Written Answers Nos. 1076-1097
1076. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a funding stream is available to a beef farmer (details supplied) who is under financial pressure due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9934/21]
View answerI am acutely aware of the pressures arising for beef farmers in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. My Department has worked to ensure that business and services to farmers can continue, keeping food and other processing facilities operational, and ensuring that payments and commercial activities that are necessary to protect farm incomes have continued. I also secured €85 million in Budget 2021 for specific supports for sustainable beef farming this year.
The Government has introduced a number of measures to support all businesses impacted by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) was established by the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment, with input from my Department to ensure that primary producers were included.
Administered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the CCGS provides an 80% State-backed guarantee on bank lending to SMEs and has a capacity of up to €2bn to facilitate the provision of Eligible Financial Products, including working capital finance, to COVID-19 impacted SMEs and Small Mid-Caps. Under the Scheme, SMEs, including farmers and fishers, can go directly to the banks where the guarantee can be used for a wide range of lending products between €10,000 and €1 million, for terms between three months and 5.5 years.
In addition, the COVID-19 Business Loan from Microfinance Ireland supports small businesses including farmers through the current challenges. Loans from €5,000 to €25,000 may be used for working capital and required business changes as a result of COVID-19 with loan terms up to three years. Terms include a six months interest free and repayment free moratorium.
I engage regularly with the main banks on the specific liquidity and financing needs of farmers, fishers and agrifood businesses and have stressed the need for the banks to support and work with their customers through this challenging period. All the banks responded to the economic disruption arising from the pandemic with announcements of flexibility for their customers. The advice is that farmers should engage with their bank at an early stage to discuss emerging cashflow issues.
1077. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the voisinage agreement as it relates to reciprocal access to the 0 to 6 nautical miles around the island of Ireland following the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and the specific text in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement that addresses this matter. [9937/21]
View answerThe Voisinage (or “neighbourhood”) arrangements between Ireland and Northern Ireland have provided reciprocal fishing access for more than 50 years. These arrangements have allowed boats from Northern Ireland to fish in coastal waters in Ireland. They also have allowed Irish-registered fishing boats access to fish in coastal waters in Northern Ireland.
The Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2019 made legislative amendments to the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 that permit fishing by Northern Ireland owned and operated vessels within the 0 to 6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State. While the Act provides access to Northern Ireland vessels to fish under the terms of the Voisinage arrangements, this access is subject to the same conditions that apply to Irish sea-fishing boats, in line with the general principles agreed as part of the Voisinage arrangements. The Act includes provisions which apply equal treatment for Northern Ireland vessels while fishing in the 0 to 6 nautical mile zone.
The European Commission has confirmed that the arrangements are preserved under the EU-UK Trade & Co-operation Agreement by Article FISH.19 ‘Relationship with other agreements’. The agreement can be found online at https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/draft_eu-uk_trade_and_cooperation_agreement.pdf
The application of the arrangements post-Brexit is governed by the SMEFF Regulation (2017/2043). My Department has contacted Irish sea-fishing boat owners to establish those who wish to be authorised to fish in the Northern Ireland 0-6 nautical mile zone.
1078. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the reported potential loss of thousands of tonnes of quota that will be deducted from Irish fishers and the loss of millions of euro in EU funding following an EU investigation into the State's application of the Common Fisheries Policy; if he plans to appeal this reported decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9938/21]
View answerIreland has received the findings of a formal Administrative Inquiry, undertaken by the European Commission to evaluate Ireland’s capacity to apply the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. The findings outlined by Commissioner Sinkevicius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, in a letter to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, deem the Irish control and sanctioning systems as unsatisfactory and has put forward certain specific measures to address the issues identified.
The Administrative Inquiry was carried out by the Commission under Article 102(2) of the 2009 EU Fisheries Control Regulation.
Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, operational issues concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.
I will shortly be commencing a process of engagement with the EU Commission, in association with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority which is responsible for operational matters. In advance of this engagement, I am not in a position to comment on the EU Commission's findings and the package of measures that the Commissioner has set out.
1079. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a list of all records of correspondence and meetings between him and or his officials with a person (details supplied) and-or the person's negotiating team in connection with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement negotiations, specifically on the issues of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Irish fishing industry, will be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10028/21]
View answer1080. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will submit a report to Dáil Éireann on the meetings between him and or his officials with a person (details supplied) and or the person's negotiating team in connection with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement negotiations, specifically on the issues of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Irish fishing industry, given the unfavourable outcome for Ireland’s fishing industry in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10029/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1079 and 1080 together.
Fisheries Meetings
|
Meeting |
Date |
|
Group of 8 Fisheries Ministers Meeting with Mr Barnier, Fisheries Commissioner and DG Mare |
20.01.2021 |
|
Group of 8 Fisheries Ministers Meeting with Mr Barnier, Fisheries Commissioner and DG Mare |
27.11.2020 |
|
Group of 8 Fisheries Ministers Meeting with Mr Barnier, Fisheries Commissioner and DG Mare |
06.10.2020 |
|
Group of 8 DAFM Officials Meeting with DG Mare and DG Vitcheva |
21.09.2020 |
Since my appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and prior to the conclusion of the EU-Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Christmas Eve last, there were three separate meetings of the Group of 8 (France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and Sweden) on EU-UK negotiations.
On 21st September 2020, my Department officials, along with other officials from the Group of 8, met with DG Mare and Director General Vitcheva. At this meeting, officials were given an update of the state of play of the negotiations with the UK, a presentation was given on the updated JRC study on EU catches in UK waters, there was discussion on the Commission proposals on fishing opportunities and discussions on preparations for a no-deal were resumed.
On 6th October 2020, I, along with my Ministerial colleagues in the Group of 8, met with Mr Barnier, Fisheries Commissioner and DG Mare, where we were given an update on the state of play in the EU-UK fisheries negotiations. I set out Ireland’s position at this meeting, making it clear that Ireland was seeking that the Task Force stick to the mandate to maintain the status quo and use the leverage of other negotiations to support this objective.
On 27th November 2020, I, along with my Ministerial colleagues in the Group of 8, met with Mr Barnier, Fisheries Commissioner and DG Mare, where we were given an update on the state of play in the EU-UK fisheries negotiations. At this meeting, I urged Mr Barnier to stay firm on the link between the overall economic partnership and the conclusion of a fishing agreement and not to agree to any short-term arrangement on fisheries which would serve to break this link. I stressed that Ireland’s fishing industry needs a strong and stable EU/UK Fisheries agreement, and is in a particularly vulnerable position sharing our main fish stocks and our waters on three sides with the UK. I also emphasised that any outcome in the future relationship negotiations that results in a loss of quota share for the EU would be damaging to Ireland’s fishing industry.
On the 20th January 2021, I, along with my Ministerial colleagues in the Group of 8, met with Mr Barnier, Fisheries Commissioner and DG Mare, on fisheries related matters post-Brexit. At this meeting, I made it clear that Ireland considers that the transfer to the UK involves a very high share of some of our most important stocks, including mackerel and prawns. I pointed out that within the Common Fisheries Policy, Ireland contributes by providing rich fishing grounds for EU Member States, and that our Exclusive Economic Zone provides spawning and nursery grounds for many of the core stocks shared with the UK and on which the Trade and Cooperation Agreement quota package and the Common Fisheries Policy depend. I also strongly expressed disappointment that the principle of burden sharing within the EU Member States has not been adequately respected. I made clear that the inequitable relative contribution of quota share by Ireland is contributing to a strong sense of grievance within our fishing industry and indeed more broadly. Mr Barnier and the Commissioner noted Ireland’s concern pointing out that the case made was understood. Mr Barnier advised that the UK priority was increased shares of pelagic stocks and in particular mackerel and Ireland is the largest EU share holder of this stock.
I will continue to keep the focus on this situation and use any opportunity available, to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.
The share allocation of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years (track record). The only exception to this relates to the Hague Preferences, on the basis of a special recognition agreement of the underdeveloped nature of the Irish fleet and the heavy control responsibility on us when Ireland joined the EU. The Hague Preferences give Ireland an increased share of traditional stocks (cod, whiting, haddock, sole and plaice) when TAC levels fall below a specified level.
Any change to the existing system of quota allocations would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. This would require other Member States to give up existing quota shares. Any change to relative stability would involve a loss for some other Member States and therefore poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context.
The CFP is reviewed every 10 years and the next review is scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2022 when the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP. The review is expected to be detailed and comprehensive. At EU level, it is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the review work including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States.
I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the upcoming review of the CFP, including the interaction with stakeholders, to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities. I have previously stated that I am committed to using all opportunities including through the review of the CFP to secure additional quota shares where possible for Irish fishers.
1081. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a young farmer payment will issue to a person (details supplied) for the years 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10032/21]
View answerThe closing date for receipt of applications under the 2019 Young Farmers Scheme was 15th May 2019. No application was submitted by the person named or on his behalf by this closing date.
On 10th June 2020, the person named submitted an application to the 2019 Young Farmers Scheme and also submitted a letter of appeal setting out the reason as to why his application had not been submitted on time. On 7th July 2020 and on 30th July 2020, my Department issued correspondence to the person named seeking the required documentation in support of his appeal.
The required documentation was subsequently submitted to my Department on 8th February 2021 and a letter confirming acceptance under the 2019 Young Farmers Scheme issued on 12th February. Payments for the 2019 scheme year are due to be processed and issued shortly.
The person named also submitted an application under the 2020 Young Farmers Scheme. The required administrative and on-farm checks are being finalised and, as soon as this process is completed, payment will issue when the eligibility of the person named is confirmed.
1082. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cows that have been slaughtered within a month of a calf being registered to them by breed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/21]
View answerThe number of cows slaughtered in 2020 within one month of the date of birth of the calf was 9,678. The total cow kill in 2020 was 386,000.
A breakdown by recorded breed is detailed in the attached Table. A list of the approved breed codes can be found on the Department's website at the link
https://assets.gov.ie/90238/f5f58c25-4cf6-400f-a2f0-8b460758716a.pdf.
1083. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the herd sizes which submitted animals for slaughter here in the first two weeks of February 2021; the number of farmer herd numbers versus feedlot herd numbers which submitted cattle for slaughter in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10132/21]
View answerThe following table provides details of the herd sizes that submitted bovine animals for slaughter in the first two weeks of February 2021 from keeper herd number holdings and Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) that were formerly known as Feedlots.
In total, 7,370 herds presented bovine animals for slaughter during this period, of which 255 were from Controlled Finishing Units (CFU). Cattle from CFU herds restricted under the TB eradication programme are only permitted to move to an EU approved slaughter plant.
1084. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for changing the data presented on a blue passport card for a bovine animal to include the breed of its dam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10133/21]
View answerThe bovine passport contains pertinent information on the animal including the tag number, gender, date of birth and DAM tag number.
Following representations from the farming organisations, it was decided in February 2020 to include the breed of the dam on the passport as this is important information for any potential purchaser of the animal.
1085. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who have burned land during January and February 2021 without the necessary controls and permissions in place will have their single farm payments reduced accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10134/21]
View answerApplicants under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) are paid annually based on the number of entitlements held. Applicants are required to have an eligible hectare of agricultural land per entitlement held.
My Department investigates incidents of illegal burning using the most up to date technology and satellite imagery. Where such investigations identify land that has been illegally burned, such land is deemed to be ineligible for payment under the BPS.
1086. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases of TB here by county in 2019; the number of reactors; the number of reactors that killed out with lesions; the number of non-reactors removed from restricted herds; the number of herds restricted by enterprise type, that is, suckler farm, dairy farm and dry stock farm by county in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10136/21]
View answerWhile TB disease is low relative to historical levels, the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers have been gradually increasing since 2016. The pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020.
My Department is engaged with all stakeholders through the TB Forum to ensure all aspects of the recently launched new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 are addressed to move toward the eradication of the disease. This new TB Strategy and further information is available on www.bovinetb.ie.
The following table shows details in respect of TB cases in 2019. On average, 30% of skin test reactors will have visible lesions at post-mortem inspection. This does not mean that most of animals slaughtered do not have TB, it means that the disease has not progressed to the point where lesions are visible at post mortem.
|
RVO |
Number of Reactors 2019 |
*Number of In-Contacts 2019 |
Herds Restricted in 2019 |
Number of Dairy Herds Restricted in 2019 |
Number of Suckler Herds Restricted in 2019 |
Number of Beef Herds Restricted in 2019 |
Number of Other Herds Restricted in 2019 |
|
CARLOW |
77 |
0 |
37 |
9 |
16 |
8 |
4 |
|
CAVAN |
941 |
542 |
216 |
59 |
111 |
34 |
12 |
|
CLARE |
1,190 |
46 |
273 |
41 |
168 |
45 |
19 |
|
CORK North |
1,993 |
273 |
342 |
219 |
42 |
68 |
13 |
|
CORK South |
898 |
48 |
181 |
103 |
41 |
24 |
13 |
|
DONEGAL |
219 |
34 |
117 |
8 |
69 |
32 |
8 |
|
DUBLIN |
137 |
33 |
18 |
0 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
|
GALWAY |
1,181 |
97 |
299 |
39 |
185 |
67 |
8 |
|
KERRY |
832 |
546 |
184 |
82 |
61 |
25 |
16 |
|
KILDARE |
84 |
19 |
55 |
10 |
22 |
23 |
0 |
|
KILKENNY |
507 |
1 |
131 |
58 |
40 |
29 |
4 |
|
LAOIS |
446 |
0 |
114 |
32 |
45 |
32 |
5 |
|
LEITRIM |
258 |
11 |
73 |
0 |
61 |
12 |
0 |
|
LIMERICK |
357 |
37 |
105 |
41 |
25 |
29 |
10 |
|
LONGFORD |
116 |
0 |
51 |
4 |
27 |
19 |
1 |
|
LOUTH |
194 |
5 |
64 |
19 |
20 |
23 |
2 |
|
MAYO |
379 |
0 |
141 |
14 |
102 |
23 |
2 |
|
MEATH |
555 |
3 |
199 |
54 |
54 |
84 |
7 |
|
MONAGHAN |
1,336 |
153 |
292 |
96 |
114 |
68 |
14 |
|
OFFALY |
598 |
0 |
154 |
36 |
69 |
47 |
2 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
464 |
5 |
163 |
9 |
113 |
40 |
1 |
|
SLIGO |
232 |
0 |
97 |
9 |
64 |
17 |
7 |
|
TIPP North |
851 |
149 |
142 |
45 |
56 |
32 |
9 |
|
TIPP South |
377 |
0 |
95 |
44 |
26 |
21 |
4 |
|
WATERFORD |
148 |
0 |
51 |
20 |
13 |
12 |
6 |
|
WESTMEATH |
626 |
0 |
157 |
29 |
63 |
61 |
4 |
|
WEXFORD |
743 |
8 |
147 |
69 |
39 |
31 |
8 |
|
WICKLOW E |
939 |
49 |
100 |
28 |
54 |
17 |
1 |
|
WICKLOW W |
380 |
19 |
62 |
7 |
41 |
12 |
2 |
|
TOTAL |
17,058 |
2,078 |
4,060 |
1,184 |
1,750 |
943 |
183 |
* Number of In-Contacts 2019 i.e. number of non-reactors that were removed from restricted herds.
1087. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has undertaken research into the root causes of TB in livestock; if so, if a copy of the most up-to-date research will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/21]
View answerBovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). As part of the national TB Eradication Programme, there are numerous studies and research projects into the causes of TB in livestock. This work is undertaken to provide scientific information to inform policy decision-making.
All TB scientific research assignments undertaken as part of the TB Eradication Programme are carefully defined and driven by a specific TB-related research question, and the results of each project are published in international peer-reviewed journals.
My Department commissions various bodies to carry out TB research projects. The main body that is commissioned by my Department is University College Dublin's Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis (UCD CVERA) which conducts research for the control and eradication of regulatory animal diseases, which includes the national TB Eradication Programme. On a biennial basis, CVERA publish a report detailing recently published scientific papers - see the following link.
Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis | Reports (ucd.ie)
Please see also here a link to the TB Forum Consultation Papers. Page 18 provides a list of references for peer reviewed scientific papers on bovine TB:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/d6572-tb-forum/
In addition please see below references for a selection of TB research recently published, which was supported by my Department:
Byrne, A.W., et al. 2020. Post-mortem surveillance of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland: Herd-level variation in the probability of herds disclosed with lesions at routine slaughter to have skin test reactors at follow-up test. Veterinary Research Communications https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-020-09777-w
Byrne, A.W., et al., 2020, Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) Outbreak Duration in Cattle Herds in Ireland: A Retrospective Observational Study. Pathogens, 2020, 9, 815; doi:10.3390/pathogens9100815
Tratalos, J.A., et al., 2020. Spatial and network characteristics of Irish cattle movements. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 183, 105095, doi 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105095
Martin, S.W., et al., 2020. Is moving from targeted culling to BCG-vaccination of badgers (Meles meles) associated with an unacceptable increased incidence of cattle herd tuberculosis in the Republic of Ireland? A practical non-inferiority wildlife intervention study in the Republic of Ireland (2011-2017). Preventive Veterinary Medicine 179
Duignan et al., 2019. Tuberculin PPD Potency Assays in Naturally Infected Tuberculous Cattle as a Quality Control Measure in the Irish Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6(328) doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00328
Clegg, T.A., et al., 2019. Characteristics of Mycobacterium bovis infected herds tested with the interferon-gamma assay. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 168, 52-59.
More, S.J., 2019. Can bovine TB be eradicated from the Republic of Ireland? Could this be achieved by 2030?. Irish Veterinary Journal 72(1), p.3.
1088. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1456 of 8 September 2020, if the person is entitled to compensation (details supplied). [10180/21]
View answerI can confirm that there is no compensation due to the person named.
The successful prosecution of the herdowner by my Department resulted in the herdowner being ineligible for compensation, including for the animals referenced in the question. The case concluded on 1st July 2011, with the herdowner pleading guilty to three categories of breaches of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order 1989 including of article 7(1) requiring that a herdowner not introduce into the body of an animal any substance for the purposes of affecting the accuracy of the TB test.
The herdowner was convicted and fined €500 for one offence in each of the three categories of summons. These convictions related to the animals referenced in the question. The remainder of the summonses were taken into consideration and all other summonses were struck out.
The fines amounting to €1,500 combined with costs of €2,500 awarded to the Department means that €4,000 is owed by the herdowner in respect of this case.
1089. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage and value of first point of sale of fish landed at each of the six fishery harbour centres in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10196/21]
View answerMy 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. My Department became responsible for the Fishery Harbour Centres in October 2007. The Fishery Harbour Centres were established under the Fishery Harbour Centre Act 1968 (as amended) as centres in which to promote and develop sea fishing activities.
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) was established under the Sea - Fisheries and Maritime Act 2006 and is responsible (in conjunction with the Irish Naval Service) for the control and enforcement of Fisheries legislation. In this regard, the SFPA is the single legal competent authority responsible for the collection and reporting of fish landings into Ireland.
The figures in the following tables provide the tonnes and value of fish landed at the Fishery Harbour Centres for the years 2015-2019 (inclusive) and is sourced from the SFPA.
1090. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure on capital development at each of the six fishery harbour centres in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10197/21]
View answerMy 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.
I am happy to advise the Deputy that in the period 2015 to 2021 (to date), as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, in excess of €111 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres. While no final decision has been made in relation to the composition of the 2021 Capital Programme, expenditure is being incurred in relation to contractual commitments and non-discretionary safety and maintenance works.
The following table shows the breakdown of funding per Fishery Harbour Centre for the years referred to.
1091. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an afforestation grant and premium scheme application by a person (details supplied) given that the application is ongoing since January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/21]
View answerAn application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was received in January, 2019. The site is close to designated sites and therefore it was referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) was supplied, which did not address all concerns. Further information was requested which was received in December last.
While the additional information provided was helpful, it did not fully resolve the issues. The Ecologist has liaised with both the Forestry Inspector and the Registered Forester and have come to an agreement in principle on the planting of a certain part of the site. The Ecologist will finalise their report and determination on the site, with conditions, over the coming days.
The file will then be returned to the Forestry Inspector, who will make their final review and recommendations. These recommendations, including the conditions stipulated by the Ecologist will form part of the decision, which will issue to the applicant and their Registered Forester.
1092. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish a plan to work with local authorities and communities to help develop community gardens, allotments and urban orchards as detailed in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10199/21]
View answerMy Department, in the context of cross-cutting actions under the Programme for Government, is engaging with other relevant Departments to explore options on how local authorities and communities can develop community gardens, allotments and urban orchards.
Initiatives that help bring rural, local communities working together on horticulture and related activities can lead to great benefits to communities through promoting access to healthy food and a shared learning of food production and of the environment in which we live.
In line with this, I recently launched a call for new locally-led farm and community biodiversity initiatives, a €1.25 million initiative. This provides an opportunity for interested bodies to bring forward creative ideas to enhance biodiversity at local level. The scheme provides for farmers to work with each other, with other bodies and with local communities on biodiversity. The grants will be open to applications from farming groups, community groups and any other relevant organisations.
In addition, my Department’s Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector assists in the development of the horticulture sector, including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments to small and medium sized businesses. Grant aid is also available under this scheme for the establishment of commercial orchards and associated equipment.
1093. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 5 February 2019, if the current outstanding payments in relation to commonage at a location (details supplied) will be expedited; if the review suggested in February 2019 has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/21]
View answerThe commonage in question is currently overclaimed. This means that the sum of all the claims exceeds the total eligible area of the commonage. Prior to this issue arising, the commonage was allocated to claimants based on a signed affidavit. However, in recent years, another individual has claimed a share of the commonage, resulting in the commonage going into overclaim.
While this matter has been under review, the Department has paid all individuals concerned on their lowland. However, it will not be possible to proceed with payment on the commonage for 2020 or future years without a new affidavit being drafted, signed by all individuals involved and submitted to the Direct Payments Unit of my Department.
In that context, a letter will shortly issue to all claimants informing them of the requirement for an updated affidavit to allow payment on the commonage to issue.
1094. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for the exclusion of marine tourism from all Covid-19 aid schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10218/21]
View answer1095. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Covid-19 supports available for the charter boat industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10219/21]
View answer1116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10490/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1094, 1095 and 1116 together.
My Department does not have a function in relation to financial supports for the impacts of Covid-19 on the tourism related sectors identified by the Deputy. These may be matters for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
1096. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has made an attempt to negotiate a quota for Irish fishers to catch bluefin tuna in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10221/21]
View answerBluefin tuna is a highly migratory large pelagic species which spawns in the Mediterranean and then migrates over a wide area of the North East Atlantic to feed. This migration brings some of the fish into the Irish 200 miles zone for part of the year. At the time we see fish in the Irish zone, there are also fish being caught in the international high seas and over a wide area from Spain to Norway. There is no survey from which the abundance in Ireland's 200 miles zone may be determined.
Ireland does not have a national quota for Bluefin Tuna. The available Bluefin Tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States on the basis of relative stability as established in the late 1990s. At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.
A small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch. In this regard, the UK also had a share of the Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota and, under the EU/UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement, a share of the EU’s Bluefin Tuna quota (0.25%) has been transferred to UK. We are seeking that this transfer to the UK is taken from the overall EU quota and is not taken from the by-catch quota available to Ireland.
In 2018, Ireland was successful, for the first time, in securing agreement that allowed countries without a commercial quota to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data. A Catch-Tag-Release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place in Ireland since 2019 and supports the collection of valuable data on the migratory patterns of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters.
The EU percentage share of the international TAC is set down and there is no likelihood that an international country will concede any share to the EU. The only way to obtain a share of the EU quota now would involve changing relative stability within the EU and would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. This means that EU Member States, with a national quota, would have to give up a share of their allocation to Ireland. Any change to relative stability would involve a loss for some other Member States and therefore poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context.
The CFP is reviewed every 10 years and the next review is scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2022 when the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP. The review is expected to be detailed and comprehensive. At EU level, it is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the review work including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States.
I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the review, including the interaction with stakeholders to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities.
1097. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of all capital investment in each individual Irish fishing port for the period January 2010 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/21]
View answerMy Department does not possess the details sought by the Deputy in relation to all capital investment in each individual Irish fishing port for the period January 2010 to date, as my Department’s legislative remit is confined to the ownership, operation and maintenance of six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl. 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.
Funding is made available on an annual basis by my Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Since 2010, over €148 million has been invested in this Department-owned infrastructure. Table 1 (as follows) outlines the total expenditure by my Department in relation to this Department-owned infrastructure in the years 2010 to 2021 (to date). While no final decision has been made in relation to the composition of the 2021 Capital Programme, expenditure is being incurred in relation to contractual commitments and non-discretionary safety and maintenance works.
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. I would advise the deputy to contact these agencies to determine the full level of investment in the marine infrastructure under the ownership of the Local Authority.
My Department has provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Since 2010, my Department has provided funding of over €31 million to 15 coastal local authorities for development and maintenance works.
Table 2 (as follows) gives a detailed project breakdown of this funding by Local Authority in the years 2010 to 2020.
