Thursday, 18 Feb 2021

Written Answers Nos. 331-335

Live Exports

Questions (331)

Matt Carthy

Question:

331. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation for live cattle and sheep exports to the UK; the new restrictions in place post-Brexit; his views on whether this will impact on the number of exports or the prices offered to sellers; if he plans remedial measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9293/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Trade in live animals is important to the livestock industry.

In the first instance, I can clarify that trade with Northern Ireland can continue as heretofore, subject to the same rules as applied in 2020.

Trade between Ireland and Great Britain (GB) has however been impacted on following the end of the Brexit transition period on 1st January 2021, when the UK adopted its own legislation with regard to import of animals, including rules relating to the transport of animals, including authorisations, approval and certificates of competence for drivers. The Department has carried out significant amount of work to substantially mitigate any impact on trade associated with these issues. My Department has now approved 176 UK vehicles, over 500 drivers and 76 transporters. Staff are working at full capacity and extra resources have been assigned to this area.

Further differences which impose additional challenges in trade with GB include a 40-day residency requirement prior to the export of cattle and sheep; animals also cannot have passed through a market but must be consigned directly from farm of origin or through an assembly centre. The department has worked hard to inform all operators of the new conditions with information notices and seminars.

By way of context, less than 1% of Ireland's sheep exports, and 2.4% of cattle exports, went to GB in 2020. Despite these relatively low numbers, the Department is committed to supporting this trade outlet. There is a tradition of high value breeding cattle and sheep sold each year from Ireland to buyers in GB.

Cattle exports to NI rose significantly in 2020 – reaching 64,000 from 34,000 in 2019. This may in some way reflect a reduced export market to Europe generally last year due to reduced demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with overall reduction of some 35,000 bovines from the 2019 figure. Market prospects are still uncertain for 2021 as demand will depend on level of confidence amongst European buyers in the anticipated progress of COVID-19 vaccination in Europe and return to dining out.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (332)

Matt Carthy

Question:

332. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the reduced supply and increasing costs of fertiliser products; his plans to take measures to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9294/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I understand that there has been an upward trend in fertiliser prices in recent times. While there are a number of factors contributing to these price increases, the major driving factors are increased global demand, rising production costs and issues with supply for certain fertiliser products.

On the demand side, an overall increase in fertiliser use nationally is not expected this year. While fertiliser sales here have been steadily increasing over the last decade, there are generally continuing signs of a levelling off in nitrogen sales in recent years. Growth in sales of fertiliser has been relatively modest over the last four years with sales of nitrogen 2.8% higher in 2020 compared to 2017.

Industry sources indicate that there is no immediate concern with overall fertiliser supplies. It is also worth noting that many farmers have purchased their fertiliser earlier this year than in previous years and are not exposed to the current price increases. However, the tightness of supply and current uncertainty in the market could result in a delayed availability of some fertiliser products and, in particular, urea based products, as the season progresses into March and April.

As a key input in the food production system, my Department will be closely monitoring how the fertiliser market develops in the weeks ahead.

Horse Sport Ireland

Questions (333)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

333. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding his Department has directed to Horse Sport Ireland since 2006, by year and amount in tabular form. [9359/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) was established in 2007 when the Equestrian Federation of Ireland and the Irish Horse Board were amalgamated, following the publication of the Dowling report, which recommended new governance structures for the sport horse industry in Ireland.

Horse Sport Ireland is responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry, including all aspects of the sport and breeding sectors. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine transferred responsibility for maintaining the Irish Horse Register, which contains both the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught Horse studbooks, from the Irish Horse Board to Horse Sport Ireland in July 2008.

The information requested by the Deputy is on the attached file for the years 2008 to date.

Assistance to HSI 2008 TO DATE

Horse Sport Ireland

Questions (334)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

334. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline Horse Sport Ireland’s obligation to engage with affiliates in respect of proposals to move location (details supplied); if he has received a notice from Horse Sport Ireland to relocate; and if the processes that led to the decision being taken by its board to relocate will be provided. [9361/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

HSI is a company limited by guarantee that operates independently of my department. I am advised that its Board has examined a number of sites as a location for its Headquarters and National Centre of Excellence as part of a selection process carried out by a sub-committee of the Board. The final decision on a site is a matter for the Board of HSI.

HSI advises that the work of the sub-committee has been ongoing for two years and has involved the consideration of many different locations. It also advises that it has engaged with a range of potential sites and hired a property valuer and advisor to review property and land offerings as well as availability of property to purchase, rent or develop. The sub-committee examined options not involving additional state funding.

HSI indicated that it has engaged with all Olympic and Paraplegic discipline affiliates on the Greenogue proposal; Showjumping Ireland, Eventing Ireland, Dressage Ireland and Paraequestrian Ireland. They indicate also that have met with their equestrian sport and recreation affiliates ranging from the Association of Irish Riding Clubs, Riding Establishments, Mounted Games, Endurance, Irish Quarter Horse Association, Irish Pony Club, Irish Pony Society, TREC Ireland, Riding for the Disabled and Irish Shows Association to discuss the matter. These affiliates bodies encapsulate circa 30,000 participants in Ireland.

Departmental Funding

Questions (335)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

335. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the contact details for the sections that deals with all ongoing and established grant funding in her Department and in each agency under the remit of her Department in tabular form. [9135/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The table below provides the contact details for the sections which deal with all ongoing and established grant funding in my Department and in each agency under the remit of my Department.

Department of Rural and Community Development Programme areas	Contact email for the section	Phone Contact
Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) Officer Payments	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Broadband Connection Points (BCP) Capitation Grants T1&T2	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
BCP RSP (Retail Service Provided)	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
BCP Thematic Project: e-Health	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Broadband Officer Payments	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
CLÁR	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Community Services Programme	[e-mail] [e-mail]	076 106 4900
LEADER	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Libraries Capital Investment Programme	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Local Improvement Scheme	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
National Walks Scheme	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Rural Regeneration Fund	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Town and Village Renewal	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
WiFi4EU	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Tidy Towns	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Social Enterprise	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Peace Programme	[e-mail]	076 106 4900
Seniors Alert Scheme	[e-mail]	[phone]
Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO)	[e-mail]	[phone]
Community Enhancement Programme: Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) administer the CEP in each Local Authority Area.	Contact details for each LCDC in the link Local-community-development-committees-list
Bodies which come under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development	Email	Phone
Western Development Commission, Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen Co. Roscommon Ireland F45 WY26	[e-mail]	094 9861441
Water Safety Ireland, The Long Walk, Galway	https://watersafety.ie/contact/	091 564 400
Pobal, 2nd Floor Ormond Building 31-36 Upr Ormond Quay Dublin 7	[e-mail]	01 511 7000
Charities Regulator 3 George's Dock, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1, D01 X5X0	[e-mail]	01 211 8600

The Gov.ie portal is the main source of information on our Department’s roles, functions and activities.

The Postal Contact Details for my Department offices in Dublin and in Ballina are as follows:

Department of Rural and Community Development, Trinity Point 10-11 Leinster Street South. Dublin 2 D02 EF85 Tel [phone]

Department of Rural and Community Development, Government Offices, Ballina, Co. Mayo. F26 E8N6 Tel [phone]