Written Answers Nos. 977-996
977. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of investigating and testing a greyhound for the presence of prohibited substances; the reason the fines imposed on owners of greyhounds that test positive do not at least cover these costs; and if any owners of greyhounds that tested positive have been banned from involvement in racing. [24173/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
978. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an apparently uninjured greyhound was put to sleep at Youghal track in October 2020 (details supplied). [24174/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
979. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the provision of bins will be examined. [24188/21]
View answerCoillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
This query has been referred to Coillte for direct reply to the Deputy.
980. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was not granted exceptional force majeure for a beef finisher payment given the circumstances. [24191/21]
View answerThe Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme is a one- off, exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the COVID-19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of the BFP is to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme was open to all beef farmers who presented animals for slaughter in the period 1st February 2020 to 12th June 2020 inclusive and fulfil the requirements set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. Applications were received on agfood.ie from 18th August 2020 to 9th September 2020.
The applicant applied to join the scheme on 26th August 2020 and was eligible for payment on four animals slaughtered within the reference period of the scheme.
An appeal was received for payment on further animals slaughtered after 12th June 2020. As per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, animals eligible for payment are bovine animals aged over eight months presented to a slaughtering establishment in the period 1st February 2020 to 12th June 2020 inclusive. As the applicant slaughtered these further animals outside the reference period, these animals could not be considered eligible for payment under the programme.
The applicant submitted an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office who upheld the decision of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The person named was notified of this outcome on 9th April 2021 by the Agriculture Appeals Office where they were also informed of their right to raise the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman, if they felt they were treated unfairly.
981. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department accept, process and approve Coillte tree felling licence applications in a manner different to the standards that apply to private applications. [24193/21]
View answerThe control of tree felling is regulated under the Forestry Act, 2014 and the Forestry Regulations, 2017 (SI number 191/2017) and are applicable to all applications for tree felling licences, regardless of the applicant. Every application for a forestry licence is assessed on its own merits and in combination with other plans or projects in the area and so other information including a Harvest Plan or a Natura Impact Statement may also be required to fully assess the proposed operations.
The provision of a harvest plan at application stage is not a legal requirement. However, applicants are encouraged to include them with their licence application and Coillte have done this with their recent application accepted in March. Where not provided at application stage, the Department often subsequently requires a harvest plan or other information about the felling so that the Department can satisfy itself that that the project will not have an adverse effect on the environment. Coillte has also undertaken to provide further, site-specific site information in support of their recent applications. This will assist the Department in reaching a decision on their application.
Decisions on Coillte applications are subject to the same assessment, public consultation, and appeals process as decisions on private sector applications. In 2020, the issuing of licences was relatively balanced with 52% of felling licences issuing to Coillte and 48% to private applicants (in volume terms). To date this year in 2021, the breakdown is 60% to Coillte, 40% to the private sector.
982. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the items for which the €100,000 for the deep water quay project have been allocated in relation to the recently announced 2021 funding allocations for the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24231/21]
View answerThe Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 established the concept of fishery harbours in the State and invested their management in the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took over responsibility for the Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) in October 2007. Ros an Mhíl is one of six Fishery Harbour Centres, the others are located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth and Killybegs.
Funding is made available on an annual basis by the Department to the FHCs, including Ros an Mhíl, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. A phased programme for the infrastructural development of Ros an Mhíl FHC has been progressed over the last number of years, which has seen a significant investment. In total, approx €31.6m has been invested in capital developments at Ros an Mhíl FHC between 2000 and 2020.
In addition, €1.09m has been allocated for capital works in the harbour in 2021.
The possibility of a deep-water berthing project at Ros an Mhíl FHC has been mooted for some time and no decision has been made to invest in its development. Any decision to decide to proceed to a detailed design phase of this project would be predicated on an overall decision to proceed with the project as a whole.
I have allocated €100,000 in the 2021 Development Programme to further explore the potential and benefits of a Deep Water Quay project.
As is the case with all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres generally, any future decision with regard to formally initiating this project in Ros an Mhíl FHC, will only be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing national priorities.
983. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a statement (details supplied) made in the Coillte Annual Report 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24303/21]
View answerI am aware of the issues facing the forestry sector and the timber industry and considerable efforts have been made to address them. Significant additional resources have been recruited and training, information and guidance has been provided to both Department staff and registered foresters and, as a result, we have seen gains in terms of output.
The introduction of Project Woodland which is being led by Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for forestry, is our strategy for resolving the licensing issues. 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.
I am aware that delays in issuing felling licences in 2020 affected Coillte but the Deputy should be awarew that the company’s 2021 felling licensing requirements have now fully issued. I welcome the fact that the licences issued to date have allowed Coillte to provide sawmills with the contract allocation and to schedule auctions for the remainder, with one auction held already. Coillte recently submitted a batch of over 1,850 new applications and decisions on these applications will commence issuing in the coming weeks and continue for the remainder of the year.
The impact of delays in dealing with appeals was well recognised by the Department, which is why the system was reformed by means of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act introduced in October, 2020. This reform has resulted in four committees hearing appeals whereas previously only one sat, which has had a significant impact on the number of appeals dealt with.
It is expected that all outstanding files with the Forestry Appeals Committee will be heard by 30th July, following which it is envisaged that there will be scope to turnaround the upcoming appeals within an average of a two-month period.
Coillte have indicated that they expect 2021 to be more successful year than 2020 and I am committed to supporting them in this aim through an improved and more efficient licensing process.
984. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24304/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there are ongoing trilogues between the three institutions of the EU (the Council of Ministers, the European Commission and European Parliament) on the draft CAP regulations. With regard to the draft CAP Strategic Plan Regulation, Article 12 lays out the "obligations of Member States relating to Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) of Land". It clearly sets out that Member States shall set at national or regional level minimum standards for farmers for each GAEC standard. Annex 3 of the same draft Regulation sets out the requirements at GAEC and Statutory Managment Requirement (SMR) level. The Regulation is still the subject of discussion at trilogue level and has yet to be agreed.
GAEC 2 is a new GAEC concerning the protection of wetland and peatland. The draft text of Article 4 (1) (c) (ii) includes the provision that, should the implementation of a standard under GAEC 2 listed within Annex 3 result in any area of a holding that gave right to payments under sub section 2 of Chapter II of Title III of the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation or under the basic payment scheme or single area payment scheme laid down in Title III of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 no longer be considered an "eligible hectare", it will still be considered an eligible hectare for payment purposes. Therefore, peatland and wetland would not be excluded from CAP payments. It is important however to reiterate that these Regulations are still in draft format.
985. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the non-governmental organisations in receipt of funding from his Department; the amount of funding allocated to same in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24367/21]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the attached table.
https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-05-12_pq985-11-05-2021_en.docx
987. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a representative group (details supplied) is not included in the CAP consultative stakeholders committee given that Leader is an important and integral part of the CAP rural development package; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24420/21]
View answerThe CAP Consultative Committee was established in May 2019. It affords representation across a wide range of stakeholders, including Irish Rural Link and the Department of Rural and Community Development, which provides a range of supports for rural communities through the LEADER programme. I understand that the Department of Rural and Community Development also consults directly with the named organisation on a regular basis.
In November 2020, the named organisation requested a place on the Committee. I considered that request and concluded that the Committee’s membership is already sufficiently broad and representative and that there is no need to broaden its membership further at this point.
In addition to the work of the CAP Consultative Committee, the Department has also held a number of wider consultative events in preparation for the next CAP. These have included a full public consultation in autumn 2019 around the draft SWOT analysis for the CAP Strategic Plan. In response to this, over one hundred submissions were received from a broad mix of stakeholders, including social interest groups, business representatives, local regional authorities, Government Departments and Agencies, as well as individuals. The full list of submissions is available on the Department’s website.
As work continues to develop Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, I intend to hold at least one further public consultation later this year. I will be very happy to receive submissions from the organisation named in response to such future consultations.
988. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons employed by his Department; and the collective total salary received by employees of his Department. [24430/21]
View answerAs of 5th May 2021, the employee headcount in my Department is 3,817. This equates to 3,679 full time equivalents with a corresponding estimated salary figure of €189.2m per annum.
989. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his Department employ persons or firms to deal with public relations; if so, the number of persons employed by his Department to deal with public relations; the names of any firms involved; and the total amount spent on public relations by his Department. [24431/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department does not currently have individual consultants or companies engaged to deal with public relations.
990. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses exported from Ireland to China in the past ten years; the method of transport of those horses in tabular form; and if he has concerns in relation to the fate of these animals in a country with no animal welfare laws. [24468/21]
View answerIn 2012, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney and Chinese Vice Minister Wei Chuanzhong signed a protocol agreeing animal health requirements and detailed rules for the establishment, within Ireland, of quarantine facilities to facilitate the direct export of horses to China and so reduce, significantly, the costs associated with such exports.
Before the new protocol was signed, horses had to complete quarantine in another EU State which would then process the transit.
The protocol was designed to assist in developing what was a new Irish direct export market for the Irish thoroughbred industry.
The first consignment direct from Ireland arrived in May 2014. Since then, the following numbers of horses were exported directly to China:
2019 21 horses
2018 9 horses
2017 64 horses
2016 72 horses
2015 14 horses
2014 29 horses
All horses would have been flown, usually by a chartered airplane.
No horses were exported in 2020 due to COVID 19.
In 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Sport of China issued a joint notice advising of a new scheme for the development of horse industry from 2020 to 2025. China has committed to further improving the control system for drugs and prohibited substances in horses, gradually establishing a horse welfare system in line with international standards and plans to release an annual report on the credibility of China's horse racing.
991. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses injured and killed in horse racing, horse training, point-to-point racing and show jumping in the past ten years and to date in 2021 by racecourse in tabular form; the names of the horses; the nature of their injuries; and the method used to kill horses at tracks. [24469/21]
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.
The question raised by the Deputy regarding the number of horses injured and killed in horse racing, horse training and point-to-point racing is an operational matter for HRI who will respond directly.
Horse Sport Ireland has informed the Department that it is not aware of any incidences of fatalities in Ireland arising within national showjumping events.
992. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at racecourses; if jockeys and track staff are required to wear masks and observe social distancing at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24470/21]
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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.
993. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of permanent or temporary medical staff and the number of ambulances and ambulance crew members in attendance at racecourses and point-to-point meetings nationwide; the dates such staff are in attendance; if these staff are paid for out of public funds via the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund; the costs involved; his views on whether medical resources would be better deployed away from racecourses during the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24471/21]
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.
HRI has informed me of the following:
- Ambulances and personnel from the National Ambulance Service are not in attendance at racemeetings and Point-to-Point meetings in Ireland.
- Ambulance providers are all from the voluntary sector, with the Order of Malta being their main provider (the Irish Red Cross cover one racecourse, and the Civil Defence cover two racecourses).
- HRI are in communication with their ambulance providers in order to ensure they have sufficient provision to provide cover without taking from any Covid-19 related duties.
- To ensure the highest level of safety for riders, each fixture is serviced by three ambulances and the appropriate crew numbers which, as a rule, is a driver and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on each ambulance.
- Pre-COVID-19, the volunteer ambulance service provided cover at many sport events, concerts and festivals and therefore have a large capacity to service many events. For the last 12 months, horseracing has essentially been the Order of Malta’s only event cover and has been a crucial source of funding for the organisation. The daily rate for ambulances at racemeetings is met 50/50 by the racecourses and Horse Racing Ireland.
- The Order of Malta receives an annual grant from HRI.
994. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses that were injured and killed at the 2021 Punchestown horse racing festival; if an investigation will be carried out into the high level of fatalities; if consideration will be given to ending State funding to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the growing number of horse deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24475/21]
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.
The question raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of horses injured and killed at the 2021 Punchestown horse racing festival is an operational matter for HRI who will be requested to repond directly.
An important pillar of Government policy is to ensure that the horse racing industry achieves its maximum potential, and in so doing, contributes to economic and social development across a wide geographic swathe of the country.
The horse racing industry makes a valuable contribution to our economy. It is estimated that the thoroughbred industry has an annual economic impact of €1.84 billion with direct and indirect employment of 28,500 people. The thoroughbred industry brings a high level of international investment into Ireland.
Welfare is a cornerstone of the industry, shown by Horse Racing Ireland’s (HRI) strategic priority to implement world-leading standards of integrity and equine welfare. HRI’s policy on thoroughbred horse welfare is reflected in the “Promoting Responsible Thoroughbred Ownership” document to which bodies concerned with welfare within the horseracing and breeding industry subscribe.
HRI receives state funding on an annual basis as provided for under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. I have no plans to end state funding for the horse racing industry.
995. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of racing greyhound pups born from information recorded when owners make a declaration of litter submission to a club (details supplied) for each of the years 2009 to 2020, specifically the individual number of pups per litter; if he will clarify that such information is available to his Department from the club database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24479/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has been the keeper for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923.
The ICC has informed the Department that the data requested by the Deputy is not available for the years 2009 to 2020 as their reporting system covered the total number of litters born but did not report the individual number of pups per litter. The ICC registration software system incorporates the capture of specific details relating to each greyhound from 2021 onwards.
996. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Article 46(2) of Regulation 1782/2003 means that the single farm payment entitlement cannot be separated from the land in cases in which the land is being leased (details supplied); and if not, the meaning of same. [24484/21]
View answerArticle 46(2) of Regulation 1782/2003 sets out the circumstances for the transfer of payment entitlements under the Single Farm Payment Scheme. The article states that payment entitlements can be transferred by sale or other definitive transfer methods with or without land.
Leased payment entitlements must be accompanied by a transfer of the equivalent number of eligible hectares unless force majeure, or exceptional circumstances apply, in which case the leasing of the entitlements without land may be facilitated.
