Written Answers Nos. 1255-1273
1255. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department has not yet implemented a frost reconstitution scheme for farm forests; his plans to implement a frost reconstitution scheme; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16427/21]
View answerIreland experienced two severe and significant late spring frost events in early May 2019 and again in mid-May 2020. These events affected forest holdings with recently planted trees planted under DAFM’s Afforestation Schemes. Late spring frost can particularly affect commercial forest holdings, both through direct mortality of affected trees, and by influencing reductions in growth form, and consequent impacts on timber quality and values.
We are currently examining the options for a scheme to support woodland owners affected by these frost events.
1256. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of portal and plant health inspectors his Department recruited in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [16515/21]
View answerMy Department has numerous staff members in a range of disciplines working on various aspects of Portal Inspections. The following table shows the number of staff that were assigned to Portal Locations in 2020 and 2021.
|
YEAR |
2020 |
2021 (YTD) |
|
Number of DAFM Staff in Portal Locations |
234 |
243 |
Additional staff may be involved in portal inspections, i.e. administration staff, but they are not necessarily based in a portal location.
My Department avails of workforce planning processes to achieve and maintain the correct level of human resources required in each portal location for inspection duties. Overall staffing levels within Divisions are continually monitored by HR.
1257. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [16586/21]
View answerMy Department considers the use of social considerations (including environmental considerations) in the procurement process where appropriate.
No litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020 have been received.
1258. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers by county that are farming under a nitrates derogation; the type of farming enterprise they are engaged in such as dairy, suckler, dry stock and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16635/21]
View answerThe Nitrates Derogation allows farmers to exceed the limit of 170 kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations, up to a maximum of 250 kg per hectare, subject to adherence to stricter rules. The Derogation is an important facility for more intensive farmers. The 2021 application system is currently open.
The attached table details the breakdown per county and by farm type in respect of 2019 applicants. The most recent complete set of data is 2019. Last year's applicants have until the closing date (14th April 21) by which to submit records in support of their 2020 applications.
1259. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of slurry farmyard manure that is produced on all farms by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16636/21]
View answerThe attached file details the total amount of livestock manure produced in 2019 by county. The annual nutrient excretion rates for livestock are detailed in the Nitrates regulations (European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) (Amendment) No. 3) Regulations 2020. Calculations on the daily amount per animal on a holding are based on stock details on the Department's Animal Identification and Movement system.
The figures provided cover annual production per county.
1260. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of slurry farmyard manure that is produced in excess of the derogation threshold by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16637/21]
View answerThe attached table details the information requested, the amount of livestock manure produced in excess of the derogation threshold which is 250 kgs of Nitrogen per hectare, the table is detailed by county as requested.
1261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licence applications for County Cork which were pending as of 1 September 2020; the number that have been granted since that date; the number in which an objection has been lodged and in which his Department has not granted the aforementioned licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16706/21]
View answer1262. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licence in County Cork in each of the years 2017 to 2020, the number that were granted in each year; the number of applications which are still awaiting a decision by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16707/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1261 and 1262 together.
My Department receives applications and issues decisions for forestry licences daily. Last year, 1,719 tree felling licences were issued for just over five million cubic metres of timber. To date this year, my Department has already issued 516 tree felling licences for 1.6 million cubic metres, which is 16% up on the number issued at the same point last year.
The number of applications received, decided and awaiting decision for felling licences for Co. Cork, for the years indicated are given in the table below.
|
Year |
No. ApplicationsReceived |
No. DecisionsIssued |
No. Received in YearIndicated & AwaitingDecision |
|
2017 |
400 |
375 |
25 |
|
2018 |
535 |
497 |
37 |
|
2019 |
800 |
626 |
174 |
|
2020 |
268 |
146 |
123 |
|
To 26th March 2021 |
225 |
16 |
225 |
It is not possible to give the number of applications on hand as of 1st September, 2020.
The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is operationally independent of my Department. However, I have been advised that there are nine appeals received in 2020 that are awaiting a decision of the FAC and four appeals have been received by the FAC in 2021, which are also awaiting decision. These are appeals against decisions on tree felling licences in Co. Cork.
1263. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been a decrease in the value of entitlements in respect of the 2021 basic payment scheme; if so, the reason for same; the amount of a decease that has been applied per entitlement unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16742/21]
View answerIn respect of the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme, a linear reduction of 2.05% was applied to the value of all payment entitlements in order to respect the national direct payments ceiling on foot of the agreement reached on the EU budget in late 2020.
Farmers were notified in February of the value of their payment entitlements prior to the opening of the application process for the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme.
1265. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the way only 48% of private license applications with ecology input targeted for completion between July 2020 and February 2020 inclusive was achieved; and his plans to make up for the shortfall through the ecology section. [16744/21]
View answerThe Department has invested heavily in both ecologist and forestry Inspector resources over the last 18 months in order to meet the needs of the licencing system. We now have 21 full-time equivalent ecologists where previously we had one just 18 months ago. This has resulted in a significant improvement in the licencing output with, for example, almost three million m3 of felling licences issuing from last October to January. Similarly, roads licences have improved compared to the same months last year and 50% of the target for 2021 has been licenced by mid-March.
We acknowledge that the progress that has been made needs to be improved and sustained. Consequently, we are implementing internal changes to improve output including training, increased assistance to ecologists in the preparation of files, improved IT resources for ecologists and other system improvements. In addition, we are engagement intensively with the sector who also have a role to play by is focusing on improvement in the quality and consistency of applications and subsequent information including NISs.
Through Project Woodland, there is now a dedicated working group around the Backlog and establishing KPIs and a separate working group is charged with examining our internal processes that includes an end-to-end review of systems to ensure that they are made more efficient and are environmentally robust. We are recruiting project management and systems analyst expertise to assist in this process.
Overall, we have set ourselves a target of issuing 4,500 new licences this year which would be a 75% increase on last year.
1266. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a farmer (details supplied) who appealed their application for an extension on the beef data and genomics programme 2021 on the basis of the strong medical evidence submitted will receive an outcome to their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16868/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been advised, however, that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that a letter of appeal was received from the person named in March 2021.
I am further informed that the Appeals Office will shortly be writing to the person named in relation to his appeal and the submission of further documentation.
1267. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has spoken virtually with the CEO of Horse Racing Ireland to date in 2021. [16886/21]
View answerHorse 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.
I have not spoken virtually with the CEO of Horse Racing Ireland to date in 2021. I am due to speak to the CEO and Chairman shortly.
My officials are in regular contact with officials from Horse Racing Ireland.
1268. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to introduce fairness in basic payment schemes in the new CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16919/21]
View answerThe process of agreeing the regulations for the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programming period is ongoing at EU level, and my Department continues to play a proactive role in this process. Under the current proposals, a new Basic Income Support for Sustainability will replace the current Basic Payment Scheme. I am acutely aware of the importance of the financial support provided under these direct payment schemes for Irish farmers, and am committed to ensuring that my Department continues to implement such schemes in a fair manner. For example, I have always been clear in my support for the capping of payments as a key tool to support a fair distribution of payments.
The CAP reform proposals presented by the European Commission in June 2018 included a number of mandatory redistributive proposals for Direct Payments including capping and degressivity, increased convergence of payments and a redistributive scheme to support sustainability. During the negotiation process, the Agrifish Council of Ministers has adopted a position which supports the optional inclusion of these schemes as part of a suite of measures that Member States can select from depending on their particular national circumstances. This allows Member States, who have vastly different farm structures, to make the optimum choices for their circumstances. The Trilogue negotiations on these proposals are ongoing and the final shape of the CAP Regulations and the options available to Member States will not be clear until this process is concluded.
As this process develops, I will continue to engage with stakeholders on this issue with a view to ensuring that the developing EU regulations include a suite of measures which will enable us to ensure the fair implementation of these vital financial supports.
1269. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Commission proposal that convergence will continue in the next CAP with all entitlements reaching at least 75% of the national average by 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16920/21]
View answerThe new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 involve significant changes, including the end of the Basic Payment Scheme and the start of the new Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS). Trilogue negotiations between the three institutions, which are aimed at reaching a final shared agreement on the shape of the new CAP, commenced at the end of 2020. I am hopeful that these will conclude by June 2021.
Under the proposed BISS, there is a mandatory requirement for Member States to ensure that, by 2026, all payment values reach a minimum convergence level of 75% for all payment entitlements. The European Parliament has proposed a convergence level of 100%. It is proposed that the funding mechanism will be similar to the current system, whereby payment entitlements with values above the average are reduced to fund the convergence.
This proposal builds on the convergence path of the 2015-2020 CAP regulations, under which all entitlements had to reach a minimum value of 60% of the national average by 2019.
My Department is analysing the effects of all of the proposed changes, including changes to convergence, and is engaged on an ongoing basis with European colleagues as well as farm organisations here. This close engagement and detailed analysis of the impact of the proposals on farmers in Ireland will continue until the regulations are fully developed and will, in due course, inform the decision-making process on the implementation of new CAP regulations in Ireland.
1270. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Commission proposal to cap direct payments at €100,000 with a gradual reduction for those over €60,000 in the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16921/21]
View answerThe new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 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;
- 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 must also change.
I have always been clear that I support capping. However, there are differing views across the Council, Parliament and Commission as to how the direct payments elements should be implemented in the next CAP. Discussions on the legislative proposals are ongoing between the three institutions, and these elements are still subject to change. The final shape of the CAP regulations will not be known until final agreement has been reached, which is expected in the coming months.
1271. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on implementing internal convergence of payment entitlements during the CAP transitional regulation covering the years 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16923/21]
View answerConvergence is a feature of the current CAP and the new CAP proposals intend to continue with this policy. Ireland has supported this element of these proposals. Convergence aims to redistribute and flatten the value of CAP payment entitlements and like all elements of the CAP, there are differing views regarding its implementation.
Under the current CAP, some €93million was redistributed from farmers with payment entitlements values above the national average to raise the value of payment entitlement held by farmers that were below the national average. This was implemented in a planned, phased manner over the five years of the Basic Payment Scheme and the steps of this convergence were notified to each farmer. This period of planned convergence ended in 2019 following its successful implementation.
The regulation regarding the transition period enables member states to continue convergence during the transition period, if they so wish. In order to provide for stability, some certainty for farmers and consultation on CAP measures, Ireland chose to rest convergence during the years 2020 to 2022.
We are now in the transition period between the old CAP ending and the new CAP commencing in 2023. Following my appointment as Minister, I examined with Department officials the possibility of continuing convergence in 2021. However, given the enormous logistical and operational requirements in the process, the timeframe was not available to consider making changes for 2021.
It is my intention to consult with farm organisations for the second transition year of 2022 as well as for the CAP programme to further consider how to continue the convergence process. This engagement will take place over the coming months in order to make a timely decision for the 2022 period and beyond.
1272. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position he is taking on addressing the fact that current basic payment scheme entitlements are based on reference years that date back to 2000-2002 in trilogue negotiations on the new CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16924/21]
View answerThe Basic Payment Scheme came into effect in 2015 and established payment entitlement values under the scheme from that date. While the value of individual payment entitlements can be traced back to an initial reference period of 2000-2002, the effect of this has been significantly moderated through convergence.
During the current CAP programme, farmers who held low value payment entitlements have benefitted from this process. Farmers with payment entitlement values less than 90% of the average have seen their payment entitlement values increase over the period 2015-2019. In 2019, all payment entitlement values reached a minimum of 60% of the national average.
The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 include a continuation of the process of internal convergence, to a minimum of 75% of the national average. The European Parliament argues for a higher level of convergence. Final agreement on the CAP is dependent on the outcome of trilogue negotiations between the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, which commenced in November 2020 and are likely to run for some months yet.
1273. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on establishing an independent meat regulator with statutory powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16925/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government for the establishment of a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive. Establishment of the NFO is ongoing and firstly requires the drafting of a statutory instrument to transpose the UTP directive before the deadline of May 2021. Legislation is then required to establish the new office of the NFO.
The NFO, whose remit will include the beef sector, will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. It is important to be aware, however, that the Ombudsman will not be able to determine commodity prices. I will launch a public consultation on the NFO in the coming weeks and welcome all submissions under this process.
