Written Answers Nos. 960-979
960. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a green low-carbon agri-environment scheme payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3551/20]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received all payments in respect of scheme years 2015 to 2017 and the 2018 Advance payment (85%).
The person named was selected for an on farm inspection. This inspection has taken place and documentation is currently being finalised. Once this is completed, the 2018 Balance (15%) will issue and the application will move forward for processing of the 2019 Advance payment.
GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
961. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a felling licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3552/20]
View answerApplications for a tree felling licence and a forest road works licence were made on behalf of the person named in October, 2018.
All applications for forestry licences are examined by my Department to ensure that full information is provided. Upon initial examination, it was found that insufficient clarity on the layout of the road was provided in the application. The applicant and their registered forester were asked to provide further information, which would enable the Department to make a complete assessment of the application. This information was only received on 3 February, 2020.
On receipt of the required information, the application was returned to my Department’s Archaeologist and a report from that unit has been provided. The road and tree felling applications will now be fully assessed by the forestry inspectorate to ensure that they comply with regulatory requirements and decisions will issue in due course to the applicant and the registered forester.
962. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3553/20]
View answerThe 2019 Basic Payment Scheme application from the person named was received after the closing date.
An appeal has been submitted on behalf of the person named by his agricultural advisor. Officials from my Department have been in direct contact with the person named. Further information has now been requested and, once received, this case will be reviewed.
963. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3554/20]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for approval for grant-aid under the Lower Emissions Slurry Spreading Scheme of TAMS II on 24 October 2019. The application is currently undergoing administrative checks and once all checks are complete, processing will be finalised.
The person named will be informed directly, in writing, of the outcome of their application.
964. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address an animal welfare issue (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3569/20]
View answerFollowing reports from the public, the case referred to by the Deputy was investigated by officers of my Department. Despite weather conditions not being ideal, a veterinary examination of the animals did not disclose concerns regarding their welfare.
Any further information made available to my Department through the Animal Welfare Helpline will, of course, be investigated.
965. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants in each county for the calf investment scheme; the number still waiting for approvals and claim forms; the number and value of claims made in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3600/20]
View answerThe Calf Investment Scheme (CIS) provides grant-aid to farmers to purchase new equipment for a range of investments including calf feeders, computerised calf feeders and milk carts with mixers. Applications were accepted by my Department from 7 January to 28 January 2020.
All applications received under the Scheme have been acknowledged and are currently undergoing administrative checking.
Deposits/expenditure made on or after the date of submission and acknowledgement of an application are considered to be eligible expenditure under the terms and conditions of the scheme. Applicants should be aware, however, that there is no certainty that an eligible application will be approved, even where a deposit or expenditure has been paid. Therefore, such deposits/expenditure made prior to formal approval are at the applicants own risk.
No approvals or claim forms have issued to date.
966. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has the required information to proceed with the single farm payment appeal of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3605/20]
View answerThe person named submitted a late application for the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme. Medical evidence in support of the person's appeal has been received and reviewed. The appeal in this case has been accepted, and any payment due will issue shortly.
967. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3635/20]
View answerThe person in question submitted a late application for the 2019 BPS.
Officials from my Department have been in direct contact with the person named in relation to the submission of evidence in support of his appeal in this matter. Further information has now been requested and, once received, this case will be reviewed again.
968. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a beef exceptional aid measure scheme appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3673/20]
View answerThe Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been advised, however, that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure Scheme (BEAM) appeal was received on 2 December 2019.
The Appeals Office requested the file and a statement on the grounds of appeal from my Department and all relevant documentation have now been forwarded to the the Appeals Office.
I am advised that the appeal is to be assigned to an Appeals Officer shortly and that the Appeals Office will then be in contact with the appellant concerning the appeal.
969. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest data on the value of trade with the UK for agrifood products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3698/20]
View answerThe United Kingdom (Great Britain & Northern Ireland) is Ireland’s largest trading partner with 37.7% of total agrifood sector goods exported to the UK and 46.3% of agrifood goods imported from the UK in 2019.
In 2018, total agrifood exports to the UK were €5.6 billion (40.7%), while imports totalled €4.5 billion, (45.8%) giving Ireland a trade surplus with the United Kingdom of approximately €1.1 billion in agrifood goods.
Preliminary figures for 2019 indicate that exports to the UK decreased slightly to €5.47 billion in 2019, while imports from the UK increased to €4.65 billion, giving Ireland a trade surplus with the United Kingdom of approximately €820 million. Ireland’s top exports to the United Kingdom in 2019 were dairy products and beef, each of which accounted for over €1 billion in exports to the country.
The largest imports from the UK in 2019 were cereal and cereal preparations worth €730 million, dairy products at €607 million and beverages at €437 million.
The following table provide a full breakdown of trade with the UK during the period 2018 & 2019 in respect of both value and volume of goods based on CSO data. The 2019 data is provisional with final 2019 data available in mid-March.
|
Jan-Dec 2018 |
Jan-Dec 2019 |
|||||||
|
Imports from United Kingdom |
Imports |
Imports |
||||||
|
Agrifood category |
€000 |
Tonnes |
€000 |
Tonnes |
% Total value imports 2018 |
% Total value imports 2019 |
||
|
Cereal & cereal preparation |
702,492 |
1,057,944 |
729,935 |
953,089 |
16% |
22% |
16% |
21% |
|
Dairy Produce |
631,579 |
950,817 |
607,372 |
904,854 |
14% |
20% |
13% |
20% |
|
Beverages |
407,390 |
523,541 |
437,127 |
544,219 |
9% |
11% |
9% |
12% |
|
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa & Spices |
323,021 |
68,536 |
355,299 |
79,962 |
7% |
1% |
8% |
2% |
|
Miscellaneous Edible Products & Preparations |
327,911 |
137,482 |
334,220 |
146,567 |
7% |
3% |
7% |
3% |
|
Animal Foodstuffs |
313,183 |
736,474 |
280,226 |
611,409 |
7% |
15% |
6% |
13% |
|
Fruit & Vegetables Based Products |
253,970 |
176,416 |
260,338 |
189,671 |
6% |
4% |
6% |
4% |
|
Live Animals |
180,041 |
2,987 |
253,910 |
3,948 |
4% |
0% |
5% |
0% |
|
Fruit & Vegetables |
198,545 |
225,890 |
238,065 |
213,954 |
4% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
|
Fish |
179,273 |
50,399 |
185,482 |
48,969 |
4% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
|
Poultry |
169,304 |
48,627 |
178,043 |
51,317 |
4% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
|
Pigmeat |
160,705 |
48,453 |
158,696 |
51,583 |
4% |
1% |
3% |
1% |
|
Sugar, Sugar Preparation & Honey |
146,783 |
177,638 |
134,963 |
145,298 |
3% |
4% |
3% |
3% |
|
Beef |
120,904 |
61,977 |
111,733 |
26,145 |
3% |
1% |
2% |
1% |
|
Forestry |
97,799 |
338,909 |
103,576 |
334,004 |
2% |
7% |
2% |
7% |
|
Crude Animal & Vegetable Material |
67,507 |
33,668 |
72,784 |
48,585 |
2% |
1% |
2% |
1% |
|
Wood Based Products |
50,548 |
37,591 |
60,178 |
48,535 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
|
Vegetable Oils & Fats |
51,092 |
108,589 |
49,631 |
78,147 |
1% |
2% |
1% |
2% |
|
Sheepmeat |
25,994 |
4,930 |
32,661 |
6,373 |
1% |
0% |
1% |
0% |
|
Oilseeds & Oleaginous Fruit |
15,494 |
37,769 |
15,751 |
35,425 |
0% |
1% |
0% |
1% |
|
Other Meat & Meat Produce |
9,911 |
4,956 |
14,470 |
6,395 |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Egg |
12,320 |
8,987 |
12,796 |
10,598 |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Animal Oils & Fats |
11,988 |
12,665 |
10,439 |
12,947 |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Flax, Wool & Animal Hair |
5,889 |
1,233 |
6,738 |
3,027 |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Animal Skins & Furs |
541 |
21 |
888 |
209 |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Cotton |
34 |
8 |
178 |
113 |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Grand Total |
4,464,216 |
4,856,508 |
4,645,498 |
4,555,344 |
970. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a decision was taken to withdraw the prosecution of a person (details supplied) on charges of animal cruelty in Monaghan District Court in February 2020; if the original charges of the case will be published; and the reason they were withdrawn. [3708/20]
View answerThe decision not to proceed further with the prosecution in the case referred to was taken having regard to the full and individual circumstances of this case. Department officials had worked closely with the family of the individual concerned during 2018 and 2019 to bring about a satisfactory resolution of the animal welfare and related issues on this farm, and this positive and constructive engagement led to progressive resolution of the issues. The final resolution of all welfare and related issues was concluded to the full satisfaction of my Department in October 2019 and a further inspection in December 2019 confirmed the ongoing satisfactory situation on the farm.
Having reviewed all aspects of the case in consultation with relevant divisions within my Department, including legal services and local office management, a decision was taken by senior management not to proceed with the prosecution in this case. Animal welfare cases can be complex and difficult, with a range of human as well as animal factors to be considered, and I am grateful to all those who contributed to the successful resolution of this case.
It is important to clarify that Prosecutors are not legally compelled to pursue all prosecution cases to a final conclusion in the courts. Occasionally, there will be instances where the facts of a case are such that proceeding with a prosecution may not be considered desirable, appropriate or justifiable. Prosecution cases can be withdrawn for a variety of reasons. For example, decisions can be made to withdraw prosecutions based on legal advice, or as a result of a changes in circumstances or personnel of a business or the operator of a business, or because of a satisfactory resolution of the original issues that were the subject of the prosecution or, where appropriate, on humanitarian or compassionate grounds.
It is entirely a matter for the Department to decide when it is and when it is not appropriate to proceed with a prosecution against an individual. My Department takes its prosecutorial functions very seriously and exercises prudent and careful judgement in deciding how best to manage prosecutions brought in the name of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
971. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to address the ill treatment and bad husbandry of horses in the Dublin region (details supplied). [3731/20]
View answer972. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available in urban areas for horse welfare organisations to help them educate the owners of horses in the way in which to look after them and carry out veterinary inspections in order to address the ill health and malnourishment of many animals in the areas. [3732/20]
View answer973. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available to local authorities to build and maintain stables for horses being keep in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3733/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 971 to 973, inclusive, together.
My Department dedicates a substantial level of resources and funding to animal welfare. In December 2019, I announced the largest ever allocation of funding from my Department of €2.906m to 106 animal welfare organisations, a number of which undertake work with equines.
Regarding the urban horse issue, my Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. As an example, in the context of breeding, the DSPCA with financial assistance from my Department, continues to facilitate castration clinics and education programs in an effort to address the problem of over-breeding which can add to welfare issues.
Officials from my Department also sit on the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group with local authorities and relevant NGOs.
In 2018 and 2019, my Department also funded an equine welfare course aimed at horse owners, in particular those who have involvement with trotting/harness type animals. Four of these courses were run including one in Garristown, Co Dublin.
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences, the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. The local authorities may also prosecute offenders.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. If the Deputy wishes to pass on details of any cases of alleged neglect or cruelty that he is aware of, they will be fully investigated by my Department and appropriate actions, up to and including prosecution, may be taken.
The dedicated e-mail address and Helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: Call Save - 0761 064408, phone - 01 607 2379.
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
974. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ecologists in his Department dealing with forestry felling licences; if additional ecologists were redeployed to deal with the backlog of licences; the status of the recruitment of new ecologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3735/20]
View answerThe current backlog on forestry licensing is due to the development and introduction of new Appropriate Assessment procedures (AAP). The requirement for the procedures was outside my Department’s control and was a result of important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their interpretation in national courts and the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC). The new procedures now in place are robust, but workable within the legislation. The Department has had success at FAC oral hearings on appeals where the licence was granted under the new procedures.
There are currently two ecologists dealing with forestry licences. Two new ecology posts have been offered and accepted and the new ecologists will join the ecology team on a permanent basis imminently. Furthermore, my Department has published a tender to contract external ecological expertise. The closing date for this tender is 13th March, 2020. My Department has already engaged environmental consultants, who continue to work on the backlog of files. Four local ecologists are being deployed on contract this week, to provide extra support.
The steps being taken are taking effect with the number of felling licences issued in February showing a marked improvement on previous months, with a doubling of output in all three categories of felling, afforestation and roads.
975. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the implementation plan that was to follow the review of approval processes for afforestation in Ireland published in November 2019; the details of the engagement with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3736/20]
View answerMr. Jim Mackinnon, CBE was engaged by my colleague Minister of State, Andrew Doyle, TD in July 2019 to review the forestry licensing approval process. Mr. Mackinnon, a former Chief Planner with the Scottish Government, had completed a similar report for Scottish Forestry.
The review was informed by, among other things, discussions with a range of stakeholders including the forestry sector, farming organisations, the environmental pillar, State Bodies, Teagasc and the Forestry Appeals Committee. In addition, written submissions were received. Mr. Mackinnon presented an interim report to a wide stakeholder group at the Forestry Programme Implementation Group (FPIG) meeting on 10 October, 2019, which was chaired by Minister Doyle.
Mr. Mackinnon returned to present the final report to the FPIG on 16 January, 2020 at which the Department also presented a draft implementation plan in response to the 'Ways Forward' recommended. The members of the FPIG were asked to provide their feedback on the draft implementation plan, which has now been received by officials of my Department. That feedback is being considered with a view to reconvening the FPIG to discuss next steps in the process.
976. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions at the EU Agriculture Council of Ministers on funding for CAP post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3753/20]
View answer977. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he put forward at recent EU Agriculture Council of Ministers meetings on the need to ensure there is no reduction in funding for CAP post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3754/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 976 and 977 together.
The European Commission has proposed, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021 - 2027, an approximate cut of 5% to the CAP budget post-2020. The proposed cut is unacceptable for Ireland, and I have used every opportunity in the course of discussions on the CAP post-2020 to call for the budget to be maintained, including through engagement with Member State counterparts at the Council of Agriculture Ministers, and with Commissioners Hogan and Wojciechowski.
At the 2019 October Agri Fish Council, I joined with sixteen of my colleagues in reiterating the call we made in Madrid in mid-2018 for the post-2020 CAP budget to be maintained at current levels. I have also availed of every opportunity at Agri-Fish Council meetings to emphasize the fundamental importance of protecting the CAP budget, including most recently in January 2020, when the Council discussed the even higher level of climate change ambition that must now be reflected in Member States' CAP Strategic Plans in light of the new European Green Deal.
There are differing views among Member States on the appropriate level for the budget, with some Member States, including Ireland, indicating their willingness to increase their national contributions once they contribute towards areas of added European value, while others feel equally strongly that the current proposals would be too costly.
There is still some way to go before agreement can be achieved, and I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to ensure that protecting the CAP budget remains a key priority for Ireland as the negotiations progress.
Final agreement on the MFF proposals is ultimately a matter for Heads of State and Government, and requires unanimity by all Member States at the European Council.
978. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date on the proposals put forward by an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3755/20]
View answerFollowing a meeting between the Department and the Animal Collectors Association earlier this week, there has been a restoration of the fallen animal collection service.
The Department is confident that the supports contained in the new Fallen Animal Scheme will support the sustainability and viability of the Knackery industry and ensure a continued fallen animal collection service to the farming community.
979. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if changes to EU payments would have an additional cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3870/20]
View answerThe European Commission has proposed, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2021-2027, an overall cut of approximately 5% to CAP funding, which is comprised of a 3.9% cut to Pillar 1 (direct payments) and a 15% cut to Pillar 2 (rural development) funding. I have previously stated that this proposal is unacceptable for Ireland, and I have worked closely with Government colleagues, Member State counterparts and Commissioners Hogan and Wojciechowski to ensure that the CAP budget is protected for the next programming period.
In the case of Pillar 2 funding, under the current CAP programme, EU co-financing rates vary by intervention, but average at 53%. The MFF 2021-2027 proposals include an EU average co-financing rate of 43%. If agreed, this new co-financing rate would increase the amount of exchequer funding that has to be made available to fully draw down funding.
As already indicated, I have availed of every opportunity as the negotiations have progressed on the CAP post-2020 to call for the budget to be maintained. This is particularly important in the context of the increasing environmental demands being made of farmers as the level of climate ambition at EU level continues to rise, including on foot of the new European Green Deal announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Final agreement on the next MFF is a matter for Heads of State and Government, and requires unanimity by all Member States at the European Council. The proposed budget must also be agreed by the European Parliament.
