Wednesday, 27 Jan 2021

Written Answers Nos. 882-901

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (882)

Paul Murphy

Question:

882. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to 200 horses along with up to 350 trainers, jockeys and grooms are preparing to go to the UK for Cheltenham week from 16 to 19 March 2021 at a time when infection rates of the British variant of Covid-19 are likely to be still very high; if he has been notified of and or approved these travel preparations; if any of those preparing to go to Cheltenham are in receipt of or benefit from the €76.8 million of State funding to Horse Racing Ireland, directly or indirectly; if Horse Racing Ireland will be sending an official delegation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3687/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

Following a Government meeting on Friday 15th May 2020, the decision was taken to allow racing to resume behind closed doors (no spectators) from 8th June 2020 subject to strict protocols.

HRI has informed me that it is too early to speculate with regard to Irish-trained horses travelling to Cheltenham this year. Travel advice in relation to persons accompanying any horses to Cheltenham will be in line with the Government Regulations relating to COVID-19 at the time.

Horse Racing Ireland has also informed me that it does not envisage sending a delegation to Cheltenham in 2021.

Harbours and Piers

Questions (883)

Dara Calleary

Question:

883. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount invested in a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he is in receipt of current funding applications for the project from Mayo County Council; and his plans for the future of the project. [3715/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.

Responsibility for the maintenance and development of Local Authority-owned harbours and piers rests with each individual Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. In the case of Purteen Harbour, Mayo County Council is the responsible Local Authority.

As part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department has provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small-scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Between 2010 and 2020, over €31m has been made available to assist coastal Local Authorities under this programme. Mayo County Council secured funding of €5.3m during this period, with €109k of this being allocated to repair and development works at Purteen Harbour.

While an application for funding in relation to works at Purteen Harbour was received by my Department under the 2020 Local Authority programme, this application was subsequently withdrawn by Mayo County Council.

No final decisions have been made in relation to the composition of the 2021 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. However, should any application be submitted by Mayo County Council in relation to works at Purteen Harbour under any future programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to it by the Council and available exchequer funding.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (884)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

884. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the CAP payments to farmers, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3724/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The number of beneficiaries and the total amount of CAP payments in each county in respect of the CAP financial year 2019 (16th October 2018 to 5th October 2019) is provided in the following document.

The information was compiled from the 2019 CAP beneficiaries database which was published on the Department’s website on 29th May 2020, in accordance with Article 111 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 which requires Member States to ensure the annual ex-post publication of all beneficiaries of CAP funding.

County	No. of Beneficiaries	Total Amount
Carlow	1,881	47,837,194
Cavan	4,850	55,866,224
Clare	6,266	80,753,821
Cork	13,198	207,677,504
Donegal	8,806	100,574,159
Dublin	856	18,527,648
Galway	12,663	149,166,231
Kerry	8,016	108,018,585
Kildare	2,216	37,946,029
Kilkenny	3,362	62,784,225
Laois	2,704	44,046,095
Leitrim	3,656	41,839,186
Limerick	5,252	73,226,547
Longford	2,494	31,568,643
Louth	1,564	24,305,924
Mayo	11,603	122,151,495
Meath	3,679	58,156,376
Monaghan	4,106	45,180,433
Offaly	2,828	43,908,068
Roscommon	5,582	65,128,677
Sligo	4,096	42,957,468
Tipperary	7,076	122,388,944
Waterford	2,369	46,783,541
Westmeath	3,357	48,028,308
Wexford	4,249	76,681,057
Wicklow	2,126	37,220,505
Northern Ireland	299	2,720,622
Outside Ireland	18	271,965

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (885)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

885. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the CAP payments that would be paid to farmers, by county, in tabular form, if a cap on payments of €50,000, €60,000 or €70,000 was applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3725/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The draft proposals for the new CAP include a number of measures which concern redistribution of direct payments, including:

- an overall cap of €100,000;

- degressive reduction of payments above €60,000, allowing a maximum payment of €80,250;

- a complementary redistributive income support scheme, and

- the convergence of payments towards a minimum of 75% of the average payment per hectare nationally.

These measures, and others under the direct payments ceiling, are inextricably linked to each other. This means that each time one of the elements is changed, each of the other elements also must change. The new CAP regulations remain under discussion at present and therefore, these elements are still changing.

My Department has carried out preliminary modelling exercises, including a review of the implications of capping of payments, the results of which have been made available online and a copy is attached to this reply. However, any analysis only remains current until one of the elements changes. This state-of-flux is likely to continue until the regulations are fully developed.

Cap

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (886)

Holly Cairns

Question:

886. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minutes and action points from his meetings with organisations (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3730/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Since my appointment on 2nd September 2020, I have held many detailed and informative virtual meetings with representatives of the Irish fishing industry from the catching, processing and inshore sectors from the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation (ISWFPO), the Irish South and East Fish Producers' Organisation (ISEFPO), the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO), the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA).

I held specific fisheries meetings on 16 September, 12 October (with An Taoiseach and Minister Coveney) and 9 December 2020 (with Minister Coveney), to brief industry on the state of play with regard to the Future Agreement negotiations, to hear their concerns and discuss the challenges facing the Irish fishing industry once the UK left the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy.

On 26 November 2020, I chaired a virtual meeting of the Sea Fisheries Liaison Group attended by fishing industry representatives from the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation (ISWFPO), the Irish South and East Fish Producers’ Organisation (ISEFPO), the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO) and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA) as well as environmental NGOs. This meeting is held each year in advance of the negotiations at the December EU Fisheries Council so that the Minister can hear the views of all fisheries stakeholders on the Commission’s proposals for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for the following year. I was very pleased with the good engagement at the meeting. The input from stakeholders is an important part of the Sustainability Impact Assessment of the Commission’s proposal, which also includes a public consultation and as well as expert contributions from the Marine Institute (MI) and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

On 9 December 2020, I met by VC with the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation (ISWFPO), the Irish South and East Fish Producers’ Organisation (ISEFPO), the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO) and the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) to update industry on the preparations for the December Council. As the negotiations on the EU’s future relationship with the UK were still ongoing at the time, interim arrangements were needed to ensure continuity of fishing in the early part of 2021. The Commission had therefore proposed to set provisional TACs for the first three months of the year. I set out Ireland’s goals for the upcoming negotiations including seeking higher provisional TACs for seasonal stocks such as Mackerel, Horse Mackerel and Blue Whiting.

Also on 9th December 2020, I hosted a meeting of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) where the NIFF delivered presentations on the challenges small scale coastal fishers have faced in accessing financial supports and on opportunities the sector would like to maximise into the future. The NIFF also highlighted the worries the Covid-19 pandemic has brought from finances, to health and social inclusion. I encouraged the inshore sector to feed into the development of the Operational Programme for the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027. I also commended the NIFF for giving voice to the stress many have felt since the start of the pandemic.

I also held two virtual meetings with fishing industry representative groups over the course of December Council (on 15 and 16 December) to update them on the progress of the negotiations and a further virtual meeting on 17 December to update on the outcome of Council.

Following the reaching of an Agreement on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation, on 28th December, I (together with An Taoiseach and Minister Coveney) met again with representatives of the Irish fishing industry. I reassured them that I fully understood their concerns regarding a cut in a number of quota shares. I also assured representatives that we will work together with the sector to develop the necessary supports and approach to address these impacts.

I also convened several Consultative Committee meetings of all Departmental stakeholders on 16 September, 21 October and 21 December 2020 to allow for a full exchange of information as the negotiations proceeded and to provide updates on the practical implications of the ending of the transition period. Fishing industry representatives were invited to attend these meetings, along with other agri-food stakeholders, and had the opportunity to make interventions. The most recent Consultative Committee meeting took place last week, on 20 January. Fisheries matters were discussed during the course of this meeting.

Opportunities to meet with the fishing industry representatives are always welcome and I look forward to continuing my close cooperation with the fishing sector.

Food Industry

Questions (887)

Holly Cairns

Question:

887. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the applications of organisations (details supplied) to become producer organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3731/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is the competent authority under the EU Common Market Organisation Regulation (1379/2013) for recognition of fisheries and aquaculture producer groups as EU Producer Organisations. In 2020, my Department published new national Recognition Criteria under the CMO to be satisfied by applicants for recognition. In line with the commitments in our Programme for Government to facilitate formation of Producer Organisations in the inshore fisheries sector, the new Recognition Criteria were introduced to make it easier for inshore fisheries producer groups to achieve recognition as a PO. Producer Organisation status has many advantages, including better negotiating strength in the market for producers, financial supports under my Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme and certain protections under EU competition law.

In 2020, my Department received two applications from inshore fisheries producer groups, one of which was from the National Inshore Fishermen's Association CLG. The CMO Regulation provides for a time frame of three months within which to determine an application for recognition, subject to receipt of all necessary information. On 15 July 2020, my Department wrote to the NIFA requesting additional information to assist in consideration of their application. The NIFA responded on some of the issues concerned, but a response is awaited on some others. These relate to organisational and procedural matters, such as the constitution of the NIFA. Pending receipt of that information, consideration of the application from the NIFA is paused. My officials have discussed the status of the application with the NIFA on a number of occasions, but remain available to provide any additional guidance needed by the NIFA.

In line with the Programme for Government commitments, I also introduced new financial supports in 2020 under my Department’s EMFF Programme, making available to producer groups seeking recognition grants for IT equipment, office furniture, legal, accountancy and other relevant professional advice, website development costs and costs of room hire etc.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (888)

Marian Harkin

Question:

888. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the decision to defer convergence for 2021-2022 is a decision of Government rather than of the European Union; the objective of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3778/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The transitional regulation covering the 2021 and 2022 scheme years allow for Member States to implement internal convergence of payment entitlements at their own discretion. In 2019, Ireland chose to rest the programme of internal convergence for the transitional period (2021-22).

This rest period provided some time for consultation with farmers and their representative bodies on this important issue, along with some much needed stability in direct payments through the transitional and Brexit period. It is clear that the new CAP regulations will continue with the convergence process, and I will be carefully monitoring progress with the aim of obtaining the best outcome for Irish farmers.

Beekeeping Industry

Questions (889, 890)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

889. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish a compulsory register for all beekeepers. [3890/21]

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

890. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a compensation scheme for any beekeeper affected by the American and European foul brood viruses resultant from the importation of non-native bees. [3891/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 890 together.

I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard my Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include provision of a free disease diagnostic service for Irish beekeepers to help maintain the health of the bee population, funding to carry out applied research through the National Apiculture Programme, grants to national beekeeping associations and also grant aid to fund capital investments for beekeepers.

American Foul Brood Disease (AFB) and European Foul Brood Disease (EFB) are notifiable diseases of bees and are regulated by EU and national legislation. To ensure compliance with legislation and to support bee health, beekeepers are required to contact my Department and submit samples if any one of above mentioned notifiable diseases is suspected or diagnosed. AFB and EFB occur in Irish honey bee colonies and information on theses diseases and sampling process is available on the Department’s website. Samples can be submitted through the free disease diagnostic service. If a sample tests positive officials from my Department will contact the beekeeper directly to outline the appropriate steps to be taken.

In relation to the importation of honeybees into Ireland, this is allowed under regulations governing intra-Community trade with other EU Member States. The specific health requirements for trading in bees are laid out in Council Directive 92/65/EEC. All imports of bees must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the country of export. The reason for this is to ensure that imported bees are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stocks.

The importation of bees is therefore subject to EU regulation on intra community trade.

Finally, it is a legal requirement under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, for all beekeepers producing honey to register with my Department. This register is used to conduct the annual honey hygiene inspection programme.

Control of Horses

Questions (891)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

891. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that local authorities such as a local authority (details supplied) are enforcing the Control of Horses Act 1996 adequately; his views on having multiple horse wardens with a particular focus on problem areas for horse abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to local authorities enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their areas. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for each Local Authority and they have powers under the act to appoint authorised officers within their area. I have no function in relation to staffing matters pertaining to local authorities.

The Deputy will be aware that, in December 2020, I provided funding to 101 animal welfare organisations throughout the country, many of which care for equines and several of which are based in Cork.

The Programme for Government includes commitments to prioritise equine welfare and to provide additional urban horse welfare programmes, in particular, to which I am fully committed.

My Department will continue to work in close collaboration with Local Authorities and take a proactive approach in tackling challenges by developing facilities for urban populations, and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses.

Forestry Sector

Questions (892)

Alan Dillon

Question:

892. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of 4 November 2020, if his Department's engineering staff assessed this additional information received (details supplied); if there has been a decision made on this ongoing case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3918/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The contract specified was approved under the Forest Road Scheme subject to compliance with scheme Terms and Conditions. The first grant application has been received by my Department, but payment could not be made because several shortcomings in the construction of the road were identified during an inspection by the relevant District Inspector.

On foot of these shortcomings, a technical report, completed by a competent Engineer, was requested to confirm the load bearing capacity and mechanical strength of the road and what, if any, additional material was required to meet Forest Service standards. Following receipt of this report, the District Inspector as well as my Department’s Engineering staff assessed the additional information received and have now requested that remedial work be undertaken. The date by which the remedial work is to be completed is 30/04/2021.

This decision has been communicated to the applicant and his registered forester.

Basic Payment Scheme

Questions (893)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

893. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3957/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An official from my Department made contact with the persons named with regard to their 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application.

The case has now been reviewed in light of additional information received and the application has now been accepted given the exceptional circumstances.

Payment due for the 2020 BPS will issue shortly.

Fishing Industry

Questions (894)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

894. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider setting up a dedicated post-Brexit fisheries task force made up of community and industry stakeholders with the express purpose of urgently responding to the undue burden and hardship falling on the fishing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3963/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I would like to assure the Deputy that I have listened carefully to the representatives of the industry and indeed I have met individual fishermen who are facing a difficult situation. I have reflected on how to ensure that the funding made available to the sector in the Brexit Adjustment Reserve is focused to meet the challenges of the sector and of the coastal communities most impacted.

I believe it is proper to set up a Task Force involving seafood industry representatives and other stakeholders to provide recommendations on the appropriate measures that will best support the sector and the local coastal communities. I intend to set out in the arrangements and the terms of reference for this Task Force as soon as possible.

I will ask the Task Force to focus immediately on possible arrangements for a temporary fleet tie-up scheme to counter the impacts of the reduction in quotas which will impact our fishing industry from the beginning of April.

The Task Force will, I hope, also provide recommendations on a range of other actions and measures that will allow the sector and the coastal communities to adjust and develop so that both the direct and downstream future impacts on the wider seafood sector can be taken into account.

Ports Policy

Questions (895)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

895. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Dunmore East Harbour will be added to the list of designated approved ports for UK registered vessels to land fish in Ireland in view of the fact the Dunmore East has fish processing facilities and fishery protection officers on site and also given its proximity to sudden fishing grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3970/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following consultation with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, I have decided to designate five additional Irish ports, for both Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) legislation and North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) purposes, to accept UK registered-Northern Ireland vessel landings.

The five new ports designated are Ros a Mhíl, Howth, Greencastle, Rathmullen and Burtonport for UK registered Northern Ireland vessels and join Killybegs and Castletownbere which continue to be designated for landings from vessels of any third country origin. Under the new designations, Ros a Mhíl and Howth will be able to accommodate landings of demersal stocks from vessels under 26 metres and will operate Monday to Friday from 10am to 10pm. Greencastle, Rathmullen and Burtonport will be designated for non-quota species landings from vessels under 18 metres and will operate from 2pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

There are significant practical and cost implications for the State in the designation of EU ports for Third Country landings as, under EU Regulations, such designations represent an entry point to the European Union following which food is free to circulate within the full EU common market. On this basis for any ports designated, Ireland is obliged to ensure that it has in place a meaningful control presence. I have requested the SFPA to review the costs and resource demands arising in the event of further designations.

In 2018, there were 15 landings of UK vessels into Dunmore East. This was reduced to 9 landings in 2019. Over these two years, only 318 tonnes of fish were landed into this port by UK vessels. At this point, Dunmore East has not been designated but this will be kept under review.

Animal Welfare

Questions (896)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

896. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department inspected a dog pound (details supplied); if so, if the premises meets all animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3978/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 (as amended), local authorities have responsibility for the management of dog pounds. This legislation falls under the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The responsibility for the inspection of Dog Pounds falls to the appropriate local authority veterinary inspectorate.

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Questions (897)

Michael McNamara

Question:

897. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3998/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016 and has received payment for scheme years 2016 – 2019 and the 2020 advance payment.

The person named submitted an appeal following the rejection of GLAS claims on certain land parcels due to non-compliance with scheme conditions. The applicant was informed by letter dated 7 January 2021 that the internal appeal was unsuccessful and that the option of submitting an appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months of the date of this decision was open to them. At the time of enquiry, no appeal had been lodged with the Appeals Office.

Horticulture Sector

Questions (898, 899)

Martin Browne

Question:

898. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department has taken to facilitate the horticulture industry to move away from peat use (details supplied); and the measures that have been put in place before the end of horticultural peat harvesting. [4003/21]

Martin Browne

Question:

899. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a reduction in peat use in the commercial horticulture sector is envisaged for 2021-2022. [4005/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 898 and 899 together.

In relation to peat extraction, my Department has no involvement in its regulation. This is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) license process, under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Regarding the future use of peat moss in the horticulture sector, on 7th September 2020, my colleague Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, published a report on the review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry. The review report was prepared by an inter-agency working group following on from the submissions from stakeholders.

After the publication of this report, Minister Noonan proposed the establishment of a working group to include representatives from relevant Government Departments and State Agencies, Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and industry stakeholders under an independent chairperson to examine the issues identified during the review. In this respect, the working group will address the key issues raised in the report itself, including future use of peat by the horticulture sector. The position of Chair for the Independent Working Group was advertised and expected to be announced shortly. Once the Chair is in place, membership of the working group can be established.

In addition to these developments, my Department is actively looking at alternatives to peat and has funded two research projects to date. It has also recently sought further research be conducted here to explore alternatives to peat based growing media for horticultural production in this area in its latest Research Call for 2021. These must be available, affordable and sustainable and meet quality as well as environmental requirements.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (900)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

900. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered introducing financial supports for small agricultural contracting businesses given that many do not qualify for funding schemes for farmers and are struggling to afford the cost of updating equipment to comply with environmental standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4009/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Contractors are small businesses and, as such, are entitled to the supports that all other small business are entitled. My Department does not have any specific supports for contractors.

TAMS is the capital investment scheme for on-farm developments. The EU regulations that govern the scheme under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020, set out that TAMS II beneficiaries must be farmers or groups of farmers. Therefore, the Department is precluded from funding the purchase of equipment such as Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment by contractors under TAMS II.

Under the terms and conditions for the LESS measure, the scheme is open to farmers who:

i. hold a Department identifier, and

ii. prior to submitting the online TAMS II application have a minimum of 5 hectares of “eligible land” owned and/or leased or rented which have been declared under the Basic Payment Scheme or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year, or

iii. are engaged in the breeding, rearing or fattening of pigs and have a minimum of 60 production units at the time of application in accordance with Annex B of the Scheme.

The Department is fully committed to encouraging the use of this equipment. Over €35 million has been paid to date for investments in LESS equipment under TAMS II. The interest in the LESS measure of TAMS II has been very strong with 5,408 farmers approved to purchase machinery to date.

Forestry Data

Questions (901)

Michael Creed

Question:

901. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approved forestry licences currently in the appeals system awaiting consideration by the Forestry Appeals Committee; if he will provide a breakdown of these appeals as they relate to new plantings, thinnings, clear felling and road licence applications; the progress being made by the Forestry Appeals Committee with regard to each of these licence sectors; the progress being made by the Forestry Appeals Committee in dealing with the licence backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4018/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Agriculture Appeals Office which was established in 2002 in accordance with the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001, was assigned responsibility for implementing a new statutory appeals service for appeals against Department decisions on forestry licences in 2018. The Agriculture Appeals Office and the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) operate independently of my Department.

Since the FAC was established, the number of appeals has increased significantly year-on-year. In 2020, there were appeals against decisions on 582 licences submitted to the FAC compared to 311 licences appealed in 2019 and 150 licences appealed in 2018.

Prior to November 2020, there was one Committee hearing forestry appeals. With the introduction of new legislation in October 2020 which provides for sub-divisions of the FAC, an additional three divisions were set up and there are now four Committees hearing appeals each week. The FAC consists of internal and external members. All Agriculture Appeals Officers are members of the FAC. Additional resources were provided to the Agriculture Appeals Office in the 3rd quarter of 2020 to deal with the backlog of appeals and additional external members were appointed to serve as Deputy Chairpersons and ordinary members.

Prior to the introduction of the new legislation in October 2020, the FAC was hearing an average of 24 licence appeals per month. Since the sub-divisions of the FAC were established, the FAC is now hearing appeals against an average of 60 licences per month representing an increase of 150%. The FAC in consultation with the Agriculture Appeals Office is currently reviewing ways in which greater efficiency can be achieved across the four divisions of the FAC.

The number of appealed licences awaiting decision by the FAC are as follows;

Felling	189
Afforestation	90
Forest Roads	74

The felling licences concerned will include those for clear fell operations only, thinning only and a mixture of thinning and clear fell on the one licence.