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Tuesday, 28 Jul 2020

Written Answers Nos. 673-692

Organic Farming

Questions (673)

Matt Carthy

Question:

673. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of farmland under organic management by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/20]

View answer

Written answers

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department are currently collating the information requested and I will respond to the Deputy within 10 days.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
Further to parliamentary question no. 19193/20, please see the following information requested regarding the percentage of farmland under organic management by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019.
Please note that the statistics given are based on declarations made by farmers annually on the Basic Payment System and will not include any farmland under organic management for which no basic payment application is made. It is important to also clarify that the percentage of farmland under organic management by county includes land that has organic status and land which is in the process of conversion to organic status.
% of farmland under organic management

County

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Carlow

0.19%

0.19%

0.19%

0.18%

0.30%

0.32%

Cavan

2.20%

2.29%

2.23%

2.17%

2.54%

2.43%

Clare

1.45%

1.45%

1.47%

1.37%

1.43%

1.31%

Cork

1.61%

1.76%

1.65%

1.58%

1.66%

1.65%

Donegal

0.67%

0.75%

0.72%

0.81%

0.99%

0.77%

Dublin

0.41%

0.48%

0.54%

0.49%

0.91%

1.02%

Galway

1.52%

1.66%

1.50%

1.60%

1.71%

1.67%

Kerry

1.37%

1.61%

1.62%

1.62%

1.76%

1.56%

Kildare

1.14%

1.03%

0.98%

0.97%

1.26%

1.22%

Kilkenny

0.96%

1.02%

0.97%

0.99%

1.15%

1.09%

Laois

1.66%

1.81%

1.81%

1.78%

2.08%

2.13%

Leitrim

3.02%

3.26%

3.32%

3.20%

3.78%

3.39%

Limerick

2.07%

2.08%

2.09%

2.05%

2.13%

2.11%

Longford

1.41%

1.64%

1.57%

1.51%

1.60%

1.61%

Louth

0.14%

0.30%

0.29%

0.30%

0.53%

0.47%

Mayo

0.53%

0.59%

0.58%

0.53%

0.57%

0.52%

Meath

0.77%

0.75%

0.73%

0.73%

0.74%

0.73%

Monaghan

0.78%

0.81%

0.77%

0.84%

1.09%

1.03%

Offaly

1.81%

2.00%

2.05%

1.97%

2.09%

2.11%

Roscommon

4.32%

4.45%

4.44%

4.44%

4.55%

4.55%

Sligo

1.00%

1.12%

1.26%

1.25%

1.57%

1.50%

Tipperary

1.52%

1.51%

1.45%

1.42%

1.48%

1.44%

Waterford

0.78%

0.77%

0.72%

0.72%

0.79%

0.78%

Westmeath

2.31%

2.40%

2.27%

2.21%

2.20%

2.24%

Wexford

0.70%

0.68%

0.70%

0.70%

0.78%

0.80%

Wicklow

1.38%

1.48%

1.56%

1.50%

1.56%

1.49%

Livestock Issues

Questions (674, 675)

Matt Carthy

Question:

674. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all materials, reports, correspondence and briefings in relation to considerations to introduce mandatory electronic identification for cattle will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/20]

View answer

Matt Carthy

Question:

675. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if available reports, briefings, reports or correspondence with regard to potential costs to farmers as a result of introducing mandatory electronic identification for cattle will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19195/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 674 and 675 together.

The Department has engaged in preliminary work on the scope for the possibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification (EID) of bovines against a background of the benefits that could accrue to stakeholders including the Department and introduction of EU Animal Health Regulation which will become operational on 21 April 2021. This is an ongoing deliberative process. The development of a plan to implement EID will require consultation with all relevant stakeholders including the farming organisations.

The use of EID tags has the potential to deliver a substantial improvement in the bovine identification system for farmers, livestock marts, slaughter plants, export assembly centres, veterinarians and the Department. The electronic scanning of bovines presented at outlets such as marts and factories will assist a move to a paperless system and enable accurate data capture facilitated by automated reporting of animal movements to the AIM system and thus improving the speed, reliability and accuracy of the traceability system.  EID in bovines has the capacity also to provide a safer working environment for all stakeholders.

The cost of bovine identification tags is set by approved tag suppliers. The current additional cost to farmers of purchasing an electronic identification tag is between €1.05 - €1.11 per animal.

Environmental Schemes

Questions (676)

Matt Carthy

Question:

676. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recipients and the amount received by recipient of funding under the pearl mussel scheme by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19196/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Pearl Mussel Project is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Pearl Mussel Project Team. The information below is sourced from the Project Team.

The breakdown per county of payments made are shown below. These payment levels reflect year one of the programme and the environmental quality on the ground. This is very much a baseline level prior to farmers carrying out any supporting actions or management adjustments.

County

Number of participants paid

Amount paid total

Cork

37

€60,819

Donegal

12

€11,794

Galway

83

€145,962

Kerry

157

€357,642

Mayo

52

€71,951

Environmental Schemes

Questions (677)

Matt Carthy

Question:

677. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body the new land parcel map of grasslands and bogs is being developed by and in conjunction with; the reason a guide (details supplied) was chosen to define grassland; the manner in which it is subject to change; the parameters being used for the definition of bog; and if materials, reports, correspondence or briefings in relation to the matter will be provided. [19197/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is currently involved in the preparation of a National Land Cover map as part of a project led by Ordnance Survey Ireland, in co-operation with several agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The group of technical experts have agreed that the Fossitt classification system, is appropriate with adaptations, to suit the provisions of remote sensing data. It is expected that this work will continue into at least the medium term, and it is not intended to make the documentation sought available at this time.

Beef Industry

Questions (678, 694)

Matt Carthy

Question:

678. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with An Bord Bia in relation to Northern Ireland being part of the Irish beef protected geographical indication, PGI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19198/20]

View answer

Matt Carthy

Question:

694. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all materials, correspondence, reports and briefings relating to the An Bord Bia application for PGI status of Irish beef will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19215/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 678 and 694 together.

PGI status requires products to be produced in accordance with a particular technical specification and producers are required to meet that specification. This is in addition to the legal requirements applying to food production in EU Member States.

My Department officials have been working with Bord Bia on the various technical and legal aspects of a draft PGI application for 'Irish Grass Fed Beef', and that process is on-going. The application is being made by Bord Bia on behalf of the Irish beef sector, and I will be familiarising myself with the details at an early date.

I understand that the draft application proposes  that the controls already in place for the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) will be used as part of the control regime to verify production of ‘Grass Fed Irish Beef’. Beef farmers in Northern Ireland are not members of the SBLAS.

In regard to the Deputy's request for all materials, correspondence, reports and briefings relating to the Bord Bia application, these are part of an ongoing deliberative process.

Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme

Questions (679)

Matt Carthy

Question:

679. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of successful applications to the BEEP scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the average amount received by applicant by county by quarter in the same period in tabular form. [19199/20]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.

The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) started in 2019. Accordingly, there were no payments for the preceding years 2015 to 2018.

Also included are the number of applicants under the BEEP-Suckler Scheme. Payments are not due to issue under this Scheme until later in 2020.

County

Applicants

BEEP 2019

Average Payment

BEEP 2019 €

Applicants

BEEP S 2020

Carlow

266

1,067

337

Cavan

921

735

1,389

Clare

1,463

805

2,195

Cork

1,406

831

1,803

Donegal

903

554

1,504

Dublin

55

966

63

Galway

2,060

748

3,003

Kerry

959

645

1,263

Kildare

216

1,074

312

Kilkenny

524

1,207

636

Laois

511

1,132

633

Leitrim

636

510

1,088

Limerick

608

828

772

Longford

571

772

876

Louth

179

976

213

Mayo

1,756

585

2,654

Meath

451

1,106

629

Monaghan

640

666

998

Offaly

475

1,055

605

Roscommon

1,112

710

1,721

Sligo

797

598

1,077

Tipperary

853

1,079

1,114

Waterford

291

1,237

309

Westmeath

589

1,032

892

Wexford

460

1,213

597

Wicklow

314

1,047

405

Sheep Welfare Scheme

Questions (680)

Matt Carthy

Question:

680. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of successful applications to the sheep welfare scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the average amount received per applicant by county and by quarter in the same period in tabular form. [19200/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Sheep Welfare Scheme is a four year scheme that was introduced by my Department in 2016 and runs from 2017 - 2020.

Initial payments under the scheme commenced in November 2017. Payments under the scheme are in the form of an advance payment which issues in Quarter 4, and a balancing payment which issues in Quarter 2 of the following year. As such, payments do not issue per quarter and there is no payment information prior to November 2017. The advance payments have been paid at a rate of 85% in the first three years of the scheme, with the remaining 15% paid at balancing payment stage.

Please see outlined in the tables below the number of applications which received payment under the scheme from 2017, by county, the total amount paid in each county and the average payment per applicant in each county.

Payments for the 2020 scheme year will not be made until Q4 this year. 

2017 Scheme Year

County

Year

Number  paid

Amount Paid

Average payment per applicant

Carlow

2017

446

€568,616.70

€1,274.93

Cavan

2017

443

€294,555.70

€664.91

Clare

2017

222

€86,241.90

€388.48

Cork

2017

1,032

€910,662.23

€882.42

Donegal

2017

3,637

€2,299,394.49

€632.22

Dublin

2017

108

€116,489.60

€1,078.61

Galway

2017

2,470

€2,008,600.72

€813.20

Kerry

2017

1,718

€1,948,970.70

€1,134.44

Kildare

2017

384

€541,605.82

€1,410.43

Kilkenny

2017

307

€360,025.30

€1,172.72

Laois

2017

263

€226,846.05

€862.53

Leitrim

2017

697

€564,399.20

€809.75

Limerick

2017

95

€95,396.70

€1,004.18

Longford

2017

230

€170,715.10

€742.24

Louth

2017

239

€270,858.49

€1,133.30

Mayo

2017

3,061

€2,181,238.01

€712.59

Meath

2017

586

€747,967.06

€1,276.39

Monaghan

2017

229

€174,246.23

€760.90

Offaly

2017

298

€306,671.83

€1,029.10

Roscommon

2017

1,070

€879,616.82

€822.07

Sligo

2017

898

€682,639.46

€760.18

Tipperary

2017

478

€574,478.00

€1,201.84

Waterford

2017

249

€371,171.20

€1,490.65

Westmeath

2017

416

€391,121.20

€940.20

Wexford

2017

602

€655,687.91

€1,089.18

Wicklow

2017

882

€1,233,189.23

€1,398.17

Total

 

21,060

€18,661,405.65

€886.11

2018 Scheme Year

County

Year

Number  paid

Amount Paid

Average payment per applicant

Carlow

2018

407

€529,703.93

€1,301.48

Cavan

2018

371

€271,337.50

€731.37

Clare

2018

186

€73,698.50

€396.23

Cork

2018

909

€854,576.40

€940.13

Donegal

2018

3,291

€2,165,946.45

€658.14

Dublin

2018

97

€110,506.12

€1,139.24

Galway

2018

2,230

€1,870,996.69

€839.01

Kerry

2018

1,621

€1,896,288.20

€1,169.83

Kildare

2018

361

€494,298.20

€1,369.25

Kilkenny

2018

283

€330,690.20

€1,168.52

Laois

2018

228

€204,311.77

€896.10

Leitrim

2018

632

€547,305.76

€865.99

Limerick

2018

82

€86,852.60

€1,059.18

Longford

2018

187

€143,758.10

€768.76

Louth

2018

209

€255,818.30

€1,224.01

Mayo

2018

2,779

€2,097,570.97

€754.79

Meath

2018

505

€667,114.35

€1,321.02

Monaghan

2018

197

€149,235.69

€757.54

Offaly

2018

258

€290,146.00

€1,124.60

Roscommon

2018

920

€808,870.91

€879.21

Sligo

2018

813

€644,923.78

€793.26

Tipperary

2018

427

€520,050.02

€1,217.92

Waterford

2018

223

€347,736.00

€1,559.35

Westmeath

2018

366

€345,594.00

€944.25

Wexford

2018

529

€596,662.40

€1,127.91

Wicklow

2018

811

€1,146,805.35

€1,414.06

Total

 

18,922

€17,450,798.19

€922.25

2019 Scheme Year

County

Year

Number  paid

Amount Paid

Average payment per applicant

Carlow

2019

391

€498,532.60

€1,275.02

Cavan

2019

371

€263,482.10

€710.19

Clare

2019

183

€72,766.10

€397.63

Cork

2019

898

€830,717.17

€925.07

Donegal

2019

3,239

€2,119,939.55

€654.50

Dublin

2019

100

€113,826.00

€1,138.26

Galway

2019

2,216

€1,807,940.84

€815.86

Kerry

2019

1,586

€1,839,107.10

€1,159.59

Kildare

2019

342

€470,866.91

€1,376.80

Kilkenny

2019

276

€313,899.40

€1,137.32

Laois

2019

211

€184,165.28

€872.82

Leitrim

2019

621

€537,384.12

€865.35

Limerick

2019

78

€81,683.10

€1,047.22

Longford

2019

186

€136,212.90

€732.33

Louth

2019

202

€238,832.57

€1,182.34

Mayo

2019

2,729

€2,032,818.12

€744.89

Meath

2019

497

€637,085.07

€1,281.86

Monaghan

2019

189

€139,696.89

€739.14

Offaly

2019

251

€278,982.40

€1,111.48

Roscommon

2019

907

€773,317.80

€852.61

Sligo

2019

810

€623,173.60

€769.35

Tipperary

2019

413

€494,040.70

€1,196.22

Waterford

2019

221

€341,097.40

€1,543.43

Westmeath

2019

357

€335,174.20

€938.86

Wexford

2019

523

€567,323.40

€1,084.75

Wicklow

2019

797

€1,099,897.20

€1,380.05

Total

 

18,594

€16,831,962.52

€905.24

Sheep Welfare Scheme

Questions (681)

Matt Carthy

Question:

681. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of unsuccessful applicants to the sheep welfare scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the reason each application was denied in tabular form. [19201/20]

View answer

Written answers

Please see table below that provides a county breakdown for each scheme year for the numbers of unsuccessful applicants to the Sheep Welfare Scheme.

There are a number of reasons as to why an application for participation in the scheme would be unsuccessful. Typical reasons for this in the first year of the scheme were that applications were returned to my Department incomplete, census information was not returned for one or both of the reference years for the scheme of 2014/2015 or the 2016 census was not returned to the Department as required.

In  the second year of the scheme,  a typical reason was the failure to complete and return the continuation sheet required for applicants to indicate that they wished to continue in the scheme.

Additional issues common across all scheme years were that the applicants did not submit a BPS application, or the required census information was not available in the case of new entrants.

Applications not successful in a particular scheme year could subsequently successfully apply in later scheme years where a successful appeal was made by the applicant.

County

2017

2018

2019

2020

Carlow

8

5

1

0

Cavan

8

1

0

0

Clare

0

1

0

0

Cork

18

5

3

0

Donegal

58

16

4

2

Dublin

1

2

0

1

Galway

55

14

3

4

Kerry

36

7

5

0

Kildare

16

0

0

0

Kilkenny

12

1

0

0

Laois

10

1

1

1

Leitrim

7

2

0

1

Limerick

6

0

0

0

Longford

10

0

1

1

Louth

6

0

0

0

Mayo

75

24

4

3

Meath

21

9

1

2

Monaghan

18

5

1

0

Offaly

14

4

0

0

Roscommon

30

16

0

2

Sligo

19

2

1

0

Tipperary

14

3

0

1

Waterford

7

1

1

2

Westmeath

22

4

0

2

Wexford

30

4

0

0

Wicklow

28

7

1

1

Total

529

134

27

23

GLAS Issues

Questions (682)

Matt Carthy

Question:

682. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of successful applicants to the GLAS scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the average amount received per applicant by county by quarter two in the same period in tabular form. [19202/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Dara Calleary)

The information requested is provided in the below table. The 2020 scheme year payments have yet to commence and are scheduled for November when the 2020 advance payment will be made.

GLAS Scheme.

GLAS Issues

Questions (683)

Matt Carthy

Question:

683. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of unsuccessful applicants to the GLAS scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the reason each application was denied in tabular form. [19203/20]

View answer

Written answers

The below table provides figures in relation to the number of unsuccessful applications per county in respect of GLAS. Applications are unsuccessful if they do not meet the required criteria as per the terms and conditions.

Tranche

County

Count

GLAS1

Carlow

6

GLAS1

Cavan

25

GLAS1

Clare

34

GLAS1

Cork

40

GLAS1

Donegal

29

GLAS1

Galway

40

GLAS1

Kerry

36

GLAS1

Kildare

21

GLAS1

Kilkenny

15

GLAS1

Laois

7

GLAS1

Leitrim

19

GLAS1

Limerick

48

GLAS1

Longford

12

GLAS1

Louth

1

GLAS1

Mayo

28

GLAS1

Meath

14

GLAS1

Monaghan

6

GLAS1

Offaly

6

GLAS1

Roscommon

18

GLAS1

Sligo

11

GLAS1

Tipperary

45

GLAS1

Waterford

20

GLAS1

Westmeath

7

GLAS1

Wexford

11

GLAS1

Wicklow

11

GLAS2

Carlow

11

GLAS2

Cavan

72

GLAS2

Clare

163

GLAS2

Cork

176

GLAS2

Donegal

185

GLAS2

Dublin

2

GLAS2

Galway

188

GLAS2

Kerry

181

GLAS2

Kildare

43

GLAS2

Kilkenny

43

GLAS2

Laois

51

GLAS2

Leitrim

141

GLAS2

Limerick

116

GLAS2

Longford

32

GLAS2

Louth

15

GLAS2

Mayo

274

GLAS2

Meath

45

GLAS2

Monaghan

72

GLAS2

Offaly

25

GLAS2

Roscommon

124

GLAS2

Sligo

147

GLAS2

Tipperary

121

GLAS2

Waterford

24

GLAS2

Westmeath

40

GLAS2

Wexford

37

GLAS2

Wicklow

25

GLAS3

Cavan

1

GLAS3

Clare

3

GLAS3

Cork

7

GLAS3

Donegal

6

GLAS3

Galway

11

GLAS3

Kerry

16

GLAS3

Leitrim

4

GLAS3

Limerick

3

GLAS3

Longford

1

GLAS3

Mayo

2

GLAS3

Meath

1

GLAS3

Monaghan

2

GLAS3

Offaly

2

GLAS3

Roscommon

3

GLAS3

Sligo

6

GLAS3

Tipperary

1

GLAS3

Waterford

1

GLAS3

Wexford

2

GLAS3

Wicklow

1

Commonage Land Use

Questions (684)

Matt Carthy

Question:

684. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers operating on commonages; and the number on areas of natural constraint by county in each of the years the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [19204/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department obtains information on the number of farmers operating on land such as commonage land and land eligible for schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from the annual applications for participation in a number of schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme and the ANC. The two tables provide information derived from those applications.

Table A: The number of farmers declaring commonage land in their Basic Payment Scheme application between the years 2015 - 2019.

County

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

CARLOW

172

174

175

175

175

171

CAVAN

135

139

145

147

150

148

CLARE

384

387

383

382

383

377

CORK

989

1,005

1,007

1,001

993

988

DONEGAL

2,724

2,732

2,741

2,733

2,743

2,710

DUBLIN

45

44

45

44

43

44

GALWAY

2,679

2,678

2,682

2,655

2,666

2,663

KERRY

1,921

1,923

1,923

1,939

1,947

1,923

KILDARE

58

59

60

60

61

60

KILKENNY

36

36

34

35

35

34

LAOIS

103

106

104

103

104

102

LEITRIM

484

490

497

496

493

488

LIMERICK

57

57

58

58

62

61

LONGFORD

62

62

60

59

58

58

LOUTH

168

167

168

166

119

117

MAYO

3,276

3,287

3,270

3,255

3,255

3,210

MEATH

13

12

12

12

11

12

MONAGHAN

3

3

3

3

4

4

OFFALY

43

41

39

39

40

39

ROSCOMMON

157

157

158

156

162

159

SLIGO

494

489

494

490

486

463

TIPPERARY

320

317

315

312

313

313

WATERFORD

179

180

178

176

178

179

WESTMEATH

25

25

26

26

22

23

WEXFORD

100

98

99

98

98

99

WICKLOW

344

342

337

337

335

338

 TOTAL

14,971

15,010

15,013

14,957

14,936

14,783

 Table B: The number of farmers with land eligible under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme who have applied for the scheme in each of the years from 2015 - 2019.

County

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

CARLOW

765

739

745

739

816

823

CAVAN

4,899

4,777

4,777

4,789

4,774

4,708

CLARE

6,155

5,988

6,030

6,030

5,979

5,938

CORK

7,170

6,995

7,044

7,100

7,670

7,617

DONEGAL

8,717

8,590

8,625

8,695

8,705

8,584

DUBLIN

152

152

157

160

161

162

GALWAY

12,149

11,910

11,912

11,988

11,905

11,742

KERRY

7,789

7,607

7,637

7,662

7,660

7,601

KILDARE

531

525

536

532

618

630

KILKENNY

1,789

1,735

1,733

1,737

1,881

1,864

LAOIS

1,738

1,690

1,694

1,691

1,775

1,751

LEITRIM

3,538

3,410

3,420

3,442

3,411

3,367

LIMERICK

2,979

2,885

2,914

2,939

4,464

4,477

LONGFORD

2,408

2,336

2,341

2,360

2,348

2,343

LOUTH

807

778

786

788

838

820

MAYO

11,670

11,399

11,394

11,408

11,363

11,166

MEATH

1,363

1,323

1,346

1,341

1,504

1,508

MONAGHAN

4,146

4,014

4,027

4,049

4,023

3,957

OFFALY

2,448

2,384

2,412

2,421

2,539

2,501

ROSCOMMON

5,808

5,604

5,635

5,625

5,594

5,561

SLIGO

4,076

3,939

3,958

3,950

3,916

3,872

TIPPERARY

4,571

4,433

4,445

4,480

4,868

4,820

WATERFORD

1,455

1,412

1,414

1,434

1,496

1,470

WESTMEATH

2,704

2,622

2,651

2,663

2,857

2,831

WEXFORD

1,514

1,484

1,501

1,510

1,579

1,565

WICKLOW

1,847

1,789

1,801

1,815

1,893

1,877

TOTAL

103,188

100,520

100,935

101,348

104,637

103,555

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Questions (685, 686)

Matt Carthy

Question:

685. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of successful applications to the areas of natural constraint scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [19205/20]

View answer

Matt Carthy

Question:

686. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on the areas of natural constraint scheme by county in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by person and county in tabular form. [19206/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 685 and 686 together.

Please find below tables for each Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme year from 2015 - 2020 showing the following information:

Scheme Years 2015 - 2019: Total number of eligible applications, total number of applications paid, total amount paid per county and the value of the average payment received by individuals in that county.

Scheme Year 2020: Total number of eligible applications. Payments under the ANC scheme do not commence until Quarter 3 2020 and therefore additional data for 2020 is not currently available.

Eligible applications are applications to the scheme that hold land eligible for payment under the scheme. Eligible applications may not qualify for payment in all cases where they do not meet other scheme criteria, such as not meeting the required stocking levels and retention periods.

Payments across scheme years continue as applications become eligible for payment. CAP Payments to individuals are available on the CAP Beneficiaries database which is available on the Department's website.

Data].

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Questions (687)

Matt Carthy

Question:

687. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the planned spend on the areas of natural constraint scheme for each the years 2021 to 2025. [19207/20]

View answer

Written answers

Over the years 2018 and 2019, an increase in funding amounting to €48 million was secured for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme by my Department, bringing the total annual budget for the scheme to €250 million for 2019 and 2020.

The budget for the ANC scheme, and indeed for other schemes administered by my Department, for 2021 and future years is a function of national budgetary policy and is currently subject to ongoing discussions on the new Common Agricultural Policy and the transitional arrangements that are being put in place.

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Questions (688)

Matt Carthy

Question:

688. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of funding for the areas of natural constraint scheme between the Exchequer and EU funds for each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form. [19208/20]

View answer

Written answers

The table below shows the total breakdown in funding for the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme between EU and Exchequer funding in the years 2015 - 2020.

As my Department has secured additional funding for the Scheme in recent years, this has been funded via the Exchequer and thus the balance between EU and Exchequer funding has changed over the relevant period. Please note, payments have not yet commenced in respect of 2020.

Scheme Year

Total Amount

EU co-financed element

Total Exchequer Amount

2015

€206,055,779.19

€109,209,562.97

€96,846,216.22

2016

€204,038,520.52

€108,140,415.88

€95,898,104.64

2017

€205,354,117.34

€102,102,806.42

€103,251,310.92

2018

€228,907,912.60

€101,278,932.48

€127,628,980.12

2019

€247,008,822.20

€99,233,324.23

€147,775,497.97

2020

€250,000,000

€100,064,000

€149,936,000

Organic Farming

Questions (689)

Matt Carthy

Question:

689. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of farms by county defined as organic for each the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [19209/20]

View answer

Written answers

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department are currently collating the information requested and I will respond to the Deputy within 10 days.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
Further to parliamentary question no. 19209/20, please see the following information requested regarding the percentage of farms by county defined as organic for each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020.
The percentage of farms by county for each of the years in question, is based on declarations made by farmers annually on the Basic Payment System and will not include any farms defined as organic for which no basic payment application is made. The figures given incorporate farms that are fully converted to organic production and farms that are in the process of conversion to organic production. It is important to note that some farms may be partially converted to organic production. Such farms are also included in the following statistics.
% of farms defined as organic

County

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Carlow

0.17%

0.18%

0.18%

0.18%

0.36%

0.43%

Cavan

1.43%

1.53%

1.46%

1.45%

1.66%

1.58%

Clare

1.35%

1.33%

1.29%

1.19%

1.27%

1.11%

Cork

1.48%

1.57%

1.45%

1.45%

1.54%

1.52%

Donegal

0.53%

0.57%

0.56%

0.54%

0.61%

0.56%

Dublin

0.88%

1.04%

1.05%

1.06%

1.40%

1.57%

Galway

0.85%

0.85%

0.83%

0.81%

0.87%

0.84%

Kerry

1.10%

1.14%

1.10%

1.11%

1.20%

1.13%

Kildare

1.64%

1.58%

1.55%

1.61%

1.95%

1.97%

Kilkenny

1.08%

1.19%

1.20%

1.18%

1.40%

1.27%

Laois

1.35%

1.51%

1.52%

1.47%

1.69%

1.67%

Leitrim

2.65%

2.85%

2.84%

2.80%

3.13%

2.97%

Limerick

2.10%

2.12%

2.12%

2.04%

2.16%

2.15%

Longford

1.32%

1.46%

1.34%

1.22%

1.31%

1.31%

Louth

0.19%

0.25%

0.26%

0.26%

0.52%

0.40%

Mayo

0.39%

0.41%

0.34%

0.32%

0.43%

0.38%

Meath

0.87%

0.81%

0.74%

0.74%

0.82%

0.80%

Monaghan

0.70%

0.70%

0.66%

0.71%

0.93%

0.95%

Offaly

1.61%

1.73%

1.77%

1.76%

1.88%

1.90%

Roscommon

3.13%

3.20%

3.12%

3.06%

3.13%

3.14%

Sligo

0.85%

0.86%

0.92%

0.91%

1.06%

1.02%

Tipperary

1.64%

1.73%

1.65%

1.66%

1.77%

1.69%

Waterford

1.09%

1.11%

0.96%

1.05%

1.14%

1.16%

Westmeath

2.15%

2.17%

2.01%

1.96%

2.01%

2.01%

Wexford

0.80%

0.81%

0.82%

0.87%

1.02%

1.04%

Wicklow

1.54%

1.56%

1.65%

1.53%

1.63%

1.61%

Farms Data

Questions (690)

Matt Carthy

Question:

690. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average amount of hedgerows in hectares; and the average amount of scrubland in hectares per farm by county within bands of 100 ha in tabular form. [19210/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department maintains linear hedgerow data in relation to a subset of farmers who have Ecological Focus Area obligations under the Greening Scheme. However, it does not currently maintain a national dataset on the area of hedgerows per county.

The information relating to scrub is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
As previously indicated, this Department does not hold nationwide data on the area of hedgerows.
With regard to the average amount of scrubland per county, the tables below show the average area of scrub in hectares broken down by county and by farm size, based on the area claimed by applicants in 2020. Approximately 90,000 holdings have some area of scrub on their holding.
Please note that the number of holdings with areas in excess of 300 ha is relatively small and hence, for many headings, there are no results. It should also be noted that the average area of scrub takes account of any partial reductions applied in the Department’s land mapping system (Land Parcel Identification System – LPIS). Therefore, an area of 1ha with 60% scrub is included in the figures as 0.6 ha.

County

<100

>=100 - <200

>=200 - <300

>=300 - <400

>=400 - <500

>=500 - <600

>=600 - <700

>=700 - <800

>=800 - <900

>=900 - <1000

>=1000 - <1100

>=1100 - <1200

>=1200 - <1300

>=1300 - <1400

>=1400 - <1500

>=1500 - <1600

County

<100

>=100 - <200

>=200 - <300

>=300 - <400

>=400 - <500

>=500 - <600

>=600 - <700

>=700 - <800

>=800 - <900

>=900 - <1000

>=1000 - <1100

>=1100 - <1200

>=1200 - <1300

>=1300 - <1400

>=1400 - <1500

>=1500 - <1600

Carlow

0.86

1.14

0.88

1.15

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cavan

0.73

1.75

16.40

3.16

1.22

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Clare

1.71

9.42

9.52

1.84

10.89

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cork

1.18

2.30

2.65

6.11

3.11

7.68

2.24

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Donegal

0.93

1.64

3.33

3.03

0.22

N/A

N/A

N/A

6.75

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dublin

0.75

1.04

1.23

0.99

1.48

N/A

N/A

0.37

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Galway

0.94

2.24

3.27

3.88

1.34

1.64

3.15

1.95

N/A

N/A

N/A

14.10

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Kerry

0.90

1.74

2.69

1.54

4.95

3.38

4.33

17.28

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Kidare

0.45

1.02

2.38

4.25

1.46

2.47

9.41

4.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

4.48

Kilkenny

0.72

1.13

2.36

2.11

N/A

1.90

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Laois

0.77

1.04

1.94

3.53

0.43

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Leitrim

0.90

2.56

2.79

2.37

N/A

14.10

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Limerick

0.77

1.63

3.92

11.47

1.16

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Longford

0.59

2.66

5.84

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Louth

0.65

1.11

0.90

1.19

4.70

1.14

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Mayo

0.71

1.41

1.39

2.41

1.94

0.71

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3.22

Meath

0.42

0.68

1.04

0.91

2.43

1.58

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Monaghan

0.62

1.57

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Offaly

0.75

1.83

2.80

0.86

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Roscommon

0.62

1.78

2.70

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sligo

0.75

1.74

2.28

1.66

3.83

N/A

1.09

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Tipperary

0.70

1.44

2.77

3.40

5.61

1.66

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

10.06

N/A

18.75

N/A

Waterford

1.04

1.98

3.71

3.42

2.83

1.22

N/A

6.83

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Westmeath

0.68

1.32

2.08

2.54

1.34

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Wexford

0.47

1.01

2.17

1.81

4.13

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Wicklow

0.97

1.87

3.57

2.74

N/A

0.44

10.97

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

County

<5

5 - 10

10 - 15

15 - 20

20 - 25

30 - 35

35 - 40

40 - 45

45 - 50

50 -60

60 - 70

70 - 80

80 - 90

90- 100

>100

Carlow

0.09

0.88

0.54

0.51

0.38

1.09

0.82

0.84

1.36

1.22

1.19

0.54

1.02

1.46

1.12

Cavan

0.25

0.74

0.43

0.56

0.60

0.75

0.95

0.96

1.01

0.99

1.40

1.66

1.27

2.38

2.25

Clare

0.48

1.73

0.86

0.92

1.40

1.62

1.80

1.86

2.07

2.74

2.98

4.18

6.23

6.34

9.32

Cork

0.34

1.22

0.82

0.85

1.03

1.19

1.27

1.42

1.38

1.35

1.50

1.77

1.94

1.62

2.40

Donegal

0.43

0.95

0.66

0.68

0.79

1.00

1.19

1.19

1.33

1.28

1.26

1.45

1.91

1.80

1.85

Dublin

0.46

0.77

0.64

0.52

0.71

1.35

1.00

0.93

1.06

0.58

0.97

0.82

0.70

0.50

1.10

Galway

0.41

0.96

0.67

0.66

0.81

1.14

1.08

1.29

1.17

1.32

1.34

1.88

1.65

1.90

2.44

Kerry

0.37

0.92

0.71

0.60

0.76

0.85

1.03

1.04

0.82

1.18

1.29

1.43

1.72

1.65

1.93

Kidare

0.28

0.46

0.32

0.46

0.37

0.43

0.35

0.62

0.30

0.61

0.51

0.67

0.55

0.54

1.44

Kilkenny

0.33

0.73

0.42

0.45

0.44

0.74

0.80

1.00

0.89

0.85

0.73

1.01

0.93

1.08

1.28

Laois

0.52

0.78

0.60

0.62

0.77

0.71

0.83

0.77

1.00

0.98

0.71

0.99

0.76

1.03

1.13

Leitrim

0.30

0.91

0.47

0.57

0.71

1.04

1.24

1.42

1.44

1.38

1.56

1.71

2.03

2.37

2.77

Limerick

0.62

0.78

0.53

0.53

0.57

0.81

0.86

0.63

0.97

1.02

0.98

1.04

1.42

1.76

1.88

Longford

0.19

0.60

0.34

0.38

0.50

0.56

0.61

0.99

0.81

1.25

0.99

0.77

1.21

1.40

2.94

Louth

0.41

0.66

0.35

0.52

0.70

0.40

0.71

1.00

0.83

0.94

1.05

1.48

0.67

0.51

1.18

Mayo

0.35

0.72

0.46

0.62

0.67

0.75

1.04

0.93

1.05

1.06

1.05

1.26

1.39

1.28

1.46

Meath

0.17

0.43

0.33

0.28

0.33

0.45

0.45

0.35

0.52

0.49

0.61

0.75

0.62

0.60

0.78

Monaghan

0.29

0.63

0.43

0.54

0.59

0.69

0.80

0.93

0.92

0.95

1.19

1.19

0.81

1.32

1.57

Offaly

0.44

0.76

0.40

0.58

0.65

0.61

0.98

0.74

0.94

0.79

1.26

0.85

1.05

1.17

1.94

Roscommon

0.24

0.63

0.51

0.40

0.47

0.68

0.75

0.74

0.94

0.73

1.14

0.99

1.63

1.34

1.84

Sligo

0.26

0.76

0.41

0.55

0.62

0.79

0.92

1.12

0.85

1.25

1.58

1.75

2.84

1.15

1.74

Tipperary

0.22

0.72

0.39

0.42

0.54

0.54

0.64

0.87

0.79

0.82

0.97

0.89

1.06

1.27

1.69

Waterford

0.36

1.07

0.60

0.80

0.92

0.91

0.93

0.87

1.22

1.20

1.42

1.48

1.44

1.41

2.25

Westmeath

0.35

0.69

0.54

0.67

0.50

0.61

0.68

0.74

1.04

0.87

0.88

0.82

1.13

1.08

1.43

Wexford

0.21

0.47

0.28

0.29

0.43

0.54

0.41

0.54

0.45

0.47

0.60

0.63

0.70

0.88

1.25

Wicklow

0.39

0.98

0.63

0.61

0.69

0.84

1.28

1.12

1.00

1.17

1.35

1.42

1.31

1.55

2.24

Forestry Sector

Questions (691)

Matt Carthy

Question:

691. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all materials, briefings, reports and correspondence relating to his consideration of introducing fees for forestry licences will be provided. [19211/20]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government makes a number of commitments for the forestry sector in Ireland. These include the alignment of the licensing and appeals processes with other similar processes, a commitment to implement the recommendations of the Mackinnon Review and to ensure the licensing system is sufficiently resourced to clear the existing backlog.

The Deputy will be aware that last year, my Department published the Mackinnon Review of Approval Processes for Afforestation in Ireland. This review was the product of extensive consultation with officials of my Department, industry stakeholders, non-government organisations and others. The review summarises 22 ways forward, one of which was the introduction of fees for forestry licences. That review is already publicly available on my Department’s website.

I am committed to aligning the forestry licensing and appeals processes with that of the national planning and other comparable appeals processes. I am considering how best this may be achieved and expect to be making further announcements in this regard in the coming days.

Animal Diseases

Questions (692)

Matt Carthy

Question:

692. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all materials correspondence, briefings and reports relating to communication between his Department and his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive with regard to the 2020 outbreak of avian flu H6N1 will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19213/20]

View answer

Written answers

It is not possible to provide a response to the Deputy in the required timeframe. I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 42A.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
As the Deputy may be aware co-operation on contingency planning and control measures for exotic disease outbreaks is an important element of the development of an all-island animal health and welfare strategy. The close co-operation between the Minister and his counterpart in Northern Ireland during the current outbreak of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) of the H6N1 subtype is a real and tangible example of this essential collaborative approach to disease control.
There are ongoing communications between this Department and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland since outbreaks first began in Northern Ireland in January and in this jurisdiction in February of this year, with almost daily communication at the peak. To date there have been in excess of 100 communications on a number of matters relating to the outbreaks including suspect cases, epidemiology, risk assessment, disease management, culling and disposal. The outbreaks were also discussed between the Chief Veterinary Officers in both Departments.
Following an extensive examination, by officials of all communications to date between both government Departments the Department have concluded that it would not be appropriate for operational reasons to publish this material. In particular, the follow-up of these cases may be impacted by publication of these communications.
For your information I have provided a summary below of confirmed outbreaks to date, together with information in relation to Ireland’s Avian Influenza disease free status.
Summary of outbreaks under the control my Department
- The most recent case of the current outbreak of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) of the H6N1 subtype was confirmed in a poultry flock in County Monaghan on 22/06/2020.
- This brings the total number of LPAI H6N1 outbreaks to 14
- The confirmed flocks include 11 table egg layer flocks, 2 fattening turkey flocks and 1 turkey breeder flock.
- Presenting clinical signs in affected flocks have included:
- Significant drop in egg production
- Reduced feed intake
- Mild depression (occasionally)
- Green diarrhoea (one case only)
- Slight increase in mortality
- All 14 holdings have been derestricted under the Avian Influenza Legislation as the H6N1 subtype is not included in the definition of a notifiable avian influenza at EU level.
- The majority of confirmed cases remain restricted under Irish Law and are subject to compliance with certain requirements in order to prevent further disease spread.
- Culling of birds has occurred in the case of all the flocks – note this is a commercial decision on behalf of the flock owners.
LPAI H6N1- Ireland’s avian influenza disease status is not affected
Avian influenza is defined in EU law in and the OIE Terrestrial code for the purposes of notification, control, eradication and trade. Notifiable avian influenza includes all influenza A viruses of the H5 or H7 subtypes, whether they are low pathogenic or highly pathogenic. It also includes non H5 or H7 subtypes, provided they are classified as highly pathogenic following a specific testing regime set out in the legislation.
Under these rules the H6N1 subtype of avian influenza in this case is not deemed to be notifiable to the EU or the OIE as it is not a H5 or H7 subtype and testing has confirmed that it is not highly pathogenic (this is also supported by the clinical picture). Therefore Ireland’s Avian Influenza disease status is not affected by these outbreaks and there is no legal requirement to cull affected flocks or to introduce the same high level controls required by other notifiable subtypes of avian influenza such as H5N8 or H5N1.
However, restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products onto and off the site remain in place on the majority of recently affected holdings as a precautionary measure to mitigate against the spread of this disease to other locations.
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