Written Answers Nos. 775-799
775. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land utilised for forestry here; the amount in public ownership and private ownership, respectively; the estimated acreage that is planted with Sitka spruce trees; the acreage planted with indigenous species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9141/20]
View answerAccording to the National Forest Inventory 2017, which is the up-to-date source of data available, the total forest cover is estimated to be 770,020 ha or 11% of the total land area of Ireland. Of the total forest area, 391,357 ha or 50.8% is in public ownership, mainly Coillte.
Sitka spruce is the most common species growing in Ireland, occupying 51.1% of the forest area or 343,310 ha. It is estimated that 178,980 ha of native woodland make up the national estate.
The need for diversity within the forest estate is of course well recognised. The target in the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 is therefore to plant 30% broadleaf species each year and, in 2019, the figure achieved was 25%, with 36% planted to end April this year. All new afforestation supported under the Forestry Programme, including sitka spruce plantations, must include 15% broadleaves. These broadleaves can also be planted along the forest edge to soften the visual effect of the main forest crop and also to provide an additional habitat. New plantations are also encouraged to include an Area of Biodiversity Enhancement which comprises of open spaces, retained habitat and widely spaced native trees. Their function is to conserve and encourage the development of diverse habitats, native flora and fauna, and biodiversity, to protect archaeological monuments and to facilitate an enhanced forest design.
The importance of conserving Ireland's native woodlands and of encouraging the planting of new native woodlands on 'green field sites' is a critical part of our approach to supporting forestry in Ireland. Under the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme, the appropriate restoration of existing native woodlands is funded, as is the appropriate conversion of existing non-native forests to native woodlands. Native woodland establishment attracts the highest grant and premium in the afforestation scheme, with €680 per hectare payable to the native woodland landowner for 15 years.
Furthermore, in order to make more attractive the native woodland scheme, the Department established a new Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF). Under this Fund, businesses are encouraged to part fund the establishment of native woodlands by means of a once-off additional payment of €1,000 per hectare. There has been a positive reaction from the business community to this scheme, with An Post, Microsoft, Aldi and Accenture already signed up and other businesses submitting formal expressions of interest in participating in the scheme.
776. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his considerations in respect of a compensation scheme for poultry farmers affected by avian influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9142/20]
View answerIn relation to the recent incidences of low pathogenic avian influenza to which the Deputy refers, there is no legal basis for mandatory compensation in respect of the particular subtype of the disease identified, as it is not of a subtype defined under the relevant EU legislation as notifiable.
However, my Department is currently exploring the potential for exchequer funding, in the context of the State Aid rules framework, to partially offset the costs of depopulation and rendering for those producers affected.
777. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has examined the way in which farmers can be paid for their role in capturing carbon on the farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9144/20]
View answerThe EU Farm to Fork strategy was launched recently. It includes reference to a new EU model of financially supporting farmers for sequestering carbon on their farms.
Under the EU Commission’s proposals for a new Common Agricultural Policy, there are options to provide support for environmental action on farms, through the establishment of eco schemes that would make a proportion of Pillar I direct payments conditional on additional environmental action, or by encouraging specific additional environmental action through schemes established in Pillar II Rural Development Programme Schemes. Such measures could reward action to increase carbon sequestration on farms, for example, by encouraging sustainable management practices to reduce carbon loss from land. Ireland has an abundance of peat based soils, much of which are a net source of carbon emissions at present.
The development of effective measures of this nature would require the establishment of a baseline to ensure that measures proposed delivered the additionality required.
My Department already supports afforestation, in a variety of configurations. Such planting can make an important contribution to carbon sequestration. The private sector may also have a role to play. An example of a positive development to date in this area is my Department’s ‘Woodland Environmental Fund’ where businesses can part fund the establishment of native woodlands on farms. The additional funding provided amounts to €1,000/ha and is paid directly to farmers. In return, businesses can declare the carbon captured by these trees against their carbon footprint. So far, Accenture, Microsoft, Aldi, Lidl, KBI Global Investments and An Post have participated in the scheme.
These and other possibilities will be considered in the context of developing a Strategic CAP Plan for Ireland for the period 2021 -2027, and having regard to our national and international climate change obligations.
778. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency measures he has put in place to support farmers in the event of a failure to reach agreement in the Brexit trade deal talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9145/20]
View answerMy Department's Brexit preparedness work has resulted in various measures being taken over the last three budgets to help the agri-food and fisheries sectors mitigate the impact of Brexit, including through the provision of low cost loans such as the €300 million Future Growth Loan Scheme and increased budgetary supports to Bord Bia for market diversification efforts in order to reduce the sector’s exposure to the UK market.
Budget 2020 made €110 million available as a first tranche to be deployed in the event of a hard Brexit to help farmers, fishermen and food SMEs navigate the challenges that a "No Deal" Brexit would present. These measures proposed the provision of immediate support for our beef sector (€85 million), support for a ‘tie-up’ scheme for our fishing fleet (€14 million), support for a Food Transformation capital investment scheme (€5 million with further funding from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation) and support to other sectors to improve competitiveness and environmental efficiency (€6 million). In light of the EU and UK agreeing the revised Withdrawal Agreement, these budgetary measures were not deployed.
Additionally, in 2019, my Department introduced the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) which was introduced in recognition of a very difficult year for the beef sector and a prolonged period of price uncertainty arising for various reasons, including Brexit.
My officials and I are continuing with our Brexit preparedness work, within a whole-of-Government effort, to ensure the best possible outcome for the agri-food and fisheries sectors. Over the coming months, this will include increased engagement and more focused communication with stakeholders around preparedness for a ‘no agreement’ outcome at the end of 2020, as well as an assessment of the potential economic impacts of such an outcome.
779. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received basic payments by county in 2019; the number who had penalties applied by county; the breakdown of the percentage penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9146/20]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form as follows.
This includes late application penalty cases that were received after the 2019 closing date.
Those applications that were received after June 10th 2019 are 100% late penalty cases and are included in the final column.
|
County |
No. Paid |
No. with No Penalty |
No. with Penalty |
No. with penalties Less than 10% |
No. with penalties between 10% and 20% |
No. with penalties between 20% and 30% |
No. with penalties between 30% and 40% |
|
CARLOW |
1,588 |
1,489 |
99 |
82 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
|
CAVAN |
4,706 |
4,535 |
171 |
142 |
9 |
8 |
2 |
|
CLARE |
5,901 |
5,544 |
357 |
310 |
18 |
10 |
6 |
|
CORK |
12,710 |
11,704 |
1006 |
824 |
79 |
42 |
14 |
|
DONEGAL |
8,292 |
8,024 |
268 |
197 |
32 |
9 |
4 |
|
DUBLIN |
609 |
544 |
65 |
53 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
|
GALWAY |
11,751 |
11,323 |
428 |
331 |
37 |
13 |
9 |
|
KERRY |
7,575 |
7,324 |
251 |
185 |
20 |
11 |
7 |
|
KILDARE |
2,036 |
1,889 |
147 |
123 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
|
KILKENNY |
3,311 |
3,087 |
224 |
201 |
11 |
4 |
0 |
|
LAOIS |
2,862 |
2,663 |
199 |
178 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,370 |
3,284 |
86 |
69 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
|
LIMERICK |
4,964 |
4,717 |
247 |
204 |
23 |
2 |
3 |
|
LONGFORD |
2,309 |
2,204 |
105 |
91 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
LOUTH |
1,458 |
1,396 |
62 |
52 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
|
MAYO |
11,248 |
10,589 |
659 |
563 |
42 |
20 |
7 |
|
MEATH |
3,746 |
3,492 |
254 |
217 |
12 |
10 |
0 |
|
MONAGHAN |
3,965 |
3,777 |
188 |
151 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
|
OFFALY |
2,921 |
2,745 |
176 |
155 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,555 |
5,346 |
209 |
179 |
16 |
5 |
1 |
|
SLIGO |
3,863 |
3,729 |
134 |
102 |
10 |
6 |
1 |
|
TIPPERARY |
6,749 |
6,279 |
470 |
410 |
26 |
11 |
2 |
|
WATERFORD |
2,345 |
2,150 |
195 |
170 |
10 |
6 |
1 |
|
WESTMEATH |
2,943 |
2,793 |
150 |
137 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
|
WEXFORD |
3,980 |
3,753 |
227 |
207 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,089 |
1,969 |
120 |
97 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
122,846 |
116,349 |
6497 |
5430 |
441 |
196 |
68 |
[Table cont]
|
County |
No. with penalties between 40% and 50% |
No. with penalties between 50% and 60% |
No. with penalties between 60% and 70% |
No. with penalties between 70% and 80% |
No. with penalties between 80% and 90% |
No. with penalties over 90% |
|
CARLOW |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
CAVAN |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
CLARE |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
|
CORK |
14 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
26 |
|
DONEGAL |
4 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
14 |
|
DUBLIN |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
GALWAY |
8 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
19 |
|
KERRY |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
17 |
|
KILDARE |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
KILKENNY |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
LAOIS |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
LEITRIM |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
LIMERICK |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
LONGFORD |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
LOUTH |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
MAYO |
2 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
|
MEATH |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
|
OFFALY |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
SLIGO |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
TIPPERARY |
2 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
13 |
|
WATERFORD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
WESTMEATH |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
WEXFORD |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
WICKLOW |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
64 |
28 |
25 |
16 |
5 |
224 |
780. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent Teagasc report on farm incomes; the measures he will introduce to support beef, dairy and sheep farmers in view of the projected loss of income for these sectors; the additional financial supports that will be provided at EU and national level in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9257/20]
View answerMy Department works closely with Teagasc on monitoring family farm incomes and we have been engaged on the possible income effects arising from the current COVID pandemic. In common with all economic forecasting at this time, because of the uncertainty around the extent and length of the shutdown, it is not possible to use conventional modelling, so a range of price decrease scenarios are explored. The Teagasc report examines the effect of price decrease scenarios on family farm incomes but is not forecasting price decreases or their extent.
The report's analysis of a range of scenarios (price decreases of 10, 15 & 20%) finds that income across the sector as a whole could, in the scenarios examined, drop relative to the income forecast for 2020 (in the absence of COVID-19); impacts on sector incomes could range from a drop of 22% (€0.7 billion) to as much as 50% (€1.6 billion).
As an essential service, the agri-food processing, manufactruring and retail sector has remained open and functioning over the period. However, the Irish agri-food sector exports some 90% of production. The food service industry across Europe is experiencing a near-total collapse in demand due to the temporary shutdown of the hospitality sector. While food retail demand has increased, it is not offsetting the decline in food services. This demand imbalance has significant consequences for primary producers and agri-food businesses. Prices to date have dropped; beef by about 8% and dairy by 6%. The recovery of food services and export markets globally are vital for the Irish agri-food sector. We will continue to monitor the actual outcome.
The agri-food sector is an essential part of the economic and social fabric of Ireland, especially in rural and coastal areas. I am working with all the agri-food stakeholders and ensuring that the sector, as our largest indigenous industry, is considered as part of the ongoing whole-of-Government response.
The response to the economic impacts on the sector should include a strong, shared EU response, using the instruments available in the Common Agricultural Policy. I have already highlighted to Commissioner Wojciechowski the serious consequences for farmers and the food industry and the need to ensure that the full range of market supports available under the Common Market Organisation Regulation are made available. Following Ireland’s efforts in leading an agreed EU-27 statement on the need for further supports, the Commission have introduced Aids to Private Storage for Dairy (SMP, Butter, Cheese), Beef and Sheepmeat.
I am also working with my colleagues in Government to ensure that all businesses, including those in the agri-food sector, get access to suitable supports, and the measures in place are being kept under review.
Working with my colleague Minister Humphreys, I have ensured that up to €180 million in new lending capacity is available for the agri-food sector: 40% of the €250 million COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme will be available for food businesses. Similarly, 40% of an additional €200 million tranche of the Future Growth Loan Scheme will be ring fenced to provide long-term investment support for farmers, fishers and food businesses. I continue to liaise with the banks on liquidity for the primary sector, and also want to highlight the availability of working capital assistance to farmers and fishers through Microfinance Ireland’s COVID-19 Business Loan. We will continue to keep the finance needs of the whole agri-food sector under review.
I have already provided €85m in supports for the beef sector in Budget 2020. This includes a €45 million provision for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme and €35m for a Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (Sucklers), which will deliver a maximum payment of €90 per suckler cow for the first 10 cows, and €80/head thereafter.
Conscious of the cash flow pressures on farms at present, I have brought forward €26m in GLAS payments by a month. Balancing payments under the Organic Farming scheme have also been brought forward. I have also increased funding in my Department’s Calf Welfare Investment Scheme from €1.5 million to €4 million, to assist farmers with extra calves. A range of practical flexibilities have been introduced in departmental schemes, including, for example, the extension of completion deadlines for TAMS by 3 months, and the submission for Nitrates records to the end of June.
My Department and agencies will continue to monitor the impacts on the agri-food sector as the situation evolves, and to provide appropriate supports to the sector. My Department remains in constant contact with stakeholders right across the sector to share information on emerging issues and contingency planning, and we will continue to develop appropriate supports as the situation evolves.
781. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on reviewing the tie-up scheme and the fact that the current start date of 1 June 2020 fails to recognise the previous six months of hardship suffered by the fishing industry due to the Covid-19 crisis. [9372/20]
View answer782. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the tie-up scheme provides for retrospection; and the steps he is taking following the amended EU Regulation 2020/560 of 23 April 2020 with specific measures to mitigate the impact of the Covid19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector. [9373/20]
View answer783. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the tie-up period of one month; and the way in which it is envisaged this period will relate to the objective of removing oversupply of product on the market. [9374/20]
View answer784. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he did not adopt proposals of applying 30% of the full grossing of the vessel in the same period in 2019 in view of the fact that this approach is being implemented in other jurisdictions. [9375/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 781 to 784, inclusive, together.
The Government's primary objective for our seafood sector throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic has been to maintain fishing activity so as to ensure critical food supply lines to the domestic and European markets. For this reason, the Government classified fishing as an essential service and kept the fishery harbours and related support services open throughout the Pandemic. This remains the primary Government objective in relation to the fishing industry.
I am very conscious of the disruptions to international seafood markets arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic and the impacts on our export markets and prices for our seafood. There are, of course, similar impacts across the food sector and indeed the wider economy. I have met with representatives of the fishing sector on a number of occasions throughout March and April to discuss how Government can assist the sector in this difficult period, bearing in mind Government's objectives outlined above, the universal income supports being made available by Government which are open to fishermen, and not least the capacity of Government to provide special supports to any one sector of our economy when businesses across the economy are facing many similar difficulties.
In response to intense lobbying from Member States and industry, the European Union amended the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation to make certain types of supports specifically relating to the impacts of Covid-19 eligible for EMFF aid under Member State's Operational Programmes, together with the existing array of supports for capital investment, innovation, marketing, and professional advisory services. However, no additional EU funds were made available to Member States to assist in implementing the new measures, so our capacity to use these measures is subject to the level of uncommitted funds remaining in Ireland’s EMFF Programme, and to the availability of uncommitted funds in BIM’s 2020 budget. It is important to note that BIM continues to pay out on grants previously awarded and seafood enterprises continue to apply for new EMFF grants, including some that cite Covid-19 as the reason for their proposed projects.
One of the measures made available by the EU in response to the Pandemic is aid for temporary tie-up of fishing vessels and, in my meetings with fishing representatives, selective tie-up aid was the overwhelming request for support in order to reduce the amount of fish being brought to market to match supply with demand and support prices. In response to those requests, I announced a Covid-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme on 8 May with three one-month tie up periods to commence on 1 June and end on 31 August. I will be reviewing the Scheme at the end of each month to ensure it is achieving its objectives and that market conditions continue to warrant its operation. It is necessary that each tie-up period is consistent with the fisheries quota management regime which makes quotas available to each vessel for a one month period. Given the objective of the scheme, it would not be appropriate to have vessels tie-up for say two weeks with tie-up aid and then land their quota in the remaining two weeks.
Bearing in mind the universal income supports being made available by Government and the banking measures that assist fishing enterprises with vessel mortgages and other borrowings during the Pandemic, there was widespread acceptance by fishing representatives in our discussions that a tie-up scheme should assist only the fixed costs of vessel owners while tied up. The Scheme I have put in place supports 100% of the fixed costs of fishing vessels across eight size categories and these figures come from the official EU Data Collection statistics gathered by BIM from information submitted by the fleet on their fixed costs. I am aware of the proposal put forward by the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation, that the Tie-up Scheme should provide aid equivalent to 30% of the gross earnings of vessels per month in 2019. However, that proposal is not consistent with aiding only the fixed costs of the vessels tie-up and would result in very significant over-compensation of the vessels involved. In addition, it would cost many multiple of the funds available to me to support the entire seafood sector with the impacts of the Pandemic.
While the EU Regulation allows for the possibility that aid could be retrospective, this would do nothing to assist in matching supply with demand or in supporting prices, as it would be aiding activities that have happened in the past. It is important to bear in mind that the Tie-up Scheme is not an income support scheme. The Government's Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme support the incomes of those who cannot work because of the Pandemic. Some other important considerations arise from the EMFF Regulation, which requires that vessels receiving aid for tie-up cease all fishing activity for the period concerned and Member States are required by law to ensure this is the case. This cannot be verified retrospectively for the majority of the fleet which are not equipped with on-board vessel monitoring systems.
In relation to aquaculture, my officials have met with Aquaculture sector representatives on a number of occasions, most recently on 22 May. It is worth recalling that aquaculture enterprises and their workers may avail of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or wage subsidy Scheme. The representatives of the sector agreed to reflect on the discussions and revert with a further submission which will seek to demonstrate how their enterprises are affected by the Pandemic in ways that are not common to businesses in the wider economy and which might warrant a special sector specific intervention by Government.
785. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the deaths and injuries of greyhounds at tracks here from 1 January to 31 December 2019. [9376/20]
View answerBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon and therefore the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
786. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown by month and track of all greyhound drug testing since 2015, in tabular form as a percentage of starters at each track. [9377/20]
View answerBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon and therefore the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
787. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the way in which funding for piers and other marine infrastructure projects is prioritised; and the consideration that is given to small piers in supporting coastal and island communities. [9378/20]
View answer788. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of funding granted for piers and marine infrastructure projects in each local authority for the period January 2015 to April 2020, in tabular form. [9379/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 788 together.
My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
Responsibility for the maintenance and development of Local Authority-owned harbours and piers rests with each individual Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter.
My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
Each year, Local Authorities are invited to submit prioritised lists of projects for consideration to be included in the annual capital programme. All applications for funding made by Local Authorities in respect of qualifying projects are then assessed, taking into account compliance with the criteria of the scheme, the priority attached to each project by the relevant Local Authority, the funding available, and the need to ensure a broad geographical spread of projects. Since 2015, my Department has provided funding of over €13 million to 13 coastal local authorities for development and maintenance works.
The table contained in the link outlines funding allocated by my Department and the funding drawn down by each Local Authority in the years 2015 to 2020. The figures for 2015 and 2016 also include Storm Damage funding, which was additional funding to assist Local Authorities in repairing piers and harbours and eligible marine infrastructure owned by them, which were damaged by storms.
789. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on legislation that would ban hare coursing. [9380/20]
View answerCoursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon. Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the ICC. The organisation consists of 89 affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom must abide by the ICC’s rules and regulations.
The granting of licences for the netting and tagging of hares is a matter for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht – National Parks & Wildlife Service. One of the conditions of these licences is that hares can only be collected for coursing by those clubs which are affiliated to the ICC and must be done in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of these licences.
A monitoring committee on coursing is in place, comprising officials from my Department, the ICC and the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), to monitor developments in coursing and, in that regard, the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a well-controlled and responsible manner in the interests of both hares and greyhounds.
The committee meets after each coursing season to review the outcome of all coursing meetings, having particular regard to hare and greyhound welfare.
I believe that it is critically important that those involved in coursing operate in accordance with the regulatory framework and that the welfare of both hares and greyhounds is at the forefront at all times. I have no plans at present to alter this arrangement.
790. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on encouraging Coillte to designate as many forests as possible across the country to be for recreational and biodiversity use only in view of its recent announcement regarding nine Dublin forests. [9381/20]
View answerCoillte is operationally independent of my Department and matters such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
I have therefore passed the question raised by the Deputy to Coillte for response and direct reply to the Deputy.
791. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of EU countries to which his attention has been drawn as having applied for an emergency exemption to allow for the continued use of the herbicide diquat (details supplied); if he will apply for an exemption on behalf of Ireland; if his Department has carried out an assessment of the impact that the removal of the herbicide will have on the potato sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9416/20]
View answerCurrently, four Member States (Finland, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia) have issued emergency authorisations for the use of products containing diquat, including for the destruction/desiccation of haulm in potato crops. It is within the competence of individual Member States to issue such approvals, under Article 53 of Regulation EC No 1107/2009.
Diquat was non-approved in the EU due to risks identified by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) in the areas of human health and the environment. It is important to point out also that when the decision to non-approve this substance was taken, various risk mitigation options were evaluated but could not be shown to allow safe use.
In making a decision in respect of any emergency authorisation, my Department carefully considers the specific reasons why use of a product may be sought and potential impacts on human and environmental health that could arise from its use. Due to the risks identified during the recent assessment process, it is not proposed to issue emergency approval at this time.
I understand that both Teagasc and the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board in the UK have carried out trials with alternative products and also physical removal of haulm by flailing.
792. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which provisions are being made to ensure social distancing in meat processing plants nationwide; the extent to which the onslaught of Covid-19 is under control in processing plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9458/20]
View answerA national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department is represented on this committee and it is expected that recommendations, including any in relation to testing, will issue from this group in due course. Any clusters of cases in individual meat plants, in common with clusters in other workplaces, are dealt with by local HSE-led outbreak control teams.
My Department staff and its contractors are following HSE Guidelines in relation to measures taken to maintain social distancing within the meat plant environment
Food Business Operators have put in place a range of protective practices and equipment to protect employee safety and these measures may vary slightly from plant to plant, but may include the reduction of throughput rates at the plant, temperature checks on entry into the plant, the extension of operating hours and other safeguards such as “podding”, the provision of additional PPE, the use of Perspex screens and the provision of additional facilities to support physical distancing measures.
793. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the latest EU level discussions regarding fisheries in upcoming Brexit negotiations and the latest reports (details supplied) that the UK wants to replace relative stability with zonal attachment; and the position Ireland has taken on this at EU level. [9488/20]
View answerOn Tuesday 26th May last, I participated in a video meeting with Chief Negotiator on the Task Force for the Negotiations with the United Kingdom, Mr Michael Barnier, and the EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, in relation to fisheries negotiations with the UK. Fisheries Ministers from Member States most impacted by the UK withdrawal from the EU were also in attendance, including Ministers from France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium.
At the meeting, Mr Barnier updated Member States on the state of play in the negotiations on a fisheries agreement with the UK after three rounds of discussions have been completed. The meeting focused on the EU negotiating mandate for these discussions which sets down very clearly the EU position to 'uphold existing reciprocal access conditions, quota shares and traditional activity of the Union fleet'.
I, and my European Ministerial colleagues, welcomed Mr Barnier’s strong commitment to the linkage between all the parts of these complex negotiations and, specifically, the link between the overall economic partnership and the conclusion of a fishing agreement.
I very much welcome this detailed briefing from Mr Barnier on the current state of play in the fisheries negotiations. The fourth round of negotiations commenced on 2 June and it was very useful to hear directly from Mr Barnier about the issues arising and the challenges involved.
I would like to assure the Deputy that, at this meeting, I reiterated Ireland’s full commitment to the EU negotiating mandate and delivering an outcome that upholds our existing access and quota shares. That position was also supported by all other Ministers in attendance. The hard work done to date by Mr Barnier and his team gives confidence that Irish and EU fishing interests will continue to be robustly defended in the negotiations.
794. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the main elements of the EU Commission farm to fork and biodiversity strategies; if his Department will undertake an analysis of both strategies with respect to the impact on farm incomes, the environment and on the agrifood sector here; and the likely timeframe for the final strategies to be agreed at EU level and timetable for impact assessments to be carried out. [9489/20]
View answerI note the publications of both the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Biodiversity 2030 Strategy on 20 May 2020. Both are very ambitious but also challenging and provide a very clear pathway for delivering on the ambitions within the EU Green Deal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
The successful delivery of these strategies and the overall ambition of the Green Deal will require, among other things, a strong CAP as farmers are being asked to do more, to innovate more, and to adopt new green technologies and practices. In return, we must ensure that farming provides a decent income. In that regard my officials are carefully considering the recent revised proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework and the implications for the budget for the new CAP.
Officials in my Department are considering the Farm to Fork Strategy in the overall context of developing 'Ag Climatise', our climate roadmap out of 2030, which will be published this year.
The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal and recognises the inextricable links between healthy people, healthy societies and a healthy planet. Ireland’s reputation for safe, sustainable and nutritious food is recognised worldwide and I will continue to ensure that we have a sustainable food production system that contributes in a positive way to climate action while, at the same time, producing high quality and safe food for local, regional and global markets.
Internationally, Ireland has one of the most carbon efficient systems of food production in the EU and will continue to focus on sustainability right across the supply chain. Demand for Irish agricultural produce is largely driven by the quality appeal of the food produced here, with its low environmental footprint, its grass based system of production, and strict traceability and welfare criteria – all fundamental pillars of the Farm to Fork strategy.
The Biodiversity Strategy is seen as complimentary to Farm to Fork with nature restoration as a central element of the EU’s recovery plan.
Rigorous impact assessments, and broad consultation is fundamental to ensuring that the competitiveness and financial viability of food production systems are maintained and enhanced while at the same time increasing the environmental benefits to economies and societies.
I look forward to reviewing the content in detail and working with all the key stakeholders in Ireland to ensure that we continue to be a global leader in sustainable food production systems.
795. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the opinion of four fish producer organisations (details supplied) that the Covid-19 voluntary fleet tie-up scheme announced by him is inadequate to meet the needs of the sector; and if he will engage with the producer organisations in order to amend the scheme. [9579/20]
View answerThe Government's primary objective for our seafood sector throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic has been to maintain fishing activity so as to ensure critical food supply lines to the domestic and European markets. For this reason, the Government classified fishing as an essential service and kept the fishery harbours and related support services open throughout the Pandemic. This remains the primary Government objective in relation to the fishing industry.
I am very conscious of the disruptions to international seafood markets arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic and the impacts on our export markets and prices for our seafood. There are, of course, similar impacts across the food sector and indeed the wider economy. I have met with representatives of the fishing sector on a number of occasions throughout March and April to discuss how Government can assist the sector in this difficult period, bearing in mind Government's objectives outlined above, the universal income supports being made available by Government which are open to fishermen, and not least, the capacity of Government to provide special supports to any one sector of our economy when businesses across the economy are facing many similar difficulties.
In response to intense lobbying from Member States and industry, the European Union amended the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation to make certain types of supports specifically relating to the impacts of Covid-19 eligible for EMFF aid under Member State's Operational Programmes, together with the existing array of supports for capital investment, innovation, marketing, and professional advisory services. However, no additional EU funds were made available to Member States to assist in implementing the new measures, so our capacity to use these measures is subject to the level of uncommitted funds remaining in Ireland’s EMFF Programme, and to the availability of uncommitted funds in BIM’s 2020 budget. It is important to note that BIM continues to pay out on grants previously awarded and seafood enterprises continue to apply for new EMFF grants, including some that cite Covid-19 as the reason for their proposed projects.
One of the measures made available by the EU in response to the Pandemic is aid for temporary tie-up of fishing vessels and, in my meetings with fishing representatives, selective tie-up aid was the overwhelming request for support in order to reduce the amount of fish being brought to market to match supply with demand and support prices. In response to those requests, I announced a Covid-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme on 8 May with three one-month tie up periods to commence on 1 June and end on 31 August. I will be reviewing the Scheme at the end of each month to ensure it is achieving its objectives and that market conditions continue to warrant its operation. It is necessary that each tie-up period is consistent with the fisheries quota management regime which makes quotas available to each vessel for a one month period. Given the objective of the scheme, it would not be appropriate to have vessels tie-up for say two weeks with tie-up aid and then land their quota in the remaining two weeks.
Bearing in the mind the universal income supports being made available by Government and the banking measures that assist fishing enterprises with vessel mortgages and other borrowings during the Pandemic, there was widespread acceptance by fishing representatives in our discussions that a tie-up scheme should assist only the fixed costs of vessel owners while tied up. The Scheme I have put in place supports 100% of the fixed costs of fishing vessels across eight size categories and these figures come from the official EU Data Collection statistics gathered by BIM from information submitted by the fleet on their fixed costs. I am aware of the proposal put forward by the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation that the Tie-up Scheme should provide aid equivalent to 30% of the gross earnings of vessels per month in 2019. However, that proposal is not consistent with aiding only the fixed costs of the vessels tie-up and would result in very significant over-compensation of the vessels involved. In addition, it would cost many multiple of the funds available to me to support the entire seafood sector with the impacts of the Pandemic.
While the EU Regulation allows for the possibility that aid could be retrospective, this would do nothing to assist in matching supply with demand or in supporting prices, as it would be aiding activities that have happened in the past. It is important to bear in mind that the Tie-up Scheme is not an income support scheme. The Government's Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme support the incomes of those who cannot work because of the Pandemic. Some other important considerations arise from the EMFF Regulation, which requires that vessels receiving aid for tie-up cease all fishing activity for the period concerned and Member States are required by law to ensure this is the case. This cannot be verified retrospectively for the majority of the fleet which are not equipped with on-board vessel monitoring systems.
796. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been spent on advertising in 2020 by his Department and its agencies on social media platforms (details supplied) in tabular form; and the name of each campaign advertised. [9831/20]
View answerMy Department provides public information about the Department's wide range of schemes, services and policies. Social media is one of the channels used to communicate this information.
To date in 2020, my Department has included advertising on the social media platform, Facebook, as part of two wider public information campaigns - a public consultation on a Draft National Climate & Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector to 2030 and Beyond and an information campaign for applicants to the Basic Payment Scheme 2020 and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Suckler.
The information requested is outlined in tabular form as follows.
|
Social media platform |
Amount spent excl. VAT |
|
|
€440.86 |
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have therefore referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue to him within 10 days.
797. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding provided to Louth County Council for diesel sludge removal and treatment in 2018 and 2019, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9105/20]
View answerEnforcement relating to illegal diesel laundering activities is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners, from the point of view of avoiding loss of revenue to the Exchequer. My Department assists local authorities in carrying out their role as competent authorities under waste legislation, which is to take the necessary measures, on behalf of the State, to ensure that any waste generated and left abandoned by diesel launderers is disposed of, without endangering human health and without harming the environment.
My Department have reimbursed local authorities for the clean-up costs associated with almost 1,200 incidents of diesel laundering waste dumping since 2008. Details of the amounts provided by my Department to Louth County Council for 2018 and 2019 are set out in the following table.
|
Louth County Council |
Incidents |
Costs |
|
2018 |
26 |
€166,216 |
|
2019 |
42 |
€199,445 |
798. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the supports that have been offered in respect of a case (details supplied) in view of recent developments; the status of the matter; the agencies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8314/20]
View answerMy Department was informed in April 2020 that a drone survey commissioned by Gyproc to monitor potential ground subsidence at the disused Drumgoosat gypsum mine in Co. Monaghan, identified a 6m wide crownhole. The crownhole is located within an area of previous (2018) subsidence and is some 280 metres from the nearest road or house. Gyproc continues to closely monitor the situation and my Department continues to work with Monaghan County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the situation at Magheracloone is managed satisfactorily.
799. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of electric vehicle fast charging points in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; if matters raised by a person (details supplied) in correspondence will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8319/20]
View answer829. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of electronic car charging points in County Monaghan; the locations of same; his plans for new charging points in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 799 and 829 together.
Under the first call for applications from the Climate Action Fund, I approved funding of up to €10 million to support ESB eCars to develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle fast charging network. ESB eCars will also contribute an additional €10 million to support the roll out of this initiative.
Since the project began in September 2019, ESB has focused on the replacement of aging problematic chargers in the existing network which results in new charging points being established. Since October 2019 three Standard AC chargers have been replaced in County Cavan, with a further ten being replaced in Counties Meath (7) and Monaghan (3).
In the last week, with the easing of Covid 19 restrictions, standard AC chargers in Kells and Cavan Town have been replaced with new DC Fast chargers, providing much higher charging speeds. There are currently two fast chargers and five Standard AC chargers in Monaghan county. Three of these have recently been replaced.
The locations of ESB eCars charge points presently in Co Monaghan are listed as follows.
|
Standard |
Fast |
|
Old Cross Square, Monaghan Town, Monaghan |
Circle K service station, Emmyvale Road, Coolshanagh, Monaghan Town |
|
Off Thomas Street, Castleblaney, Monaghan |
|
|
Market Street, Carrickmacross, Monaghan |
|
|
Louis Convent, Castle Street, Carrickmacross, Monaghan |
|
|
Town Centre Car Park, Off Fermanagh Street, Clones, Monaghan |
|
More multi-fast charger sites are currently in the planning phase for locations across the country and will be delivered in the coming months. These sites are being selected based on a range of factors including the level of traffic, current charge point usage (if applicable), electrical grid capacity, site host terms of agreement, rest facilities available, accessibility and the physical space at the site for the required equipment.
The charge point replacements including total AC charge points for the three counties are set out in the following table:
|
County |
AC Charger Replacements Each With Two Points |
Total AC Charge Points |
|
Cavan |
3 |
6 |
|
Meath |
7 |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
6 |
When it comes to home charging the Government currently provides up to €600 to support the costs of installation which covers a significant proportion of the average installation cost of a home charger.
