Written Answers Nos. 1152-1177
1152. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if drainage work on land that is sanctioned by local authorities on health and safety grounds to prevent flooding to houses and roads in the location affects farmers' basic payments. [18701/19]
View answerMy Department is required to implement rules for the Basic Payment Scheme and other area-based schemes, with regard to land eligibility and cross compliance requirements, as prescribed in the governing EU regulations.
Drainage work may impact on farmers’ basic payments either by a change in the area of land being farmed or may be in breach of cross compliance requirements. If the land area is increased as a result of the drainage work, it may facilitate an increase in the eligible area and the basic payment, where there are entitlements available. If the land area eligible for payment is reduced, e.g. by fencing off any area to facilitate the drainage works, it may reduce the basic payment. If the reduction in the area is short term and temporary in nature e.g. an area temporarily fenced off for a short period to facilitate the drainage works, this will not impact on the eligible area. If the reduction in area is permanent, the basic payment may be reduced depending on whether or not the number of eligible hectares is reduced below the number of entitlements available to the farmer. Otherwise the farmer may acquire additional land to replace the area lost as a result the drainage work.
There may also be an impact on the basic payment where an inspection determines a breach under the cross compliance requirements. Where the land involved is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Special Protected Area (SPA), if the drainage works cause a breach of Activities Requiring Consent/Notifiable Actions under SMR 2 or SMR 3, the farmer must have permission from NPWS to allow the work. Any permission provided by NPWS to the Local Authority to cover the works and indicating the land parcels covered is adequate.
If the work involves the closing of existing land drains or hedgerow removal, the farmer will be required to replace these as they are designated as landscape features. Failure to replace them will result in a breach of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) and could result in a sanction, the extent of which depends on the lengths of landscape features removed, with the requirement for replacement remaining.
Drainage works may also have an impact on any of the other area-based payment schemes operated by the Department that a farmer may be participating in, for example ANC, Greening, YFS, GLAS, and BDGP. Any change in the eligible area may impact on each scheme payments.
If the Deputy provides further information on the nature of the works and the land parcels involved, officials in my Department will examine the case further.
1153. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a young farmers scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/19]
View answerThe Young Farmers Scheme is an annual scheme introduced in 2015 and scheduled to operate until 2019. As it is an annual scheme, applicants are required to submit an application for each scheme year. The person named did not submit an application to the 2018 Young Farmers Scheme by the closing date for receipt of applications of 15th May 2018. In April 2019, the person named contacted my Department to advise that he had not submitted his 2018 Young Farmers Scheme application due to human error on his part and requested that his application be accepted on appeal.
The person named was advised in writing on 16th April 2019 that his appeal for submission of a late application to the 2018 Young Farmers Scheme was unsuccessful. He was also advised that if he wished to further appeal this decision he may do so in writing to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office. The person named has now submitted an appeal to the Agricultural Appeals Office and my Department will await the outcome of that appeals process.
1154. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a 2014 appeal under the single farm payment scheme by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18779/19]
View answerThe person named submitted his 2013 Single Farm Payment form declaring a total of 76.02 ha in respect of 76.06 entitlements held. During standard processing of this application, over claims arose on 6 of the parcels declared and the found area was deemed to be 73.76ha. In line with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, a penalty was applied in this case on foot of these overclaims.
Following a request by the person named for a review, a field visit was arranged. As a result, the found area was increased to 74ha which left the shortfall at 2.02ha. Given this, a penalty is still applicable. However, the person named was due a supplementary payment as a result of the slightly increased eligible area and this issued on 24 March 2015.
An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named and a full review of the 2013 position will be carried out.
1155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding received from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development from 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18846/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to funding received from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is set out below:
|
Year |
Funding received from the EAFRD excluding those for LEADER |
Funding received from the EAFRD for LEADER |
|
2017 |
€169,090,615 |
€3,047,768 |
|
2018 |
€387,280,356 |
€13,862,440 |
|
2019 ( end April) |
€152,226,955 |
€5,042,221 |
This table shows the amounts received from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in respect of the RDP. The monies received in relation to LEADER are included in the Appropriations-in-Aid of the Department of Community and Rural Development while the funds for all other measures are included in my Department's Appropriations-in-Aid.
1156. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the meetings he has had with the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18847/19]
View answerI had my first meeting with Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom in London in December 2016 and followed this up with a further meeting in Berlin in January 2017.
I met her successor, Michael Gove, in London on 13 June 2018, having previously met with him on 15 March 2018 during my St Patrick’s Day visit to London. I stressed to the Secretary of State the mutual benefit of bilateral trade in agri-food and fisheries and the importance of an agreement which allows such trade to continue as seamlessly as possible without undermining the integrity of the single market. I also stressed the need to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, and to secure arrangements to give effect to this imperative which would provide certainty that in any circumstances, and no matter what the outcome of the negotiations on the EU-UK future relationship, a hard border would be avoided.
1157. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when letters of grant approval under the FLAG scheme will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18858/19]
View answerMy Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector for the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 18 schemes. The Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
The Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme is providing €12 million EMFF support to projects within coastal communities around Ireland. The Scheme aims to promote innovative approaches in coastal communities to create growth and jobs in those areas, in particular by adding value to fishery and aquaculture products and diversifying the local economy towards new economic activities, in particular those offered by blue growth and the broader maritime sectors.
There are seven Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAG) established around our coast and each has developed its own Local Development Strategy, tailored to the respective FLAG's territory. The Boards of the seven FLAGs determine which projects are to be selected for EMFF funding from their allocated budget. The FLAG Boards each meet periodically to review applications which have been submitted in their region. I am aware that a number of FLAG board meetings have taken place recently and that the FLAGs are actively notifying selected projects to Bord Iascaigh Mhara, who issue formal project approval. I expect to announce a tranche of EMFF FLAG grant awards later this month.
1158. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if concerns that milk prices here continue to perform poorly when compared with prices offered across the EU will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18864/19]
View answerThe Irish dairy market, following on from broader EU and international trends, is currently in a much improved position compared to the relatively recent past during the period 2014 - 2016. Of course, my Department remains extremely vigilant in monitoring the current market and emerging trends, particularly as we approach the peak period for Irish milk production.
The average milk price paid to Irish dairy farmers in 2018 was 34 cent per litre, which was higher than the average price paid across the EU of 33 cent per litre. More recently, the milk price in Ireland has been higher than 33 cent per litre during the early months of 2019.
In 2018, Ireland exported dairy products to approximately 140 countries totalling over €4.5 billion worth of produce, an increase of over 5% by volume compared to 2017.
My Department, in conjunction with other stakeholders, including the Irish dairy companies and agencies such as Bord Bia, are playing a key role in building the market for Irish dairy with intensive Ministerial trade mission programmes and other promotional activities. I will lead a trade mission to China next week, including a significant focus on dairy.
While the overall dairy sector is now in a much better place, particularly at the farm gate, the issue of intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder overhanging that particular market was a cause for concern in recent years, arising from the significant recourse to this market measure for skimmed milk powder across the EU from September 2015. However, figures from the European Commission show that there are now only approximately 1,000 tonnes of SMP remaining in public intervention stock, with over 370,000 tonnes having been sold out of intervention since March 2018.
I have clearly stated previously, at Council of Ministers meetings and elsewhere, that it is imperative that the Commission remains vigilant in monitoring the market and that it has contingencies in place in the event of market volatility re-emerging in relevant markets, particularly the raw milk, butter and skimmed milk powder markets.
Whilst challenges have continued throughout recent years, in particular price volatility, the long-term fundamentals of the global dairy market are strong, and the Irish dairy sector is well placed to gain from the opportunity presented by expanding global demand.
1159. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new procedure to be followed by private forestry owners when applying for felling licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18958/19]
View answer1160. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the detail of the recent changes in the felling licence application process; the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18960/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1159 and 1160 together.
The Forestry Act, 2014 was commenced on 24th May, 2014 and at the same time, I signed the Forestry Regulations, 2017. The Act and Regulations set out the provisions for licensing (consent) for afforestation and forest road applications, aerial fertilisation licensing and felling licences.
Changes to the tree felling licence process introduced on commencement of the Act were:-
- A single licence process for tree felling;
- An extension to the list of exempted trees to allow felling without a tree felling licence for trees outside of the forest in certain circumstances;
- Provision for felling licences of up to 10 years in duration, which may be extended for one or more further periods, not exceeding a total of 5 years;
- The introduction of timelines for processing felling licences;
- The advertising of applications for tree felling licences when received, on my Department’s website. Any person may make a submission or observation to my Department within 30 days from the date of the notice.
There have been no changes to the tree felling licence process since 24th May, 2017.
1161. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions taking place on the EU's proposals on moving from live animal exports to meat-and-carcase and germinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19017/19]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to a Resolution of the European Parliament on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, of 14th February 2019. This Resolution is advisory in nature. Paragraph 53 of this Resolution calls on the European Commission to develop a strategy to ensure a shift from live animal transport to a mainly meat-and-carcass and germinal products trade. The wider context of the Resolution is a concern for the welfare of animals being transported, a concern I fully share. I have stressed the importance of ensuring the highest welfare standards of animals in transit in my meetings with live exporters.
My Department maintains robust oversight of the welfare of animals exported from Ireland, through a comprehensive legislative framework. Irish legislation on sea transport is recognised by the European Commission as being among the most effective and stringent legislation in force on transport by sea. With regard to road transport, the Department does not approve journey logs from exporters for any live export where the destination country has an orange or red weather alert in place, or where a significant part of the transit route goes through an orange or red alert area. This is in addition to the annual ban on road transport of livestock to Greece, North Africa and Turkey during the months of July and August.
Furthermore, my Department continues to proactively contribute to efforts to improve animal welfare standards during transport. My Department is currently providing multiannual funding of €75,000 per year over four years to the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) towards the implementation of the second Action Plan of the OIE Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe, in relation to slaughter and transport, within Europe and between Europe and the Middle East and North Africa.
The European Parliament Resolution notes that in some Member States the live transport of animals, for further production or slaughter, is important to ensure competition in the marketplace. This is certainly the case in Ireland. Live exports are a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry. They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. The Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agri-sector, while ensuring the highest welfare standards. In 2018, the combined total value of live animal exports to the Irish economy was €161 million (€110 million for cattle; €49 million for pigs; €2 million for sheep) according to Bord Bia.
1162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a payment to a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19018/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware from previous recent PQs, a review by the Director of Agriculture Appeals Office of the decision of the Appeals Officer has been requested in this case in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001.
The Agriculture Appeals Office has indicated that requests for reviews are generally dealt with in order of receipt and that both the Department and the person named will be advised of the outcome when the review has been completed.
1163. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to complaints regarding cows loose on public roads in an area (details supplied); and his plans to rectify same. [19061/19]
View answerMy Department's inspectors are aware of the matter and have engaged with the individual involved over time, including the issuance of relevant notices.
Under the Animals Act 1985, it is an offence for a person to permit an animal to stray. A member of the Garda Síochána or local authority personnel may impound any animal found straying in accordance with the Act.
Future instances of straying in the area should be reported immediately to my Department, An Garda Síochána and the local authority.
1164. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason it will be compulsory for farmers to tag all sheep and lambs with electronic tags from 1 June 2019 onwards but it will not be mandatory for factories and marts to have the technology required to read the tags; the reason farmers are being forced to pay additional costs while still having to complete the same amount of paperwork as before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/19]
View answerIt is critical that Ireland as a major trading country has a robust identification and traceability system to ensure are our products have a viable future in the international marketplace. A robust traceability system will support our continued efforts to gain new export markets for Irish sheep meat.
As the Deputy will be aware, the introduction of mandatory EID is required as the current national sheep identification system is widely acknowledged to be very complex, with an over reliance on the manual transcription of individual sheep identification numbers. The extension of electronic identification will simplify the sheep tagging system by significantly reducing the record keeping requirements for sheep farmers moving sheep to livestock marts, slaughter plants and export assembly centres and will provide a more accurate and robust sheep traceability system in support of animal health and public health objectives and thus support the further development and sustainability of the sheep industry.
In acknowledgement of the additional costs imposed on farmers in the purchase of electronic tags, I introduced a one-off tag subsidy for farmers, subsidising by €1 the cost of each electronic tag purchased in the first tag order completed between 1st October 2018 and 30 September 2019 (up to a maximum of €100 per farmer). The first tranche of the four payments in this regard was made at end-January in respect of eligible tag orders completed between 1st October and 31 December 2018, where €375,000 was paid to 5,500 farmers while €314,605 was paid to 4,359 farmers earlier this month.
The provision of Central Points of Recording (CPRs) at marts and slaughter plants will make a very significant contribution to increasing the robustness of the National Sheep Identification System. My officials are working very closely with marts and slaughter plants to ensure that as many of these premises as possible will operate as CPRs with effect from 1st June. It is my understanding that the major sheep processing slaughter plants are making significant progress in this regard. Marts are similarly well disposed to operating as CPRs and are proactively engaging with the CPR process with a view to having facilities in place at the earliest opportunity. I accept that the upgrading of mart facilities to CPR standards will be an incremental process and I expect that a significant number of marts will be in a position to operate as CPRs in a relatively short period.
Where it is not feasible for marts to upgrade their facilities to CPR requirements, farmers can continue to move sheep to these premises by either printing out the tag numbers of the sheep to be moved for attachment to the relevant dispatch document or by continuing to record the individual number of each sheep presented to a non-CPR mart on the dispatch document.
The extension of EID to all sheep will further enhance traceability across the sheep sector and will assist in the Government's efforts to maintain and expand the export markets for Irish sheep meat. I will be visiting China later this month and Japan in June to build on the efforts made to date in pursuing market access and increasing market opportunities in line with Food Wise 2025 and our response to Brexit.
1165. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the furthest possible distance that a clinically suspect BSE cow can be transported on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/19]
View answerMy Department's surveillance programme for BSE is a key cornerstone in the robust controls on BSE and is made up of active and passive surveillance components. The programme is applicable to bovine animals in Republic of Ireland only.
BSE is a notifiable disease and, as such, there is a legal obligation on farmers and private veterinary practitioners to report cases of bovine animals with suspect clinical signs of BSE to my Department. In such circumstances, the clinical suspect animal is euthanised and the carcass is transported to Athlone Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL) for further sampling and samples are sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Backweston for further testing.
As all suspect BSE carcasses are transported to Athlone RVL for sampling, there is no limit on the distance the carcases can be transported.
1166. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the furthest possible distance that a cow that has tested positive for BSE can be transported on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19069/19]
View answerMy Department's surveillance programme for BSE is a key cornerstone in the robust controls on BSE and is made up of active and passive surveillance components. The programme is applicable to bovine animals in Republic of Ireland only.
The active surveillance component involves the testing of all fallen (died on farm) cattle over 48 months of age for BSE. This is carried out in a network of knackeries across the country by DAFM veterinary staff from the local regional veterinary offices. In the event of a positive result, the carcass is transported to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Athlone for further sampling and samples are sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Backweston for further testing. Progeny and age cohorts of any positive animals are culled as a precaution and tested for BSE.
As all positive BSE carcasses are transported to Athlone RVL for sampling, there is no limit on the distance the carcases can be transported.
1167. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if measures will be introduced to allow applications for funding to construct underpasses for the movement of livestock in view of the fact that it is a health and safety issue for farmers and road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19131/19]
View answerThe expenditure on TAMS II to date is over €128m and my Department continues to issue payments at a rate of over €1.2m every week. There are currently approximately 10,000 TAMs approvals which have yet to be claimed for payment and there is also a commitment in place to open more tranches of the scheme up to the end of 2020. It is expected that the budget of €395m for the period of the RDP will be fully spent.
The inclusion of additional items such as underpasses on the list of eligible items available for grant aid under could only be considered in the context of the overall budgetary position and I am not proposing their inclusion for the reasons outlined above.
1168. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payment under the national reserve will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19183/19]
View answerMy Department received an appeal on behalf of the person named on 25 April 2019 in relation to the loss of unused entitlements to the National Reserve. The Department will now examine this appeal and will issue a reply to the person named detailing the outcome of the appeal in the near future.
1169. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislation under which persons can obtain a licence to run a dog kennel. [19186/19]
View answer1170. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the checks carried out on dog kennels to ensure a minimum standard of care for animals; and the checks carried out to ensure that animals are not being neglected or treated cruelly. [19187/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1169 and 1170 together.
Most Boarding Kennels come under the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 which applies to any establishment with more than six female dogs capable of breeding. This legislation is overseen by the Department of Rural and Community Development. According to statistics published by that Department, there were thirty nine Commercial Boarding Kennels registered under the legislation at the end of 2017.
The licensing and inspection under this legislation is carried out by the relevant local authority.
1171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19190/19]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 and has received payments for scheme years 2015, 2016 and 2017.
An issue arose in relation to the Low Input Permanent Pasture (LIPP) action which has delayed the processing of the 2018 payment. The Department is actively working to resolve this issue. Once this case clears all the required validations, the 2018 advance payment will be made followed by the 2018 balancing payment. GLAS payments are continuing to issue on a weekly basis.
1172. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, II, tillage capital investment scheme, TCIS, review in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/19]
View answerThis application under the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme was subject to a one hundred per cent penalty due to the submission of receipts that were deemed to be ineligible under the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
A request by the applicant for a review of this decision has been received in the Department. A comprehensive review of the case will be completed and a decision will issue, in writing, to the person named when this review is finalised.
1173. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the export of beef to China over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19251/19]
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 Chinese market for Irish beef was opened in April 2018 and represented the culmination of significant work over a number of years. I am pleased that seven Irish beef plants are currently approved to export beef to China. By gaining access to the Chinese market, we have opened a very significant beef market for the industry. It is now up to the industry, with the assistance of my Department and Bord Bia, to avail of this opportunity.
According to Central Statistics Office (CSO) trade statistics, Ireland exported approximately €2.8 million (1,400 tonnes) of beef to China in 2018, with exports only commencing during the summer. This indicates that Irish beef companies are beginning to gain a foothold in the Chinese market.
In addition, Ireland has had beef access to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China for some time, and exported the following amounts over the last five years:
- €62.186 million (19,289 tonnes) in 2018
- €76.580 million (25,543 tonnes) in 2017
- €42.883 million (16,035 tonnes) in 2016
- €31.223 million (9,952 tonnes) in 2015
- €52.138 million (17,430 tonnes) in 2014
With regard to 2019, according to CSO trade statistics, Ireland exported approximately €1.9 million (695 tonnes) to China in the two month period January/ February which represents a very positive start to the year and I hope that this growth trend will continue throughout 2019. Exports to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region amounted to €9.7 million (3,400 tonnes) during the same period.
1174. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to address the problem of generational renewal within Irish agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19254/19]
View answerMy Department currently has a number of measures to support young farmers and generational renewal both at national and EU level.
Under the current CAP, the Young Farmers Scheme and the National Reserve provide financial support to young farmers and new entrants to farming during the crucial early years immediately following the setting up of a farm enterprise:
- 8,245 applications were received for the Young Farmers Scheme in 2018, with payments totalling €18.4 million issued to young farmers throughout Ireland.
- A further €31 million has been allocated since 2015 to young farmers under the National Reserve.
Additionally, under the TAMS II Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, co-funded under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, young farmers can avail of the enhanced grant rate of 60% as compared to the standard rate of 40%. Under this Scheme, €12.5 million was paid to approximately 1,300 young farmers in 2018.
There are also a number of national taxation measures specifically aimed at young farmers, specifically ‘100% Stock Relief on Income Tax for Certain Young Trained Farmers’ and ‘Stamp Duty Exemption on Transfers of Land to Young Trained Farmers’. These measures aim to increase land mobility and the productive use of land and to assist farm succession and transfer.
In 2017, I launched the 'Succession Farm Partnership Scheme'. This provides for a €25,000 tax credit over five years to further assist with the transfer of farms within a partnership structure, promoting and supporting the earlier intergenerational transfer of family farms. This scheme also encourages important conversations within farm families regarding succession planning.
Teagasc’s recent publication “Teagasc Education Vision – meeting future needs” outlines the importance of education for young farmers and the development of their skills through education and training. This core function of Teagasc is supported and funded by my Department.
I recently launched the Future Growth Loan Scheme with my colleagues. This is a long-awaited source of finance for young and new entrant farmers, especially the cohort who do not have high levels of security.
Supporting young farmers and generational renewal continues to be a priority for my Department and will form an important part of the CAP post-2020. My Department and I are actively engaging with other Member States and the EU on these issues during the current negotiations on new CAP proposals.
1175. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the Western Development Commission, which has estimated that the number of persons working in agriculture in the west has decreased by 41% in the past 20 years; if his Department holds similar data for the other regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19255/19]
View answerThe Western Development Commission's (WDC) report “Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Employment in the Western Region” uses national census population data from 1996 to 2016. As the data used is drawn from the Census of Population, it counts people who recorded their main economic status as being at work in a particular sector.
My Department uses statistics from a number of sources, including the Census of Agriculture, which is carried out by the CSO every ten years, the latest one in 2010. The table below shows the number of family farms based on the 1991, 2000 and 2010 agricultural census.
|
Agriculture Census - CSO - Family Farms |
1991 |
2000 |
2000/1991 % Change |
2010 |
2010/2000 % Change |
|
Clare |
8,229 |
6,720 |
-18% |
6,550 |
-3% |
|
Galway |
16,244 |
13,662 |
-16% |
13,445 |
-2% |
|
Leitrim |
4,516 |
3,724 |
-18% |
3,673 |
-1% |
|
Mayo |
14,909 |
12,537 |
-16% |
12,458 |
-1% |
|
Roscommon |
7,811 |
6,434 |
-18% |
6,313 |
-2% |
|
Sligo |
5,524 |
4,505 |
-18% |
4,395 |
-2% |
|
Donegal |
10,228 |
8,805 |
-14% |
9,240 |
5% |
|
Total farms in WDC area |
67,461 |
56,387 |
-16% |
56,074 |
-1% |
*Note some changes in CSO methodology after the 2000 Census of Agriculture
The WDC report shows that there were 24,448 people who recorded their primary economic activity as agriculture, forestry or fishing in 2011, while the Census of Agriculture found that there were 56,074 family farms in the western region in 2010. This suggests that many farmholders did not record farming as their main activity in the census.
The Teagasc National Farm Survey 2017 shows that 43% of farmers in the Border region and 39% of farmers in the West region had off-farm employment.
I think it is important that we take account of part-time farmers in terms of analysis and planning for the future, in order to assist these farmers to make their farming enterprise as efficient and profitable as possible.
1176. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for recruitment within the fertiliser section within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19305/19]
View answer1177. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for recruitment within his Department; the positions and vacancies due to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19306/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1176 and 1177 together.
My Department continually reviews staffing levels in all areas of operation in light of our business needs and delivery of overall Government policy. Within my Department, workforce planning processes are used as a tool to forecast current and future staffing needs and to ensure the right mix of skill sets is in place to deliver our goals.
My Department employs in the region of 3,200 staff across a range of disciplines and works closely with our recruitment partners, the Public Appointments Service to address our on-going recruitment needs in all areas of the Department. Recruitment campaigns are currently in place for all the main disciplines employed in my Department and skill sets can be sourced from these campaigns as required.
