Written Answers Nos. 862-881
863. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to address the low price of wool; if the use of wool as an insulation will be incentivised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25582/20]
View answerWool production is an important component of agri-industry and Ireland produces excellent quality wool. In an industry such as the wool industry where prices tend to move in cycles, it is imperative that the players ensure and promote a diversity of options for the product in the market place. The current market uncertainties should provide an impetus for the industry players to come together to see what business opportunities are out there and try to promote the excellent product in as many markets as possible.
As set out in the Programme for Government, I propose to examine the possibility of undertaking a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool-based products such as insulation and fertilisers.
864. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in recent months to resolve the delays in issuing felling licences; the extra resources and investment put in place to deliver the necessary changes; the reason for the delay in getting felling licences; the objectives in terms of processing times in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24721/20]
View answerI am acutely aware that current delays in issuing licences has led to difficulties for stakeholders. The Government is committed to reform of the planning and appeals processes as set out in the Programme for Government and we have presented draft legislation to this effect which will be presented to the Seanad this week.
My Department is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders on these issues. The current licensing difficulties are as a result of the changes made to internal Appropriate Assessment Procedures (AAP). These were introduced in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and others. These findings meant that in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable.
My Department has a detailed project plan in place for dealing with the current backlog and new applications, which includes significant investment in extra resources required to deliver the plan. These resources are a combination of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required.
A Project Management Board, with a dedicated Project Manager, is overseeing and monitoring delivery. There will be a continuous review of the process, in order to effect efficiencies. A communication plan to keep stakeholders fully and regularly informed of progress, with a dedicated central resource to deal with queries, is a key element of the project. This plan is already yielding progress with felling licences issued in August the highest in the previous 13 months in both volume and area.
In tandem with this plan, a draft amendment to the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001 is being introduced which aims to increase efficiencies in the appeals process. I very much welcome the almost 9,000 submissions on the Bill which have informed the updated Bill which I am bringing to the Seanad this week.
Regarding resources, my Department has deployed additional ecologists on a permanent basis along with contracted ecological expertise, to support the project plan mentioned above. The Public Appointments Service recently held a competition for Forestry Inspector and I expect personnel to be deployed to such positions around the country shortly. Additional administrative resources have been deployed to both my Department and the operationally independent Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC), and these resources are kept under constant review. Three personnel with planning expertise have also been contracted to assist with FAC with planning matters.
I know that the current situation is challenging, but it is a temporary disruption which, when resolved, will make for a better, more sustainable and fit-for-purpose forestry licensing system for many years to come.
865. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with farmers to develop an agreed programme that achieves eradication of tuberculosis and reduce the burden of controls on farmers; if he will review the decisions made in the past number of weeks in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24725/20]
View answerI have scheduled the next meeting of the TB Forum to take place on the 1st of October, the purpose of which is to further develop a shared understanding of how collectively we can reduce TB incidence.
In line with a proposal from the TB Forum, my Department recently developed individualised reports that provide a simplified TB herd risk category for farmers, with herd-specific advice on how to reduce risk of TB. Farmers are already provided with information in relation to their TB risk, but this new report presents this in a very much more user friendly, detailed and practical form. There are no requirements whatsoever resulting from the recent TB letters. The objective of TB Herd Test History Statements and Reports that issued recently to all cattle herd owners is to help them to reduce the risk of Bovine TB in their herds.
Ireland has had many successful years of reducing bovine TB levels to the benefit of Irish farmers. However, there has been a concerning incremental increase in the disease since 2016. This has continued in 2020 with further increases in herd incidence and reactor numbers observed. Herd incidence (on a 12-month rolling basis) has breached 4% for the first time since 2012 and reactor numbers have exceeded 20,000 – the highest number since 2009.
Attaining TB-free status remains critical from a farm family profitability and sustainability perspective and from a trade perspective at national and at international level. I am acutely conscious that every TB restriction represents a significant challenge to the farm family concerned. I want to work with all stakeholders in ensuring fewer herdowners experience the challenges associated with a TB restriction and that we work purposefully towards eradication of this disease, thus eliminating this on-going cost on farmers and the State.
866. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the chemical pesticide glyphosate is used on lands owned and managed by Coillte; the quantity of glyphosate used on Coillte’s lands in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the quantity of land in hectares on which glyphosate was used in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24737/20]
View answer867. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the chemical pesticide cypermethrin is used on lands owned and managed by Coillte; the quantity of cypermethrin used on Coillte’s lands in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the quantity of land in hectares on which cypermethrin was used in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24738/20]
View answer868. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the pesticides and insecticides currently used by Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24739/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 866, 867 and 868 together.
Coillte is operationally independent of my Department and operational matters such as the management of their forest estate are the responsibility of the company.
I have passed the questions raised to Coillte for response and direct reply to the Deputy.
869. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out any analysis on the potential for job losses in the forestry industry given the current crisis in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/20]
View answer870. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out an analysis on the impact of the current licensing backlog on afforestation rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24762/20]
View answer871. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action taken and efforts being made to address the current crisis in the forestry industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24774/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 869, 870 and 871 together.
My Department is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders on these issues. The current licensing difficulties are as a result of the changes made to internal Appropriate Assessment Procedures (AAP). These were introduced in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and others. These findings meant that in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable.
There are also delays associated with the appeals process. The Deputy will be aware of the recent public consultation on a draft Bill to amend the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2010. While no formal analysis of the potential for job losses has taken place, I know from engagement with stakeholders and from the submissions received that the current difficulties could have serious impact on jobs in the sector. The Government is committed to reform of the planning and appeals processes as set out in the Programme for Government and we have published draft legislation to this effect which will be presented to the Seanad this week
My Department has a detailed project plan in place for dealing with the current backlog and new applications, which includes significant investment in extra resources required to deliver the plan. These resources are a combination of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required.
A Project Management Board, with a dedicated Project Manager, is overseeing and monitoring delivery. There will be a continuous review of the process, in order to effect efficiencies. A communication plan to keep stakeholders fully and regularly informed of progress, with a dedicated central resource to deal with queries, is a key element of the project. This plan is already yielding progress with felling licences issued in August the highest in the previous 13 months in both volume and area.
In tandem with this plan a draft amendment to the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001 is being introduced which aims to increase efficiencies in the appeals process. I very much welcome the almost 9,000 submissions on the Bill which have informed the updated version of the Bill which I am presenting to the Seanad this week.
While the licensing delays are affecting the timber being felled and transported to sawmills, I am aware that it is also influencing afforestation rates. To date, my Department has paid for the establishment of 1,916ha of new afforestation, which is down by 37% on this time last year.
I know that the current situation is challenging, but it is a temporary disruption which, when resolved, will make for a better, more sustainable and fit-for-purpose forestry licensing system for many years to come.
872. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a BPS appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24781/20]
View answerThe person named submitted a late 2019 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 23 July 2019.
An appeal was submitted on his behalf on 14 August 2019. Following a review of this new evidence, the appeal has been allowed and the application will now be accepted.
873. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be an extension of the GLAS scheme beyond 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24830/20]
View answer877. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a replacement or renewal of the GLAS scheme will be introduced; when progress in relation to the matter will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24885/20]
View answer878. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a replacement for GLAS will be in place by the end of 2020; if not, if the scheme will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24886/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 873, 877 and 878 together.
The Programme for Government has set out our strategy for agri-environment policy. As consideration of the next CAP is ongoing, it is not possible to be definitive about the final shape of future schemes. The experience gained from existing agri-environmental schemes such as GLAS and the locally-led schemes run by my Department will be taken into account in designing new measures. However, there are a number of variables still undecided including agreement on the legislative framework for both the transitional period and the next CAP.
In relation to transitional arrangements, we are pressing for the earliest adoption of EU regulations to facilitate the operation of schemes in the period between the current CAP and the CAP Strategic Plan post-2020. Plans for the extension of GLAS are dependent on the adoption of the transitional rules.
Once these arrangements are in place, we will be in a position to plan for the transitional period with legal and financial certainty and consequently provide clarity and engage with all the relevant stakeholders on the next steps.
874. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for TAMS grants submitted to his Department; the number paid out in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24873/20]
View answer876. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied for TAMS grants; the number that received payment in County Kerry in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24876/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 874 and 876 together.
The indicative allocation for the TAMS II scheme over the course of the Rural Development Programme is €395 million. To date, 42,469 applications for TAMS grants ##have been submitted to the Department and €240 million has been paid across all available schemes. 22,565 farmers have submitted applications to TAMS II.
The total number of applications paid in 2019 was 5,490 of which 152 received payment in Kerry.
875. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an area aid application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24875/20]
View answerOfficials from my Department have been in direct contact with the person named and his agent in relation to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application submitted on 15 May 2019. The outstanding land issues in relation to this BPS application have now been resolved. Matters relating to other linked applications can also now be progressed and will be finalised shortly.
879. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle recommended for culling as part of the TB letters issued to farmers recently by county; the number of letters issued by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24915/20]
View answerThe Bovine TB Forum Interim Report (published July 2019) identified the need to provide more effective information to farmers to help them reduce the risk of TB in their herd and advocated for the development of herd risk categories that are “simple, clear, and convey sufficient information to enable farmers to make the decisions appropriate to their situation”. In line with, and in view of implementing those recommendations, the Department has developed individualised reports that provide a simplified TB herd risk category for farmers, with herd-specific advice on how to reduce risk of TB.
The reports do not require farmers to do anything. It is advice which they can choose to take if they wish to reduce the risk of their herd to TB. Approximately 1.7 million cattle are slaughtered annually in Ireland, and typically on Irish farms, the culling rate for cows is approximately 20% per annum. Tb risk factors are an issue that farmers should take account of in the decisions they take as part of their annual farm management when deciding what animals to cull.
Cattle which have in the past tested inconclusive and re-tested negative are at a much higher risk of developing TB and spreading the disease to other cattle while they remain in the herd of disclosure. In some cases, these animals are retained for years, only to then cause a severe breakdown.
Likewise, cattle which were present in a herd during a previous breakdown are at a higher risk of having residual infection which could then recrudesce and cause a subsequent outbreak.
The table below gives the number of letters issued per county Regional Veterinary Office (RVO).
|
County RVO |
No. of Herds/letters issued in each Category |
|
CARLOW RVO |
1,283 |
|
CAVAN RVO |
4,735 |
|
CLARE RVO |
5,979 |
|
CORK NORTH RVO |
5,613 |
|
CORK SOUTH RVO |
5,879 |
|
DONEGAL RVO |
5,191 |
|
DUBLIN RVO |
351 |
|
GALWAY RVO |
10,922 |
|
KERRY RVO |
6,556 |
|
KILDARE RVO |
1,758 |
|
KILKENNY RVO |
3,026 |
|
LAOIS RVO |
2,695 |
|
LEITRIM RVO |
2,895 |
|
LIMERICK RVO |
5,282 |
|
LONGFORD RVO |
2,354 |
|
LOUTH RVO |
1,154 |
|
MAYO RVO |
8,810 |
|
MEATH RVO |
3,623 |
|
MONAGHAN RVO |
4,171 |
|
OFFALY RVO |
2,972 |
|
ROSCOMMON RVO |
5,342 |
|
SLIGO RVO |
3,403 |
|
TIPPERARY NORTH RVO |
3,331 |
|
TIPPERARY SOUTH RVO |
3,338 |
|
WATERFORD RVO |
2,167 |
|
WESTMEATH RVO |
2,999 |
|
WEXFORD RVO |
3,056 |
|
WICKLOW EAST RVO |
1,057 |
|
WICKLOW WEST RVO |
516 |
|
Totals |
110,458 |
The published Bovine TB Forum Interim Report, a sample of the TB Herd History risk statement and report and frequently asked questions can be found at www.bovinetb.ie.
880. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of breeding ewes and goats, respectively, by county in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24916/20]
View answerAs required by Council Directive 21/2004, my Department undertakes a Sheep and Goat Census annually, generally at end-December. The number of breeding ewes by county as recorded in the census for 2018 and 2019 are included in the attached document. The document also details the number of goats recorded for the same period. The annual goat census records the number of milking goats and the number of goats for meat production but does not specifically record the number of breeding goats.
The 2020 Sheep and Goat Census is scheduled to take place on 31st December. The 2020 Sheep and Goat Census Report is expected to be available in Quarter 2 of 2021.
881. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of lambs killed in meat plants here in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the number that were Irish lambs compared to those imported from Northern Ireland or the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24917/20]
View answerLast year, Ireland exported sheepmeat valued at €317 million. 71% of export value was to EU markets, 20% to the UK, and 9% to the rest of the world.
Free movement of goods in the EU's Single Market in particular facilitates this free flow of trade and, of course, means that Ireland must be open to imports of live animals and food products from other parts of the Single Market.
My Department publishes a weekly sheep slaughter summary which provides a detailed summary of the different categories of sheep slaughtered in meat plants on a weekly basis and can be located at the following link www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/weeklypricesslaughterfigures/sheepslaughterfigures/.
The following table outlines the categories of lambs and total ovines slaughtered in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (YTD).
|
Category |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 YTD |
|
Lambs/Hoggets |
829,906 |
739,027 |
788,030 |
|
Spring Lambs |
1,635,201 |
1,634,336 |
954,173 |
|
Light Lambs |
181 |
1,635 |
53 |
|
Total Lambs* |
2,465,288 |
2,274,998 |
1,742,256** |
|
Total Ovine Slaughter |
2,987,534 |
2,781,661 |
1,934,479 |
The slaughter data recorded does not include details of country of origin.
However, the intra EU movement of animals is recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), which is the EU-wide online management tool for all sanitary and phytosanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants. Therefore, all imports and exports of live sheep for the purposes of slaughter, breeding and fattening between Ireland and the United Kingdom, are recorded on TRACES. The following data was extracted from TRACES:
- A total of 280,369 sheep were imported from Northern Ireland up to the 01 September 2020
- A total of 461,507 sheep were imported from Northern Ireland in 2019.
- In 2018, 521,693 sheep were imported in total from the United Kingdom. The imported sheep numbers from Northern Ireland were not available for 2018, but, the vast majority of British sheep imports recorded on the TRACES system typically originate from Northern Ireland each year.
My Department will revert to the Deputy with the number of sheep from Northern Ireland consigned directly to slaughter.
