Written Answers Nos. 249-267
249. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of renting office space, including for public bodies, from a company (details supplied) in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [35604/20]
View answerMy Department has no rental agreements in place in respect of the named company.
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
250. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the funding allocation for his Department for 2021, by project. [35664/20]
View answerBudget 2021 provides a gross Vote of €1.826 billion for my Department, and the table below outlines the breakdown by Programme as set out in the Estimates.
|
Programme |
2021 Estimate €000 |
|
|
A |
Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health and Animal Welfare |
322,113 |
|
B |
Farm/Sector Supports and Controls |
937,530 |
|
C |
Policy & Strategy |
399,175 |
|
D |
Seafood Sector |
167,300 |
|
E |
Receipts |
363,789 |
|
Net Total |
1,462,329 |
251. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current contingency measures in place for farmers and the agrifood sector in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the financial packages that will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35667/20]
View answerMy Department's Brexit preparedness work has resulted in various supports being introduced over successive budgets to help the agri-food and fisheries sectors mitigate the impact of Brexit. These include supports in the form of direct aid, as well as the provision of low-cost loans such as the €300 million Future Growth Loan Scheme. In addition, in 2019, my Department introduced the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) in recognition of a very difficult year for the beef sector and a prolonged period of price uncertainty caused by various factors, including Brexit.
All of the impacts of Brexit on the agri-food sector and on the farming community are, of course, kept under ongoing review. In this regard, the Government's Brexit Readiness Action Plan, published in September, confirmed that further measures to support affected sectors would be considered over the coming months. Accordingly, Budget 2021 provides an overall contingency fund of €3.4 billion to address the twin challenges of Brexit and Covid 19.
I also welcome the Multi-Annual Financial Framework agreement reached in July by EU Heads of State and Government, which includes a €5 Billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for those Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. We will work to ensure that the agri-food sector gets an adequate allocation from that funding.
252. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support the revitalisation of the indigenous wool sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35668/20]
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.
You will be aware that one of our actions under the Programme for Government is to undertake a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool based products such as insulation and fertilisers. A sum of €100,000 has been allocated to this project and I am currently examining how best to conduct this review. My Department will organize a consultation process with Industry in relation to the Terms of Reference of the review over the coming months.
253. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the issue of oyster fishermen and the new schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35678/20]
View answerThroughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, Government has made available financial and other supports for employees and businesses negatively impacted by the Pandemic. Both the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme have supported the incomes of employees and the self-employed in our seafood sector and I am aware that many availed of these Government payments in the first half of 2020. Government has also made available low-cost loans to seafood businesses for working capital and other purposes.
My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors. The Programme is delivered through a range of support schemes providing supports for capital investment, innovation, advisory services, marketing, training, stock conservation and protection of marine biodiversity. These support schemes have continued throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic and take-up of grants has remained strong. The Programme is now nearing its end, with funds already mostly committed through grant offers and I anticipate that the Programme will finish in 2021. My Department is working to develop a new Seafood Development Programme for the 2021-27 period.
In 2020, the European Union amended the EMFF Regulation (508/2014) to ensure that Member States’ EMFF Programmes could be best used to support their seafood sectors with the specific impacts of the Pandemic. The additional measures available through these amendments will end on 31 December 2020. The Deputy should note that no additional funds were made available by the European union for these Covid-specific measures and any aid made available by Government to fisheries or aquaculture has involved reallocating scarce funds from other support schemes for the sector.
For the fisheries sector, the amendments to the EMFF Regulation facilitated Member States that chose to implement either a fleet tie-up scheme or a storage aid market support scheme and only those two measures. Representatives of the fisheries sector did not favour a Storage Aid Scheme and instead called for a fleet tie-up scheme. The previous Minister implemented a Covid-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme over the months June to August 2020 which was available to holders of a sea-fishing boat licence in certain segments of the Irish sea-fishing fleet.
Last month, I announced a Covid 19 Aquaculture Support Scheme to compensate oyster and rope mussel aquaculture licence holders by supporting their costs of production for product that they were unable to sell over the period February to June 2020. For oyster aquaculture licence holders, payments will range from €6,800 to €16,300 per business depending on their previous production levels and for rope mussel aquaculture licence holders who have considerably lower costs of production, payments will range from €1,300 to €9,000 per business. A call for applications by BIM is imminent.
254. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35693/20]
View answerDingle (FHC) is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
A number of proposals to establish self hire boat operations at Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre have recently been received. Safety of all harbour users is a paramount concern and, in that context, consideration has to be given to overall capacity issues for the safe operation of the harbour.
In addition, before any final decisions are made, the implications, if any, for Public Procurement Guidelines will also have to be considered.
255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a beef environmental efficiency programme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35696/20]
View answerThe objective of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance, supporting decision making on farm and support of best practice in welfare management.
The closing date for receipt of applications for this programme was 15th May 2020. Applications could only be made via my Department's online application system at www.agfood.ie. A request was received on 7th October 2020 from an agent acting on behalf of the person named requesting their participation in the scheme as they had not submitted an application by the 15th May deadline.
A letter issued on 9th October 2020 outlining that a late application could not be accepted at this stage. This letter also indicated that if the person named was dissatisfied with this decision, they retained the right to have the matter reviewed. Any review request should outline the reasons for inclusion in the programme and include any supporting documentation considered relevant tothe matter. To date, no such review has been received.
256. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department rent office space from a company (details supplied) or an Irish subsidiary; the number of employees who work out of such office space; the length of time they have been working from the offices; the cost to date of renting such offices; the tender process by which it was decided to make use of the services of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35707/20]
View answerMy Department has no rental agreements in place in respect of the named company.
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
257. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35731/20]
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.
258. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on all outstanding issues with compensation and wildlife measures in respect of the tuberculosis strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35734/20]
View answerDraft bovine TB strategy documents have recently been developed taking on board the recommendations of the Bovine Tb Stakeholder Forum Interim report. The draft strategy has been circulated to the members of the Forum and my officials are currently engaging in bilateral discussions with stakeholders regarding the issues of concern. The next meeting of the TB Forum is scheduled to take place on the 26th of November. It is envisaged the final strategy will be published shortly thereafter.
259. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fishermen and fisherwomen who availed of South and South West Fisheries Local Action Groups by each category of the scheme and in absolute and relative terms to the estimated total eligible number of boats in tabular form. [35743/20]
View answerMy Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme is providing €240 million in financial supports to our seafood sector over the period 2014-20. The Programme includes a Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme which implements a community-led local development approach to the socio-economic development of coastal communities. Through the Scheme, seven Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) were selected in 2017 to disperse a Scheme budget of €12 million.
The EMFF Programme specifies the overarching strategy for the Scheme and states that it will be focussed on promoting innovative approaches in fisheries and aquaculture areas to create growth and jobs in those areas, in particular by adding value to fishery and aquaculture products and diversifying the local economy towards new economic activities, in particular those offered by ‘blue growth’ and the broader maritime sectors. Each of the seven FLAGs devised a Local Development Strategy which guides their selection of projects for funding, consistent with this overarching strategy.
The Programme also provides that actions supported by FLAGs must ensure complementarity with, and avoid duplication of, measures provided under other EMFF schemes. Other EMFF schemes provide capital grants to fishermen for investment on board and for value adding investments ashore and support innovation, professional advisory services, training, capacity building and networking of fishermen.
The seven FLAGs have awarded funding to a broad range of projects since 2017 including marine tourism and marine leisure, enhancements to smaller fishery harbour infrastructure, seafood festivals, marine heritage, marine environmental projects and micro seafood processing projects.
I understand that the application process for the FLAG scheme does not ask applcants if they own or crew on a fishing vessel. However, the best information available to BIM indicates that the grant awards specifically to fishing vessel owners or crew are as detailed in the tables below.
South West FLAG
|
Category |
Number of projects |
|
Economic Development of Coastal Areas |
11 |
South FLAG
|
Category |
Number of projects |
|
Economic Development of Coastal Areas |
27 |
|
Skills and Knowledge Development, Promoting Social Wellbeing, Coastal Cultural Heritage |
6 |
260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process by which information on the scale and amounts of inshore fishing is gathered and collated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35744/20]
View answerAll sea-fishing boats with an overall length of 10 meters or more are required to have onboard and complete an EU fishing logbook. The log-sheet and landing declaration for each trip must be submitted to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority within 48 hours of landing.
Only Registered and Licensed fishing vessels may sell 'first sale' fish (i.e. fish that is offered for sale for the first time following landing from any vessel). All buyers must register with on the website www.fishingnet.ie/salesnotes/. A sales note is not required from a person who buys no more than 10 kilograms of fish for private consumption in any one day but all other purchases must be recorded in this system, irrespective of the length of the fishing vessel from which the fish was purchased.
The day-to-day operation of the Logbook and Sales Notes Systems, including compliance matters, are operational matters for the SFPA and I am therefore precluded from involvement in this matter.
BIM also collects other data on the fishing fleet, including inshore fishing vessels, via its National Seafood Survey. More information on this can be found on BIM's website http://www.bim.ie/dcf/.
The Marine Institute publishes annual stock books with informaiton relevant to species subject to EU quotas fished both offshore and inshore and together with BIM also publishes a Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review that focuses on non-quota species such as lobster, crab and razor clams and the activity of the shellfish fleet. The MI publications can be found online from https://oar.marine.ie/.
261. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fishermen and fisherwomen who are members of existing producer organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35745/20]
View answerArticle 14 of Regulation 1379/2013 on the Common Organisation of the Market for Fishery and Aquaculture Products (CMO) specifies EU regulatory requirements for recognition of fisheries and aquaculture producer organisations. My Department as competent authority for the CMO in Ireland has a process in place which allows for groups of fisheries or aquauclture producers to apply for recognition as a producer organisation.
In April this year, I introduced revised Recognition Criteria under Article 14 to be satisfied by any group seeking recognition as a seafood Producer Organisation. For a fisheries Producer Organisation one of those criteria requires that a group must have a minimum of 30 members who own an active fishing vessel. Beyond that minimum requirement, membership numbers are a matter for each Producer Organisation. In order to monitor ongoing compliance with the requirements for recognition, my Department intermittantly requests information on membership and also carries out verification checks on a bi-annual basis. The most recent information available to my Department dates from April 2020 and is set out in the table below.
|
Producer Organisation |
No. of members |
|
Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation |
73 |
|
Killybegs Fishermens Organisation |
35 |
|
Irish Fish Producers Organisation |
53 |
|
Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation |
61 |
262. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on implementing prohibitions on vessel and net sizes for inshore fishing rather than a blanket ban on pair trawling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35746/20]
View answerEU Regulation 1241/2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures sets down the general rules which apply to fishing vessels in all EU waters, including inshore waters. This Regulation sets down the baseline standards of mesh sizes for towed gears and static gears for North Western Waters. Member States have the possibility of developing joint recommendations for technical measures in accordance with the regionalisation process set down in Regulation 1380/2013, based on scientific advice. The EU Commission has adopted such measures for North Western waters that are aimed at supporting the effective implementation of the landing obligation. In addition, a Member State may adopt measures applicable to their own fishing vessels only provided that such measures that are compatible with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy and are at least as stringent as measures under the CFP. I am committed to further strengthening of technical measures across our fisheries and am prepared to consider proposals either confined to our own fleet or for development more generally under the EU regionalisation process which can be shown to promote sustainable fishing and compliment other measures including the policy on the exclusion of fishing vessels over 18m vessels fishing by means of trawls from inside Ireland's 6nm zone.
In relation to the ban on larger fishing vessels, fishing by means of trawls, inside the 6nm zone, in December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.
A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to the independent Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats under Statute and was intended to give effect to the measures announced by the then Minister. As stated above, this Policy Directive provided that vessels over 18m LOA (Length Overall) will be excluded from trawling activity inside six nautical miles, including inside the baselines, from 1 January 2020. The Policy Directive directed the Licensing Authority to insert a condition to this effect into the licences of affected vessels.
A Judicial Review was taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy.
On 6th October 2020, the Judge held in summary that the Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect.
The breach of fair procedures as referenced above related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them once a preferred option had been identified.
The High Courts ruling of Judicial review proceedings which relate to Policy Directive 1 of 2019 has been appealed by the State to the Court of Appeal and a stay is being sought on the orders granted therein.
As this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to comment on the policy until the matter can be resolved before the Courts.
263. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet with organisations (details supplied) to discuss the High Court ruling that overturned policy directive No. 1 of 2019 and related matters. [35749/20]
View answerIn December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.
A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to the independent Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats under Statute and was intended to give effect to the measures announced by the then Minister. As stated above, this Policy Directive provided that vessels over 18m LOA (Length Overall) will be excluded from trawling activity inside six nautical miles, including inside the baselines, from 1 January 2020. The Policy Directive directed the Licensing Authority to insert a condition to this effect into the licences of affected vessels.
A Judicial Review was taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy.
On 6th October 2020, the Judge held in summary that the Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect.
The breach of fair procedures as referenced above related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them once a preferred option had been identified.
The High Courts ruling of Judicial review proceedings which relate to Policy Directive 1 of 2019 has been appealed by the State to the Court of Appeal and a stay is being sought on the orders granted therein.
As this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to meet with these organisations to discuss the ruling at this time.
264. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the commitment to bring forward an expanded town and village renewal scheme to bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy; when the scheme will open; if it will be open to business looking to rejuvenate derelict buildings for commercial use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35558/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment for an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme to bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy. The focus of the initiative is on renovating or repurposing properties for residential use rather than commercial use.
In October 2018, my Department launched a Town Centre Living Initiative to explore in a holistic way how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot focused on 6 towns with different characteristics in different parts of the country.
An independent report on the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative was published on 22nd June 2020. The report highlighted the value of developing a shared vision, or masterplan, for individual towns if they are to be attractive places in which to live.
In that regard, I have secured an additional €2 million in Budget 2021 as part of the expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will be used to support the development of masterplans as a basis for the strategic development of our rural towns and villages. This initiative will be progressed early in 2021 and further details will be announced at that time.
An Inter-Departmental Group has also been established which will consider all of the suggested actions in the report on the Town Centre Living initiative, as well as progressing the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a Town Centre First approach to the regeneration of our towns and villages. The Group held its first meeting this week and is chaired jointly by my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
265. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cost of renting office space, including for public bodies, from a company (details supplied) in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [35617/20]
View answerMy Department currently occupies office space at two locations - Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The offices occupied in Ballina are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW), while the lease arrangements in relation to Trinity Point are managed on our behalf by the OPW.
Neither my Department, nor any of the agencies under its aegis, avails of office space from the company in question.
266. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding or grant assistance available to a business (details supplied); when the social enterprise fund will next be open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35700/20]
View answerFunding may be available through the LEADER Programme for the type of project referred to by the Deputy. LEADER is a multi-annual programme covering the period 2014-2020 which is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country. To date, over 3,500 projects have been approved under the current programme, for funding of almost €141 million.
Funding under LEADER is provided under a broad range of themes, including Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation. This theme focuses on driving continued local economic development, including diversification of the rural economy, and the creation of employment opportunities for the local community.
In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The list of all Local Action Groups, their Implementing Partners and their contact details, is available on the Gov.ie website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c45498-local-action-groups.
My Department has separately provided small capital grants to social enterprises through calls for proposals over the last three years. A total of €2 million was allocated to 230 social enterprises since December 2019 through the Social Enterprise measure of the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan. The measure in question has also supported training and mentoring for social enterprises.
Decisions regarding the use of the funding available for social enterprises through the Dormant Accounts Fund measure in 2021 will be made in the early part of next year.
267. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department rent office space from a company (details supplied) or an Irish subsidiary; the number of employees who work out of such office space; the length of time they have been working from the offices; the cost to date of renting such offices; the tender process by which it was decided to make use of the services of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35720/20]
View answerMy Department currently occupies office space at two locations - Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The offices occupied in Ballina are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW), while the lease arrangements in relation to Trinity Point are managed on our behalf by the OPW.
Neither my Department, nor any of the agencies under its aegis, avails of office space from the company in question.
