Written Answers Nos. 294-308
294. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar na deontais BSC, Greening agus ANC le feirmeoir (sonraí tugtha) do 2020; an chúis leis an moill leis na híocaiochtaí seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [30532/20]
View answerChuir an té atá ainmnithe iarratas isteach faoi Scéim na hÍocaíochta Bunúsaí 2020 (BPS), faoin Scéim Glasú agus faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Shrianta Nádúrtha (ANC) an 16 Aibreán 2020.
Roghnaíodh an t-iarratas d'iniúchadh incháilitheachta ar an talamh. Tá an iniúchadh sin tugtha chun críche anois agus tá an toradh á thabhairt chun críche i láthair na huaire. Ag teacht le hathruithe atá faighte ar Rialacháin AE i mbliana, tá sé socraithe ag mo Roinnse réamhíocaíochtaí a phróiseáil maidir le cásanna a roghnaíodh d'iniúchadh sa chás nach bhfuil an t-iniúchadh tugtha chun críche go fóill agus sa chás nach bhfuil aon earráid eile i gceist leis an gcás.
Maidir leis an scéim ANC, ní mór d'iarratasóirí riachtanais stocála íosta a shásamh mar atá leagtha amach i dtéarmaí agus coinníollacha na scéime chun bheith cáilithe d'íocaíochtaí faoin scéim. Níl na riachtanais stocála íosta sásaithe ag an té atá ainmnithe agus dá bhrí sin níl sé cáilithe d'íocaíocht faoin scéim go fóill.
Tá sé beartaithe tús a chur le réamhíocaíochtaí faoi na scéimeanna BPS 2020 agus Glasú ón 16 Deireadh Fómhair, an dáta is luaithe agus is féidir sin a dhéanamh i gcomhréir le Rialachán AE.
295. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30545/20]
View answerA tree felling licence was issued to the person named in August, 2020. The decision to grant a licence was subsequently appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and the licence is therefore currently suspended.
As the FAC is operationally independent of my Department, I cannot enquire into an individual licence. The FAC will notify the parties to this case when a hearing is scheduled and advise of their decision, when available.
296. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a grant application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30546/20]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWSNSS) on 5 June 2020.
An approval letter has already issued to the applicant.
297. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms that will be affected by an increase in the excretion figure for a dairy cow from 85 kg of nitrogen to 89 kg of nitrogen by county; the overall impact expected from this move on overall nitrogen levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30606/20]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead authority for the Nitrates Regulations (SI 605 2017). The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme for the protection of waters against pollution caused by agricultural sources. The set of measures in these regulations provides a basic level of protection against possible adverse impacts to waters arising from the agricultural sources.
A review of Ireland’s nitrates derogation was undertaken in 2019. The review examined further opportunities for derogation farmers to improve efficiencies and continue to reduce their environmental footprint with particular regard to water, climate, biodiversity and air quality. It is accepted that compliance of a higher standard is required from more intensive derogation farmers to ensure a greater level of environment efficiency is achieved. One of the conclusions of the review highlighted interalia, that “In addition, the Commission has requested Ireland to review some of the technical aspects of the Nitrates Action Programme and ........the annual excretion rates for livestock as per Table 6 of SI 605 2017 be reviewed based on most recent scientific research”
The current excretion rates for livestock are specified in Table 6 of Schedule 2 (Annex 1) of Statutory Instrument 605 of 2017. The excretion rates for livestock were last evaluated in 2003. In 2019, Teagasc reviewed the excretion rate for the Dairy Cow following the recommendations of the Review group.
The outcome of the review was that the most accurate excretion figure for the average Irish dairy cow is 89kgs of nitrogen. The impact of this change is a 5% increase in the level of livestock manure nitrogen produced by dairy cows in Ireland. This reflects the higher average milk yields that farmers are achieving now compared to when the figure was first calculated over 25 years ago.
All farmers are required to comply with stocking rate limits, 170kgs N/ha or in the case of derogation farmers 250 kgs N/ha. Farmers can comply with limits by reducing stock numbers, exporting slurry or renting extra land.
All farmers with dairy cows (approx 17,000) will be affected by this increase.
298. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms that have had satellite inspections to date in 2020, by county in tabular form; the number in each county that have had penalties applied as a result of satellite inspections by county; the number of expected satellite inspections for the remainder of 2020, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30607/20]
View answerA total of 6,673 applicants under the various 2020 area-based schemes have been selected for a remote sensing inspection. To date, inspection results have been received for 4,215 cases. My Department does not provide county specific breakdowns on inspections as the annual inspection programme, including the risk analysis selection process, operates on a national basis and county comparisons are meaningless.
In line with changes secured to the EU regulations this year, my Department has arranged to process advance payments in cases selected for satellite inspection where such inspections are not yet completed and where no other errors are present on the case.
In light of this new arrangement for inspection cases, in particular taking into account that the final eligibility status will not be known until the inspection process is fully completed and the final payment position established, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with meaningful information in relation to penalties arising on a national level as a result of satellite inspections at this time. The full position will not be available until after balancing payments are issued later in the year.
299. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the response of his Department to the revelation that traces of the growth hormone zilpaterol were evident in some animal feeds available here, including any investigation commissioned by him; the efforts taken to ensure that this was an isolated incident and that this cannot happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30608/20]
View answerFollowing industry notification of an indicative positive test in some horse feed for a prohibited substance Zilpaterol, my Department immediately commenced an investigation into the incident, working closely with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, to address the matter.
A full traceability investigation of identified feed products and ingredients was completed by Department officials. Following laboratory analysis, a specific importation of molasses was found to have contained very low or trace levels of a beta agonist, Zilpaterol. My Department immediately instructed the import company to initiate a full recall of the contaminated molasses. All feed business operators in receipt of the contaminated molasses have been identified and advised to retain the product pending it's return to the import company.
Feedstuffs containing molasses from the affected batch were also sampled and sent for official analysis. Test results for these precautionary feed samples indicated that Zilpaterol levels were below the accredited range of the method of analysis. Based on these laboratory results of the levels of Zilpaterol and indicative risk assessments by relevant experts, there is no feed safety issue as a result of this contamination.
My Department carries out extensive sampling from food producing species at farm and primary processing/packing levels under the National Residue Control Plan (NRCP). Annually, through the plan, more than 900 samples are tested for Zilpaterol from bovine, ovine, porcine, poultry and equine species. In the past decade no positives have been identified or reported.
To ensure the continued integrity of the food chain targeted NRCP testing will be increased over the coming period to provide additional assurances with regards overall public health and food safety.
300. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has made contact with a retailer (details supplied) regarding the assertion by the new owners of the company that they will not stock Irish beef products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30609/20]
View answerI have not made contact with the retailer named.
It is undoubtedly true that the both the Covid-19 pandemic and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit have contributed to greater pressure from British farming interests for UK retailers to commit to 'buy British'.
Bord Bia continues to liaise closely with key UK customers, including retailers and food service, to work to help maintain hard-won and long standing business for Irish beef exports.
My focus is on ensuring that Irish beef maintains the favourable position it currently holds in the UK market. I can assure the deputy that every effort is being made to at all levels to try to secure a free trade agreement that ensures tariff and quota free trade with the UK.
301. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts to ensure that Pillar 2 payments such as TAMS, GLAS, BDGP and the sheep welfare scheme will continue in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30610/20]
View answerI have announced my intention to extend existing schemes under the RDP into 2021 and have provided the necessary funding in yesterday's budget.
My Department will therefore be seeking the appropriate approvals from the EU Commission and final decisions will need to be made in relation to the CAP Transitional Regulations and the EU multi annual Financial Framework to allow us to proceed.
302. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 to be fully implemented; the impact he expects to have on the timeframe for forestry felling appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/20]
View answerThe Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 was signed into law by the President on 2nd October 2020 and the Act commenced on 6th October 2020 in full. The secondary legislation required to give effect to the Act was implemented on Wednesday 8th October.
The new Act, amending the Agriculture Appeals Act was designed to align forestry licensing appeals process with best practice in other appeals processes.
The Act provides a number of mechanisms to improve the efficiency and delivery of services to stakeholders by:
- Increasing the capacity of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to determine appeals by enabling it to sit in divisions of itself;
- Enabling the FAC to determine appeals without an oral hearing where it is possible to properly dispose of an appeal in that manner;
- Introducing fees for appeals, by means of regulation;
- Allowing all interested parties to appeal directly to the FAC, with no restrictions on access.
I have now moved to resource the FAC to commence hearing more appeals in line with the provisions set out in the Act. It will be a matter for the FAC to report on their own progress and they update their decisions weekly on their own website.
I believe that the provisions in the Act, along with our Project Plans for managing the licensing backlog, will greatly improve the overall system and result in an increase in the number of licences available for planting and felling and decision-making system which is more fit for purpose and meets the needs of all stakeholders.
303. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will open the next tranche of TAMS; the actions that will be eligible within that tranche; the number of farmers he expects to receive funding under that tranche; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30612/20]
View answerThe financial allocation in respect of TAMS for the full Rural Development Programme period is €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €246m with commitments of an additional €130m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. All outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for my Department and we must have a budget in place to pay these claims.
Tranche 19 of TAMS II closes on 30 October 2020 and Tranche 20 will open for receipt of applications from 31 October 2020. There currently no plans to amend the seven measures available under Tranche 20 of TAMS II. As TAMS is a demand-led scheme, it is not known what level of applications will be submitted. The tranche numbers will be assessed when the tranche closes.
304. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which her Department plans to address the gap that will emerge when the current LEADER programme ends on 31 December 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30405/20]
View answerLEADER is co-funded by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current programming period concludes in December 2020.
Proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-2027 were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission. However, given the nature of the discussions on the CAP and the wider EU Budget post-2020, there has been a delay in adopting these proposals. This means that the next LEADER programme will not now commence until January 2022 at the earliest.
The European Commission has published proposals for transitional measures to allow for continuity between the programming periods. The Commission's Transitional Regulation is still under negotiation and there are still a number of issues to be resolved over the coming months, including the duration of the transitional period.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. My Department is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment and I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly, having regard, inter alia, to any transitional arrangements that may be agreed at European level.
305. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30411/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to address the issue referred to by the Deputy.
My Department is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in relation to the matter shortly.
306. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is in receipt of a request for funding from a local authority (details supplied). [30509/20]
View answerMy Department funds a Libraries Capital Programme of some €29m which will support 18 library projects and the My Open Library initiative over the period 2016 to end-2022. My officials have had some initial discussions with Cork City Council regarding a potential new library for Blackrock-Mahon, but to date, no request for funding has been received.
The Libraries Capital Programme is currently fully committed. Should Cork City Council submit a proposal, it will be progressed through the Department’s Four Stage Capital Management process and will be considered for support should additional capital funding become available. Alternatively, Cork City Council may wish to consider submitting a proposal under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
307. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to provide supplementary funding to projects funded under the community services programme in 2020 due to the fall in their income owing to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30528/20]
View answerMy Department currently supports more than 400 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP) to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a manager, where warranted. The CSP co-funding contribution towards employing each FTE is €19,033 per annum and €32,000 per annum for managers.
In addition, the Department put in place a €1m CSP Support Fund for 2020 which provided additional funding to many of these organisations, ensuring that they could pay their full-time CSP supported employees a maximum of €350 net per week, with a proportionate amount for part-time CSP supported employees.
Pobal, who manage the programme on behalf of the Department, are currently reviewing the financial position of all CSP supported organisations, as the ability to generate income, for many organisations, has been greatly hampered by the Covid-19 crisis. It is anticipated that the review will be completed in shortly and will inform decisions regarding any additional supports that might be required. Any additional supports to be provided will be considered in light of available resources.
308. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grants available to a business owner who has land in the centre of Mullingar for redeveloping. [30556/20]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to funding available under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This scheme provides funding for Local Authority or community led projects in small towns and villages. However, the scheme does not provide support for individual business owners. The Local Authority may be in a position to provide information or advice to the landowner on grants which may be available for the redevelopment of the land in question.
Towns such as Mullingar, which have a population of over 10,000, are not generally eligible for inclusion in the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. However, as an exceptional measure for 2020, funding was provided for larger towns, including Mullingar, under a new Measure aimed at assisting towns to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19. The inclusion of larger towns on this occasion was in recognition of their importance in supporting the economic and social fabric of their rural hinterlands.
