Written Answers Nos. 56-74
56. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to allow flexibility in the implementation of the BEAM 5% nitrogen reduction criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26492/21]
View answerThe objective of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132.
Just over 33,000 participants joined the scheme and, in doing so, gave a commitment to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on the holding by 5% for the period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the reference period 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019 as recorded on the Department's AIM system.
In light of the difficulties some farmers were experiencing in meeting this reduction arising from COVID-19 Government Public Health restrictions, I sought approval from the EU Commission in January 2021 to bring in an alternative reduction period for those who require it. In that context, since 19th March 2021, BEAM participants can (using agfood.ie) select the alternative reduction period of 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 over which to meet their 5% reduction.
This facility remains opens until 21st June 2021 and to date, some 5,341 BEAM participants have opted for the deferred reduction period. Farmers who opt to defer but then turn out to deliver the 5% reduction in the original reduction period (up to end June 2021) will exit the scheme as of 30th June having met the requirements.
Farmers who have experienced a restriction due to an outbreak of TB on their holding during the reduction period have had their reduction target reduced in line with the length of their restriction. Farmers who have recorded multiple restrictions in the period will have all their restricted days taken into account and anyone who is currently restricted will see their target figures reduce over the duration of that restriction. Letters explaining this process issued in recent weeks to some 2,000 farmers who fell into this category and as new restrictions are registered further letters will issue to the farmers concerned.
The Department continues to provide a monthly update to all BEAM participants with the bovine figures up to 1st April 2021 now available on Agfood.ie. The monthly letter containing these bovine numbers has issued to BEAM participants this week and a letter detailing the situation on participant holdings up to 1st May will issue in early June, this letter will be important to those farmers who need to know whether to apply for the deferred reduction period.
57. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the involvement his Department has had with regard to the economic and sustainability impact assessment of the Mercosur trade agreement. [26981/21]
View answerFollowing the announcement of the political agreement between the EU and Mercosur on a Free Trade Agreement, a whole-of-Government review on the impact of the agreement on Ireland was initiated.
The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, in collaboration with my Department, commissioned consultants to carry out an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Ireland. This study involved consultations with a wide variety of stakeholders, including many from the agri-food sector. An official from my Department is a member of the project steering group overseeing the ESIA.
Work by the consultants on the ESIA is well advanced. The Report will be published once it has been received and considered by Government.
58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review of the potential demand in international markets for wool-based products; the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/21]
View answerWool production is an important component of agri-industry. It is a sustainable, organic, renewable natural material which can be used in a wide range of products such as textiles, fertilisers, insulation and packaging.
Following the allocation of the significant amount of €100,000 for the review of the potential demand in international markets for wool-based products such as insulation and fertilisers, I initiated a consultation process to determine the terms of reference for such a review. Details of the proposed Terms of Reference to implement this review were published on the Department's website www.agriculture.gov.ie on 11th March 2021 and include but are not limited to the following -
- the identification of market opportunities domestically and internationally for wool based products;
- carrying out economic feasibility and cost benefit analysis on proposed market opportunities;
- determining mechanisms that could be used to support industry initiatives; and
- identification of potential research projects applicable to supporting the identified market opportunities.
Interested parties were invited to submit comments on the proposed Terms of Reference and/or submissions on the potential market opportunities for wool products on the domestic and international markets. The closing date for submissions was 2nd April 2021.
The 38 submissions received are currently being reviewed with a view to finalising the terms of reference. The time frame for the completion of the review including the tendering process, consultation with stakeholders and publication of the report is end of November 2021. The recommendations from this review will help to focus the development of a robust policy roadmap for the Irish wool industry.
59. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is undertaking to ensure that provisions for farm safety and farmer well-being are being incorporated into the formation of the next Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26784/21]
View answerThe CAP Strategic Plan is currently under development in the Department. The SWOT and Needs assessment process has been completed and Health and Safety has been identified as an area that requires further attention. Health and safety elements will be incorporated as appropriate and my officials are developing measures to reflect this. You can expect to see Health and Safety feature strongly in our training programmes for farmers and advisors as well as through the various measures from on farm investments to livestock handling.
Under the current Rural Development Programme (RDP), health and safety is incorporated into the on-farm investment scheme (TAMS) with support available for a wide range of safety measures and equipment. Health and safety is also a key element of all training and knowledge transfer schemes for farmers and advisors. This year under the transitional arrangements, I have secured funding of €1m to consider innovative solutions to Health and Safety under the locally led Innovation Partnership model (EIP’s). I intend to take the learnings from these projects and see how they can inform our policy and supports for health and safety in any future measures.
60. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish an independent regulator for the meat industry to address instability in the sector. [27018/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government for the establishment of a new authority to be called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) or similar, to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive. A two stage approach is being undertaken to deliver the commitment.
Firstly, on April 28th I signed Statutory Instrument No. 198 of 2021 which sets out the Regulations to give effect in Irish law to EU Directive No. 2019/633 on Unfair Trading Practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain.
These Regulations will come into effect from 1st July 2021. The Regulations apply to agreements for the supply of agri-food products.
One of the key principles of the UTP Directive is to protect farmers and other weaker suppliers of agricultural and food products against stronger buyers. These Regulations will help to provide that protection and are a significant step in progressing towards a more even playing field for our agricultural producers. The Enforcement Authority required by the Directive will, pending the establishment of the new Office, operate in the Department. The Authority will have the necessary statutory powers to investigate complaints, carry out investigations on its own initiative and initiate legal proceedings for breaches of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) prohibited under the Directive.
Secondly, the establishment of the new Office requires primary legislation. The new Office, whose remit will include the beef sector, when established will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland and will also incorporate the UTP Enforcement Authority functions In addition to establishing the new Office, the primary legislation may introduce rules that go beyond those included in the UTP Directive. It is important to be aware, however, that the Office will not be able to determine commodity prices.
A public consultation on the primary legislation needed to establish the new Office of a National Food Ombudsman or Regulator. was launched late last month and will be open until 26th May 2021 and all submissions under this process are welcome and will be considered.
I am committed to delivering an office that will bring much-needed transparency to our sector that will ultimately help our farmers and primary producers.
I am also fully committed to ensuring fairness, equity and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain. The outcome of the current consultation will help to determine the principles and policies to be included in the new legislation and the powers to be assigned to the new Office. I encourage all stakeholders to participate in the public consultation.
61. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to deal with the long delays in granting felling licences. [26595/21]
View answerForestry and the issues currently affecting the sector are a priority for my Department and for me as I fully recognise its importance to farmers, forest owners, forestry contractors, sawmills and wood processors and to the rural economy as a whole.
I know that in order to fully deliver on the potential of the sector, we need a well-functioning licensing system. I am the first to acknowledge that we have fallen short in terms of turnaround time for licences. Steps have been taken to address the situation, and we have invested hugely in resources with more ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff assigned to licensing. This has seen some gains in output but more work remains to be done. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of 4,500 new licences for this year which is a 75% increase on last year and we are determined to meet this target.
In terms of felling, the volume of timber licensed this year is up 27% on the same period last year. In terms of product to sawmills, Coillte which is the main provider is fully licensed on felling licences for the year albeit not all of their output is immediately available.
My colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for forestry, has established Project Woodland, to work with stakeholders to examine all aspects of forestry, including a review of processes with a view to reducing the licensing backlog. This process is being implemented intensively and the Working Groups are meeting regularly and I understand are shortly due to come forward with recommendations in some cases. The Working Group dealing with the backlog is working on publishing a process and targets for its reduction and other improvements to the system and structure are being examined.
Along with Minister Hackett, I remain hopeful that the framework now in place under Project Woodland will address our current difficulties and will result in a licensing system which meets the needs of forest owners, with attendant benefits for all those involved in the sector. I can assure Deputies that no effort is being spared to resolve these difficulties and the issue remains a top political priority for me and my Department.
62. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the BTB incidence rate among Irish herds in 2021; if he expects the annual incidence rate to rise again from 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27012/21]
View answerLevels of bovine TB have been rising since 2016, and this deteriorating trend has continued into the first quarter of 2021. The current 12-month rolling herd incidence at 9th May 2021 is 4.27% compared to 3.92% on 10th May 2020. The 12-month rolling average number of reactors up to 9th May 2021 (21,926) is considerably higher than figure at 10th May 2020 (18,813), indicating that increase in disease trend is still rising. These trends highlight the need for urgent action by all stakeholders to manage the risk more effectively across all transmission routes.
Earlier this year, I launched a new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030. The implementation of this strategy is overseen by the established TB Stakeholder Forum along with support from three new working groups on science, implementation and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. Extensive consultation within the three working groups will develop a shared understanding of how collectively we can reduce TB incidence along with implementing the new TB Eradication Strategy. As we are dealing with an infectious disease, the strategy is not set in stone - it is a living document which will be subject to amendment and refinement on an on-going basis. This new TB Strategy is available on www.bovinetb.ie.
Attaining TB-free status remains critical from a farm family profitability and sustainability perspective and from a trade perspective at national and at international level. I am acutely conscious that every TB restriction represents a significant emotional and financial challenge to the farm family concerned.
I am working with all stakeholders in ensuring fewer herdowners experience the emotional and financial pain associated with a TB restriction and that we work purposefully towards eradication of this disease, thus eliminating this on-going cost on farmers and the State.
63. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans by his Department to bring a company (details supplied) and An Taisce together to identify issues of concern and deliver an outcome to progress this project without any further delay given the importance to the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26707/21]
View answerI am familiar with the situation referred to by the Deputy. I acknowledge that the company sees this investment as an important part of their response to Brexit, by diversifying production in order to reduce dependence on the UK market.
An Taisce, as is its right, sought and was granted leave, for a Judicial Review into the decision of the relevant local authority to grant planning permission for this development, a decision which had already been upheld by An Bord Pleanala.
The matter was heard in the Commercial Court and judgement was given on 20th April rejecting An Taisce’s arguments.
An Taisce has, in recent days, advised that it will appeal the decision of the High Court. An Taisce must, in the first instance, obtain the leave of the High Court before submitting a further appeal. Until this appeal, if leave is granted, is fully heard, the matter is still the subject of judicial proceedings.
This precludes me for discussing the case in more detail. If An Taisce and the company concerned do wish to discuss this proposed development together, that it is a matter for both parties.
64. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to improve the felling licence process here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27010/21]
View answerForestry and issues currently affecting the sector are a priority for my Department and for me and I fully recognise its importance to farmers, forest owners, forestry contractors, sawmills and wood processors and to the rural economy as a whole.
I know that in order to fully deliver on the potential of the sector, we need a well-functioning licensing system. I am the first to acknowledge that we have fallen short in terms of turnaround time for licences. Steps have been taken to address the situation, and we have invested hugely in resources with more ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff assigned to licensing. This has seen some gains in output but more work remains to be done. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of 4,500 new licences for this year which is a 75% increase on last year and we are determined to meet this target.
In terms of felling, the volume of timber licensed this year is up 27% on the same period last year. In terms of product to sawmills, Coillte which is the main provider is fully licensed on felling licences for the year albeit not all of their output is immediately available.
My colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has responsibility for forestry, has established Project Woodland, to work with stakeholders to examine all aspects of forestry, including a review of processes with a view to reducing the licensing backlog. This process is being implemented intensively and the Working Groups are meeting regularly and I understand are shortly due to come forw3ard with recommendations in some cases. The Working Group dealing with the backlog is working on publishing a process and targets for its reduction and other improvements to the system and structure are being examined.
Along with Minister Hackett, I remain hopeful that the framework now in place under Project Woodland will address our current difficulties and will result in a licensing system which meets the needs of forest owners, with attendant benefits for all those involved in the sector. I can assure Deputies that no effort is being spared to resolve these difficulties and the issue remains a top political priority for me and my Department.
65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 995 of 11 May 2021, the reason an organisation (details supplied) claims the information requested is not available given its own website appears to contain the requested information, that is, the litter number per dog; if he will request the organisation to provide the information given its statutory obligation under section 26 of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 to keep and provide such information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26976/21]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Stud Book since 1923. The stud book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. Greyhounds are required to be named with the Club. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC receives no funding from Government or RCÉ. Funding is derived from Stud Book registration fees and the sale of the ICC newspaper “The Sporting Press".
Coursing is regulated by the ICC and its network consists of 89 affiliated clubs and 19 associate clubs, located across Ireland, including breeders, trainers, owners and supporters. Coursing clubs are required to comply with directives, instructions and guidance notes issued by the ICC.
The ICC has informed my Department that the data requested by the Deputy is not available for the years 2009 to 2020 as their system could report the total number of litters born but not the individual number of pups per litter. The average litter size is six pups per litter. The ICC registration software system has been subject to recent updates and the information requested will be available from 2021.
Section 26 of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 refers only to matters relating to artificial insemination of greyhounds. Section 26 of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 refers to the Irish Coursing Club, including the keeping of records in broad terms.
66. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in creating a racing stud book to cater for the racing greyhound as per the objective set out in the Strategic Plan 2018 of the Irish Greyhound Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26977/21]
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 RCÉ Strategic Plan contains a medium term objective for the creation of a stud book for racing greyhounds. However legislation provides for the Irish Coursing Club to be the Keeper of the Irish Stud Book for all greyhounds. The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has been the keeper for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923 and this remains the current situation.
RCÉ receives exchequer funding on an annual basis as provided for under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (the Fund). Ordinarily and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, funding for RCÉ is also sourced by admission fees, income from stadia bar and restaurants, and turnover charge on on-course bookmaker betting.
Income is used to promote greyhound welfare and to administer and regulate the industry.
The 2021 RCÉ Budget includes an allocation from the Fund of €19.2M, an increase of €2.4M on 2020. The priority areas of activity for 2021 include:
- Implementation of the remaining sections of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019
- Ongoing operation of the new traceability system for racing greyhounds underpinned by statutory regulation
The new RCÉ Traceability System (RCÉTS) is now fully operational and will provide traceability in respect of all microchipped racing greyhounds from 1st January 2021 together with all active greyhounds in the Racing Management System. It will record life events of the racing greyhound such as death, sale (including next party details) export (including destination country) retirement as a pet, retention for racing, loss or theft.
67. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that as many eligible persons as possible that applied for the Rural Environmental-Agri Pilot Programme will be accepted on to the scheme. [26916/21]
View answerThe 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 (REAP) opened for applications on 21st April.
REAP is an innovative, ambitious and farmer-friendly pilot that will deliver an important income boost to farmers while driving environmental benefits. It also helps the Department and indeed farmers and advisors to test some innovative actions and results-based scoring to inform the design of the next big agri-environment scheme. While the project will support our environmental objectives, it will also support farm incomes by providing up to €12,600 to participating farms over the term of their REAP contract. It is a targeted measure for farmers not currently participating in other agri-environment schemes.
The application stage is now closed and I’m delighted with the level of interest shown with approximately 10,800 applications submitted from 455 advisors. Obviously, this is heavily over-subscribed and we are reviewing the scheme approvals in this light. I have written to The EU Commissioner for Agriculture to inform him on the application rate and to explore opportunities for approving more farmers.
A ranking and selection process has been provided for in the project documentation. This will now be used to decide the applications that are accepted. The details of the process were made available to all applicants in the terms and conditions and are available on the Department's website. All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by the Department in writing regarding their application for REAP.
68. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the negotiations with his EU counterparts to secure a fair burden sharing of the fish quota loss that has arisen from the EU- UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. [27056/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is well aware, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) will, unfortunately, have an impact on our fishing industry. However, this impact would have been far greater had the Barnier Task Force agreed to UK demands, or had we been in a no-deal scenario which would have seen all EU vessels barred from UK waters and subsequent displacement into Ireland's fishing zone.
I wish to assure the Deputy that this Government intends to continue to keep the focus on the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland and to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.
On 20th January, I met with Michel Barnier, the EU Fisheries Commissioner and the Ministers of the Fisheries Group of 8 on fisheries related matters post-Brexit. I raised the matter of inequitable burden sharing directly at this meeting.
I also raised this matter at EU Fisheries Councils in both January and February. At the February meeting, I put forward a practical proposal to seek an exchange from the UK of mackerel for North Sea whitefish on the basis of a proposal from the Irish industry. However, this was not accepted by all relevant Member States as it involved loss of shares of whitefish for them in the North Sea. This emphasises that proposals to adjust shares of quotas within the EU will always be challenging and are only likely to work when they offer advantage to other Member States as well as Ireland.
The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has been engaged in consultations with the UK on setting fishing opportunities for shared stocks for 2021 since early February. While progress is being made in these consultations, an agreement with the UK has not to date been reached. In March, I attended the EU Fisheries Council, where provisional TACs and quotas were set for seven months will provide certainty and continuity for the fishing industry for the coming period. I again made Council aware of Ireland's concerns regarding the matter of inequitable burden sharing within the TCA both formally at Council.
At a VC meeting earlier this week with Commissioner Sinkevicius and Ministers of most impacted Member States regarding the issues arising in the EU-UK Fisheries Consultations, I made clear that Ireland, both at sectoral and Government level, is dissatisfied with the inequitable and disproportionate burden imposed on Ireland in terms of our contribution to the quota transfers to the UK.
As I have said, I am pursuing every opportunity at EU level to increase the available quotas for our fishing fleet. I am pleased with the outcome of the consultations with Norway in respect of Blue Whiting has increased the available quota for the EU and Irish fleet. The ICES advice is for a 20% cut in this stock and this advice is being followed. This cut has been significantly mitigated because we negotiated successfully to reduce the customary transfer of this stock to Norway.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to raise the matter of inequitable burden sharing at EU level and in bilateral exchanges with other EU Member States, whenever suitable opportunities arise.
69. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated turnaround time in relation to applications for BEEP-S; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26922/21]
View answerThe Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler (BEEP - S) Scheme targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves by measuring the live weight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's live weight. In recognition of the crucial role of animal health and welfare in economic and environmental efficiency, applicants to the scheme can also select from a number of optional health and welfare measures including meal feeding or vaccination of weanlings and/or faecal egg testing of suckler cows.
The programme is open to all suckler beef farmers who commit to completing the mandatory weighing action required within the duration of the programme as well as any optional welfare enhancement actions chosen by applicants .
Applications can only be made via the Department's online application system at www.agfood.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications for this programme was 26th April 2021 with late application being accepted up to 21st May 2021. Late penalties are applied to applications lodged after 26th April in line with the Terms and Conditions of the scheme.
To-date, 27,402 participants successfully lodged applications for the scheme. Approval letters have issued to 27,058 eligible participants who lodged applications before the closing date. Approval letters to remaining eligible participants who lodged late applications will issue after 21st May 2021.
Participating farmers are free to start carrying out the required actions under the scheme now. To-date, in excess of 2,000 herds have submitted weights for over 34,000 cow/calf pairs and over 700 sets of weighing scales have been rented from a network of depots across the country.
70. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost to date of all Covid-19-related payments in his Department to individuals and corporate entities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that since the start of the pandemic, the Department has been involved in funding to provide support to various affected sectors.
- The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) has supported two dedicated schemes to the Seafood Sector. The first of these, the EMFF COVID-19 Aquaculture Support Scheme, assisted in maintaining viable aquaculture enterprises which have suffered an economic shock in 2020 arising from a significant reduction in production or sales as a consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The objective of the scheme is that these enterprises may recover and contribute to the sustainable growth of production, value and employment in the aquaculture sector in the years ahead. A total of 152 successful applicants received funding totalling €1,234,976 to date. As this scheme was co-funded with the EU at a rate of 50%, the Irish government contribution was €617,488.
- The second scheme was the COVID-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme. The purpose of this scheme was to reduce the input of fish to a market that has been severely depressed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, while keeping adequate vessels fishing to maintain a food supply, and to contribute to the fixed costs incurred b fishing vessels while tied-up. A total of 92 successful applicants received funding totalling €194,100.
- The 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 Beef Finisher Payment is to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of €46.6 million was paid at the end of 2020 to over 15,000 farmers.
- €11,704,960 in expenditure has been incurred on the SBCI Working Capital Scheme comprising the Brexit Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme which has been designed, in cooperation with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) and SBCI, to provide funding support to eligible Irish businesses in the current period of economic disruption. These Schemes are open to SMEs and mid-caps (i.e. up to 500 employees).
- The Department owns, operates, maintains and develops six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, and there were four ex gratia Covid-19 related payments in relation to capital/construction works at these Centres. The works totalled €855,565.
- Also, the Department agreed to provide funding of €150,470 to students in Teagasc. This was to provide support similar to the funding provided to other students in third level institutions by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Other Covid-19 costs include:
- The Department’s laboratories in Backweston incurred expenditure of €152,000 on laboratory consumables and PPE for facilities and related activities specific to Covid-19 work.
- In addition, the Department has implemented various workplace controls to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 transmission in the workplace by complying with the Government’s Public Health guidelines. Where available, the Department availed of Office of Government Procurement (OGP) contracts in the procurement of Covid-19 related supplies and services. Total expenditure on these measures amounted to €434,478.
71. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of negotiations by his Department on accessing the South Korean market for Irish grass-fed beef produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27027/21]
View answerThe process towards gaining access for Irish beef to the Republic of Korea has been ongoing for a number of years. The Republic of Korea is a top priority market for the market access team in the Department. However several important steps remain to be completed before access can be gained and Irish beef exported.
Ireland's application for beef is currently on the fifth of an eight-step process. My Department has to date submitted detailed questionnaires and other technical documentation in response to requests from the Korean competent authorities. Additionally, it has hosted two Korean inspection visits in 2016 and 2017. Furthermore, the Department has supported three Ministerial trade missions to the Republic of Korea in 2016, 2017 and 2019 during which meetings were held at Ministerial and official level to develop relationships with Korean counterparts and advance the beef access application.
Late last year, the Korean Ministry of Agriculture (MAFRA) concluded its examination of the Irish application, allowing the file to be transferred to parliament for consideration. Before that, however, the Korean Authorities in line with their requirements held a 20-day public consultation on the proposed Import Health Requirements that will apply to Irish beef once the market is opened. The consultation period closed on 29th April and it is understood that MAFRA is currently making final preparations to formally transfer the Irish application to the Korean National Assembly for review.
Assuming that the National Assembly votes to approve the application, which may take some time, Ireland will still have to complete several further steps to secure full access. These include approval of individual beef plants wishing to export to Korea, which will require an inspection visit by the relevant Korean authorities.
It is not possible at this stage to say when the parliamentary and other remaining steps in the access process will be completed. As with pending applications in other markets, the time-frame for securing access to the Korean beef market is ultimately a matter for decision by the authorities in the importing country. The Department continues to actively engage with the Korean competent authorities in close collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul.
72. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that there is adequate processing capacity in the dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26975/21]
View answerSince the removal of milk quotas in 2015, the volume of milk produced by Irish dairy farmers has increased from approximately 5.5 billion litres to almost 8.3 billion litres in 2020. However, it should be noted that whilst milk production in Ireland has increased significantly in this period, the rate of increase has eased. This increase in milk production has been accompanied by parallel investment in processing capacity.
A study ‘Analysis of the Irish Dairy Sector Post Quota’ published by Teagasc and Cork Institute of Technology in October 2020 found that there are limitations to the Irish production model which are largely related to its seasonal nature, which mirrors grass production. For example, in the peak production month (May), more than six times the volume of milk is processed than in January.
As a result, processing plant utilisation in Ireland over the full year (approximately 62%) is far lower than in EU counterparts (at over 90%). However, this seasonal production cycle does provide the Irish dairy sector with a unique comparative advantage in terms of lower production costs and carbon-efficient, grass-fed dairy products.
The impact of peak milk production, which has been managed to date through co-operation in the dairy industry, is an issue on which I would encourage all processors to engage with their suppliers. It is vital that this engagement takes place at an early a stage as possible to allow suppliers to plan their milk production accordingly. It is important that processors and their suppliers work together to ensure that the Irish dairy sector can effectively manage the next stage in the development of a sustainable Irish dairy sector.
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans sanctioning the building of a deep-water pier in Ros a’ Mhíl soon in order that it can be built before the planning for the pier runs out in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26489/21]
View answerThe Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHC), located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute.
Funding is made available on an annual basis by the Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, 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, in excess of €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. The Department commissioned DKM consultants to conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis into the development of a deep water quay at Ros an Mhíl. A draft report was submitted to the Department in June 2017.
Since the report was drafted, there have been changes to some of the fundamentals underpinning the original analysis. In 2018, the Department subsequently commissioned engineering consultants to undertake a review of the design solutions, scoping options and operational aspects of a possible future project. An interim draft of the Quay Wall Peer Review Report was received in April 2019. This report identified the need for additional site investigations to be carried out in Ros an Mhíl.
These site investigation works were carried out in August/September 2019 and have now been completed. The final Quay Wall Peer Review report was received in July 2020 and was further updated and re-issued in Sept 2020. The Department is now considering the final report including the site investigation results to inform a future assessment of possible design solutions and scoping options, which will, in themselves, inform any future decisions on progressing this project.
Depending on the scoping option chosen project costs could reach an estimated €29m.
In that light, I have allocated €100,000 in the 2021 Development Programme to further explore the potential and benefits of a Deep Water Quay project.
Planning permission has been obtained for this project, which is valid until April 2023, and should it be necessary a further application can be submitted.
No decision to progress this project to works stage has been made to date and, 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.
74. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the full State and EU funding that will be available to the fishing industry to implement the recommendation that will come from the Seafood Taskforce; and the estimated amount of funding available. [27057/21]
View answerI have asked the Seafood Sector Taskforce to examine the implications arising from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement agreed between the European Union and the UK for the Irish Fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it and to recommend initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
In this context, I have asked the Taskforce to consider how all available funding streams could be used to address, to the extent possible, the initiatives identified and the State agencies to support those initiatives. While the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund will be very important elements in the implementation of the recommendations of the Taskforce, they should not be considered the only sources of funding and, in the first instance, it is a matter for the Taskforce to consider appropriate funding sources for recommendations they may make.
The Commission's proposals for a regulation on a Brexit Adjustment Reserve were published in December 2020 and, at this time, the Council has agreed its position on the text. Trilateral discussions between the Council, Parliament and Commission will, in due course, give us a final text.
The text of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Regulation for the 2021-27 period was agreed in December 2020 but will not be enacted until June or July this year.
