Thursday, 22 Apr 2021

Written Answers Nos. 211-228

Vaccination Programme

Questions (213)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

213. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a research paper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21116/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As part of the Department of Health’s COVID-19 response, the Research Services and Policy unit have developed a weekly COVID-19 vaccine research bulletin that signposts recent research publications relevant to the vaccine rollout. The purpose of the bulletin is to ensure awareness of published research evidence that may support the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Ireland. This is relevant to the co-ordination of communications on the vaccine rollout and aspects of the work of the sub-groups IEMAG (Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group) and CBAG (Communications and Behavioural Advisory Group). The bulletin supports the work of these groups by keeping abreast of emerging evidence from COVID-19 vaccine-related research publications.

This bulletin is circulated widely, including to the Minister for Health, individuals on the Senior Management Team, members of IEMAG, CBAG, and the Vaccines Taskforce, and other staff in the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Research & Development & Health Analytics, and Health Protection divisions within the Department of Health. The study referenced was included in the latest issue of the bulletin, that was circulated on Tuesday 20th April 2021.

It is important to note that the study referenced is, as the Deputy points out, a preprint. This means that the findings are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed, which is a significant step in evaluating and validating the quality and credibility of a research publication.

New evidence related to COVID-19 vaccines is routinely circulated to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and is also taken into consideration by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is an independent expert group that provides?evidence-based advice to the Department of Health on vaccines,?immunisation?and related health matters to inform health policies in Ireland.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recently concluded an investigation into a number of reports of very rare, unusual blood clots occurring with low platelets in people following vaccination with Vaxzevria® COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. The EMA has added these unusual clotting events with low platelet counts as very rare side effects to the product information. This event is estimated to occur between 4 and 10 in every 1 million people. However, as so few events have been reported, there is a high level of uncertainty regarding the incidence of this extremely rare adverse event in any particular age group or gender. Although most cases of this rare event occurred in women under 60 years of age, this may be because of the higher rate of vaccination in healthcare workers who are predominantly female. In the UK the reported rate of events adjusted by sex and vaccination status was similar in men and women. A UK suggestion of a possible increasing incidence of this adverse event in the younger age groups has not been confirmed based on available European Economic Area (EEA) data. The EMA has requested new studies and amendments to ongoing ones to provide more information.

The risk/benefits of Vaxzevria® may vary by age. As alternative COVID-19 vaccines are available NIAC has revised the recommendations for use of this vaccine:

- Any authorised COVID-19 vaccine, including Vaxzevria®, is recommended for those aged 60 years and older including those with medical conditions with very high or high risk of severe COVID-19 disease

- Vaxzevria® is not recommended for those aged under 60 years including those with medical conditions with very high or high risk of severe COVID-19 disease

- A second dose of Vaxzevria® should not be given to anyone who developed unusual blood clots with low platelets after the first dose

- Those who have received a first dose of Vaxzevria®:

1. Aged 60 and older should receive their second dose 12 weeks later as scheduled

2. Aged under 60 years:

- with a very high risk or high-risk medical condition should receive their second dose 12 weeks later as scheduled

- without a very high risk or high-risk medical condition should have the scheduled interval between doses extended to 16 weeks to allow further assessment of the benefits and risks as more evidence becomes available.

Forestry Sector

Questions (214, 215)

Holly Cairns

Question:

214. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on increasing the resources and staff of the forestry appeals and licensing process to ensure that all licences and appeals are processed in a timely manner including the clearing of the substantial backlog. [20862/21]

Holly Cairns

Question:

215. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the average waiting times for licensing applications and appeals in the forestry appeals and licensing process between 1 September 2020 and 31 March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20863/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.

I am aware of the issues facing the forestry sector and the timber industry and considerable efforts have been made to address them. Additional resources have been recruited including 21 new ecologists and training, information and guidance has been provided to both Departmental staff and registered foresters and, as a result, we have seen gains in terms of output.

The introduction of Project Woodland, recently launched by Minister of State Pippa Hackett, with responsibility for forestry, is our strategy for resolving the licensing issues. This new structure aims to ensure that the current backlog is addressed. The Project involves a review and refresh of our processes and procedures and includes outside stakeholder participation to bring an independent perspective. It is a task-driven process, with clear deliverable and milestones.

It is worth noting that there are always licences in the system at various stages of processing. These are the initial stages of an application being made, while the registered forester finalises application documents to referral to prescribed bodies, referral to the inspector and/or ecologist/archaeologist, to making final decision. Applications may also be returned to the applicant (and their registered forester, where relevant) for further information. A target to issue 4,500 licences in 2021 has been set which is a 75% increase on 2020.

The total number of tree felling licences issued to end March this year is up 56% on last year and up by 20% on felling licences issued. For afforestation licences, while the number of licences issued is down slightly on last year, the area licensed is up by 18%. Forestry road licences have far exceeded those issued to end March last year, the number issued is up 102% and the length of road licensed is up by 147% at over 75km. In total to date in 2021, my Department has issued 957 licences to end March.

The average time for a tree felling licence to issue, for those decisions issued from September 2020 to March 2021 is 11 months; for afforestation licence decisions, it is 9 months; and, for forest road licence decisions, it is 8 months.

The Deputy will be aware that the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is independent of my Department.

Since the new Act was introduced, the FAC has issued decisions on 297 licences that were appealed with the average time from appeal to decision taking ten months.

There are currently 253 appealed licenses with the FAC of which 23% have been heard and the committees are finalising their decisions. A further 32% of the cases are scheduled to be heard in the coming months. I expect the remaining cases will be heard by 30th July, following which, I envisage there will be scope to turnaround the upcoming appeals within an average of a two-month period.

I remain hopeful and confident that the changes presented under the Project Woodland structure to processes within my Department will bear fruit, particularly to give confidence to all applicants that they can receive a timely decision on their forestry licence application.

Forestry Sector

Questions (216)

Holly Cairns

Question:

216. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions that have been made for forestry planting under the new organic scheme and the new REPS scheme including the potential impact on backlogs in the forestry appeals and licensing process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20864/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am proposing that tree planting actions will be provided for under the Agri-Environment Pilot Project (REAP) and such actions are also expected to feature under the CAP Strategic Plan including as part of the next CAP Agri-Environment schemes. This is in recognition of the many climate and biodiversity benefits when tree planting is done correctly. I would encourage all farmers to engage with these schemes and all relevant stakeholders to continue to input to the scheme design through the CAP consultation process.

However, such planting will be outside of the scope of forestry planting as they will not be defined areas of forestry. Therefore, neither will have any impact on forestry appeals or the licensing process.

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Questions (217)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

217. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a new date for an appeal will issue for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20925/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.

I understand that an oral hearing had been organised in relation the appeal concerned but had to be cancelled by the person named due to COVID concerns.

I have been advised that due to restrictions now in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Appeals Office has had to suspend the holding of oral hearings until further notice. Where an appellant has requested an oral hearing, the Office is offering the option of having the hearing held remotely or have the appeal decided without an oral hearing.

It is open to the person named to contact the Agriculture Appeals Office should they wish to have the hearing held remotely or the appeal decided without an oral hearing.

Aquaculture Development

Questions (218, 219)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

218. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reopen the Covid-19 aquaculture support scheme to allow for the scheme to cover the period from 30 June 2020 onwards; if the eligibility criteria of the scheme will be widened to include aquaculture producers of other species excluded in the previous scheme, that is, abalone, trout and bottom mussels; and if the eligibility criteria is based on gatherers dockets and sales dockets which clearly state volume produced in a given year, rather than returns to BIM of the Annual Aquaculture Production and Employment Survey. [20955/21]

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

219. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider additional financial supports for the oyster sector which is facing a second year of its production cycle with difficulties in finding and accessing markets for its produce (details supplied). [20956/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together.

Aquaculture enterprises with a 30% reduction in turnover because of Covid-19 have been eligible to apply to Revenue under the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, an economy-wide enterprise support that focuses primarily on business eligibility. The scheme provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of eligible employees on the employer’s payroll and their gross pay. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has also been available to self-employed aquaculture farmers whose trading income has ceased or reduced to €960 over a rolling 8-week period, or aquaculture employees laid off because of the Pandemic. These measures continue to be available to all sectors of our economy at very considerable cost.

Throughout 2020, my Department met regularly with the Irish Farmers Association to hear their views on the impact of the Pandemic on aquaculture and to discuss their submissions seeking financial supports. This led to the implementation of a Covid-19 Aquaculture Support Scheme in the second half of 2020 under my Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme. This scheme was designed to address the needs for support identified by the IFA, specifically for the shellfish farming sector. The Scheme was open to rope mussel and oyster producers and provided a fixed payment based on enterprise size (in terms of historic production levels).

Payments were calculated to compensate for lost sales arising from the Pandemic over the period February to June 2020 and ranged from €1,300 for the smallest rope mussel producers to €9,000 for the largest, while for oyster producers who have higher costs of production, payments ranged from €6,800 for the smallest producers to €16,300 for the largest. Some 152 aquaculture enterprises benefitted from the scheme at a cost of €1.2 million, with a further 4 applications under consideration within BIM. The Scheme was well received by the IFA and the aquaculture sector.

On 13 April 2021, the IFA wrote to me seeking an extension of the scheme to compensate for Pandemic related losses arising in the second half of 2020. The IFA is also requesting some changes along the lines of those described by the Deputy. My Department and BIM are presently examining this proposal and direct discussions with the IFA are being arranged.

Beef Industry

Questions (220)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

220. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a beef exceptional aid measure payment appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20964/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.

I am informed that a hearing of the appeal for the person named was held on 30th March 2021 and a decision will issue in relation to this appeal shortly.

GLAS Issues

Questions (221)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

221. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on the request by persons (details supplied) in County Kerry to have the recent decision on their GLAS payment reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20968/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The persons named applied successfully for GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1st October 2015. The GLAS contract was selected for an on-farm inspection 5th November 2020 and was notified of the inspection findings by letter dated 5th February 2021. This letter outlined the option of requesting a review of this decision.

The persons named subsequently submitted a request for a review of the inspection findings which was received on 16th February 2021. The review is currently in progress and the Department will be in direct contact, in writing, in the coming days regarding this request.

Greyhound Industry

Questions (222)

Brian Leddin

Question:

222. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Irish-bred racing greyhounds exported to the United Kingdom in each of years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20982/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

With regards to the export of greyhounds, under Council Directive 92/65/EEC (the “Balai” Directive), dogs moved commercially to another EU country from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination. Before travel, dogs must undergo a clinical examination by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the dogs show no obvious signs of disease and are fit to be transported. Dogs must also have a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian. These procedures ensure that only healthy dogs, over the age of 15 weeks, are permitted to be exported.

Exporters are required to comply with the provisions of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport.

My Department only issues health certificates for export once all the above criteria have been met.

It is not possible to establish figures for greyhound exports to other EU countries, including the United Kingdom for the years in question, as TRACES, the European Commission’s online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, does not distinguish between breeds of dogs moved commercially.

Agrifood Sector

Questions (223)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

223. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available for a proposed project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21000/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am aware from media reports of a proposal to develop flour milling facilities in Co. Wexford.

The setting up of any new enterprise in the agri-food sector is welcome but requires in-depth research and financial analysis in order to determine that any proposed development is commercially viable. Whilst my Department is available to assist in such cases, any development must be industry-led and is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

I would, therefore, advise the potential developers to engage with Enterprise Ireland if they have not already done so on any potential supports available from that agency.

Animal Feedstuffs

Questions (224)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

224. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is giving consideration to expanding nationwide the pilot scheme currently being run by the Bantry marine research station which is investigating the effects of using red seaweed in animal feed as a means to reduce methane emissions from cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21002/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The recently published AgClimatise Roadmap outlines my vision for the agriculture sector, a climate neutral food system compatible with the Paris temperature goals. This vision for climate neutrality, in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (lPCC) guidance, requires that methane reduces out to 2050. Identifying ways to reduce methane is key priority for my Department in order to transition the sector to a more long term sustainable platform, all the while supporting farm incomes.

One possible pathway to reduce methane emissions from ruminant livestock is the addition of feed additives into the diet of the animal. Significant investment has been made in this regard. Since 2016, the Department has invested approximately €8m into projects looking at methane from ruminant livestock. There are various feed additives that are being researched at this time by various research institutions in Ireland, including Teagasc, who are carrying out research projects testing various feed additives to reduce methane emissions such as the “Meth-Abate” project and also “SeaSolutions”.

I am aware of the potential of seaweed and, in particular, red seaweed to reduce methane emissions from livestock so I am very interested in the ongoing work at Bantry Marine Research Station Ltd. I believe this ongoing research will make a valuable contribution towards developing a long term solution to the issue of ruminant methane emissions.

There is a clear commitment in Ag Climatise to continue to fund research into this important topic and, building on all existing research work to date, I will strive to ensure that appropriate funding is made available over the years ahead.

Fishing Industry

Questions (225)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

225. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will honour the commitment in the Programme for Government to work to retain factory weighing of pelagic fish in the context of negotiations on the new EU control regulation; the position regarding the current oversight of weighing systems in Irish fish production factories including tamper-proof systems that are observed by direct video link to the SFPA and subject to unannounced inspections by the NSAI at any time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21026/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Council Regulation 1224/2009, known as the Control Regulation, establishes a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level playing-field across the EU on fisheries control.

In 2018, the Commission published a proposal to amend the Control Regulation. The negotiations on the revised EU Control Regulation are currently ongoing at the Council Working Party. The Portuguese Presidency has indicated its intention to bring a general approach on the proposal to the Council of Fisheries Ministers in May.

The proposal has also been discussed by the European Parliament and last month, the Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the proposal. When both the Council and the Parliament have formally adopted their positions, trilateral negotiations will commence involving the EU Council, the European Parliament and the Commission.

My Department has been engaged fully in the negotiation process and continues to be actively involved in the ongoing discussions with the Presidency, other Member States and the Commission on the proposal. As set out in the Programme for Government, one of Ireland's priorities for the negotiations is to retain the derogation for fisheries products to be weighed after transport under certain conditions. My Department has made this clear throughout the negotiation process. My Department has consulted with stakeholders during this process and will continue to keep them apprised of developments.

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. The issue of the Fisheries Control Plan, the discontinuance of the Control Plan submitted by the SFPA in 2012 and the new arrangements arising from this Commission Decision, as well as the oversight of weighing systems, are operational matters for the SFPA and I am precluded from getting involved in these matters.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (226, 227, 229)

Denis Naughten

Question:

226. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if each agricultural planner can only submit ten applications for farmers under the proposed agri-environmental pilot project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21035/21]

Denis Naughten

Question:

227. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it will be ensured that measures for the results-based payments under the proposed agri-environmental pilot project will not be weather dependent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21036/21]

Denis Naughten

Question:

229. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the proposed agri-environmental pilot project is primarily replacing income forgone by farmers; if farmers will have to pay for training under the project; the reason the maximum payments, even with such strict eligibility criteria, have been set so low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21038/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 227 and 229 together.

The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. To advance this aim the Results- Based Environmental Agri Pilot Project (REAP) is being launched this week.

The aim of this pilot project is to identify a suitable agri-environment results based scoring system and to trial this system at a national level with a view to identifying up scaling potential for possible inclusion in the next national agri-environment scheme. Under the results-based model, farm holdings with the highest scoring receive the greatest payment. By linking payments to defined indicators the results-based model creates a financial incentive linked with outcomes for participating farmers. The model also makes it worthwhile for participants to gain an understanding of the conditions required for the delivery of optimum biodiversity and environmental benefits.

REAP will be funded under the technical assistance measure of the rural development programme and is subject to EU Commission approval of the 10th amendment to the RDP.

There will be no limit on the number of applications that each agricultural planner can submit for the REAP Project. Full details of the project including terms and conditions and specifications are available on the Department's section of the government website.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (228)

Denis Naughten

Question:

228. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the additional €79 million allocated for agri-environment and farm safety initiatives in Budget 2021 will be allocated; the amount of this funding sourced from the carbon fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21037/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An additional €79 million, including €23 million carbon tax, was provided in the budget to support action in the area of biodiversity, climate, environment and health and safety.

My intention is to allocate the funding as follows:

- Re-opening of the organic farming scheme €5m,

- Straw Incorporation measure (SIM) €10m,

- Agri-environment training for farmers €10m,

- REAP – Results based environment-agri pilot projects €10m,

- Soil sampling €10m,

- Farm Environmental Study €5m,

- TAMS environment €20m,

- Rewetting EIP – €3m,

- Continuous Professional Development for advisors €1m,

- Health and safety initiatives under EIP-AGRI €1m,

- Biodiversity actions for farmers and communities €1.25m and

- Peatland rejuvenation €3m.

EU approval is required and my Department has submitted the tenth amendment to the Rural Development Programme (RDP) to the European Commission for its approval, after which the final allocation of the €79 million funding will be decided.