Written Answers Nos. 1530-1547
1530. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding secured for the roll-over of TAMS, BDGP, ANC and sheep welfare schemes in 2020; the level of co-funding that will be provided in each instance under CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33251/20]
View answerBudget 2021 provides a gross Vote of €1.826 billion for my Department. The 2021 provision focuses, in particular, on ensuring key Rural Development Programme supports remain available through the transitional period between the two CAP programmes. These schemes are vital income supports for farmers and provide measurable public good.
Budget 2021 will increase funding for agri-environment measures to €879m. This provides the budget to extend, or roll over, existing RDP schemes from 2020, including the ones listed by the Deputy - ANC (€250m), TAMs (€80m), BDGP (€40m), and Sheep Welfare Scheme (€17m).
Other existing RDP schemes will also be continued at their current level, including the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS), Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), Burren Programme, support for setting up Beef Producer Organisations (BPOs), Targeted Advisor Service for Animal Health (TASAH), GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings (GTFB) and Collaborative Farming.
The current co-financing rate will remain for RDP measures during the CAP transition period.
The definitive allocations will be set out in the 2021 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which will be published later this year.
1531. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of contracts approved in his Department in 2019 and to date in 2020 without competitive tender; the details of the contract; the company awarded the contract; and the full value of the contract in tabular form. [33265/20]
View answerMy Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation.
EU and national rules promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. EU Directives declare that there can be legitimate reasons for awarding contracts non-competitively, such as extreme urgency brought about by unforeseeable events or if there is a single supplier to perform the contract. Therefore, a non-competitive procurement is not necessarily non-compliant with procurement rules.
Circular 40/02 issued by the Department of Finance requires my Department to report all contracts above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) awarded without a competitive process to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) by 31 March of the following year.
In 2019, 98 contracts with a value of €14,283,712 were awarded without a competitive process and declared on the Circular 40/02 return as expenditure against those contracts exceeded the reporting threshold of €25,000.
Of this, contracts valued at €10,489,674 were undertaken without a competitive process but are considered compliant, as the justification for awarding these contracts without a competitive process falls within the exceptions to open/competitive procurement permitted in national and EU legislation.
The remaining procurement with a value of €3,794,038 was also undertaken without a competitive process but is not considered compliant as the contracts were not subject to an independent review prior to the award of the contract.
The 2019 information is not readily available in the format requested. Officials in my Department will collate the information and forward it directly to the Deputy. Information on 2020 non-competitive procurement will not be available until 2021.
1532. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33386/20]
View answerThe Irish Moiled Society who has breeders in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland has been in contact with officials in my Department in relation to establishing a recognised breed society and an approved breeding programme for the breed in this jurisdiction. I understand the Society, who is based in Northern Ireland, is planning to move its base to this jurisdiction to provide a service to breeders here, a move deemed necessary as a result of Brexit. It is understood that the Society will operate from an office in Donegal and, once approved in the Republic, will look to extend its breeding programme to provide a service to Northern Ireland and breeders in Great Britain.
I am advised that discussions have started this week and will continue between the Society and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) on how the Society might best provide a service to all its breeders across the three jurisdictions. My official will be engaging to ensure any solution is in line with EU Animal Breeding Regulations.
1533. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason supports were not provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33412/20]
View answerThe current recruitment campaign for the role of Technical Agricultural Officer is being administered by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
All aspects of the process, including the method of assessment and any accommodations being offered to individual candidates, are a matter for PAS.
The Department has no role, nor can it be involved, in such matters. I would advise that any queries in relation to this competition should be directed to PAS.
1534. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Irish fishers are limited to a strict catch and release policy for the bluefin tuna species only for multiple large foreign fishing vessels to catch them in large quantities just outside the Irish EEZ or the 200 nautical mile limit; his plans to address the serious concerns of Irish fishers who have no quota for this lucrative species on conservation grounds but watch helplessly as large foreign vessels make a mockery of these conservation measures for huge financial returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33414/20]
View answerIreland does not have a national quota for Bluefin Tuna. The available bluefin tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States on the basis of relative stability as established in the late 1990's. At the time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation. The only way to obtain a share of the EU quota now would involve reducing the shares of those EU Member States that do have quota and for whom Bluefin Tuna is an important commercial fishery.
A small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch. This by-catch quota is also available to other Member States in the European Union.
While obtaining a viable commercial quota for Bluefin Tuna is unlikely in the short to medium term, during 2018 negotiations on the new management plan for Bluefin Tuna in the East Atlantic, Ireland was successful in introducing a clause allowing countries without a commercial quota to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data. A Catch-Tag-Release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place in Ireland since 2019.
The project, which was developed by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Marine Institute in partnership with the SFPA, the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and my Department, will allow the Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland to collect valuable data on the migratory patterns of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters in a tightly controlled environment.
1535. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify a matter on SI 448 of 2020 (details supplied). [33432/20]
View answerHare coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the ICC. Hares can only be collected for coursing by clubs affiliated to the ICC, in accordance with the terms of two licences granted by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
This Department is not responsible for licensing or attendance at coursing events. It is a matter for the licensing authority and the Department of Health as to the current arrangements for coursing events and their compliance with public health guidelines.
1536. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the reference year for the sheep welfare scheme could be changed from 2016 to the census from 2020 to allow young farmers to qualify with young ewes and expanded flocks in view of the fact that the €25 million allocation to the scheme in 2016 had a significant amount unspent and the scheme is now capped at €17.5 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33433/20]
View answerThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016, for a period of four years. The scheme reflected the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and was introduced as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, having been agreed with the European Commission.
The current budget allocated to the scheme reflects the rate of payment of €10 per eligible ewe, which is based on the agreed costings underlying the actions to be undertaken in the scheme, and the number of eligible ewes held by participants in the scheme.
The details of the scheme, including the reference years and the rate of payment were agreed with the European Commission. Any such changes to the detail of the scheme, would require the agreement of the European Commission via the formal Rural Development Programme amendment process. However, the maintenance of a baseline set in the years preceding the implementation of the scheme was a prerequisite for obtaining Commission approval for the Scheme. There is an agreed exception to this requirement, whereby reference numbers may be altered in line with requirements arising from GLAS Commonage Management Plans.
The Scheme terms and conditions and the Rural Development Programme do also allow for the acceptance of new applicants from new entrants to sheep farming each year.
1537. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the conditions applicable to mart sales at present and enable the presence of a limited number of buyers at the ringside properly and appropriately spaced in accordance with public health regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33485/20]
View answerSince the beginning of the Covid crisis, my Department has worked intensively, in cooperation with marts representative organisations, to ensure that marts may remain in operation. My Department has adapted the conditions under which marts must operate since April, to reflect the various measures introduced by the Government to stop the spread of Covid, and to allow marts to continue to operate.
I would like to commend the representative organisations for this good and necessary cooperation. I would like to commend also the marts themselves, and farmers around the country, for the resilience they have shown in the face of Covid, and the speed with which they have adapted to the new circumstances.
On 19th October, the Taoiseach announced that the whole country would move to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with COVID-19 for a period of 6 weeks, starting midnight on Wednesday, the 21st . The Taoiseach has called on us all to work together to suppress the virus, and to reopen as much of our society and economy as possible when it is safe to do so. The core responsibility of this Government is to protect lives and to protect public health, while also protecting livelihoods and supporting the wider economy and society.
Protecting the agrifood sector and people in rural communities is at the centre of my Department’s direction, on 20th October, that all marts may continue, but to conduct sales using online platforms only. My Department will continue to monitor the situation, and to adapt measures applied to marts in line with public health guidelines. There are no plans at present to allow in-person attendance of buyers at sales at livestock marts, while Level 5 is in force. Buyers may make arrangements to view the stock available for sale by appointment with mart management.
Marts have been using online mart sales systems since April. From a position where few marts had online systems in place in April, there has been a rapid take up of the new systems by marts over recent months. Currently, the vast majority of marts have online systems in place and are operating through online platforms. Thousands of cattle and sheep have been bought and sold successfully using the various online platforms. As with any new technology, there have been some glitches and these have been dealt with as they arise.
This is undoubtedly a challenging time. My Department is closely monitoring the situation and will plan for a return to physical marts in line with public health guidelines when it is safe to do so. We are seeing some positive aspects of online sales at marts.
Online sales are reaching a much higher number of farmers, dealers, and agents than sales on marts premises did, even prior to the start of Covid restrictions. On Saturday 24th October, the online sales companies reported to my officials that, at one stage, more than 40,000 people were logged into online mart sales.
Since the introduction of Level 5, during the first five days on which marts were in operation using online sales (the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday), cattle throughput in marts came to 36,034 head – this compares to 42,918 head in the corresponding five day period in 2019. This means that, despite the undoubted disruption caused by moving to Level 5, mart throughput of cattle was 84% of the figures for that period in 2019. This demonstrates that marts have been able to continue to operate and farmers have been able to continue to buy and sell, thanks to the commitment and resourcefulness of the marts involved.
In conclusion, I would like to mention the wide range of supports for businesses which the Government has put in place to help them through Covid. Agrifood businesses, including marts, are eligible for these supports, which are set out on the Gov.ie website.
1538. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider progressing with legislation to place harness racing on an equal footing with the greyhound and sports horse industry as a beneficiary on a pro rata basis of the horse and greyhound fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33592/20]
View answerUnder Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 (No.20 of 2001), the horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Fund. Monies are paid out in the ratio of 80% to Horse Racing Ireland and 20% to Rásaíocht Con Éireann as specified in Section 12 (6) of the Act. The funding underpins the development of the relevant sectors and these funds are provided exclusively for these State Bodies.
My Department funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector, published November 2017 and supported its recommendations, and has provided important additional monies. In March 2018, this Department provided €63,714 to fund the preparation of a Five-Year Strategic Plan for Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA). From 2016 to date, grants totalling €114,150 have been paid to the IHRA under the Equine Technical Support Scheme.
The Equine Technical Support Scheme is funding two projects in 2020 (Integrity of records €28,420 and Website Development €1,999). My Department awarded a tender to carry out an education programme aimed at road racing sulky participants and owners of trotting horses with a view to raising awareness of the importance of good horse welfare. This pilot programme ran successfully in 2017, at a cost of €27,000 and the programme continued with courses held in 2018 and 2019.
1539. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a sheep welfare grant will be made available in respect of 19 sheep in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33644/20]
View answerOfficials from my Department have requested additional information from the Deputy's office in relation to the person named, in order to be able to correctly identify the applicant who is the subject of this query.
Once this information has been received, the case will be examined and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy.
1540. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a record of premature deaths in the pig industry is not kept by his Department; the number of inspections that are typically made to each pig farm per annum; if these are unannounced visits; and the reason there are no figures available for the age of pigs which are exported live. [33681/20]
View answerKeepers are required to keep their own records regarding on farm mortalities and this requirement is checked by Departmental staff during animal welfare inspections. However, specific data on the numbers of pigs that die on farm is not routinely collected by my Department.
Pig farms are subject to inspections by officials from my Department for a variety of reasons including for animal health and welfare, feed, antimicrobial usage and others. No typical frequencies by farm are available since many inspections are determined on a risk basis. Some but not all inspections are unannounced.
Overall data is available for all live pig exports. However, the tagging and identification system for pigs is such that specific dates of birth are not attributable to individual pigs.
1541. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of a typical course of antibiotics on a typical pig farm; the illnesses that these medications are designed to either treat or prevent; the comparative figure in percentage terms of antibiotic use within a free range or organic pig farm as opposed to a factory farm; the specific animal welfare interventions that are in place to improve overall animal health and thereby reduce the need to use antibiotics; the reason antibiotic use data has been received from only 121 herds of interest out of approximately 350 that are required to submit data; and the penalties that exist for producers that fail to submit this data. [33682/20]
View answerVeterinary medicines legislation requires that antibiotics can only be dispensed on foot of a prescription issued by a veterinary practitioner. Therefore, in Ireland, antibiotics can only be obtained by a farmer on prescription from a veterinary practitioner. European Regulation 2019/6 comes into effect from January 2022 and will repeal existing national veterinary medicines legislation. In the context of significant One Health concerns arising from antimicrobial resistance, the Regulation has a particular focus on driving more prudent and sustainable use of antimicrobials through enhanced controls.
In relation to the cost of a course of antibiotics on a typical pig farm, this is a commercial matter and this information is not collated by DAFM. However, it is clear that antibiotics can represent a significant cost for pig production. An outbreak of disease on a pig farm is also well recognised as resulting in reduced growth rates. To counteract this, many farmers are working to implement preventative herd health measures such as strategic use of vaccination, improved biosecurity and housing to reduce their level of antibiotic use.
Some of the main reasons why antibiotics are used on pig farms are to treat clinically sick animals which may be suffering from bacterial infections such as respiratory disease which can be highly contagious. In these circumstances, in-contact at-risk animals in the same air space may be treated with antibiotics also on foot of veterinary advice to prevent the spread of disease and thereby protect animal health and welfare.
My Department is not in possession of data that would allow a comparison to be made between different enterprise types, however, free range and organic pig farms only account for a very small proportion of pigs in Ireland.
The health and welfare of each individual pig herd is the responsibility of that pig farmer working with their veterinary practitioners and advisors to ensure the health and welfare of animals under their care. My Department is also working with Animal Health Ireland on a programme, PigHealthcheck, to progress a number of initiatives to improve the overall health and welfare of the Irish pig herds. These initiatives are currently focused on the control of salmonella, improving biosecurity and rearing pigs with intact tails.
The overall aim of PigHealthcheck is to improve the profitability and sustainability of the Irish pig industry through improved animal health. A code of good practice regarding the responsible use of antimicrobials on pig farms has been developed collaboratively by veterinary and farming stakeholders on the iNAP Animal Health Implementation Committee and a copy of these guidelines has been distributed to every commercial Irish pig herd in recent weeks.
The national AMU database for pigs (AMUPig) has only been in place since November 2019 and the data received so far represents 43% coverage of the pig population based on 2019 slaughter figures. Currently, submission of data to AMUPig is voluntary but will be mandated by legislation following the introduction of the new veterinary medicine regulations. It will be a requirement of the revised Bord Bia quality assurance standard for pigs due to come on stream in the coming months that all commercial pig herds submit data on antibiotics used to my Department.
1542. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he will put in place to support the development of a high-welfare, outdoor-reared pig and poultry sector as set out in the programme for Government; the timeline on such developments; the expected outcomes in terms of animal welfare; the amount in percentage terms that the pig industry contributes to greenhouse emissions; and if the measurement takes into account imported feed. [33683/20]
View answerMy Department, through funding and expertise, provides support for the ‘Project for High Welfare Standards for Pigs’ and has established a working group to oversee the continued progress of the project. Project coordination and management are led by Muca Eireann and Pigs Ireland in collaboration with my Department and in partnership with RSPCA Assured, pilot scheme pig farmers, Teagasc, Farmed Animal Welfare Advisory Council, Veterinary Ireland, UCD Veterinary School, the IFA, pig farming communities and industry stakeholders. The project aims to encourage pig welfare in the non-intensive outdoor and intensive sectors to fully comply with RSPCA welfare standards. The RSPCA have committed a significant level of expertise and resources to this project.
Successful implementation of this project is expected to significantly improve the lives of many pigs nationally, the mental health and well-being of Irish pig farmers, provide choice for the consumer and a unique selling point for the retailers. The development of this project will be an important part of my Department’s new Animal Welfare Strategy, which I expect to launch in the coming weeks. The project is due to run for five years.
Greenhouse gas emissions from pigs account for approximately 3% of the National total emissions from agriculture.
1543. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plastic fragments are permitted in animal feed; the percentage of plastic that is in animal feed; his plans to introduce regulations to ensure all plastic is removed from animal feed; and his views on the health implications of ingesting plastic for both animals and humans that consume the meat from these animals. [33684/20]
View answerEU Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 on the Placing on the Market and Use of Feed specifies that ‘packaging from the use of products from the agrifood industry and parts thereof’ are designated as prohibited materials, essentially meaning a zero tolerance for materials such as paper and plastic in animal feed.
However, in order to reduce levels of food waste and the unnecessary destruction of safe food, by-products of the food industry and surplus food have become a relatively significant source of animal feed in Ireland. The presence of packaging plastic in certain animal feedstuffs primarily arises from the use of former food in feed (such as bread material).
My Department carries out controls to ensure the manufacture and supply of these feeds is in accordance with the above legislation to ensure its safety. Suppliers of by-products of the food industry, suppliers of surplus food and food recyclers (i.e. manufacturers of compound feed from surplus food) are required to register with my Department as feed business operators. Food recyclers in Ireland remove as much packaging as possible using mechanical de-wrappers. When official controls detect non compliances, businesses are instructed to take remedial action as required.
Limited research has been conducted on the risks to human or animal health. While the European Food Safety Authority has conducted an evaluation on the safety of microplastics exposure from food, it has not specifically assessed the risks associated with the ingestion of packaging from former foodstuffs by animals. A study carried out in 2011 concluded that ‘major animal or human health risks have not emerged from the current evaluation’ and that ‘a tolerance level higher than zero could be acceptable’
It is widely acknowledged among Member States that achieving zero presence for these specific materials in animal feed is almost impossible and certain Member States have set a de facto tolerance of 0.15% as a consequence (the equivalent of 15g in one tonne).
1544. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the increase in funding in budget 2021 for the organic farm scheme will be allocated; the number of farmers that did not get into the scheme in 2018 but continued to farm under organic practises; the number of farmers who were registered as organic farmers in 2019 who were not recipients of the scheme payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33706/20]
View answerBased on the budget allocation for 2021 and subject to European Commission approval, my Department is in a position to offer a one year extension to those Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) participants whose contracts expire on 31st December 2020. I was very pleased to have secured this funding in the budget for next year and to give this certainty to the applicants.
An additional €4 million has been allocated to opening a new Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in 2021. This Scheme cannot open until the transitional regulations, proposed by the European Commission which will govern the position of Schemes in 2021, have been finalised but we are currently preparing for this reopening. It will help to further drive the implementation of the Organic Farming Strategy 2021-2025.
On the re-opening of the scheme in 2018, my Department made clear at the time that this was a limited re-opening based on some additional but limited budget. The targeted nature of the re-opening was on the recommendation of the stakeholders as part of the development of the Organic Farming Strategy at the time. 110 out of 225 applicants who applied were unsuccessful. 63 of these unsuccessful applicants who are not currently recipients of OFS payments continued to be registered as organic farmers with an Organic Control Body at the end of 2019. This figure will need to be updated in time for 2020 but we would not expect significant change.
1545. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no Forestry Appeals Committee hearings took place during the week of 26 to 30 October 2020; the impact this will have on clearing the backlog of 500 appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33719/20]
View answerThe Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) was established by amendment to the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001. It is operationally independent of my Department. The FAC is responsible for appeals against forestry licence decisions and arranges its own appeal hearings.
The Deputy will be aware that Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020, which amended the Agriculture Appeals Act recently came before the House. The Act commenced on 6th October 2020 and secondary legislation required to give effect to the Act was introduced on 7th October.
The new Act, was designed to align forestry licensing appeals process with best practice in other appeals processes. Among other things, it allows for the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to determine appeals by enabling it to sit in divisions of itself
I have moved quickly to resource the FAC to realise the provisions as set out in the Act and have appointed 3 Deputy Chairs along with 2 ordinary members. Agriculture Appeals officers will be deployed to sit on these committees also. Two additional persons with planning expertise have also been contracted to assist members of the FAC.
The FAC will therefore have 4 committees sitting in the month of November. The FAC, I understand, will hold some 70 hearings in November. It is a matter for the FAC to report on their own progress and they will do so on their own website.
I believe that the provisions in the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act will greatly improve the overall system with more timely decisions on licences under appeal being made by the FAC.
1546. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which tree planting is being encouraged nationally; the incentives available or under consideration; if tree species efficient in carbon or other gas sequestration are being promoted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33809/20]
View answerMy Department is fully committed to supporting the expansion of the national forest estate. The multi-functional benefits of forestry are well known including increased removal of carbon from our atmosphere, creation of more habitats rich in biodiversity and better water quality. This support is provided through generous grants and premiums under the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 which has made available over €100m each year for the past 6 years for forestry development including afforestation. I was very pleased also to secure an allocation of €103m in the budget for 2021 to continue these supports. This programme is due to end this year and arrangements are being put in place by my Department to ensure the continuation of these supports beyond 2020.
Planting in 2020 will fall short of the target of 8,000 hectares set out under the Climate Action Plan. Achieving this level of planting in the years ahead will be challenging and will require shared action from farmers, private sector, public bodies and the community at large. I will shortly be commencing discussions for the next National Forestry Programme and one of my key aims will be to re-engage farmers in the programme. Planting of trees can help drive improved economic and environmental sustainability on Irish farms and I very much intend that farmers have more ownership of the next programme. The model for Ireland has to be more farm forestry.
It is likely that we will need alternative sources of planting outside of private land if we are to deliver 8,000 hectares, which is why Coillte's proposed collaboration with Bord na Mona to plant their land over the next three years is very welcome. I am hopeful that other public bodies will follow suit and will be looking for support from my colleagues in Government, local authorities and others to help us achieve our national target. Just recently, my Department launched a new afforestation scheme aimed specifically at public bodies called the "Creation of Woodlands on Public Lands' scheme. The purpose of this Scheme is to encourage Public Bodies to establish new native woodlands on suitable bare land. Iarnród Éireann are the first public body to secure approval for the establishment of a native forest under this scheme
Businesses too can play their part. A new Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF) provides an opportunity for businesses to contribute to the establishment of new native woodlands. I am pleased to say that there is significant appetite amongst the business community to take part in this initiative thereby helping to meet the Climate Action Plan target. So far An Post, Accenture, KBI Global Investments, Microsoft, Aldi, Lidl and Applegreen have all committed to the WEF, resulting in the planting of almost 250,000 native trees across the country. Many other businesses have been in contact with my Department with a view to taking part, so we expect a pipeline of investment from the business community to develop in the new year. The amount of native woodlands planted as a percentage of total planting has reached record levels as a result of this scheme with 446 hectares planted so far this year. At the beginning of the forestry programme, native woodlands made up just 2% of total planting and the proportion now is 22%.
Forests are excellent at sequestering carbon dioxide however depending on the species some trees will remove carbon at different rates. Broadleaves and conifers sequester roughly the same carbon dioxide; the maximum value is approximately 150 tonnes of carbon per hectare but this is achieved in 75 years for spruce, compared to 180 years for oak. However, carbon sequestration does vary from year to year depending on management and soil type. The afforestation scheme provides support for 12 different planting types in order that anybody considering panting has maximum flexibility and choice for different species.
1547. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the national beef herd has increased or decreased in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33811/20]
View answerThe CSO's June Livestock Survey includes the information below for the years 2015-2019:
|
000 head |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
*2020 |
|
Total cattle |
6,964 |
7,221 |
7,364 |
7,348 |
7209 |
7314 |
|
- of which: Dairy cows |
1,296 |
1,398 |
1,433 |
1,481 |
1505 |
1568 |
|
-of which: Other cows |
1,076 |
1,104 |
1,081 |
1,048 |
1000 |
983 |
*Note that the figures for 2020 are provisional estimates.
This year the total cattle numbers increased by 105,800 (+1.5%) to 7,314,400.
The number of other cows dropped by 16,500 (-1.6%), while the number of dairy cows was up by 62,900 (+4.2%).
More detailed data from the CSO's June and December Livestock Surveys each year is available at the following links:
https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/agriculture/cropsandlivestockjunefinalresults
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/clsjp/cropsandlivestocksurveyjuneprovisional2020/
