Written Answers Nos. 555-574
555. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason another office (details supplied) has been set up in relation to unfair practices and corruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27808/21]
View answerThe establishment of an Office of a National Food Ombudsman, or Regulator, is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The new Office or equivalent will have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland and will also incorporate Enforcement Authority functions required by the UTP Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/633 on Unfair Trading Practices in Business-to-Business Relationships in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain). Responsibility for unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain falls under my remit.
However, as primary legislation is required to establish a New Office of Food Ombudsman or equivalent as a separate statutory body and as the UTP Directive was required to be transposed before 1st May 2021, I signed Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 198 of 2021 transposing the UTP Directive into Irish law on 28th April last.
The transposition of the SI is a significant step in progressing towards a more even playing field for our agricultural producers. The UTP Enforcement Authority required by the UTP Directive has been established as an interim measure in the Department pending the finalisation of the primary legislation to establish the new Office of Food Ombudsman or equivalent.
In April, I launched a public consultation on the primary legislation needed. The consultation also includes questions on whether the legislation should extend the rules of the UTP Directive. Once the primary legislation is finalised, the UTP Enforcement Authority will be incorporated into the new Office once established. The consultation period closes on 26th May 2021.
556. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if progress has been made on the establishment of an interdepartmental group with regard to exotic animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27813/21]
View answerIn line with the commitment in the Programme for Government and the initiative identified in the recently-launched Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, the Department will take the lead in establishing an inter-departmental group to ensure a coherent national approach to policy and regulation related to exotic animals.
The focus of the group will be on regulating the keeping, breeding and trading of exotic animals. It is expected that work will begin on the initiative in the coming months.
557. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licence applications with his Department on 1 March 2021; the number of forestry licence applications with his Department on 31 March 2021; and the number of forestry licence applications with his Department on 10 May 2021. [27870/21]
View answerThe Department publishes a range of forestry related statistics on its pages on the Government of Ireland website. Included in this are details of applications received and decided, which is updated monthly. The information sought is indicated in the table below.
Forestry Licence Applications on hand for the dates shown. These figures include a batch application by Coillte of 1,864 new licences on 15th March.
|
1st March |
31st March |
10th May |
|
|
Afforestation |
874 |
881 |
855 |
|
Roads |
533 |
508 |
500 |
|
Felling |
2,719 |
4,577 |
4,550 |
558. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied). [27897/21]
View answerAn application for the Reconstitution and Under Planting (Ash Dieback) Scheme was submitted on behalf of the person named in November, 2020.
The application was referred to a Forestry inspector of the Department and a referral issued to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). A response was received from NPWS in late February. This is currently being considered as part of the overall application assessment and a decision will issue in due course.
559. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he will provide to registered agricultural and forestry contractors in view of the important role they play in Irish farming and the increased costs they have encountered in recent times. [28055/21]
View answerI fully recognise that contractors play a very important role in the Irish agriculture and forestry sector.
The Department does not provide direct supports for contractors but, as small businesses, they are of course eligible for the same supports as every other small business.
In relation to capital investments for on-farm developments, I would like to clarify that the EU regulations that provide for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020, specify that TAMS II beneficiaries must be farmers or groups of farmers. Therefore, the Department is precluded from funding the purchase of equipment such as Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment by contractors under TAMS.
560. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a policy of data back-up in the operations of his Department and all agencies under his remit. [28112/21]
View answerThe Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to IT security and for the agencies that it carries out services for. The Government’s services are still actively involved in managing and remediating the recent cyberattack on the HSE. Our technical staff continue to operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels, and are closely engaged with experts in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of IT security.
For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental IT security arrangements.
Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT security tools and services including those in relation to back-ups and the Department does not comment on operational security matters.
561. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when and the reason an appeal by a person (details supplied) was unsuccessful given the requirement for early slaughter due to a TB outbreak and the difficulty this outcome poses with BEAM compliance; if his Department corresponded directly with farmers in the BEAM scheme who had a TB outbreak outlining options available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28178/21]
View answerOne of the conditions of the BEAM scheme under which the €50 million was granted by the EU was that there had to be an element of reduction or re-structuring built into the scheme - Article 1 (3) of (EU) 2019/1132 refers. Accordingly, in applying for BEAM, participants agreed to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on their holding by 5% for the reduction period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the reference period 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019.
Section 7.1.1.1 of the Terms and Conditions of BEAM outlines how a derogation from all or part of the reduction requirement could be considered in certain circumstances but that applications for such a derogation must have been made prior to 30th September 2019. No such application was received from the person named.
An appeal was lodged on 7th May 2021 through a Teagasc Advisor requesting a derogation from the 5% reduction requirement. The person named has been informed that this appeal has been unsuccessful and they have been advised of their right to request a review of that decision internally with the Department if they so wish. The applicant also has recourse to the Agricultural Appeals Office.
In recent weeks, the Department has written to all BEAM participants who have been restricted by TB during the reduction period and advising them of changes to their 5% bovine nitrates value as a result of the length of their restriction. The Department will continue communicating with BEAM participants impacted by TB.
562. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is putting mechanisms and plans in place to protect indigenous scallop fishers after the October Brexit deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28194/21]
View answerThe rules for landings of Live Bivalve Molluscs (LBMs) into Great Britain are set down by the UK authorities. While exempt from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated requirements, the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) permission to directly-land fishery products does not include LBMs, a group which includes wild-caught scallops.
The UK Government announced on 11th March that it would postpone the introduction of the upcoming new UK import controls (including Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and controls) which had been scheduled for 1 April and 1 July to 1 October 2021 and 1 January 2022 respectively. It is important to note that these new changes to UK import controls are only postponed and not cancelled. The UK authorities confirmed on 1st April that import requirements for direct landings of LBMs, including scallops, are also being delayed until 1 October 2021.
From January until September, Irish vessels may land such products to NEAFC-designated UK ports subject to NEAFC requirements and controls. However, from 1st October 2021, direct landings by Irish vessels of such products, including scallops, to ports in Great Britain may not occur. After 1st October, Irish vessels may land such products to Northern Ireland ports subject to NEAFC controls, or to any EU port. Alternatively, such products may be exported to GB as consignments from an Irish approved food establishment, accompanied by the appropriate UK Health Certificate.
The United Kingdom position from 1st October, 2021 replicates the EU position regarding LBM landings by a Third Country vessel into the EU. The EU Commission has confirmed that the direct landing of LBMs, including scallops, from vessels flying a Third Country flag into EU Member State ports is not authorised under EU legislation.
In February 2021, I established a Seafood Sector Taskforce, including representatives of the fisheries cooperatives, Producer Organisations and the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, 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. I have requested that the Taskforce 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.
Additionally, 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. I anticipate receiving an interim report from the Taskforce later this month addressing recommendations for a temporary fleet tie-up scheme to mitigate the short term impacts of quota cuts and a full report in the Summer with the full recommendations of the Taskforce. You will appreciate that I cannot pre-judge the recommendations of the Taskforce and how they might relate to any particular fishery.
563. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the decision to weigh fish at the location they have been landed will be reconsidered given there are no facilities available to carry out same (details supplied); if his officials will discuss the matter with the fishing industry in order to find a workable solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28233/21]
View answerIreland has received a Commission Implementing Decision revoking the approval of the Irish control plan submitted for the weighing of fishery products in accordance with Article 61(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
It should be noted that the 2012 Control Plan, prior to its revocation, provided that the Irish authorities may have permitted fisheries products to be weighed by relevant operators after transport from the place of landing provided that they were transported to a destination on the territory of Ireland, as the Member State concerned.
The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. As Minister, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as this.
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) will set out new procedures in relation to this changed position. The Authority has, I understand, already written to industry representatives to make them aware of the situation and also met with the Sea Fisheries Protection Consultative Committee, Industry Representatives and operators on the matter.
The Deputy’s queries as to the implications of the Commission’s revocation of the control plan are operational matters for the operators who have responsibility to weigh fish before transport and the SFPA as the control authority.
564. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department on external professional legal services in 2014, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [28297/21]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine generally avails of the legal services of the Chief State Solicitor's Office and its own Legal Services Division. However, occasionally it engages private Solicitor Firms and Junior and Senior Counsel for external legal advice.
The amount in external professional legal services incurred by the Department in 2014, 2019 and 2020 is set out in the attached table.
565. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is providing financial assistance to farmers who are managing flood prevention infrastructure arising from land reclamation measures under the Irish Land Commission initiatives of the past. [28340/21]
View answerThe Department is not providing financial assistance to farmers who are managing flood prevention infrastructure arising from land reclamation measures under Irish Land Commission initiatives of the past.
However, the Department operates a number of schemes which can support farmers in mitigating flood risk, such as afforestation and agri-environment schemes.
566. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be allocated specifically for the support and development of horse and pony racing here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28352/21]
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.
Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, the Department provides funding to HRI on an annual basis.
The Department has allocated €76.8 million to HRI to assist the horse racing and wider thoroughbred industry in 2021. This is an increase of €9.6 million or 14% on the 2020 allocation of €67.2 million.
HRI has informed me that it and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) are in dialogue with the various pony racing organisations on this issue. The issue was also discussed at a recent HRI Board meeting. HRI and the IHRB are due to meet with representatives of pony racing organisations again in the coming weeks.
567. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will release the file requested by the agriculture appeals office for a person (details supplied) who has an appeal submitted since 25 February 2019; the cause of the delay in having this file released to the appeals office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28354/21]
View answerThe file in question will be forwarded to the Agriculture Appeals Office (AAO) in the coming days. The Deputy can be assured that staff of the Department with responsibility for the file will engage with the AAO on this matter until it is concluded.
568. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to ensure equine welfare is prioritised within his Department. [28359/21]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides a modern framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century. Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, the Department has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals, including equines.
The Act puts clear obligations on owners to look after animals under their care. Neglect of, or causing unnecessary suffering to, animals is not acceptable and my Department continues to enforce the law in this important area.
Prosecutions under the Act have been pursued following investigations by authorised officers of the Department, An Garda Síochána and authorised officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These officers investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect and, where the evidence supports such action, a file prepared and the matter pursued through the Courts.
The Department works closely with these bodies and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved for their work in the field of animal welfare.
The Programme for Government (PFG) places a positive emphasis on animal welfare and specifically commits to the continued robust enforcement of the Act.
Also included in the PFG is a commitment to provide for additional urban horse welfare programmes. The Department continues to take a proactive approach in tackling challenges by developing facilities for urban horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the Local Authorities, and is reflected in the new Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025.
The Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to people in disadvantaged areas. As an example, the DSPCA with financial assistance from the Department, continues to facilitate castration and ID clinics and education programmes in an effort to address the problem of over-breeding which can add to welfare issues.
The Programme for Government also contains an undertaking to provide additional funding to support animal welfare in the coming years to which I am fully committed. In this regard, in December 2020, I announced record funding of €3.2 million to 101 animal welfare organisations throughout the country including those engaged in equine welfare.
The Control of Horses Act, 1996 is currently under review within the Department and plans for replacement legislation are well advanced. The Department will be further engaging on this with stakeholders. Under the Act, Local Authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences, the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. The Local Authorities and An Garda Síochána may also prosecute offenders under this Act.
Work is underway within the Department to undertake a national equine census by the end of this year. This will establish the number of equines in the country and the residences at which they habitually reside. Further development of a central database to provide for the easy updating of equine residence data is also planned for 2021.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation.
The dedicated e-mail address and Helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: Call Save - 0761 064408, phone - 01 607 2379.
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
569. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of equine seizures that were recorded in Cork city and county. [28362/21]
View answerUnder the Control of Horses Act 1996, Local Authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licenses and the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land.
Figures for seizures under the Act in Cork City and County, as reported to this Department, are as follows:
|
County |
Year |
Seizures |
|
Cork Co. Council |
2020 |
35 |
|
Cork City Council |
2020 |
12 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
2019 |
75 |
|
Cork City Council |
2019 |
23 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
2018 |
63 |
|
Cork City Council |
2018 |
33 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
2017 |
87 |
|
Cork City Council |
2017 |
39 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
2016 |
91 |
|
Cork City Council |
2016 |
47 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
2015 |
155 |
|
Cork City Council |
2015 |
54 |
570. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the investment made by his Department and State agencies under its remit in each year in cybersecurity for the past ten years. [28841/21]
View answerFor operational and security reasons, the Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements.
Therefore, the relevant figures will not be made available.
571. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be allocated for local improvement schemes to city councils for rural roads within city boundaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27475/21]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme or LIS is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas, which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme, which is funded by my Department, is administered through the Local Authorities.
There was no dedicated funding stream for a number of years until the scheme was re-launched in 2017. Since then, over €58 million has been allocated to deliver the scheme on over 2,300 roads, which have benefited over 10,000 residents and landowners.
Local Authorities in Dublin and the City Councils in Cork and Galway have not been eligible for funding under the LIS. This is due to the nature of the scheme, which provides funding for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas and is typically linked to access to agricultural land. I have no plans at present to broaden access to the scheme to the City Councils.
572. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if Mitchelstown, County Cork is being considered as a remote working hub. [27483/21]
View answerThe increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes.
Remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live closer to home, and to generate increased economic activity in our rural towns. This is a key focus of the Government's new rural development policy Our Rural Future .
My Department also continues to invest significantly in the development of new Hub facilities across the country. Since 2015, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has provided €7.8m in funding to hubs and hub-related projects. In addition, €65m has been invested in hub projects through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) over the same time period. Many of the successful projects involve the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as Enterprise and Co-Working Hubs.
I am not aware of any application to develop a remote working hub in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork through either the Town and Village Renewal Scheme or the RRDF, although a further call for projects under the RRDF will issue later this year.
In addition, my Department is overseeing the installation of 24 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) in Co. Cork, under the Broadband Connection Point initiative. These facilities will provide onsite access to high-speed broadband in areas without adequate connectivity. Typical BCPs are publicly accessible sites such as community centres and sports clubs in rural or isolated areas, including a number of our off-shore islands. 15 of these BCPs have already been installed in Co. Cork, with the remaining 9 installations in progress. No further BCPs are being considered at this time. Further information on the BCPs that are live can be found here: nbi.ie/bcp-map/
An Inter-Departmental Working Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established last October to oversee the development of a National Hub Network. To support the establishment of the National Hub Network I have allocated €5 million to fund a Connected Hubs Call under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year. This initiative will provide funding to support small scale capital works in existing hubs, both public and private, and BCPs. Details of the Connected Hubs Call were announced on Thursday April 29th and are available at:
www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/d916d7-digital-initiatives-schemes/#connected-communities-initiative.
In parallel to the development of the National Hub Network, the Tánaiste Department is currently overseeing the implementation of the National Remote Working Strategy which was published in December 2020. A key action of this strategy will be the mapping of commuter patterns, regional skills and childcare facilities to inform future hub development decisions.
573. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will address the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27531/21]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authority
In any given year, the demand under the scheme exceeds the funding available. It is a matter for each Local Authority to prioritise roads for inclusion under the scheme.
Eligible road projects include those that involve the construction or improvement of non-public roads which provide access to parcels of land of which two or more are owned or occupied by different persons engaged in separate agricultural activities.
My priority this year is to continue to fund works on roads leading to agricultural holdings given their importance for farm families and our agriculture sector. There is already a significant level of applications with Local Authorities for such roads based on the existing criteria and I want to address this demand before considering any widening of the scope of the scheme.
574. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider decentralising her Department to a regional location as an indication of the commitment by the Government to the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 policy document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27574/21]
View answerOur Rural Future’, the new Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades, focussing on sustainability and optimising opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses. It contains over 150 measures for delivery over the lifetime of the policy, which were developed in collaboration with Departments across the whole of Government.
Through the Policy, the Government aims to breathe new life into rural areas, in particular towns and villages, building on the rollout of high speed broadband and the opportunities that presents in terms of remote working, attracting new investment and enabling a more connected, cohesive society.
The policy commits to the Government’s ‘National Remote Work Strategy’, the vision for which is “to ensure remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits”. This will be achieved through significant investment in the rollout of broadband connectivity, improved remote working infrastructure, and policies that facilitate increased numbers of workers to work remotely. Our Rural Future contains measures for delivery to progress these ambitions.
Already just over 50% of civil servants are working outside Dublin, and in the current COVID-19 context many more are working remotely. The Government believes that the public sector should lead by example and build on this positive momentum.
The policy supports the Programme for Government’s commitment to move to 20% home or remote working in the public sector in 2021. The Government also supports the prioritisation of regional locations for new public sector offices during the lifetime of the policy.
With regard to my own Department, since our establishment in 2017 we have operated from two offices, one of which is in Ballina, Co Mayo. Approximately half of the Department’s staff are assigned there, the majority of whom are currently working from home. Additionally, since June 2020, when I assumed policy responsibly for the islands, my Department’s regional footprint extended to Furbo, Co. Galway. At present, 93 of the 175 staff in my Department are based in regional locations.
My staff have full capacity to work remotely and our ambition going forward is to introduce a blended approach of office and remote working. At this point, there are no immediate plans to further extend our regional footprint though we remain fully committed to our remote working targets.
