actions; the timeframe for remaining actions; when the final ANC data will be submitted to the European Commission in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47882/18]
View answerThe framework for the new designation of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme is set out in the Rural Development Regulation – EU Regulation 1305 of 2013. This regulation sets out the new designation must be based on the following biophysical criteria
- Low temperature
- Dryness
- Excess soil moisture
- Limited soil drainage
- Unfavourable texture and stoniness
- Shallow rooting depth
- Poor chemical properties
- Steep slope
In tandem with this process, Member States are also required to undertake a fine tuning process. This process is required to identify areas where significant natural constraints were identified with reference to the above listed biophysical criteria, but where objective criteria have indicated that these constraints have been overcome by investments, economic activity, or evidence of normal land productivity, or in which production methods or farming systems have offset the income loss or added costs referred to in Article 31(1) of Regulation 1305/2013.
Finally, Member States may also areas where identify areas for inclusion as Areas of Specific Constraint where “it is necessary for land management to be continued in order to conserve or improve the environment, to maintain the countryside, to preserve the tourist potential of the area, or to protect the coastline.”
The process of designation is nearing completion with the view to shortly engaging with stakeholders and the Monitoring Committee of the Rural Development Programme. The implementation of the new designation requires a formal amendment of the RDP. My Department will also be communicating directly with relevant farmers shortly in relation to the 2019 ANC Scheme.
500. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of 2018 BPS applicants by county; the number that have and have not received advance payments to date, respectively; the amount of expenditure in payments in 2018, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47883/18]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table.
|
COUNTY |
Number of applications |
Number eligible |
Number paid |
Amount paid |
|
CARLOW |
1,648 |
1,580 |
1,501 |
€13,811,549.89 |
|
CAVAN |
4,978 |
4,677 |
4,585 |
€22,896,130.25 |
|
CLARE |
6,199 |
5,902 |
5,790 |
€31,353,528.29 |
|
CORK |
13,237 |
12,683 |
12,310 |
€100,472,822.06 |
|
DONEGAL |
9,074 |
8,244 |
7,816 |
€37,275,066.07 |
|
DUBLIN |
658 |
618 |
589 |
€5,743,392.09 |
|
GALWAY |
12,383 |
11,678 |
11,327 |
€55,751,493.25 |
|
KERRY |
8,021 |
7,542 |
7,255 |
€43,708,893.46 |
|
KILDARE |
2,164 |
2,029 |
1,924 |
€18,173,353.85 |
|
KILKENNY |
3,450 |
3,311 |
3,153 |
€31,454,433.29 |
|
LAOIS |
2,983 |
2,877 |
2,790 |
€23,899,413.20 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,532 |
3,342 |
3,269 |
€13,707,520.78 |
|
LIMERICK |
5,252 |
4,957 |
4,822 |
€32,577,382.54 |
|
LONGFORD |
2,446 |
2,302 |
2,242 |
€12,340,352.08 |
|
LOUTH |
1,536 |
1,463 |
1,418 |
€12,039,810.54 |
|
MAYO |
11,754 |
11,164 |
10,718 |
€46,374,993.62 |
|
MEATH |
3,906 |
3,690 |
3,601 |
€33,047,731.95 |
|
MONAGHAN |
4,251 |
3,946 |
3,888 |
€18,538,306.59 |
|
OFFALY |
3,090 |
2,944 |
2,861 |
€21,987,485.32 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,839 |
5,530 |
5,357 |
€26,449,978.58 |
|
SLIGO |
4,082 |
3,833 |
3,677 |
€16,313,148.91 |
|
TIPPERARY |
7,038 |
6,700 |
6,534 |
€60,182,679.65 |
|
WATERFORD |
2,479 |
2,344 |
2,254 |
€23,515,032.42 |
|
WESTMEATH |
3,100 |
2,924 |
2,856 |
€21,092,345.34 |
|
WEXFORD |
4,100 |
3,950 |
3,771 |
€35,614,625.04 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,205 |
2,082 |
1,990 |
€18,123,160.86 |
|
TOTAL |
129,405 |
122,312 |
118,298 |
€776,444,629.92 |
501. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to meet an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47892/18]
View answerMy Department funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector, which was published on 1st November 2017. This report provides the sport with a road map for its potential development and I will be supporting the recommendations within my Department’s remit from the onset.
In March 2018 my Department agreed to fund the preparation and development of a Five Year Strategic Plan for the Irish Harness Racing Association. This Strategic Plan 2019-2023 was recently received by my Department and is currently being reviewed. As part of this review, officials from my Department will be in contact with IHRA in the near future to discuss the plan.
502. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte has plans to sell, lease or enter into forms of management arrangement of land at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47927/18]
View answer503. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte or its representatives or agents have met or communicated with hotels (details supplied) or their representatives or agents to discuss the sale, lease or forms of management arrangement of land adjacent to the grounds of hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47928/18]
View answer504. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if correspondence or minutes of meetings between Coillte or its representatives or agents and a group (details supplied) or its representatives or agents during the past two years will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47929/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 to 504, inclusive, together.
Coillte is a commercial State Body and as such has responsibility for its own operational day-to-day matters, including the management of the forest estate and any associated land transactions. I have referred the Deputy’s questions to Coillte and have requested that a response issue to you within 10 days.
505. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions that have been made to protect farms that straddle the Border with Northern Ireland for all Brexit scenarios; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47954/18]
View answerBrexit has the potential to have a very significant impact on farmers and on the agri-food sector throughout Ireland, including farmers whose farms straddle the Border with Northern Ireland.
As the Deputy will be aware, the agri-food sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means that it underpins the socio-economic development of rural Ireland, and of the border region in particular.
The primary means through which the Government is seeking to minimise the impact of Brexit is through the negotiated outcome. In a border context the UK commitment in the Joint EU-UK Report of last December to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland was extremely important.
At the Government’s insistence this commitment has now been translated into legal form in the draft of the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement fully achieves the objective of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland in any circumstances. Crucially, Prime Minister May and her cabinet have indicated that the draft text of the Withdrawal Agreement is an acceptable basis on which to proceed.
I, and my Department, have been contributing actively to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - coordinated ‘whole of government’ approach, as well as engaging intensively with our EU counterparts and the European Commission Task Force, to achieve this progress.
Additionally, the Government has introduced a range of measures to deal with the short-term impacts of Brexit that will help protect farmers whose farms straddle the border with Northern Ireland. My Department introduced a €150 million low-cost loan scheme, new agri-taxation measures and increased funding under the Rural Development and Seafood Development Programmes in the 2017 Budget. In Budget 2018 I, along with my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Business and Innovation, introduced a new €300m “Brexit Loan Scheme” to provide affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future - at least 40% of which will be available to food businesses. In Budget 2019 I made available a Brexit resilience package of €78m. This included a range of measures to support farmers and industry including an increased allocation for farms in areas of natural constraint, the introduction of a Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot Scheme, and additional funding for the horticulture sector.
To better address the long-term impacts of Brexit and to aid Market Diversification, my Department is supporting Bord Bia in its investment in market insight (through its ‘Thinking House’) and in market prioritisation initiatives which are aimed at identifying and developing potential diversification opportunities. To that end funding to Bord Bia has increased by €14.5m since the UK referendum. As regards Product Diversification, I have provided Teagasc with €8m for the development of a new National Food Innovation Hub in Fermoy. This Hub offers agri-food businesses the opportunity to engage in research activities in an affordable way.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government remains very focused on supporting farmers and the agri-food industry through the challenges ahead, whether they are based in the border region or in any other part of the country. Although the draft Withdrawal Agreement is a major step in the negotiations, further steps will be needed. The Government has been, and will continue to be, firm in arguing that any agreement reached between the EU and the UK must take account of the very serious challenges presented by Brexit for the sector, particularly given the unique circumstances along the border and the importance of our economic relationship with the UK. And, of course, ultimately Ireland's objective in the negotiations is to have a future trading relationship with the UK which is as close as possible to the current arrangements.
