Written Answers Nos. 432-451
432. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the embassies worldwide where agricultural attachés are stationed; and the number of such attachés stationed in each such specific embassy by city and country in tabular form. [53628/18]
View answerThe Irish embassies that currently have an agricultural attaché stationed at the embassy, and the number of such attachés stationed in each such specific embassy by city and country are shown in the table below:
|
Permanent Representation of Ireland to the E.U.50 Rue Froissart, 1040 Brussels, Belgium – 4 attachés |
|
Embassy of Ireland, 17 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X7HR, United Kingdom – 1 attaché |
|
Embassy of Ireland, Villa Spada, Via Giacomo Medici, 1 - 00153 Rome, Italy – 1 attaché |
|
Embassy of Ireland, 12 Avenue Foch, 75116, Paris, France – 1 attaché |
|
Ireland’s Permanent Mission to UN Organisations Geneva, 56 - 58 Rue de Moillebeau, 1209 Geneve 19, Geneva, Switzerland – 1 attaché |
|
Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20008, USA – 1 attaché |
|
Embassy of Ireland, 3 Ritan Dong Lu, Beijing 100600, People's Republic of China – 1 attaché |
|
Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi, UAE PO Box 61581 – 1 attaché |
433. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to propose a lowering of the cap on basic payments; and the timetable for implementation of this action. [53629/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment that, 'in the context of the EU mid-term review of the CAP, we will propose a lowering of the cap on Basic Payments, from €150,000 to €100,000”. However, on the basis of the current legal framework, it is not possible to reduce the payment ceiling below €150,000.
In June this year Commission proposals for the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) were published. These provide for a range of capping options. The new proposals include the reduction of direct payments of more than €60,000 on a sliding scale up to €100,000, with a 100% cut applying to payments in excess of €100,000.
These proposals are subject to ongoing negotiation at EU level. The final shape of the proposals will not be known until the negotiations are concluded.
434. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline and deadlines agreed for recruitment of veterinary inspectors in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit scenario by 29 March 2019; the amount of funds ring-fenced to ensure recruitment targets are met; if the advertising and promotion of these new places are planned; the budget for this; the budget allocated for the training of these new inspectors for third country trading status with the UK; and if plans for the hiring of new inspectors have been sufficiently flexible to cater for soft and no-deal scenarios. [53630/18]
View answerMy Department is working closely with colleagues across the Public Sector as part of the whole of Government approach to preparations for Brexit.
From an agri-food perspective, whether in the absence of any agreement between the EU and the UK, or in the case of an agreed future trading relationship, live animals, plants, food of animal and non-animal origin, food contact materials, composite and plant products will be subject to the same import controls as currently apply to clearance of such products from non-EU/Third countries.
My Department is currently engaged in an on-going exercise to identify the resources and processes required to meet our obligations arising from Brexit.
Additional resources will be focused on facilitating both Brexit preparation and key initial staffing requirements regarding implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks at point of import (hereinafter called "import controls").
A number of veterinary and plant health experts and Portal Inspectors are already deployed at points of entry carrying out import controls on agri-food products.
My Department will continuously monitor this continuously evolving situation to assess resource requirements as the negotiations progress and as the position becomes clearer.
435. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full- and part-time staff employed in the National Disease Control Centre and border inspection posts division by Civil Service grade; and the annual cost of this division in tabular form. [53631/18]
View answerI can confirm that there are currently 22 full-time staff and one part-time staff member employed in the National Disease Control Centre and Border Inspection Posts Division within my Department.
The posts are shown by grade in the table below:
|
Full time Officers |
Number |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
|
Chemist |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
4 |
|
Executive Officer |
4 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
1 |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
2 |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
6 |
|
Grand Total |
22 |
|
Part time Officers |
Number |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
The annual cost of the division in salary and allowances is shown in the table below:
|
Year |
Cost € |
|
2017 |
€768,000 |
|
2018 |
€844,597 |
436. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary officers and inspectors recruited on an annual basis since the Brexit referendum in June 2016, by new staff hires and replacement staff in the area; the number of officers who will be recruited in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53632/18]
View answerThe number of veterinary officers and inspectors recruited by my Department on an annual basis since 23 June 2016 is shown in the table below:
|
Year |
Number |
|
2016 |
10 |
|
2017 |
22 |
|
2018 |
21 |
|
Grand Total |
53 |
My Department is continuously assessing resource requirements in relation to the number of officers that will be recruited in 2019.
437. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons enrolled in the sheep welfare scheme who have received the 85% advance payment for 2018, by county; the number of persons who have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting the 85% advance payment for 2018; the number of sheep welfare recipients who have yet to receive this 85% advance payment, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53633/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The number of valid applications may vary slightly over time as applicants respond to queries raised by my Department in relation to their eligibility etc. Work is ongoing in relation to resolving queries on outstanding cases.
|
County |
Number of valid/eligible applications 2018 |
Number of applications paid advance 2018 |
Number of cases to receive advance payment 2018 |
|
CARLOW |
399 |
398 |
1 |
|
CAVAN |
365 |
365 |
0 |
|
CLARE |
183 |
182 |
1 |
|
CORK |
901 |
895 |
6 |
|
DONEGAL |
3264 |
3262 |
2 |
|
DUBLIN |
95 |
95 |
0 |
|
GALWAY |
2195 |
2188 |
7 |
|
KERRY |
1603 |
1602 |
1 |
|
KILDARE |
352 |
349 |
3 |
|
KILKENNY |
277 |
277 |
0 |
|
LAOIS |
223 |
222 |
1 |
|
LEITRIM |
625 |
622 |
3 |
|
LIMERICK |
81 |
81 |
0 |
|
LONGFORD |
180 |
179 |
1 |
|
LOUTH |
200 |
200 |
0 |
|
MAYO |
2751 |
2745 |
6 |
|
MEATH |
497 |
496 |
1 |
|
MONAGHAN |
194 |
194 |
0 |
|
OFFALY |
251 |
250 |
1 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
906 |
903 |
3 |
|
SLIGO |
806 |
800 |
6 |
|
TIPPERARY |
422 |
419 |
3 |
|
WATERFORD |
222 |
220 |
2 |
|
WESTMEATH |
353 |
352 |
1 |
|
WEXFORD |
518 |
518 |
0 |
|
WICKLOW |
798 |
793 |
5 |
|
Totals |
18661 |
18607 |
54 |
438. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial allocation to each scheme in 2019 under the rural development programme in tabular form. [53634/18]
View answerThe annual subhead allocations are determined during the annual estimates process and will be published in the 2019 REV later this month. In some cases the sub-heads contain the funding for a number of RDP schemes allocations. In others the individual scheme allocations will be finalised at the start of the new year.
439. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the 2018 national reserve and young farmers scheme by county; the number of persons enrolled in the national reserve and young farmers scheme who have received the advance payment for 2018, by county; the number of persons who have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting the 85% advance payment for 2018; the number enrolled in the national reserve and young farmers scheme who have yet to receive this 85% advance payment, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53635/18]
View answerThe number of applications received under the 2018 National Reserve and the 2018 Young Farmers Scheme, by county, is set out in the following table:
|
County |
2018 National Reserve applications |
2018 Young Farmers Scheme applications |
|
Carlow |
7 |
132 |
|
Cavan |
40 |
409 |
|
Clare |
36 |
423 |
|
Cork |
109 |
1,165 |
|
Donegal |
37 |
406 |
|
Dublin |
3 |
45 |
|
Galway |
109 |
884 |
|
Kerry |
50 |
548 |
|
Kildare |
16 |
154 |
|
Kilkenny |
34 |
350 |
|
Laois |
19 |
310 |
|
Leitrim |
12 |
253 |
|
Limerick |
31 |
387 |
|
Longford |
19 |
170 |
|
Louth |
8 |
100 |
|
Mayo |
111 |
799 |
|
Meath |
32 |
293 |
|
Monaghan |
22 |
248 |
|
Offaly |
18 |
284 |
|
Roscommon |
32 |
390 |
|
Sligo |
33 |
243 |
|
Tipperary |
60 |
566 |
|
Waterford |
24 |
256 |
|
Westmeath |
19 |
206 |
|
Wexford |
20 |
394 |
|
Wicklow |
22 |
175 |
In addition to the figures in the table above, there are a small number of further applications to the 2018 National Reserve and the 2018 Young Farmers Scheme which were submitted under temporary reference numbers (where an application for a herd number had been made but not finalised). Therefore the figures in the table above may be subject to change.
There is no advance payment made under the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. Payments in full under both schemes commence in early December each year to coincide with payment of Basic Payment Scheme balancing payment. To date almost 90% of 2018 National Reserve applications have been finalised and almost 95% of 2018 Young Farmers Scheme applications have been finalised. The applications that remain outstanding are cases where the Department is working with individual applicants where outstanding information is required to finally process the application or where the necessary administrative and on-farm checks are required to be completed.
Given the very small number of outstanding cases, with single applications remaining outstanding in respect of some counties, it is not appropriate to provide a breakdown of outstanding cases by county as to do so would risk identifying the individuals concerned.
440. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of GLAS 1, 2 and 3 payments who have received the 85% advance on the 2018 payment; the number of persons who have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting the 85% portion of the 2018 payment; the number of GLAS recipients who have yet to receive the portion of payment; the details of GLAS participants who have not received the advance payment due to outstanding nutrient management plans, GLAS training or finalisation of a commonage management plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53636/18]
View answerTo date, 41,692 GLAS participants have received their 2018 advance payment. In addition, GLAS Plus payments have also been paid to 2,795 GLAS farmers. This amounts to over €150m paid since 2018 payments commenced on November 14th and equates to 96% of eligible cases paid.
Over 80% of outstanding 2018 payments require action by the GLAS participant concerned or their advisor. The majority of these cases relate to the non submission of Commonage Management Plans, Nutrient Management Plans or where the mandatory GLAS training has not been completed. Other issues that have delayed payment include Low Emission Slurry Spreading and Rare Breeds forms not returned or cases that require investigation as the GLAS participant has omitted to update the Department on issues crucial to the payment process.
My Department is working closely with GLAS farmers and their advisors to ensure that payments issue as quickly as possible. I would urge all participants with outstanding issues to contact their adviser to ensure that their application can pass through validations without further delay. GLAS payments will continue to issue on a weekly basis. Payment rate to date are as follows:
|
County |
GLAS1 |
Advance |
Advance Amt |
Advance+ |
Advance+ Amt |
GLAS2 |
Advance |
|
Carlow |
271 |
230 |
€856,761.75 |
5 |
€1,923.18 |
123 |
100 |
|
Cavan |
899 |
845 |
€3,067,921.50 |
15 |
€13,949.96 |
425 |
387 |
|
Clare |
1598 |
1,457 |
€5,226,960.91 |
209 |
€295,083.00 |
684 |
621 |
|
Cork |
2112 |
1,780 |
€6,130,424.78 |
149 |
€200,228.31 |
984 |
829 |
|
Donegal |
1916 |
1,616 |
€5,326,748.92 |
113 |
€135,721.47 |
987 |
793 |
|
Dublin |
57 |
46 |
€165,712.17 |
1 |
€1,699.99 |
17 |
14 |
|
Galway |
3030 |
2,651 |
€9,504,590.66 |
133 |
€134,377.21 |
1,272 |
1,045 |
|
Kerry |
1756 |
1,387 |
€4,882,742.61 |
194 |
€247,060.74 |
864 |
674 |
|
Kildare |
238 |
195 |
€728,674.23 |
0 |
€0.00 |
75 |
60 |
|
Kilkenny |
422 |
356 |
€1,295,167.05 |
0 |
€0.00 |
205 |
158 |
|
Laois |
365 |
313 |
€1,122,667.97 |
16 |
€20,307.62 |
189 |
166 |
|
Leitrim |
1011 |
907 |
€3,264,151.32 |
32 |
€42,200.96 |
419 |
387 |
|
Limerick |
1039 |
922 |
€3,316,972.45 |
148 |
€218,968.65 |
294 |
267 |
|
Longford |
508 |
454 |
€1,637,514.42 |
1 |
€1,699.99 |
338 |
299 |
|
Louth |
144 |
129 |
€468,220.65 |
0 |
€0.00 |
77 |
69 |
|
Mayo |
2523 |
2,201 |
€7,742,896.07 |
135 |
€106,266.34 |
1,310 |
1,130 |
|
Meath |
416 |
367 |
€1,323,490.09 |
0 |
€0.00 |
195 |
162 |
|
Monaghan |
571 |
522 |
€1,708,948.40 |
7 |
€7,438.53 |
142 |
132 |
|
Offaly |
472 |
428 |
€1,510,382.91 |
14 |
€19,020.82 |
274 |
249 |
|
Roscommon |
1510 |
1,352 |
€4,914,000.82 |
6 |
€4,852.87 |
543 |
490 |
|
Sligo |
928 |
817 |
€2,878,942.73 |
16 |
€20,638.67 |
357 |
308 |
|
Tipperary |
1111 |
981 |
€3,594,167.03 |
71 |
€96,404.09 |
491 |
413 |
|
Waterford |
349 |
264 |
€934,184.81 |
18 |
€19,633.71 |
130 |
97 |
|
Westmeath |
636 |
574 |
€2,082,531.20 |
3 |
€3,420.84 |
258 |
236 |
|
Wexford |
743 |
612 |
€2,274,824.56 |
5 |
€5,239.35 |
256 |
213 |
|
Wicklow |
324 |
270 |
€1,022,825.17 |
7 |
€4,515.33 |
150 |
114 |
|
TOTAL |
24,949 |
21,676 |
€76,982,425.18 |
1,298 |
€1,600,651.63 |
11,059 |
9,413 |
|
GLAS Totals |
|||||||
|
Cases |
49,117 |
||||||
|
Paid Adv |
41,692 |
||||||
|
Paid Bal |
0 |
||||||
|
Amount |
€146,974,033.23 |
||||||
|
GLAS+ Totals |
|||||||
|
Cases |
2,795 |
||||||
|
Amount |
€3,381,038.16 |
|
County |
Advance Amt |
Advance+ |
Advance+ Amt |
GLAS3 |
Advance |
Advance Amt |
Advance+ |
Advance+ Amt |
|
Carlow |
€357,028.17 |
0 |
€0.00 |
126 |
103 |
€378,123.23 |
2 |
€1,125.62 |
|
Cavan |
€1,380,252.70 |
14 |
€19,877.16 |
529 |
459 |
€1,625,801.55 |
11 |
€13,913.17 |
|
Clare |
€2,258,006.89 |
102 |
€140,750.84 |
795 |
647 |
€2,269,453.90 |
51 |
€64,399.99 |
|
Cork |
€2,909,234.09 |
112 |
€155,260.91 |
926 |
756 |
€2,557,009.01 |
54 |
€75,737.60 |
|
Donegal |
€2,572,257.41 |
101 |
€129,949.38 |
1,400 |
1,071 |
€3,309,195.36 |
99 |
€121,581.11 |
|
Dublin |
€52,831.28 |
1 |
€1,699.99 |
19 |
15 |
€50,574.67 |
0 |
€0.00 |
|
Galway |
€3,606,727.49 |
79 |
€86,477.06 |
1,574 |
1,304 |
€4,512,682.24 |
65 |
€60,876.48 |
|
Kerry |
€2,423,423.39 |
136 |
€170,514.60 |
761 |
580 |
€2,014,370.18 |
81 |
€95,765.11 |
|
Kildare |
€212,257.79 |
0 |
€0.00 |
113 |
80 |
€295,995.18 |
2 |
€1,920.63 |
|
Kilkenny |
€590,938.94 |
0 |
€0.00 |
185 |
136 |
€507,153.20 |
3 |
€3,657.59 |
|
Laois |
€584,757.60 |
7 |
€10,606.19 |
228 |
189 |
€687,642.82 |
8 |
€9,970.94 |
|
Leitrim |
€1,401,412.81 |
37 |
€48,457.65 |
523 |
449 |
€1,562,833.94 |
29 |
€32,810.95 |
|
Limerick |
€947,708.62 |
44 |
€58,846.42 |
400 |
337 |
€1,191,504.43 |
24 |
€31,173.29 |
|
Longford |
€1,096,048.53 |
4 |
€5,011.66 |
326 |
275 |
€1,007,340.51 |
1 |
€885.33 |
|
Louth |
€239,820.90 |
0 |
€0.00 |
92 |
70 |
€249,533.86 |
1 |
€41.33 |
|
Mayo |
€3,846,441.53 |
115 |
€104,148.08 |
1,651 |
1,382 |
€4,603,368.76 |
101 |
€76,653.61 |
|
Meath |
€588,525.51 |
0 |
€0.00 |
245 |
184 |
€651,135.31 |
1 |
€1,121.98 |
|
Monaghan |
€450,491.33 |
5 |
€8,499.92 |
332 |
282 |
€947,997.26 |
2 |
€1,792.95 |
|
Offaly |
€940,291.52 |
20 |
€28,495.47 |
290 |
222 |
€818,109.14 |
13 |
€12,970.94 |
|
Roscommon |
€1,750,163.41 |
10 |
€6,506.36 |
711 |
577 |
€2,053,130.73 |
11 |
€13,397.09 |
|
Sligo |
€1,053,232.29 |
13 |
€16,812.22 |
488 |
409 |
€1,447,377.96 |
20 |
€18,315.40 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,519,754.66 |
37 |
€44,996.15 |
493 |
377 |
€1,397,242.09 |
23 |
€34,640.35 |
|
Waterford |
€346,105.26 |
6 |
€9,668.88 |
118 |
89 |
€317,315.18 |
9 |
€10,538.11 |
|
Westmeath |
€874,045.22 |
7 |
€8,114.56 |
277 |
236 |
€866,435.37 |
2 |
€1,719.11 |
|
Wexford |
€797,977.00 |
6 |
€7,650.11 |
310 |
228 |
€867,504.96 |
14 |
€19,138.39 |
|
Wicklow |
€445,753.37 |
10 |
€10,890.04 |
197 |
146 |
€557,289.50 |
4 |
€3,005.81 |
|
TOTAL |
€33,245,487.71 |
866 |
€1,073,233.65 |
13,109 |
10,603 |
€36,746,120.34 |
631 |
€707,152.88 |
|
GLAS Totals |
||||||||
|
Cases |
||||||||
|
Paid Adv |
||||||||
|
Paid Bal |
||||||||
|
Amount |
||||||||
|
GLAS+ Totals |
||||||||
|
Cases |
||||||||
|
Amount |
441. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Border inspection posts here; and the amount of current and capital funding expended by his Department on each post regarding upgrading facilities in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [53637/18]
View answer442. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of current and capital funding expended on each Border inspection post regarding Brexit planning, including research on structures and procedures at road posts, detailed analysis of statistics and liaison with customs in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [53638/18]
View answer444. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the UK Government's decision to defer the House of Commons vote on the European Commission’s draft withdrawal agreement with the UK and the President of the European Council’s confirmation that preparedness for a no-deal scenario is being discussed, if his Department is preparing or considering the making of an application to the European Commission for exceptional aid under Article 219 of Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 in order to safeguard farmers and the Irish agrifood sector against a hard no-deal Brexit and severe market disturbances; and if his Department and other Departments have had discussions with the EU Commission with regard to invoking Article 219 to date. [53641/18]
View answer445. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the UK Government's decision to defer the House of Commons vote on the European Commission's draft withdrawal agreement with the UK and President of the European Council’s confirmation that preparedness for a no-deal scenario is being discussed, if his Department submitted a request formally to the Brexit preparedness group under the European Commission’s task force on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom seeking mitigation funding for the agrifood and fisheries sector in order to safeguard farmers and fishermen against a no-deal hard Brexit and the UK becoming a third country; and when such proposals were formally submitted. [53642/18]
View answer446. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the preparations under way for a hard no-deal Brexit; the schemes being operationalised with other Departments; when these will be ready to be deployed; and when he will publish such plans. [53643/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 441, 442 and 444 to 446, inclusive, together.
Brexit preparedness planning by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been proceeding in accordance with recent Government decisions, and in close consultation with other Departments and agencies, including the Revenue Commissioners, as per the whole-of-Government approach to Brexit. The focus has been on the staffing, infrastructural and information technology requirements that will arise in the context of the implementation of import controls at ports and airports on an East-West basis under the Central Case Scenario.
These requirements are significant, and will arise in respect of the import of live animals, plants, and products of animal and plant origin from the UK into Ireland and the EU once the UK has become a third country, the conditions for which are set out in EU legislation.
Budget 2019 included an allocation of €3.75 million for the first phase in a process of recruitment of the necessary staff that will run until 2021. This will facilitate the recruitment of up to 116 staff across a range of work streams in 2019. This allocation forms part of a larger allocation of €7 million in 2019 which will also address IT hardware and software requirements. The Department is also continuing to engage with the Office of Public Works and with other Departments and agencies, including the Revenue Commissioners, on the additional physical infrastructure that will be required at ports and airports.
More recently, the Department has been sharpening its focus on the potential response that may be necessary in the event of a disorderly Brexit at the end of March 2019. The focus in this regard is on the arrangements that will be necessary in order to fulfil our legal obligations as efficiently as possible while also ensuring the minimum possible disruption to trading arrangements.
As has been the case with planning for the central case scenario, the Department is focussing on staffing, infrastructural and IT aspects. It is also continuing its close co-operation with other Government departments and agencies, and is engaging in particular with the OPW in relation to the temporary physical infrastructure that may be required at port and airport locations in the event of a hard Brexit.
443. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Rosslare Harbour has border inspection post status; his views on an application to the European Commission regarding same; and if consideration is being given to using funds in his Department to upgrade infrastructure at Rosslare Harbour to prepare for the possibility of the UK becoming a third country to the EU in 2019. [53639/18]
View answerAs part of on-going planning for Brexit, my Department has been working with other government departments, including the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, in assessing the infrastructure requirements at ports that are currently in receipt of consignments of products, plants and animals from the UK. Such consignments will require SPS checks to be carried out at a designated border control post, following the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union. In the event that a transition period is agreed between the UK and the EU as part of a withdrawal agreement, these checks will not apply until the end of the transition period.
Rosslare has been identified as a port where SPS checks will need to be carried out and as such it will be required to have a designated border control post (BCP) in compliance with EU rules. Work is underway, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), to identify a suitable site for the construction of a BCP at Rosslare Port. The BCP will be part of a multi-agency central compound. My Department will continue to liaise with the OPW and the other State bodies who will be sharing this facility, with a view to ensuring that the design meets all legislative requirements, works as efficiently and effectively as possible and maximises value for money, in particular through the sharing of facilities where this is provided for by the legislation.
447. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 527 of 4 December 2018 and the UK Government’s decision to defer the House of Commons vote on the European Commission’s draft withdrawal agreement with the UK and President of the European Council’s confirmation that preparedness for a no-deal scenario is being discussed, the number of sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, and fisheries control officials who will be operational on 29 March 2019, if he does not have this information, the reason he cannot provide it; and the number of SPS staff who will be operational on 1 January 2019, 31 January 2019 and 28 February 2019. [53644/18]
View answerThe Department is currently engaged in an on-going exercise to identify the resources and processes required to meet our obligations arising from Brexit. This is a challenging exercise due to the prevailing uncertainty around the negotiations and the numerous scenarios that may pertain post Brexit.
Our assessment of staff requirements is focusing on three key aspects of Brexit, namely, Import Controls, Export Controls and logistics. The Department is working closely with our colleagues across the Public Sector as part of the whole of Government approach to preparations for Brexit.
Additional resources will be focussed on facilitating both Brexit preparation and key initial staffing requirements regarding implementation by the Department of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks at point of import.
The Department will continuously assess resource requirements as the negotiations progress and as the European Commission clarifies issues.
448. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the 2019 Exchequer allocation by current and capital expenditure for his Department and each body under the remit of his Department; and the corresponding 2018 allocation for each such body and Department in tabular form. [53646/18]
View answerAs set out in the Expenditure Report 2019, the 2019 total allocation of current funding for my Department is €1,341 million and the capital allocation for 2019 is €255 million. In addition, €22 million of capital funding to be carried over from 2018 will also be available to my Department in 2019.
Details of the capital and current allocations to the state agencies under the remit of my Department will be set out in the Revised Estimates Volume 2019 which will be published very shortly.
449. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has sought permission from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to carry over unspent capital to 2019; if so, the amount sought as a carry-over; the reason this was necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53647/18]
View answerMy Department has sought permission to carry-over €22 million of unspent capital to 2019.
This amount was unspent in 2018 as in some demand-led capital schemes, a lower level of payment claims have been received than had been provided for in the 2018 allocations.
Notwithstanding this total capital expenditure in my Department is expected to reach almost €250 million in 2018, the highest level for many years. When the carry-over funds are added to the voted allocation for 2019 of €255 million, the capital funding available to my Department will be €277 million. This will provide significant support for the development of the sector and building its resilience in the challenging period ahead.
450. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of beef and sheepmeat access to China; the position regarding the outstanding certification required before final access is granted; and when these are expected to be granted. [53648/18]
View answerMy officials continue to work towards opening and enhancing access to as many markets as possible. This is a key part of our response to the challenges and uncertainty posed by Brexit, and in line with the market development theme of the Food Wise 2025 strategy.
The opening of the Chinese market for Irish beef earlier this year was the culmination of significant work, over a number of years, and I am delighted that six Irish beef plants are currently approved to export beef to China. Exports of Irish beef to China have already commenced.
My officials are currently working towards progressing applications for additional beef plants approvals, in order to increase Ireland's ability to supply the market, and this was the subject of a bilateral technical meeting at Senior Official level in Beijing at the start of November.
Although Ireland does not currently have access to the Chinese market for sheepmeat, this has also been discussed in recent months at both Ministerial and technical meetings. An invitation has been extended to the relevant Chinese authorities (GACC) to include a sheepmeat audit of Ireland in their 2019 schedule of audits. While the exact timelines for gaining sheepmeat access remain a matter for the Chinese authorities, DAFM hopes to progress this further in 2019.
Last month, my colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle TD, had a series of political and promotional engagements at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai and at the Seafood Expo in Qingdao. This follows the trade mission I led to China in May and an inward visit by the Chinese Minister for Agriculture in October, underlining our commitment to progressing key political and trade relationships with China. Total Irish agri-food trade exports to China were €974 million in 2017, our third largest market overall for agri-food exports.
451. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason no applications have been submitted to date for the establishment of beef producer organisations; the possible barriers to adoption; and the steps being taken to promote the uptake of these groups across the sector. [53649/18]
View answerFollowing the establishment of the Beef Roundtable in 2014, the Dowling Report recommended that my Department consider legislating for the recognition of Producer Organisations in the beef sector. Following consultations with stakeholders, Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 49 of 2016 was signed into law, establishing the legal basis for recognition in Ireland of Producer Organisations in the beef sector.
In early January 2018, following a public procurement process, I announced the awarding of service contracts to seven different facilitators to provide advisory services to prospective Producer Organisations on their establishment and recognition as legal entities. The names and contact details of the approved facilitators can be found on my Department’s website.
My Department has also made provision under the Rural Development Programme for the funding of startup activities for beef Producer Organisations.
While producer organisations are part of the landscape in other beef-producing countries, particularly in France, the concept is novel to the Irish beef sector. However, I firmly believe that Producer Organisations could have a very positive role to play in the future development of the sector in Ireland. My Department is continuing in its efforts to drive the potential of this scheme through engagement with an array of stakeholders across different forums.
