Written Answers Nos. 1054-1075
1054. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with shellfish fishermen or their representatives in the past few months in relation to the collapse in shell fish prices due to Covid-19; the issues raised by them in these discussions; the actions he plans to take to support this important indigenous industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/21]
View answerI am acutely aware that the Irish seafood sector has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Restrictions on the food service market domestically, across Europe and elsewhere during the Pandemic has made it an exceptionally difficult year for the sector. The value of primary Irish seafood exports declined by 10% to €521m in 2020 according to CSO data released on 15 February. This is against a backdrop of volumes decreasing by 1% over the year. The shellfish sector particularly bore the brunt of the impact with the value of exports down by 29% to €126m. As the sector is heavily dependent on the food service channel across all its main export markets, the various lockdowns implemented at different times throughout the year has resulted in a very challenging market environment.
Together with my predecessors and my officials, I have maintained close contact with seafood industry representatives throughout the Pandemic. On 9 December, I met virtually with the National Inshore Fisheries Forum where I discussed the issue of income and business supports with industry representatives. I invited the Forum to make a submission on this matter.
The range of horizontal supports provided by Government have remained open to seafood enterprises throughout the Pandemic and I am aware some fishers have availed of them. As the Pandemic continues, and its impacts on markets continue to evolve and change, I am keeping the range of supports under review, in the context of the suite of Government horizontal supports that continue to be available. I would also encourage industry to work with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to develop any relevant schemes that may be possible.
1056. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names and contact details for each special adviser requested for appointment by him, in tabular form. [9590/21]
View answerMinisterial advisers are appointed by the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
There are currently five Special Advisers serving at my Department, as detailed below. Statutory Instruments 731, 732 and 733 of 2020 refer to these appointments.
Mr Patrick Donohoe and Mr Darran Brennan have been appointed to serve as Special Advisers to me.
Ms Caroline Murphy and Mr Stiofán Nutty have been appointed as Special Advisers to Minister of State Pippa Hackett.
Mr Niall Goodwin has been appointed as Special Adviser to Minister of State Martin Heydon.
The Special Advisers named above are contactable through their respective Minister’s office.
1057. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed in his Department by gender and by civil service salary scale, in tabular form. [9655/21]
View answerOne of the goals outlined in my Department's current Statement of Strategy is to continue to develop a highly skilled, diverse and gender-balanced workforce. My Department is committed to supporting a positive working environment for all staff, one that provides equality of opportunity and supports work-life balance. My Department has had an active gender balance initiative in place since 2010, which has conducted a number of reviews and developed an action plan to address the issue through its HR Strategy and in consultation with staff.
Gender balance is a key commitment of the Civil Service Renewal Plan (Action 8.5) and my Department has been active in progressing initiatives in this area as part of a whole of Government approach.
Staff in my Department work in various locations around the country and the workforce is made up of a wide diversity of grades across several streams, including specialist grades in addition to the standard civil service grades. This reflects the diversity of functions in my Department.
The excel spreadsheet attached provides information with respect to the number of male, female and non-gender specific staff currently employed in my Department across a wide diversity of grades and streams.
The attached PDF document shows current Civil Service salary scales for the various civil service grades to which those employed in the Department align.
1058. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed, in tabular form. [9677/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table.
|
Title of current study/review/research undertaken or commissioned |
Scheduled End Date |
|
Beef market transparency reports x3 |
April 2021 |
|
Agricultural Catchment Programme |
December 2023 |
|
Assess the economic and employment implications of the transition to a low carbon economy (Action 160 of Climate Action Plan 2019). |
Q2 2021 |
|
Dinish Wharf Construction Site Investigation Works at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Co. Cork |
April 2021 |
|
Hydrodynamic Modelling Studies for proposed Marina Extension project at An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre, Co. Kerry |
April 2021 |
|
GLAS Evaluation Year 3 Biodiversity Report - Required under EU Legislation |
Q1 2021 |
|
Ex-ante evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 - Required under EU Legislation |
Q4 2021 |
|
Cost benefit analysis of Ireland’s Bovine TB Programme |
February 2021 |
|
Applying Behavioural Science to the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme - Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
June 2021 |
|
The relationship between Campylobacter prevalence and key production and welfare indicators recorded in Irish broiler production |
Q4 2021 |
|
Culicoides Dispersion Model updates ‘Midge Dispersion Model’ |
Q4 2021 |
|
Two host species transmission data analysis and modelling to calculate risk maps for bovine Tb during eradication by badger vaccination in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) |
Q2 2024 |
|
Herd- and animal-level clustering of BVDV- assessment of influence of neighbours and transboundary impacts |
Q3 2021 |
|
Post-eradication options for BVD surveillance in the Irish cattle population |
Q3 2021 |
|
NexusMAP - developing an expert system model to support national decision-making |
Q4 2021 |
|
Evaluating an IBR eradication program |
Q1 2021 |
|
Development of a working model for predicting and identifying the locations of contaminated farms following a nuclear accident event |
Q2 2021 |
|
Spatial structure of farms in Ireland |
Q2 2021 |
|
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis of M. bovis in a bTB cluster in Co. Monaghan |
Q4 2021 |
|
Spatial representation of the specificity of the SICCT test in cattle herds in Ireland |
Q3 2021 |
|
Do herds contiguous to controlled finishing units (feedlots) have an increased risk of experiencing a bovine tuberculosis breakdown? |
Q4 2021 |
|
A network model of bovine TB |
Q4 2022 |
|
Surveillance Welfare and Biosecurity of farmed animals in Ireland (SWAB) |
Q4 2021 |
|
An evaluation of private standards in animal health and welfare and associated quality assurance programmes |
Q1 2021 |
|
STOC free: Comparison of the confidence in freedom from infection based on different control programmes between EU member states |
Q4 2021 |
|
M. bovis 2020 - Seventh International Conference on Mycobacterium bovis |
10/2022 |
|
Clear Felling Project (2020) |
Q3 2021 |
|
Developing a quantitative risk assessment methodology for cheese made from unpasteurised milk from cows subsequently identified as being infected with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) |
Q4 2021 |
|
A spatial epidemiological analysis of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds in The Burren |
Q4 2021 |
|
The epidemiology of Mycoplasma bovis infection in cattle in Ireland |
Q1 2024 |
|
Population estimates of badgers Meles meles in the context of BCG vaccination (University College Cork) |
August 2021 |
|
An investigation into the role of land-use and wildlife vectors in Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in the Republic of Ireland. A nationwide study to examine casual factors and identify high-risk areas for BTB breakdowns. |
December 2023 |
|
A Modern Resurvey of Mapped Irish Peatlands to Refine Assessment of Land Use Change and Progress Greenhouse Gas Removal and Emissions Inventories |
March 2024 |
|
NewERA assignment on Rásaíocht Con Éireann |
Q2 2021 |
|
Technical services to estimate employment and economic activity associated with the forestry sector |
July 2021 |
|
Technical services associated with the Private Roundwood Production Forecast 2021-2040 |
December 2021 |
|
Technical Services and Equipment to Ireland's fourth National Forest Inventory |
December 2022 |
|
Technical Services for the further development of Ireland’s Tree Volume Calculator |
December 2021 |
|
Advice to the Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity on implementation of the Mackinnon Review of Approval Processes for Afforestation in Ireland |
February 2021 |
|
Exploring Potential Monitoring Systems for Acute Bovine Injury in Ireland |
Q4 2021 |
1059. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there was no immediate campaign to highlight BVD status changes in herds which was changed on 1 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9695/21]
View answer1060. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persistently infected animals detected in herds in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9696/21]
View answer1061. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when Ireland will be free of BVD given it was originally a three-year eradication plan and was made compulsory in 2013 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9697/21]
View answer1062. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when compulsory testing for BVD will cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9698/21]
View answer1063. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to compensate farmers for the removal of adult persistently infected animals given farmers have to test all animals as a result of such an animal in their herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9699/21]
View answer1064. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persistently infected animals found after BVD testing of calves in 2020 were slaughtered before 28 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9700/21]
View answer1065. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if persistently infected animals found as a result of testing for BVD in 2020 were slaughtered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9701/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1059 to 1065, inclusive, together.
A key component of the BVD eradication programme is the early identification and removal of persistently infected animals. The primary surveillance system is through tissue tagging of calves. In 2020, 725 animals were disclosed as persistently infected BVD animals. All 725 animals have been disposed of.
Of the 725 animals disclosed as PI in 2020, 616 (85 %) were disposed of within 28 days of the initial positive test. Median interval from test positive to disposal was six days.
My Department provides key supports to this industry-led programme, including financial assistance. The direct financial supports available in 2021 for BEEF HERDS: €220 for beef breed animals removed with a registered date of death on AIM within 10 days of the initial test, reducing to €30 if removed between 11 and 21 days after the initial test and for DAIRY HERDS: Dairy heifers and dairy cross animals: €160 if removed within 10 days of the initial test, reducing to €30 if removed between 11 and 21 days after the initial test. In addition, my Department will fund any required testing and vaccination of animals in any farm restricted
Very significant progress has been made in recent years but I am keen to see BVD eradicated as a matter of urgency. The focus on the programme in 2021 and 2022 is to achieve the status of BVD free as set out the new European Animal Health Law by end of 2022. Compulsory BVD testing may then cease, however it is key that sufficient surveillance must be conducted to ensure we meet the criteria set out to prove continued BVD free status.
Details of the 2021 programme were agreed by the BVD Implementation Group (comprising relevant stakeholders) and publicised as in previous years. My Department issued a press release on the future pathway of the BVD programme in December 2020. Information was released through all channels including through AHI, DAFM, Veterinary Ireland, and through the farming organisations. A full page advertisement was taken out by AHI in the Irish Farmers Journal, and Programme Key messages were distributed to all the farming press by AHI. Hard copies of the Programme Key Messages have been supplied to the tag suppliers to include in any tag delivers to herd owners.
1066. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the proposal by Horse Sport Ireland to sign a 35-year lease on a property at Greenogue, County Dublin has met all requirements on procurement; if he has been briefed on the proposal; if the approval of his Department is required for such a development; the consultation that has taken place with the stakeholders; if their approval has been sought; if a business case for the proposal has been sought by his Department; if so, if such a case has already been made; if due diligence has been carried out on the site relative to the existing planning permission and the future development of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9762/21]
View answerHorse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a company limited by guarantee. It is not a State Body established by legislation and it is operationally independent of my Department.
I have been briefed by Horse Sport Ireland that is considering re-locating to a new site as part of the establishment of a new headquarters and a national centre of excellence. It is envisaged that the centre will provide a world class environment for the production of horses, provision of equine services, industry training and promotion.
The Board of HSI set up a sub committee of the Board to carry out the selection process to decide on the site and venue. A detailed feasibility study for the centre was carried out. HSI appointed an independent consultant to carry out this study following a competitive request for tender. HSI advises that the work of the sub-committee has been ongoing for 2 years and has involved the consideration of many different locations. It engaged with a range of potential sites and hired a property valuer and adviser to review property and land offerings as well as availability of property to purchase, rent or develop.
The approval for such a development is for the Board of Horse Sport Ireland. Due diligence around planning permission and future development of the site are also a matter for the Board.
Regarding consultation with stakeholders, HSI indicates that it has engaged with all Olympic and Paraplegic discipline affiliates on the development / re-location proposal; Showjumping Ireland, Eventing Ireland, Dressage Ireland and Para-equestrian Ireland. It indicates that it has also met with its 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.
Regarding procurement, I am advised that the Procurement Directive and the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, do not apply to public service contracts for the acquisition or rental, by whatever financial means, of land, existing buildings or other immovable property. My Department has sought additional information in relation to this matter and is examining it at present.
1067. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Irish embassies that have an agricultural attaché; and if there are plans to increase the number. [9771/21]
View answerMy Department has 16 agricultural attachés stationed at Irish embassies. The embassies that currently have an agricultural attaché and the number of such attachés stationed in each specific embassy are shown in the table below. Attaché posts are typically resourced and deployed at First Secretary level, which is the equivalent to Assistant Principal Officer.
Whilst this is indicative of the majority of posts below, two of the resources referenced, for posts in Brussels and London, are deployed at Counsellor level, which is equivalent to Principal Officer, reflecting DAFM business need priorities emanating from and attached to those critical posts. There are no current plans for variation in the numbers indicated in the table below, but the complement of attache posts is kept under review.
|
Embassy Name |
No. of Attachés |
|
London |
2 |
|
Brussels |
4 |
|
Rome |
1 |
|
Berlin |
1 |
|
Mexico |
1 |
|
Geneva |
1 |
|
Paris |
1 |
|
Washington |
1 |
|
Tokyo |
1 |
|
Beijing |
1 |
|
Abu Dhabi |
1 |
|
Seoul |
1 |
|
Total number of Attachés |
16 |
1068. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to concerns being raised that there has been a rush in recent weeks to put the Greenogue plan for Horse Sport Ireland in front of the 24 affiliates without prior consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9904/21]
View answerI am advised that the Horse Sport Ireland Executive met with Affiliate bodies in the past number of weeks to provide a detailed presentation on the Centre of Excellence project, now that the proposal has taken shape.
HSI informed me that these meetings provided a platform for a detailed discussion on the project and served as a meaningful engagement on the specific needs of affiliates. Layout plans, site proposals and visual graphics were available at the meetings. Given that this extensive detail regarding the site was not available previously, the meetings were timely and appropriate as the project moves into the next phase.
Furthermore, the Board of Horse Sport Ireland, which was rationalised following the implementation of the Indecon Report, includes industry representatives, in the form of the Chairpersons of the Advisory Councils, who provided a link with the affiliate bodies.
1069. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the procurement process carried out by Horse Sport Ireland for the Greenogue site meet the requirements of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for State agencies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9905/21]
View answerThe location of the headquarters of the Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and its Centre of Excellence is a matter for its Board. The HSI has examined a number of sites, as part of a selection process carried out by a sub-committee of the Board.
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 engaged with a range of potential sites and hired a property valuer and adviser 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.
I am advised that the Procurement Directive and the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, do not apply to public service contracts for the acquisition or rental, by whatever financial means, of land, existing buildings or other immovable property or any interest in or right over any such land, existing buildings or immovable property. My Department has sought additional information in relation to this matter and is examining it at present.
1070. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of oversight his Department had on the process of the development of a centre of excellence by Horse Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9906/21]
View answerHorse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a company limited by guarantee. It is not a State Body established by legislation and it is operationally independent of my Department.
I am advised that a selection process to decide on a site and location for its new Headquarters and Centre of Excellence was carried out by a sub-committee of the Board.
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 engaged with a range of potential sites and hired a property valuer and adviser to review property and land offerings as well as availability of property to purchase, rent or develop.
HSI appointed an independent consultant to carry out a detailed feasibility study in this regard, following a competitive request for tender. The final decision on a site and venue however is a matter for the Board of HSI.
1071. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight role that the audit by Horse Sport Ireland and the oversight committee played in the process of the development of a centre of excellence; the number of times they have met to consider the project since its inception and prior to signing the heads of terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/21]
View answerHorse Sport Ireland (HSI) has informed me that, in July 2019, its Board set up a specific sub-committee of the Board, namely the HSI Centre of Excellence Development Committee. The purpose of this Committee includes but is not limited to the following:
Site identification and suitability, the infrastructure requirements for the Centre of Excellence and necessary permissions required;
- to analyse the appropriate funding models for Centre of Excellence and the related return on investment, value for money and sustainability issues.
- to determine a funding model which enables the Centre of Excellence to maximise the potential of activities that it will manage.
- Publish a Request for Tender for a suitable external consultant to prepare a comprehensive feasibility study.
- To determine the central characteristics for the Centre of Excellence, such as training, knowledge transfer, equines services, events, equine multidisciplinary approaches,collaboration with other entities.
- Assess the best governance system for the Centre of Excellence to ensure optimum management and continued engagement of the key stakeholders.
- Review the training and researcher mobility to and from the Centre of Excellence which include industry-based experts.
HSI advised that from 2019 to date, the sub-committee met regularly to consider the development of the project and the different site engagements as they arose. It met to discuss and consider the Heads of Terms in advance of Board of Horse Sport Ireland signing.
HSI has also informed me that its Audit and Risk Committee, which is a sub-committee comprising of independent members, met later in 2020 in advance of the Heads of Terms being signed, and the matter of the Centre of Excellence was discussed and considered.
Finally, I have been advised by HSI that the proposal has been considered by the Board of Horse Sport Ireland, on a number of occasions, and the Board has unanimously agreed support for the development at Greenogue.
1072. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the range of figures from €5.5 to €12 million which have been issued on various occasions by Horse Sport Ireland regarding the cost of providing the necessary facilities outside Greenogue, County Dublin or for the build and lease back model (details supplied); if he sought an analysis of the alternative figures given that such figures have been put forward by Horse Sport Ireland as justification for the Greenogue site option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/21]
View answerI am aware that Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is considering re-locating to a new site as part of the establishment of a new headquarters and a national centre of excellence.
HSI is a company limited by guarantee. It is not a State Body established by legislation and it is operationally independent of my Department. The location of a site for its headquarters is a matter for its Board. It would be inappropriate for me to express a view on the merits of any specific location in a way that might prejudice its deliberations.
HSI did make a budget submission to my Department last year for capital funding but the figure concerned was indicative and was not specific to any particular site or venue and involved the development of a green field site.
1073. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the Horse Sport Ireland claim that the Greenogue, County Dublin centre will facilitate both sport and breeding requirements and that stakeholders and the acting CEO have confirmed that the Greenogue site offers nothing to the breeding sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9909/21]
View answerI have been advised by Horse Sport Ireland that the proposed new Headquarters and Centre of Excellence will provide a world class environment for the production of horses, provision of equine services, industry training and promotion. HSI has had the objective of having a defined headquarters, and a national training and breeding centre since its inception.
I have also been informed by Horse Sport Ireland that the proposed centre at Greenogue will offer significant benefits to the breeding sector. There is clearly a lack of top-level performance bloodlines available in Ireland at the moment. Such bloodlines are required to make genetic gain in the show jumping discipline. The active Irish Sport Horse brood mare population is 11,900, of which less than 0.06% have competed at the highest International level show jumping. It advises that to create significant genetic improvement in a short period of time, certain measures are required.
In this regard investment in advanced reproduction techniques is required. By establishing a suitable laboratory, with skilled experienced staff, HSI advises that it can support the existing veterinary expertise in this area and make assisted reproductive services more readily available to breeders. The plans for the National Centre include such an advanced Equine Reproduction facility. This innovative facility will utilise 12 acres of the Greenogue site and will have a laboratory building, horse stabling, handling and exercise facilities.
Alongside these reproductive services the centre will also facilitate the running of breeding courses, such as Artificial Insemination technician courses. The National Centre will also be in a position to host regional breeding events, such as mare inspections and, as the facilities develop, other knowledge transfer breeding events by combining its educational, administration and reproduction facilities for breeders and interested parties alike.
1074. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the development of a centre of excellence by Horse Sport Ireland on the 30-acre Greenogue, County Dublin site has been frozen to facilitate a proposed orbital route; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this will impact on the proposed additional facilities identified by the organisation given that current planning permission expressly addresses concerns regarding traffic volumes in view of the fact that this is primarily a residential area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, planning permission is not a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is within the remit of the local planning authority in the first instance.
1075. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a site (details supplied) currently operates in contravention to its existing planning permission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, planning permission is not a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is within the remit of the local authority in the first instance.
